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Exhibit 99.CERT
EXHIBIT 12(a)(2)
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Michael A. Pignataro, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The Latin
America Equity Fund, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets,
and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement
of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or
caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90
days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal
quarter of the period covered by this report
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that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have
disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record,
process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 9, 2006
/s/ Michael A. Pignataro
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Michael A. Pignataro
Chief Financial Officer
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I, Steven B. Plump, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The Latin
America Equity Fund, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and
other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net
assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a
statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under
the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting,
or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90
days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal
quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over
financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have
disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
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(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record,
process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 9, 2006
/s/ Steven B. Plump
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Steven B. Plump
Chief Executive Officer