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Former comedian Jimmy Morales took office as Guatemala’s president on January 14, 2016. Among his top priorities are security and corruption, for which he has promised “zero tolerance.”
improvement—since 1980. This places the nation at 125 out of 187 coun- tries and territories, or in the medium human development category.
An increasingly important focus of government is improving citizen security. When President Otto Pérez Molina took office in January 2012, he pledged a tough stance on crime, committed to strengthen social pro- grams, and promised to promote employment through competitiveness reforms. After Pérez Molina’s resignation and arrest, President Jimmy Morales has again pledged to clean up Guatemala.
USAID has been active in Guatemala supporting government and civil efforts to achieve greater security and justice and to improve the effec- tiveness and efficiency of institutions working on security and justice issues. As a result violence is dropping, with program communities re- porting an 18 percent decline in robberies, a 50 percent decline in illegal drug sales, and a 50 percent decline in extortion and blackmail.
LOOKING AHEAD
Guatemala’s population is projected to reach 22.6 million by 2030, an increase of 49.6 percent over 2012. This growth will arise primarily from a growing number of live births delivered by a larger pool of women
of childbearing age. Despite the fact that people are living longer, the nation will still be extremely young in 2030, with 77.0 percent of the population aged 40 and under. If Guatemala can effectively harness the energy of its youth; keep the people healthy, housed, educated and safe; and corral violence and corruption, the nation has tremendous potential and attraction for tourists as well as foreign investors.
What’s coming next?
The Maya Museum: Safekeeping the Legacy. page 52
Confronting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities. page 56
INTERVIEW: Fernando Bolaños Valle, AgroAmerica. page 108
SPECIAL REPORT
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