Clinton Hails LatAm Growth, Warns of Complacency

Jordi Zamora
AFP
May 11, 2011

Latin America's economic growth has been nothing short of "stunning," but gains could be at risk if the region does not tackle challenges like corruption and violence, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday.

"Many people say that this is the Latin American decade, and I agree. There's a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to," Clinton told the 41st annual meeting of the Council of the Americas in Washington.

The region has undergone a "stunning transformation over the past few decades," she said.

"But let's be honest; there are still weak education systems, there are still weak democratic institutions, there are still inadequate fiscal policies, there are still too few people of means paying their fair share of taxes to their government in order to support services for those who will otherwise be mired in generational poverty, and there is too much violence.

"If we don't face up to these challenges, we could waste this historic opportunity."

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