Nicaragua Network

1. International congress addresses Central American epidemic of kidney disease
2. IEEPP releases survey on security perceptions
3. Political briefs: regulations; PLI and MRS; Ortega highlights investment
4. Economic briefs: Arce lays out goals; oil bill down; vice-minister for MIPYMES
5. Indigenous in Bosawas say road will lead to more deforestation
6. Petrocaribe fulfilling all commitments
7. Health and education news

1. International congress addresses Central American epidemic of kidney disease

The Central American Congress on Nephrology and Hypertension was held in Managua last week and one of its central themes was the epidemic of what has been called Mesoamerican Nephropathy and the efforts to understand its causes and define policies that would control the outbreak. Dr. Alfonso Zamora, director of the Nicaraguan Nephology Association, said that Central America is one of three regions in the world where kidney disease has become an epidemic; the others are Sri Lanka and the Balkans. He said that on Friday, May 22, some twenty specialists would present their studies of the disease that have been carried out in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, including the study by Boston University researchers.

Dr. Nubia Cano, president of the Nephrology and Hypertension Association of Central America and the Caribbean, said that usually renal disease is caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and kidney stones, but in some countries there are many patients with chronic kidney disease where the cause is not clear because they have none of these diseases. “What has been noticed,” she said, “is that it affects the agricultural population, in the countryside, exposed to the sun, fumigations, and toxic insecticides. They are young people in their productive years between 20 and 40 years old.” She said that patients in the final stages of the disease require dialysis which can be done in public and private hospitals in Nicaragua. But, while Nicaragua had advanced in technology and coverage of patients, she said work was still needed on prevention, early treatment, and a national kidney transplant program.

On Thursday, May 21, the subject was pediatric kidney disease. Dr. Mabel Sandoval of the La Mascota Children’s Hospital in Managua said that as many as one third of cases of chronic kidney disease in Nicaragua are children and, while bad nutrition, dehydration, and kidney stones are the causes in some cases, the principal cause is malformation of the urinary tract. She said that pregnant women should get an ultrasound so that doctors can prepare to correct the malformation soon after their child is born and thus avoid renal disease. (http://www.wwwcongresoacecanh2015.com/#!bienvenida/cox; El Nuevo Diario, May 18, 21, 22)

2. IEEPP releases survey on security perceptions

A recent survey by the Institute for Strategic Studies and Public Policies (IEEPP) on security perceptions was released on May 21. Over 90% of those surveyed as part of the Survey of Perceptions about Security said that they had not been a victim of a crime in the past six months, an improvement over a survey two years ago. The majority of Nicaraguans do not fear violence but many do fear being robbed with 42.7% of barrio residents saying it was the major security problem although 83.5% said that they felt safe in their houses. When asked, “Thinking of the last twelve months, what would you say was the security problem that has most increased in your neighborhood or community,” 36.2% said robbery. The next highest was 26.2% who said “none” and 15.7% who said “places where liquor is sold” followed, more alarmingly, by assaults by firearms at 15.5%. While 53.9% said they feared being robbed, up from 34% a year ago, the number of people who said they did not fear being victim of any crime rose from 11.9% to 24.9%. Perceptions of police effectiveness went down in some areas including efforts against organized crime and drug trafficking where 74.2% thought efforts were effective in 2011, but only 67% said the same in this recent survey. Overall, 62.4% thought the police were effective or very effective.

Women reported situations that made them feel insecure when they went out on the street. Forty-nine percent said they feared being assaulted with a firearm; 18% said they feared being pursued; 12% feared that someone would wait for them to harass them with another 10% fearful that they would be grabbed and harassed. The survey polled 1,721 people in December 2014 in both urban and rural areas throughout the country. The margin of error was 2.5% with a confidence level of 95%.

Informe Pastran said that citizen security is becoming one of the principal factors taken into account by foreign investors deciding to invest in Nicaragua and reported that Canadian investor Trevor Barran told Channel 8 that he is increasing his tourism investments in Nicaragua saying, “I believe that in today’s world the countries where you are physically safe are good places to invest your money. I definitely feel safer in Nicaragua than in any other place in the world.” (Informe Pastran, May 21; http://www.ieepp.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2015/05/Presentacion-VII-encuesta-Final.pdf)

3. Political briefs: regulations; PLI and MRS; Ortega highlights investment

National Assembly Director of Legislative Affairs Pablo Ferrey said that there are at least 34 laws that have been passed by the Assembly but which are awaiting formulation of the regulations that will put them into practice. “The laws that deal with the fire department, animal welfare and benefits for former combatants can be easily dealt with but the bureaucracy of the executive branch has not done it,” said opposition Deputy Wilfredo Navarro. Other laws awaiting “regs” include one dealing with natural disasters and another with traffic violations. He added that the Executive branch met with the leadership of the Assembly about this and agreed to give priority to certain laws. “The Executive branch has been completing the regulations for a number of laws since that meeting, but they are doing it at a slow pace,” he noted. (El Nuevo Diario, May 16)

The National Coalition for Democracy, the new umbrella coalition used by the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) in its efforts to unite a dispersed opposition to compete in next year’s presidential elections, demanded new rules for the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) in a demonstration in front of the CSE building on May 12. The document, signed by Eduardo Montealegre as president of the PLI, Carlos Noguera of the Ramiro Sacasa Movement, Adan Bermudez from the National Crusade faction of the Constitutional Liberal Party, and Carlos Noguera of the Nicaraguan Resistance, demanded national and international electoral observation, free voting cards, updated voter rolls, and transparency in the vote count, among other things. In related news, the PLI began its first course in Political Electoral Training for local leaders from all regions of the country so they will have the knowledge necessary for the 2016 presidential elections, the party said. (Informe Pastran, May 12, 25)

The Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) celebrated the 20th anniversary of its separation from the Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN) over the weekend with an event attended by MRS leaders and members along with leaders of other opposition parties and non-governmental organizations. The party presented a platform of programs that included annulling the concession for the shipping canal, changes in the magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Council, reforms to the electoral system, and the revival of the legal standing of the MRS party, which lost its legal recognition in 2008. (Informe Pastran, May 25)

Most of the country’s political leaders were present at the recent inauguration of the Mexican Sukarne meat plant in Managua, including former President Arnoldo Aleman and president of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) Eduardo Montealegre, both of whom greeted and chatted with President Daniel Ortega, something which they had not done since the celebration of the World Court decision on Colombia in Nov. 2012. Montealegre said, “It was just a ‘hello’, nothing more.” Also among those present were business leaders and representatives of international financial institutions. Informe Pastran noted, “This was the second time in a week that President Daniel Ortega appears in public outside his office to inaugurate an international investment project along with the Nicaraguan private sector in what seems to be part of an early electoral campaign, projecting the image of the Sandinistas, together with the private sector, growing the economy of the country.” (Informe Pastran, May 14)

4. Economic briefs: Arce lays out goals; oil bill down; vice-minister for MIPYMES

Presidential economic advisor Bayardo Arce presented an overview of Nicaragua’s economy on May 25 at a luncheon organized by the American-Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce. He said that the economy was expected to grow by 4.7% this year with an annual inflation rate of 6%. He said that the policies of President Daniel Ortega had as their goals the reduction of poverty and improvement in the standard of living of the Nicaraguan people and that the alliance between the government, workers and the private sector was essential to the achievement of these goals. He predicted an exchange rate for the Cordoba of 27.9 to the US dollar and calculated international reserves at US$2.26 billion. Arce said that goals for this year are to explore alternatives for external financing and to work with the various agencies that calculate investment risk with the goal of obtaining a credit rating more in accord with the recent strengthening of the national economy. He also said that while the United States continues to be Nicaragua’s principal trade partner, the country needs to continue to diversify the international markets for its products. (Informe Pastran, May 25)

According to the Central Bank, Nicaragua closed out the first four months (which the Bank calls a trimester) of 2015 with an annual reduction of 38% in its petroleum bill. The Bank said that the volume of petroleum decreased by 15.9% and the price by 47.4%. (El Nuevo Diario, May 21)

The government announced the creation of a Vice-Minister for Development, Industry, and Commerce to help micro, small, and medium sized businesses known as MIPYMES open new markets for their products. National Assembly Deputy Walmaro Gutierrez said that it was a recognition by President Daniel Ortega “that a little more than 80% of formal sector employment in Nicaragua is generated by MIPYMES.” (Informe Pastran, May 21)

5. Indigenous in Bosawas say road will lead to more deforestation

Leaders of the indigenous government of the Mayangna Sauni Bas, whose territory is within the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, last week expressed their concern about a road being built into their territory. Justo Taylor, secretary of the territorial government, said, “We estimate that it has advanced some eight kilometers which concerns us because, with this beginning, the flow of colonizers will increase and with it the loss of natural resources.” He added that the invasion of the Sauni Bas territory began to increase approximately ten years ago and this road would make the invasion worse. He noted that the clear cutting of the forest has resulted in a lowering of the flow of water in the Uly River where navigation was more difficult this past year. “The consequences of this will be felt by the inhabitants of the town of Siuna because this river provides the potable water for the urban population there,” he stated. He called on the authorities to stop the roadbuilding which is advancing rapidly. Siuna Mayor Onilda Reyes said, however, that the municipal government has no public works projects in that sector and has not authorized the opening of a road there. “It is not the mayor’s office,” she said, adding, “We will look into this.” (El Nuevo Diario, May 22)

6. Petrocaribe fulfilling all commitments

Bernardo Alvarez, president of PDV Caribe and secretary general of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), said last week in Caracas that Petrocaribe, the program which supplies petroleum products to Central American and Caribbean countries under favorable payment conditions, was solid and fulfilling all its commitments, providing crude to those countries with refineries and refined fuel oil to those without them. He explained at the forum entitled “Petrocaribe: Solidarity for Energy Security in the Caribbean” that Petrocaribe has delivered 301 million barrels of oil with a value of US$28 billion of which US$14 billion is being repaid under soft credit terms. Alvarez said that one of the principal problems of the region was electricity and “we have helped solve the problem by building electricity plants; one of nations that overcame the problem was Nicaragua.” He went on to say, “In the ten years of Petrocaribe we have demonstrated that we are a united block and a generator of development.” (Informe Pastran, May 22)

7. Health and education news

Socorro Gross, representative of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization in Nicaragua, said last week that Nicaragua’s health model and in particular its program to fight diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are key pieces for the control of mosquito-caused epidemics and that Nicaragua works hand-in-hand with the international health agencies. “Community mobilization is the basis for the low occurrences [of these diseases] in this country,” she said. (Informe Pastran, May 21)

Government spokesperson Rosario Murillo said that 2.14 million Nicaraguans are presently registered in educational programs in the country. She said that the figures include preschool, primary school, secondary education, special education, teacher training, adult formation classes, literacy classes, technical education, language schools, rural technical classes, and public and private universities. (Informe Pastran, May 20)

8. Environmental news: turtles and reforestation

More than 177,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles laid their eggs on the beaches of the La Flor Wildlife Refuge during the 2014-2015 cycle, thousands more than the 150,000 predicted by the Ministry of the Environment. September was the month with the most arrivals of female turtles with 76,664. Eighty-three percent of the nests successfully hatched turtles while the rest were disturbed, mainly by the movement of the sand by other turtles preparing their own nests. Also present, but to a lesser degree, were animal predators and human egg poachers. In 2013-14, only 109,212 turtles arrived to deposit their eggs while the record year was in 2011-12 when there was a historic invasion of turtles, totaling 1.3 million! Jorge Aguilar, owner of the Gran Oceano Hotel, said that the arrival of the sea turtles has become a tourist attraction at La Flor Refuge with between 50 and 70 tourists coming most nights during the season to view the turtles, paying between US$5 and US$10 for the privilege. The Olive Ridley sea turtle’s conservation status is “vulnerable” as rated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (El Nuevo Diario, May 20)

The National Forestry Institute (INAFOR) plans to plant more than 16 million trees on 29,000 hectares during the National Reforestation Campaign scheduled to start in June. One priority for this year is to establish windbreakers in the Departments of Leon and Chinandega where monoculture harvests leave bare fields provoking wind storms that carry away the soil. Some 452,000 people are expected to participate. During last year’s campaign 13 million trees were planted. According to INAFOR, Nicaragua loses 70,000 hectares of forest each year from logging and fires. (El Nuevo Diario, May 18)