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Private Cities Set to be Developed in Honduras

Sherman123

Sherman123

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The cities will operate under an independent legal framework including their own governance, civil code, tax framework, security and police forces, infrastructure, etc in the hopes of attracting investment and bringing bastions of stability and opportunity to the country.

Honduras deal sets stage for investors to build 3 privately run cities to host new industries - The Washington Post

Can private cities save a nation with world's worst murder rate? - Americas - World - The Independent

Struggling with violence, poverty, Honduras signs deal for privately run cities  - NY Daily News
 
Interesting. Due to Honduras's instability, its risky.
 
Floating cities are already being built. Some like this and some just the hugest ships you've ever seen. They anchor outside the limits of the US and can follow their own rules/laws. More than a few mega wealthy have booked spaces. Can you say diaspora?
 
I think this is a fair bit different from the seasteading or floating cities concept as this is happening imminently and with the close cooperation and partnership of a national government.
 
Sherman123 said:
I think this is a fair bit different from the seasteading or floating cities concept as this is happening imminently and with the close cooperation and partnership of a national government.
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Yes, but one of the draws is that they don't have to keep any of those agreements. They have their own security/defense and just about everything they need. They can roll an agreement with Tongo or Sealand and run under their flag, do essentially as they please.

Here's another.
 
clownboy said:
Yes, but one of the draws is that they don't have to keep any of those agreements. They have their own security/defense and just about everything they need. They can roll an agreement with Tongo or Sealand and run under their flag, do essentially as they please.

Here's another.
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I imagine also that when it comes to meeting power generation needs, shipping and transportation requirements, as well as the desire to build an actual 'city' it would be rather difficult to do that from a sea based platform. Especially if you are a manufacturer with the need for a permanent work force.
 
Problem with the floating city concept is that its still a "vessel," just like a cruise ship or an mobile offshore drilling unit. They're all register or are flagged by a country that they adhere to their jurisdiction. If they don't, it would be consider Stateless which gives the US some jurisdiction over it. Be interested to see the legal-ese over this.
 
Fishstyx said:
Problem with the floating city concept is that its still a "vessel," just like a cruise ship or an mobile offshore drilling unit. They're all register or are flagged by a country that they adhere to their jurisdiction. If they don't, it would be consider Stateless which gives the US some jurisdiction over it. Be interested to see the legal-ese over this.
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Yes, that too.
 
The Honduras concept has been going on for while now. They amended their Constitution to allow them to exist. One of the developers/backers is a hardcore libertarian. Seeing it implemented would pretty fascinating and if successful, could send shockwaves throughout the globe.
 
Fishstyx said:
The Honduras concept has been going on for while now. They amended their Constitution to allow them to exist. One of the developers/backers is a hardcore libertarian. Seeing it implemented would pretty fascinating and if successful, could send shockwaves throughout the globe.
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Have you been following this?
 
Sherman123 said:
The cities will operate under an independent legal framework including their own governance, civil code, tax framework, security and police forces, infrastructure, etc in the hopes of attracting investment and bringing bastions of stability and opportunity to the country.

Honduras deal sets stage for investors to build 3 privately run cities to host new industries - The Washington Post

Can private cities save a nation with world's worst murder rate? - Americas - World - The Independent

Struggling with violence, poverty, Honduras signs deal for privately run cities* - NY Daily News
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The state of Utah was pretty much private in the beginning. We could have private cities in the US if we wanted to: these "clubs" and private schools are pretty much that way now. If Honduras wants to suspend their constitution; which is what seems to be happening. But money rules.
 
Sherman123 said:
Have you been following this?
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Somewhat. Whenever I see something about it pop up on newsfeeds (Drudge, RCP, etc). Been going on for a couple years now.

I really don't see the floating city concepts as realistic. While not completely the same, there are a couple cruise ships out there that operate as a "time share" where you purchase a cabin that legally belongs to you. The monthly "dues" is $20k!!! Floating cities, while massive, certainly will be subject to the elements as well. Don't care how big something is, if its floating, the sea will move it! LOL

The charter city concept has much more potential.
 
Fishstyx said:
Problem with the floating city concept is that its still a "vessel," just like a cruise ship or an mobile offshore drilling unit. They're all register or are flagged by a country that they adhere to their jurisdiction. If they don't, it would be consider Stateless which gives the US some jurisdiction over it. Be interested to see the legal-ese over this.
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Easy answer, flag with Tongo or Sealand. Sealand is a place I've been following for a while.
 
I called the pacific garbage flotilla a long time ago.
 
clownboy said:
Easy answer, flag with Tongo or Sealand. Sealand is a place I've been following for a while.
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Right, but there are still pretty enormous practical impediments like power generation, the inability to host factories, the enormous cost, the ability to deliver and ship products to market, etc etc etc. Attracting investors seems like a much more difficult idea. Also has Tonga offered to allow people to operate under independent legal regimens? And Sealand isn't a sovereign territory, right?
 
clownboy said:
Easy answer, flag with Tongo or Sealand. Sealand is a place I've been following for a while.
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Problem is, no one recognizes Sealand. For the floating city concept to work, they'd have to be internationally recognized and I have serious doubts that that would occur. Do much of know to the global power establishments.
 
jet57 said:
Yeah; they're letting money literally own ther country. What you want to watch for is the "private security" that these "cities" hire . . . What they want to do in Honduras is exactly what England did in Ireland in 1172. Dubai is pretty much that way now.
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What do you mean?
 
Sherman123 said:
Well what do you mean about watching their security.
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Ohh. Yeah, these are the types of places that will hire Black Water (Xe Corp) as private cops and other security forces.
This is an adventurer's project: feudalism! The better it works, the more money will be involved and more land will be controlled.

  Honduras: Military Coup Engineered By Two US Companies   : Information Clearing House - ICH

August 07, 2009 "Information Clearing House" -- I recently visited Central America. Everyone I talked with there was convinced that the military coup that had overthrown the democratically-elected president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, had been engineered by two US companies, with CIA support. And that the US and its new president were not standing up for democracy.

Earlier in the year Chiquita Brands International Inc. (formerly United Fruit) and Dole Food Co had severely criticized Zelaya for advocating an increase of 60% in Honduras’s minimum wage, claiming that the policy would cut into corporate profits. They were joined by a coalition of textile manufacturers and exporters, companies that rely on cheap labor to work in their sweatshops.
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Ya'see? The ground for this has already been laid.

Here; check this out http://honduras.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/econ_ccg09.pdf
 
Fishstyx said:
Interesting. Due to Honduras's instability, its risky.
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It depends on who is setting these cities up, and how lawful they will actually be.
I have a friend whose family owns a business in Honduras, and he travels back and forth between here and there, and he's one of the most decent nice guys I know. If it's people like him who are running things, it could very well be successful.
 
jet57 said:
The state of Utah was pretty much private in the beginning. We could have private cities in the US if we wanted to: these "clubs" and private schools are pretty much that way now. If Honduras wants to suspend their constitution; which is what seems to be happening. But money rules.
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I don't think Utah was ever "private". It first belonged to Mexico and then through cessation and treaty it became a US territory in 1848. Mormons arrived in 1847.
 
This doesn't sound like it will end well.
 
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