Nicaragua Network

1. Seven people reported injured in clashes during anti-canal march
2. IMF says “Nicaragua continues to show a favorable economic performance”
3. Caribbean Coast news: violence, hurricane drill, new Bilwi hospital, and more
4. Economic news: exports, beef, chocolate, cruise ship, sesame, rice
5. Civil Engineering conference focuses on building survival in natural disasters
6. Traffic Police begin use of radar and breathalyzers

1. Seven people reported injured in clashes during anti-canal march

Two marches were held on Oct. 27, one in opposition to the proposed interoceanic shipping canal and another in support of the government and titled “United for Work and Peace.” Early in the day, Sandinista supporters gathered with flags and signs at Managua traffic circles. Buses arrived at the offices of opposition daily La Prensa on the North Highway from outside Managua filled with farmers and others opposed to the canal. Organizers planned to march to the National Assembly to demand repeal of the law granting the canal concession but instead were routed by the National Police to Bello Horizonte neighborhood where they held a rally. Police said that marchers would have to give up weapons such as machetes and clubs if they were to march to the Assembly which they refused to do. Meanwhile, Sandinista Youth marched from a starting point near Lake Xolotlan to a point on the Masaya Highway. A total of seven people were reported injured as a result of clashes between opposing bands and between police and marchers.

Organizers from the Council for the Defense of the Land, the Lake, and Sovereignty said that they considered the 15,000 person (estimated by the organizers) march a success noting that 23 buses had reached Managua, in spite of what they said was harassment by police road blocks along the way. A press release from the opposition Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) said that, “It is clear, after 52 civic marches around the whole country in almost three years, that the canal fraud can count on ironclad opposition from peasant farmers who will not accept expropriation of their land and liquidation of their communities.” Pablo Cuevas of the Permanent Commission for Human Rights (CPDH) said that the National Police had protected delinquents who were Sandinista party “fanatics”.

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, said in his Nov. 2^nd All Souls Day sermon that “It is lamentable that in two months we have had four violent occurrences when the Holy Father’s intention is that we listen to each other and look for possible solutions.” (Since August, eight police officers and two civilians have died in clashes.) Meanwhile, Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), said that two opposing marches should not be scheduled for the same day and that “We have to find ways of operating that do not hold back the productivity of the country; while people have a right to peacefully march, we must respect those who do not want to march and who want to work.” Vice-President Omar Hallesleven said that the peasant farmers who came to the march were being manipulated by political parties and civil society organizations opposed to the canal. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 27, 28, 29, Nov. 2; Informe Pastran, Oct. 27, 28)

2. IMF says “Nicaragua continues to show a favorable economic performance”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded its Article IV Consultation, an annual review of the economy of each IMF member, in Managua last week. Gerardo Peraza, chief of the IMF mission, said that “Nicaragua continues to show a favorable economic performance. The growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last three years has averaged 4.8% and is among the highest in the region.” He added that in 2014, the consolidated public sector deficit was 2% of GDP and the public debt, which now includes the total amount of relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative, was reduced by 2.2% to 40.8% of GDP. The external current accounts deficit was reduced from 11% of GDP in 2013 to 7% in 2014 and international reserves increased to cover 4.1 months of imports.

The IMF report went on to say that the country’s macroeconomic perspective is positive and a growth rate of 4% is estimated for 2015 with an inflation rate of 3.5% based on low petroleum prices. For the medium term, the IMF predicts continued 4% growth in GDP but a 7% inflation rate. He said, “We estimate that the consolidated public sector deficit will rise to approximately 2.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the foreign deficit will rise to 8% of GDP and we calculate that international currency reserves will remain stable.

The IMF recommended measures to strengthen certain areas to confront external developments. It recommended a reduction in the number of tax exonerations, the focusing of electricity subsidies on the poorest households, strengthening the Social Security system, along with increased monitoring of the quality of statistics, for which the IMF promised its assistance. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 29; Informe Pastran, Oct. 29)

3. Caribbean Coast news: violence, hurricane drill, new Bilwi hospital, and more

Violence broke out in Bilwi on Oct. 30 during the celebrations of the 28^th anniversary of the passage of the 1987 Atlantic Coast Autonomy Law when members of the Yatama Party and the Sandinista Party confronted each other with a result of one dead and more than 20 injured, among them both civilians and police. Both sides deny starting the fighting. Albino Martinez, a member of the Sandinista Youth Association, died from five bullet wounds. Police Officer Alcides Baker was in serious condition and 12 other officers were wounded. Ten members of Yatama were injured with two transferred to a Managua hospital in delicate condition. Yatama leaders said that the violence began after a “Sandinista mob” attacked and injured Elizabeth Henriquez, former Bilwi mayor and Yatama leader the previous day. Twenty people have died as a result of violence between indigenous and colonizers of indigenous lands in the past few months in the North Caribbean Region and Yatama leader Brooklyn Rivera was arrested for aiding in the illegal sale of indigenous land. (El Nuevo Diario, Nov. 1)

Thousands of people on the Caribbean Coast participated in a hurricane drill organized by the National System of Attention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters (SINAPRED). SINAPRED Co-director Guillermo Gonzalez said, “The exercise was very successful allowing us to evaluate our emergency plans as well as community and institutional response in the event of a hurricane.” (Nicaragua News, Oct. 29)

National Assembly leadership sent to committee a proposal to approve accepting a US$53 million loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) to replace the “New Dawn” regional hospital in the North Caribbean Autonomous Zone. Deputy Walmaro Gutierrez, chairman of the Committee on Production, Economy, and Budget said the project will benefit 500,000 residents of the regional capital of Bilwi and of Waspan, Prinzapolka, Siuna, Rosita, Bonanza, Mulukuku and Bocana de Paiwas. The Sandinista government will add US$7.9 million to the loan for the project which is expected to be completed in three years. The Ministry of Health will oversee the project which will provide the northern autonomous region with a modern hospital that will reduce the need to transfer patients to Managua. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 22)

The Puerto Cabezas Court House conducted its first trial argued entirely in the Miskito language last week. District Judge Rafael Castro said, “This is an important way in which we celebrate the 28^th anniversary of the Autonomy Law.” (Nicaragua News, Oct. 29)

The National Assembly has inaugurated a new Office for the Affairs of Ancestral Peoples of the Nicaragua Caribbean. Deputy Noe Coleman, who will coordinate the office, said its mission is to strengthen and promote civil and political rights of the native peoples of the Caribbean Coast, primarily the right to communal and collective property. (Nicaragua News, Oct. 28)

On Oct. 30, a group of men burned a US$250,000 Caterpillar 330 excavator that the Transportation Ministry was using in the construction of the highway to Bluefields. According to Transportation Minister Pablo Martinez, “It was a group of about twelve who came back from protesting [the canal in Managua]. They have a right to protest but not to damage things that are bringing progress to Nicaragua.” He said that the Ministry had bought the excavator in February of this year but he added that the work on the highway would not be held back. (Informe Pastran, Oct. 30)

The Nicaragua Institute of Technology and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized a Technical Training and Climate Change course in Bluefields, capital of the South Caribbean Autonomous Region. UNICEF regional delegate Wanda Obando said that the purpose of the program was to prepare young people and make technical services available to the people on the Caribbean Coast. (Nicaragua News, Oct. 27)

4. Economic news: exports, beef, chocolate, cruise ship, sesame, rice

According to the Central Bank, the value of Nicaraguan exports has continued to decline in recent months because of low prices on the world markets. For the third quarter, exports were down by 5.5%. Juan Sebastian Chamorro, director of the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUNIDES), the drop in prices has affected exporters of coffee, tobacco and gold. He noted that the period from 2002 to 2012 was a boom time for commodities and Nicaragua’s sugar, coffee, gold, and peanuts did well. He said that Nicaragua must take into account lowered demand from China that, while it results in a drop in petroleum prices that is beneficial for Nicaragua, also has meant a drop in the price of commodities that Nicaragua produces. He added, “We must invest more in increasing productivity…. This should be our principal emphasis….. For peasant farmers, improving productivity means substantial investment.” (Informe Pastran, Oct. 28, Nov. 2

The Nicaraguan Chamber of Beef Exporters (CANICARNE) released a statement on the warning from the World Health Organization about the dangers of processed and red meat. CANICARNE said that it “laments that an institution of such prestige and respect as the WHO, through the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), would issue such categorical conclusions, based on work done by others, supported by dangerous theories.” CANICARNE added, “Cancer is a very complex disease and cannot be attributed to one type of food or one factor, as evidence has shown.” Salvador Castillo of the Federation of Cattle Ranchers (FAGANIC) said he was concerned about the effect the announcement could have on international markets. Nicaragua last year exported US$456 million worth of beef. (Informe Pastran, Oct. 28; El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 29)

A sample of fine Nicaraguan cacao was selected as among the 17 best in the world at the International Chocolate Awards,of the famous Paris Salon du Chocolat held Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. At the Oct. 12 to 16 London edition of the awards, according to the web page, Nicaragua received a silver medal for Dark Milk 55% Chocolate and a bronze medal for Dark Milk 65% Chocolate. Lutheran World Relief and the Ingemann company promote fair trade cacao in Nicaragua. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 30; http://www.internationalchocolateawards.com/2015/10/world-final-winners-2015/)

The first cruise ship of the season, Holland America’s Veendam with 1,222 passengers, docked in Corinto on Oct. 29. The ship sailed from San Diego on Oct. 16 to visit seven ports of Central and South America. Artisans from Masaya, San Juan de Oriente and Chinandega sold their wares to the travelers who were offered trips to either Leon, El Viejo and Chinandega or to visit the Chorotega Ceramic Museum and the Rodrigo Callejas Theater in Chinandega. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 29)

The scarcity of rain this year in parts of Nicaragua has meant that more farmers have turned to a crop that was grown in Nicaragua in colonial times. Michael Healy of the Nicaraguan Union of Agricultural Producers (UPANIC) said, “It’s a crop that is resistant to drought. Obviously it is planted more when we have little rain.” Members of the Del Campo Cooperative, which includes 3,641 small and medium farmers who plant peanuts and sesame, are planting more of the latter this year. With origins in Africa, sesame was brought to Nicaragua by slaves from that continent in the 16^th century. Marvin Reyes has been planting sesame for five years and this year expects to harvest 50 hundredweights from his 8 ½ acres. He said, “For me, the production of sesame is more profitable than peanuts. The area that I plant can be smaller, the soil is less damaged with fungicides and each hundredweight is paid at a higher rate.” (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 29)

Nicaragua will produce enough rice in the 2015-2016 agricultural season for internal consumption in spite of the drought, according to Vice-Minister of the Environment Roberto Araquistain who said that a harvest of between 4.5 and 5 million hundredweights is expected. He said that 138,000 acres had been planted to rice this year, 25,000 acres less than what had been predicted at the beginning of the rainy season in May. Araquistain said, “We believe that the rains that have blessed the last part of the rainy season have encouraged the growers to plant, especially those who grow upland or dry rice and were waiting to see if it was going to rain.” (Informe Pastran, Oct. 27)

5. Civil Engineering conference focuses on building survival in natural disasters

The National System of Attention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters (SINAPRED) has relocated 15,000 families over the past eight years whose homes have been in danger zones at risk of natural disasters. SINAPRED Executive Director Guillermo Gonzalez made the announcement during the 8^th National Congress of Civil Engineering in Managua where experts from Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Venezuela discussed the safety of buildings during extreme natural phenomena.

Gonzalez said that urban growth in Nicaragua is accelerating but not always in ways that recognize infrastructure capacity and danger zones for natural phenomena. He said that the entire nation is at risk of earthquakes. He stated that in the last 43 years, more than 15,000 people have died because of natural disasters and that the economic loss has been US$7 billion. The two-day conference, which was open to civil engineering professionals and students as well as local government officials, offered 30 workshops and focused on how to build structures resistant to natural phenomena. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 30)

6. Traffic Police begin use of radar and breathalyzers

Beginning on Oct. 29, police began a campaign to crack down on speeders and drunk drivers, setting up 35 radars and breathalyzers, half in Managua and half in other parts of the country, according to Roberto Gonzalez, chief of the National Traffic Safety Directorate of the National Police. On Nov. 3, however, the police announced that only warning tickets have been given out so far with fines scheduled to start in December.

On most of Managua’s streets, the speed limit is 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles per hour). In school zones, the speed is 25 kilometers per hour (16 miles per hour). According to Norman Castillo, deputy chief of Traffic Safety, more than half the drivers exceed the speed limit. Changes in the National Traffic Law last year significantly raised the penalties for drunk driving. Fines range from US$36 and 12 hours in jail for the lowest level of inebriation to US$180 and six months in jail for the highest level. (El Nuevo Diario, Oct. 27, Nov. 3)