MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hot News from South America

Latinamerica is expected to end 2002 with a dismal growth of 0,2%, a depressing global outlook for some of the leading economies of the region, according to the latest report from CEPAL, United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica.

The worst performances will be in Argentina, whose GDP is estimated to drop 10%; Uruguay that from an original zero growth is likely to shrink 2% and Venezuela that will remain stagnant with no growth at all. In Argentina and Venezuela deteriorating political situations have plunged both countries into economic turmoil. Argentina in six months has had five presidents and six Economy Ministers, and is still unable to agree with the IMF a desperately needed financial aid package. In Venezuela President Hugo Chaves suffered a two days coup and massive street protests that have left the country split in halves. Uruguay on the other hand is suffering the direct consequences of the Argentine political, financial and banking instability. Mexico the leading economy in the region, and ever closely linked to the US, is expected to manage a dismal 1% growth while Brazil, the second largest, is anticipated could expand 2,2%. In the two brighter spots of the area Chile and Peru, earlier projections of 3,2% and 3,5% have been downgraded to 3%, anyhow still encouraging. Ecuador is the only country that is expected to post a higher that anticipated growth, 2,7% against an original 2,5%.

Argentines favor Mercosur
Argentines confirmed once again that they favor closer economic ties with Mercosur, followed by the European Community and United States. According to the latest Gallup poll, 42% of Argentines prefer Mercosur; 21% are inclined for Europe and 16% for the United States while another 16% did not answer. Since 1999 when the poll was first started, Mercosur has taken the lead with 46%; 42% in 2000; 31% in 2001 and now 42%. Closer economic ties with the European Community in the same period has been rather stable ranging between 15% and 24%. Regarding the United States preferences have gone from 17% in 1999; 15% in 2000; 19% in 2001 and now 16%. However, middle and higher income better educated Argentines tend to prefer Mercosur and the European Community while low income and less educated groups feel more inclined to closer economic links with the US. The poll was taken in early April with an universe of 1045 cases in 26 different Argentine cites.

The British School excels
The British School from Punta Arenas is the leading school in Magallanes Region and figures among the top hundred of Chile, according to the final results of the annual Academic Aptitude Test, PAA, undertaken by the Universidad de Chile in Santiago. "This is a great challenge for the school and staff, to keep this very high level of academic excellency", said Head Teacher Carmen Gallardo. A total of 1,398 educational institutions participated in the PAA and The British School was in 93rd. place, well ahead of the second best in Magallanes, the German School. "I think the school's spirit, the professionalism of teachers and parental support has been decisive in obtaining these academic results", explained Ms. Gallardo, adding that close ties with universities have also "helped us prepare students for third level education". Ms. Gallardo pointed out that in a recent meeting of 800 British school teachers and educators held in Santiago, the group from Punta Arenas was the most active and praised for its pedagogic presentation and educational papers. The British School was founded in 1896 and is currently under the direction of Francis John Poppleton.