North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The socialist government of President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya in Honduras has come under scrutiny in a hearing held by Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) in the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Salazar, a journalist with extensive experience covering Central American politics, highlighted the dangers of the socialist legacy of the Zelaya family and its impact on the U.S.-Honduras relationship.

Salazar warned the Honduran people about the return of failed communism, stating, "When somebody tells you they don’t like the United States and they don’t like capitalism, listen to them, and act accordingly." She emphasized the influence of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez in the proxy government of Xiomara Castro de Zelaya and her husband, Manuel Zelaya.

During the hearing, Chairwoman Salazar presented a case against the socialist legacy of the Zelaya family, highlighting their threats to stability and economic prosperity. She pointed out that President Castro has already made moves to expropriate foreign companies, shifted recognition from Taiwan to China, and criticized capitalism as a cause of misery.

Despite the threat of socialism and corruption in Honduras, Salazar expressed concern that the Biden Administration has chosen to view Honduras as a partner, even considering it a "success story." This, she argued, is in contrast to countries like El Salvador and Guatemala, which have shown genuine interest in combating the Chinese Communist Party and the migrant crisis but have received disdain from the Administration.

The witnesses from the Biden Administration who testified in the hearing seemed unaware of the gravity of the situation in Honduras. Chairwoman Salazar criticized their ignorance of the network of corruption within the Honduran government. She highlighted one example of corruption involving the Governor of Choluteca, Ilce Villatoro, and the Commissioner of the Honduran Institute of Transportation, Rafael Barahona, who have been charging people for a travel pass to Guatemala, enriching the Zelaya government. Salazar expressed disappointment in the response of the witnesses, particularly Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric Jacobstein, who failed to acknowledge this corruption.

On a positive note, Ms. Mileydi Guilarte, Deputy Assistant Administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development, assured Chairwoman Salazar that efforts were being made to prevent the Zelaya government from laundering critical funding for American programs in Honduras.

Chairwoman Salazar, who represents Miami in Congress, a city with a significant Honduran population, also had a special message for the Honduran community, expressing her commitment to their interests.

The hearing shed light on the socialist government of President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya in Honduras and its impact on the U.S.-Honduras relationship. Chairwoman Salazar's warnings about the return of failed communism and her concerns about corruption have sparked discussion about the Biden Administration's approach to Honduras and its stance on socialism in the Western Hemisphere.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-highlights-socialism-and-corruption-castros-honduras