The influence of Central American dynasties is ebbing
Oligarchs are no match for demagogues and drug lords
THE CASTILLO family has been on top for 500 years. It traces its origins to Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the chronicler of the conquest of Mexico by Hernán Cortés. The Spanish empire rewarded him with an encomienda over what is now Guatemala, entitling Castillo to control of all non-Christian labour. The family’s wealth exploded after the creation in 1886 of the Central American Brewery, which for decades enjoyed a national monopoly on beer production. It has since evolved into two separate conglomerates and branched out into coffee, sugar, finance, amusement parks and bottling Pepsi.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Blood and money”
From the March 31st 2021 edition
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