Montreal
Too fat for jail: An obese inmate was released early from a Montreal prison last week because prison facilities could not adequately accommodate him. Michael “Big Mike” Lapointe, who weighs more than 400 pounds, suffered health problems during the two years he spent in Bordeaux Jail for drug dealing. The prison mattress was at least a foot too narrow for him, his legs did not fit under the prison tables, and the prison chairs could not support him. Citing those hardships, a judge granted him early parole. “Some might say he got off easy,” said Lapointe’s lawyer, Clemente Monterosso. “But he didn’t choose to be morbidly obese. This man is a colossus.”
San Jose, Costa Rica
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A trade pact milestone: After four years of delay, Costa Rica last week finally approved the last law necessary to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The country signed the regional free-trade pact back in 2004—along with the U.S., El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The other signatories of the pact, which calls for easing of tariffs and more free-market policies, have already enacted it. But Costa Rica’s opposition lawmakers refused, saying they did not want to open the state-run telecommunications and insurance industries to competition. Last year, though, Costa Ricans voted for CAFTA in a national referendum, hoping it would boost the agriculture industry, and lawmakers were forced to move legislation to enact it.
Caracas, Venezuela
Chavez threatens voters: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to send the army to the state of Carabobo if voters there do not elect his ally as governor. Chavez’ candidate, Mario Silva, a former talk-show host, is one of several Chavez allies in danger of losing their election or re-election bids in next week’s local and state elections. “If you let the oligarchy return to government,” Chavez told Carabobo voters, referring to the opposition party, “then maybe I’ll end up sending the tanks of the armored brigade out to defend the revolutionary government.” The far-left Chavez was wildly popular when he was first elected, 10 years ago, but his appeal has been waning. Last year, voters rejected his plan to change the country’s constitution to give the president more power.
Bogotá, Colombia
Rioting over pyramid schemes: At least one person was killed this week in riots in Colombia, after a series of pyramid investment schemes collapsed. Thousands of people collectively lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Several shady companies that had lured small investors with promises of huge returns suddenly closed last week, and their owners made off with the proceeds. The Colombian government issued emergency decrees allowing police to seize the assets of any of the operators who could be located. “The government has to find ways to recover all the money poor Colombians have deposited,” said President Alvaro Uribe. “This is a fantasy that has ruined a lot of people.” He said wealthier clients should have known better and would “have to take some blows to the chest.”
