ABC reports from Próspera, a Honduran territory where companies can choose regulations from more than thirty countries
ABC reports from Próspera, a Honduran territory where companies can choose regulations from more than thirty countries
On 22 August, ABC News published a report from Roatán: before entering, visitors accept an agreement that subjects them to the zone's rules, while civil and contractual disputes, but not criminal cases, are heard online by a panel of retired Arizona judges.
In Maker Space, a shared workspace, Alice Chen takes a bright green drink made from live algae out of the refrigerator. She came to Próspera from Canada to develop it and has already recruited a small group of volunteers for testing. Stickers on the wall read “Make Death Optional” and “Live on Bitcoin.” Chen says, “This is only possible here in Próspera because of its meta-regulatory system.”
This phrase refers to a specific regulatory arrangement. A company can adopt an established set of regulations from any of more than thirty countries or propose a new set of rules to Próspera. The agreement signed upon entry places visitors within a private dispute resolution system. The option to choose this type of regulatory framework for a new product is what led Chen to move her work to Roatán.
In June, Infinita founder Niklas Anzinger described Próspera as a place for early safety testing in humans, with US states serving as the next route toward access to experimental interventions. The ABC report shows how this model operates in practice. About 200 people live in the zone permanently, and approximately 30 companies have a physical presence there. Próspera founder Erick Brimen gives different figures: 1 700 people have obtained online residency, and, according to him, the zone itself has attracted 500 companies. Próspera therefore operates at two scales: a small territory on the island and a broader network of registered participants.
The fishing village of Crawfish Rock is located next to Próspera. Its representative, Vanessa Cárdenas, says:
“They come here and say they want to build a country within my country, with their own laws, rules, and entire system. They do not pay the taxes that I pay, even though I am from here.”
Former economy minister Fernando García says the project undermines Honduran sovereignty. Brimen responds that Próspera collects taxes, transfers part of the revenue to the government, and attracts investment. After the previous government tried to repeal the laws governing such territories, Próspera initiated international arbitration proceedings against Honduras.
The ability to test new biomedical ideas more quickly depends on the chosen regulations, the land, and the consent of the people who live nearby. The conflict surrounding Próspera therefore also determines how stable the setting for these experiments can remain.