Guatemala

[from "Communications Landscaping: North – Latin American Transnational Communities"]

By Silvia Irene Palma - FLACSO Guatemala

Summary

More than a third part of the Guatemalan population maintains family ties with emigrants mostly located in the three principal destinations for Guatemalans in the United States: Los Angeles, New York, and the State of Florida. As a consequence of this dynamic, the need to establish contact and communication for both the relatives who remained in the communities of origin and the emigrants has increased.

The current trend shows a prevalence of using the telephone above other means of communication. This preference is due to several factors. First, telephone communication fulfills emotional needs; and second, it enables the reproduction (although in a limited manner) of old procedures of exchange based on verbal communication.

In addition, Guatemala has experienced a recent, relative improvement in its levels of telephone service coverage associated not only with the installation of infrastructure but also with the increase in the number of customers requesting the service and with the privatization of the national telecommunications company presently known as TELGUA.

Moreover, communication by phone gains special importance if we take into account the low levels of education of the majority of the Guatemalan population. Many adults in Guatemala are still illiterate and, although this trend may be decreasing among the younger population, the efforts to bring them closer to modern technology and innovating communication systems via Internet are still insufficient.

Along the same lines, most of the Guatemalan population in the United States has a low educational level and this condition limits the use of the written word and of new forms of communication. Although upon their arrival in the United States, Guatemalan emigrants find a greater supply of communications and information tools, this type of technology is difficult for them to use due to their lack of knowledge of the English language, of information systems and, in particular, of the Internet, and related services. The access to and use of these options is also difficult for their relatives located in rural areas. We have to bear in mind that in Guatemala Internet cafes, the main option for access to this medium, are concentrated in municipal hubs and tourist areas or the areas with the most population, especially in the capital.

Even though some members of the Guatemalan community in the United States consult the press, the Guatemala government institutions, and legal, medical, and cultural information in the Internet, we may say that this medium has not encouraged the increase of contact among emigrants and their relatives and that is has not yet been identified as a tool that facilitates transnational communication.

As a result of all of the above, the Guatemalan community in Florida integrates very little; it limits itself especially to interpersonal relationships where verbal communication rules and it does not take advantage of communication tools, such as creating web pages for associations and organizations of origin.

Transnational communication has not been a vital element either for analysis or for action by the Guatemalan government and, at present, there is no policy, program or plan promoted to encourage communication between Guatemalan emigrants and their relatives. The main points of interest and management have focused on regulating the migration status, on the costs and impact of family money transfers, and on developing health programs for migration workers.

Regarding this situation, civil and religious organizations have become the bridge between migrants and Guatemalan and United States government agencies. These organizations have espoused topics, such as the negotiation of financial resources and the search for a good provision of basic social services and for better living conditions for the emigrants and their families. Also, they have devoted themselves to promoting holidays and other cultural, sports and religious events as well as to disseminating Guatemalan everyday life abroad.

None of these groups have encouraged projects or innovative initiatives on the radio, on TV, Internet or by phone. In practically all cases, organization processes take place thanks to interpersonal communication and creating plans for specific activities. Radio programs for the purpose of reproducing the culture of origin and preserving the Guatemalan identity are but sporadically promoted.

The phenomenon of Central American migration to the United States has received relative attention from different social communications media. We may highlight some reports made by CNN, special programs by HBO, Telemundo, Univisión, etc… In the case of the written press, there are some articles written by local media.

We cannot affirm that these initiatives are part of a sustained strategy for communication and dissemination of the migration phenomenon. Communication and information focus on special situations and specific topics, such as deaths while traveling through Mexico, the interception and arrest of illegal aliens, the presence of violent groups, denominated "maras", and the traffic of human beings, among others.

In addition, we have recently noticed a growing concern among the political parties and organizations to visit Guatemalans in the United States, to make their programs known as well as to hear the emigrants' needs and demands. But these actions aimed at facilitating communications with the Guatemalan community abroad have not been developed in a sustained manner, they only take place during election periods.

Finally, we highlight a fulfilled need for transnational communication through other types of activities, such as remittances and family packages (money, merchandise, videos of celebrations, etc...), which are used as a manner to keep a contact and maintain family ties between the emigrant and his/her community of origin.

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