Nicaragua Network

1. Canal briefs: environmental and social impact studies; local members for commission; bill to repeal; more marches
2. Economic briefs: 2015 budget and inflation rate
3. Traffic deaths on target to set new record
4. Rural women meet to discuss climate change
5. Bird conference held in Granada
6. Chikungunya cases increase in past week
7. Sister cities want to resolve difficulties with customs

1. Canal briefs: environmental and social impact studies; local members for commission; bill to repeal; more marches

Telemaco Talavera, spokesperson for the National Inter-Oceanic Canal Commission, said on Nov. 8 that the environmental and social impact studies for the proposed shipping canal are completed and will be presented to the public in the next few days by the HKND company, which holds the concession, and the Nicaraguan government. With relation to the census of owners of impacted houses and properties, he said that 7,000 families, including 29,000 people, were interviewed and their properties measured over a 1,500 square kilometer area. “Based on that study,” he said, “we will talk directly with the owners of the properties and the houses, transparently and with the commitment that the people who are in the route of the canal and those who are not in the route all end up better than if there was no canal.” He said that the Canal Commission will name subcommittees to negotiate with owners the payment for their land and, in the case of the indigenous communities, the rent that the indigenous territorial governments will be paid for the use of communal land. (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 8)

The National Inter-Oceanic Canal Commission last week approved the naming of five new members, representing the municipalities of San Miguelito, Rivas, Ometepe, Nueva Guinea, and Bluefields, all localities through which the canal will pass. According to Telemaco Talavera, the new members will inform the local populations about the canal and gather questions and concerns facilitating more fluid communication between the commissions and the localities. (Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 4)

On Nov. 4, the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) bench in the National Assembly, at the urging of some civil society organizations, introduced a bill that would repeal the law approving the inter-oceanic canal project. Opposition Deputy Wilber Lopez said, “We are firm in asking for the repeal of the concession which sells our national sovereignty to a foreigner.” In order to pass, the bill would need a majority vote in the Assembly. However, the governing Sandinista Party holds 64 seats while the opposition has only 22. (There are four independents which completes the total of ninety members.) The bill says that the canal concession law was unconstitutional because it was not subjected to “consideration and discussion” before passage. The bill also says that the canal would have a serious impact on the quality of the water of Lake Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua) endangering future generations of Nicaraguans and would negatively affect biodiversity in the country, in particular the Meso-American Biological Corridor.

Sandinista Deputy Jose Figueroa said that the opposition was proposing a bill to repeal the canal law “out of pure politics because they know that a project like this will permit us to resolve problems that they always said they would resolve but never did—the problems of poverty and unemployment.” Speaking in Bluefields, Figueroa also said, “We aren’t going to be so stupid as to destroy our natural resources; exactly the opposite. And since the subject of the environment didn’t arouse people, now they are on the subject of property, a sensitive subject. But here Nicaraguans should be clear that the president, the Sandinista Front, the Canal Authority, and the company that holds the concession will pay just prices; no one will be robbed.” (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 5; La Prensa, Nov. 6, 7)

On Nov. 5, the twelfth in a series of marches against the canal was held in the town of Tule in the Department of Rio San Juan. Opposition leaders in Punta Gorda and Nueva Guinea in the South Caribbean Autonomous Region announced that they will march on Nov. 10 and 14 against the canal. Those opposed to the canal when asked about the recently named members of the Canal Commission from the municipalities along the route, said either they did not know them or they felt they were “not the right person for the job.” Carla Pineda of El Roble said that no one had come to measure her property [meaning that she is not on the route] but she insisted, “We farmers don’t want the canal; we don’t want Chinese; we don’t want to sell out our country because we live from the land…. We don’t want, even for the best thing in the world, to exchange our land.” (La Prensa, Nov. 6)

2. Economic briefs: 2015 budget and inflation rate

On Nov. 4, the Production, Economy, and Budget Committee of the National Assembly began hearings on the government’s US$2.3 billion budget for 2015. When the budget was introduced on Oct. 28, Treasury Minister Ivan Acosta said that the priorities for 2015 were improvements in roads and highways, water, education, health care, affordable housing, and expanding access to electricity in rural areas. The Ministry of the Family, Cooperative, Community and Associative Economy (MEFCCA) will receive US$39 million, up from US$32 million in 2014. Committee chair Walmaro Gutierrez said that the testimony of MEFCCA Minister Juana Rodriguez highlighted the active role that MEFCCA has had in supporting small farmers who are unable to access bank credit. The Ministry of Health will receive funding for the coming year in the amount of US$416.8 million, the highest budget of any ministry. Gutierrez noted that the Ortega government has tripled the health budget since taking office in 2007. On Nov. 6, the committee heard from Pablo Fernando Martinez, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. After the hearing, Martinez told reporters that, with a budget of US$173 million, the Ministry plans on building 150 kilometers of new roads, prioritizing the Caribbean autonomous regions where the roads become impassible when there is heavy rainfall. Also budgeted are improvements to roads in the Department of Jinotega, he said. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 28, Nov. 5; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 4; La Prensa, Nov. 7)

According to the Central Bank, Nicaragua’s inflation rate for October was 0.12% for an annual rate of 5.04%. The Bank noted that prices rose for a number of goods and services, including food and non-alcoholic beverages, rent, water, electricity, cooking gas, and private health care. Under the category of food, prices for cheese, beans, onions, and plantains, all staples in the Nicaraguan diet, rose the most. A drop in the price of gasoline, diesel, and auto parts was not enough to counteract the rise in the other basics. In a contradictory fashion, the cost of the basic basket of essential household products declined in October. Luis Barbosa, a leader of the Jose Benito Escobar Sandinista Labor Confederation (CST-JBE), said that the inflation rate and the cost of the basic basket would be among the things under consideration when the tripartite commission again begins to review the minimum wage on Dec. 18.  (Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 6; La Prensa, Nov. 6, 7)

3. Traffic deaths on target to set new record

The National Police reported that 2014 could end up the deadliest year in Nicaraguan history for traffic deaths. An average of 56 people per month die from traffic related injuries. At 566 on October 31, traffic fatalities would soon surpass the 577 killed in 2013 and were on track to exceed 2012’s record number of 679 deaths. The last two months of the year, especially December, usually see the highest number of traffic deaths due to the excessive amount of alcohol consumed over the holidays. Transportation collectives have filed an appeal (which has been admitted) with relation to the omnibus traffic law passed by the legislature early this year—that includes higher penalties for traffic law violations by drivers of commercial vehicles—asking that penalties be the same for all drivers.

Speaking at an event commemorating the 38^th anniversary of the death of Sandinista founder Carlos Fonseca, President Daniel Ortega described traffic fatalities as a plague that affects the entire planet “but that does not justify the number of accidents in Nicaragua when they can be prevented.” Ortega said while many commercial drivers obey the law, there are many more who don’t but that the same punishment should be applied to the driver of private vehicles as to the driver of public transportation. He pointed out that commercial drivers shouldn’t drive tired and need to take breaks, recommending that they stop and have a cup of coffee. He called on the police to more vigorously enforce the traffic laws saying, “So many youth, so many children, so many adults perish in traffic accidents, die in traffic accidents where those responsible are those who drive while breaking with all norms of respect for people.” (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 5, 8; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 8)  

4. Rural women meet to discuss climate change

More than three hundred rural women from diverse organizations throughout the country celebrated International Day of Rural Women with a gathering in Matagalpa to discuss the theme “Rural women, leaders of the CAPS: For the conservation of water and life in the face of climate change.” CAPS is the Spanish acronym for Potable Water and Sanitation Committees. Esperanza Sosa, Matagalpa departmental CAPS coordinator said the group had a brief review of the consequences of climate change, beginning with agricultural production, water shortages, soil erosion, and the unusual alteration in the cycle of rainy and dry seasons that bring food shortages and hunger. Sosa said, “Women are worried about this phenomenon. We are taking actions to conserve our environment with campaigns to eliminate the use of agrochemicals, preparing natural herbicides for healthy production and people’s health, harvesting water, protecting water sources and recovering those that have been polluted, reforestation and caring for the more than two thousand trees we have planted around water sources.”

National Assembly Deputy Irma Davila noted the importance of the celebration to call attention to the largely invisible work that rural women have been doing to protect the environment in advance of climate change. She said, “In whose hands are the cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, and other projects? In the hands of women, those women who have suffered an overburden of work, but never has that work had visibility.” She said that is why the Sandinista government is helping all the initiatives of rural women “as we adapt ourselves to climate change.” (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 4)

5. Bird conference held in Granada

In Granada, Nov. 7 through Nov. 9, the International Bird Festival was held with the goals of promoting Nicaragua as destination for birders, conservation of bird species in Nicaragua, and supporting rural community tourism, according to the organizers which include the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR), the European Union, the Cocibolca Foundation, with the support of the Luxembourg Development Agency.  Nicaraguan participants included the Ministries of Education and the Environment, the National Tourism Institute, the Granada city government, the Alliance for Forest Areas (ALAS), the Nicaraguan Foundation for Sustainable Development (FUDENIC-SOS) and private reserves such as El Jaguar Reserve.

During the three day conference, there were lectures by experts, exchanges of experiences in bird conservation and tourism by participants, photography, handicraft, and art exhibits, a book fair, and excursions to Apoyo Crater Lake, Mombacho Volcano, Mecatepe Crater Lake, and the Zapatera Archipelago National Park.

Martin Lezama, conservation scientist for the group Paso Pacifico, warned that there only remain in Nicaragua ten Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao), down from 13 pairs in 2004, meaning that the bird is currently in danger of extinction. While capture for illegal sale has been a problem, the main cause is destruction of habitat. The Scarlet Macaw can now be found only in the Cosigüina Volcano Nature Reserve in the Department of Chinandega but it used to also inhabit other areas of the country. Biologists from the Department of Rio San Juan told of their efforts to preserve green parrots explaining that the River Foundation (Fundación del Río) pays landowners to conserve almond trees because the threatened parrots eat only almonds. Environmental biologist Jaime Incer Barquero also spoke about the different species of birds in Nicaragua. (La Prensa, Nov. 9; El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 8; Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 6)

6. Chikungunya cases increase in past week

The mosquito-borne illness chikungunya, which evolved in Africa and has been sweeping across the Caribbean into Central and South America has gained a delayed, but now firm, foothold in Nicaragua with 175 new cases last week, raising the total number of cases diagnosed to 536. Communications Coordinator Rosario Murillo said the patients are in a good state of general health and are being treated at area hospitals. The government has stepped up its mosquito eradication programs with more than 100 health volunteers visiting homes in Managua neighborhoods to eliminate breeding grounds and to fumigate.  Dr. Ligia Aragon, director of epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, called on the population to cooperate with government efforts. Recent rains and travel among countries of the region are factors in the spread of the illness. Symptoms are similar to dengue, including high fever, headaches, and aching joints. Serious cases could result in chronic disabilities. The government has sent a request to the National Assembly to appropriate approximately US$4,000 more to fight chikungunya and dengue.

[Ed. Note: Malaria and dengue fever have long been endemic to Nicaragua. Constant news coverage of this new disease should not discourage travel to Nicaragua. Travelers should take the same precautions they would take for the more familiar health threats. With a population of six million, the danger of catching chikungunya in Nicaragua is about the same as winning the lottery.](Radio La Primerisima, Nov. 6, 10; El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 5)

7. Sister cities want to resolve difficulties with customs

Building on the previous week’s resolution of customs problems at the Port of Corinto by private business leaders meeting with government officials, representatives from several New England cities with sister city relationships with towns in Nicaragua last week made public their complaints about seizures of goods and elevated customs charges when they send humanitarian aid to their sister cities. Jean Silk, founder of the New Haven-Leon Sister City Project, said, “It would be good if we could receive the support of the government. We are sure that President Daniel Ortega doesn’t know about the bureaucracy we go through at the airport. We are not asking for anything for ourselves, just understanding about the aid that we bring.” She said that beginning some years ago, donations that never had problems before had to be declared for duties or were seized by authorities.

Lydia Sampson of the Newton, Massachusetts-San Juan del Sur Sister City Project said that several Massachusetts colleges had stopped sending aid because of bureaucratic problems. Carol Caro of the Brookline-Quezalguaque project said that even when the mayors of the cities send a letter, those are often ignored by customs officials.  (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 5)