We love our Dads!

Last week the celebration of Father´s Day had to be postponed due to the political situation. This morning the children made up for that and the dads were serenaded and treated to breakfast in school.

Pastor Ronnie gave a lovely, bible-based talk about Fatherhood.

The Primary band accompanied the Primary Choir of every child in Primary, all crammed onto our small patio area, with dads seated in the middle.

After the singing many of the dads moved to the secondary department.

The girls serenaded with boys hovering in the background.

This was followed by a snack breakfast. Most dads were busy chatting so the "Starving Gannets" swooped in.

To our surprise, as everybody was engrossed in catching up with each other some loud music started and the Power Rangers appeared.

The third year boys were having fun and they had plenty of spectators.

There were some very proud and happy dads around.

Despedidas

The Hickmotts and I are having some good farewell parties here. Fortunately they are well spread out so not too taxing physically on top of all the other things that we have to do before leaving here.

Last week I was taken out by some colleagues for afternoon tea. It was lovely.

On Friday evening the English department gave us a despedida. Unfortunately, due to the political situation several people could not attend because they needed to cross town. People had been advised by the police not to go out.

They all made up for that this morning by having a breakfast for us in school.

It was a time for emotional speeches.

The thing that I will miss most about our school is the sense of family. It is stronger there than in any other school I have worked in. We are a family and a brilliant team.

Update on political situation

The latest news is that the Mercosur has suspended Paraguay from attending the Mercosur conference next week. However, they have invited Fernado Lugo to attend.
Several Latin American countries have withdrawn their ambassadors. Venezuela has blocked any petroleum from coming to Paraguay, but the Brazilian company has said that they will still export to us.
The new President and his ministers are telling the nation that there is nothing to worry about.

New President

After President Lugo was deposed, Dr. Federico Franco was sworn in as the new President of Paraguay.
So far the Presidents of Argentina, Ecuador,Venezuela, Costa Rica and Bolivia have said that they see this as a coup d'etat and they will not recognize the new government of Paraguay. The President of Brazil, Dilma Rouseff has said that Paraguay should be expelled from the Mercosur for not respecting democratic laws. If this happens Paraguay will be isolated.

Already President Franco has changed the chief of police. A new Minister of the interior has also been appointed. Franco's first priority is to bring stability to areas where there are difficulties over land rights.

End of this government

The senate has voted 39 to 4 that Lugo is guilty of being responsible for all the killings that  happened last week. Lugo and his government lasted 3 years and 10 months.

The chancellors of the Mercosur has now threatened to isolate Paraguay. They are just leaving the palace where the President is at the moment. The President of the Senate has responded to the threats as being empty threats. He said that no other country can intervene and influence and put pressure on the politics of another country.

Outside Congress there are some very angry demonstrators. Mounted police are trying to disperse the crowds and riot police have moved in.

Midday defence

President Lugo's lawyers arrived in front of Congress at midday. They opened the defence by claiming that the Senate was behaving unconstitutionally when they only gave a few hours for Lugo to prepare a defence. They asked for more time. The President of the senate immediately denied the request.

The defence took the two hours that they were allotted for the defence.

Their conclusion was that the sentence had been passed when the accusations were made and that this is political persecution.

We now await the results of the deliberation of the senate followed by a vote as to the sentence..

The countries of the Mercosur Union have backed Lugo in the fact that the senate has behaved unconstitutionally and they are saying that they will not support any new government as a result of today's actions against the President. They asked the senate to follow the correct constitutional process.  The Mercosur have called it a coup d'etat. Many of their representatives have been at the palace to support the President today.

Many thousands of people from all over the country are now in front of the Congress bulding in the city. 10000 police are on standby, according to the media.

Already some people are blocking a main route through Paraguay. The threat is that if the President is deposed that the campesinos will paralyse the country.

A long, cold night

The temperatures dropped last night and it was a long night for the demonstrators who were in the square in front of the Congress building. Most could never afford a hotel. They slept where they could.

Some kept warm around fires on which they cooked large pans of soup.

4000 police have been drafted in to control any problems. They were on duty all night in front of the Congress building. Today they have sealed roads into the area.

Yesterday the Catholic bishops held a press conference and later visited the President. They asked President Lugo to resign in order to avoid any violence from the people and to avoid bloodshed. He refused.

This morning lawyers are going to put the case that the impeachment of the President is unconstitutional and that the proper process has not been followed. Several South American countries have said that they will not recognise any new government because they have acted unconstitutionally. The USA has also warned that the move is unconstitutional.

The square is now full of people and many more campesinos are still arriving from other areas of the country.

Our school has been suspended for the day.