First Hand Look at a Country in Need

During my week long Spring Break vacation, I visited the island of Roatan, 40 miles off of Honduras. Honduras represents one of the 10 poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with GDP per capita at $3,300 per year (2007).The economy has continued to grow slowly but the distribution of wealth remains very polarized with average wages remaining very low. It is estimated that there are more than 1.2 million people who are unemployed, the rate of unemployment standing at 27.9%.

Before exiting my cruise ship, an old woman warned me not to go out into Roatan because it was a "dangerous and poor discusting third world country." Instead, she reccommended that my friends and I enjoy the buffet on the ship and lay out on the deck. My friends and I decided to take our chances. When we first stepped into Roatan, there were beggars everywhere. Instead of doing a cruise sponsored tour of the island, we decided to take a local van to the beach. Driving through the island was beautiful and alarming, starkly contrasting the barefoot hungry people there were burgioning high income homes being built on the ocean.

When we arrived at the beach, I was shocked. It was the prettiest beach that I had ever been to in my life. The water was crystal clear, the sand alabaster. Soon after my entrance of awe, five beggars surrounded me trying to peddle me some knock-off sunglasses and shell bracelets. I became so overwhelmed because I felt bad for them but I did not have cash.

Lining this beach, there were yachts and signs professing homes on the ocean for $300,000 and up. The natives of this Honduran island are incredible poor (see figures above) and rich Americans are starting to invade and appear to not be helping the situation on the island. This situation reminded me a great deal about CSR class and made me think that companies who will start to take advantage of the islands growing tourist industry could help the island at the same time by hiring workers or improving their water, etc.

I hope to return to Roatan someday and hope that conditions on the island improve for its natives.