# Thursday, October 1, 2026

Guatemala News · Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:15:36 GMT · 3:56

Maya: Good morning, and welcome to Guatemala News for Thursday, October first. I'm Maya.
Devon: And I'm Devon. Four stories today, Maya, starting with money back in people's pockets: fuel discounts take effect across Guatemala today.
Maya: That's right. Starting today, gas station receipts will show the discount from Decree twenty-two twenty twenty-six, the emergency fuel tax exemption law. Congress approved it September twenty-second, President behr-NAHR-doh ah-REH-vah-loh signed it, and it was published in the official gazette yesterday.
Devon: What it does is suspend two taxes through the end of the year: the twelve percent value added tax, and the fuel distribution tax, which was four keht-SAH-lehs seventy cents per gallon on super, four fourteen on regular, and one thirty on diesel.
Maya: The president said it directly yesterday: quote, we know these have not been easy days for many families, with high fuel prices driven by circumstances beyond our borders and outside our control, but with a direct effect on our economy, end quote. And he promised, quote, tomorrow your fuel bills will be lower, end quote. Well, tomorrow is today.
Devon: The government is still finishing the regulations, but the discounts apply at the pump starting now. A real, immediate break, even if it's temporary.
Maya: Story two, a changing of the guard at the treasury. The president has named DEH-boh-rah ahl-vah-RAH-doh as the new finance minister, replacing JOH-nah-tahn MEHN-kohs.
Devon: Alvarado was already inside the ministry as vice minister for internal administration, and the president framed it as continuity, saying she's part of the team that worked with Menkos and has shown her capacity over nearly three years. She's got more than fifteen years of professional experience, a degree in international relations, and a master's from the University of San Carlos.
Maya: And Menkos isn't leaving government. Starting today he takes over as president of the HOON-tah moh-neh-TAH-ree-ah and the BAHN-koh deh gwah-teh-MAH-lah, the central bank, through September thirtieth, twenty thirty.
Devon: One more move in the same announcement: Patricia Joachin Godinez resigned as vice minister for revenue, and her successor will be named in the coming days.
Maya: Third story, a serious one. President ah-REH-vah-loh has ordered an investigation into the possible involvement of the army in the deaths of eight people last weekend in wee-TEH, zah-KAH-pah, near the border with Honduras.
Devon: The president instructed Defense Minister General HEHN-ree sah-EHNS to set up a multidisciplinary commission under military law to investigate, and that report goes to the Public Ministry, which is running its own criminal investigation. The governance and defense ministries are cooperating fully, he said.
Maya: His words: quote, the government reiterates its commitment to full respect for the rule of law, the clarification of the facts, accountability, and justice for the victims, end quote. He also noted security forces arrived at the scene immediately after the events.
Devon: Eight dead and the army's role in question, this is one we'll be watching closely.
Maya: And finally, football. Tomorrow night Guatemala faces soo-rih-NAH-meh in the KOHN-kah-kahf Nations League, and it is close to must win.
Devon: Friday night at the Franklin Essed Stadion in pah-rah-mah-REE-boh. Ten p m Eastern, nine Central, seven Pacific, on F S two, Fox One, and veeks. Guatemala is coming off a painful loss to Jamaica in Kingston, despite two goals from OH-skahr sahn-TEES, and they're sinking in group B while El Salvador leads it.
Maya: Suriname is no pushover either. They've got a Dutch flavor all over the squad: keeper eh-TYEHN vah-SEHN from Groningen, and attackers like jee-RAH-noh kehrk and JUH-stin LOHN-vike, who has scored in both of their games so far.
Devon: For loo-EES fehr-NAHN-doh TEH-nah's squad, it's simple. Win, and the Gold Cup playoff dream stays alive. Anything less, and the hole gets very deep.
Maya: That's your Guatemala News for today. Cheaper fuel at the pump, a new finance minister, an army investigation in zah-KAH-pah, and a massive night for the national team tomorrow.
Devon: Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow morning.
Maya: Hasta mañana.