TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Nicaragua Network Hotline (November 10, 2009)

1. Hurricane Ida hits Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast
2. Clashes on anniversary of municipal elections
3. ALBA projects to expand in forestry and irrigated agriculture
4. Authorities analyze change in electricity generation
5. Government cuts maternal mortality in past two years

Topic 1: Hurricane Ida hits Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast

On Nov. 7, Nicaraguan Civil Defense authorities reported that the Hurricane Ida, in its passage along the eastern coast of Nicaragua, had affected 13,300 people, driven 5,300 people from their homes, left 845 houses without roofs, destroyed 6,800 acres of family crops, brought down 80% of electricity lines in the region as well as destroying numerous roads and bridges. No one was killed or is missing. On Nov. 8 President Daniel Ortega announced measures to address the needs of the affected communities and the estimated US$4.4 million property damage. Funds will come from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He praised the efforts of SINAPRED, the Army and the Councils of Citizen Power for their work in protection and rescue.

Communities affected by rain and wind were the Corn Islands. Sandy Bay Sirpe, Karawala, la Barra de Rio Grande, Walpa, and Desembocadura de Rio Grande, Laguna de Perlas, Kukra Hill, Haulover, Walpasiksa, Wounta, Ibus and Isnawas, as well as inland communities along the Bambana River, Mulukuku and the towns in the mining triangle (Rosita, Siuna and Bonanza). [Ida became a hurricane again later and killed 140 people Nov. 7-9 in El Salvador]. Deaths and injuries in Nicaragua were prevented by evacuations conducted by the Nicaraguan Army.

Topic 2: Clashes on anniversary of municipal elections

Opposition parties and the Sandinista Party (FSLN) called for marches in the streets to respectively protest and celebrate the municipal elections that took place one year ago on Nov. 9, 2008. The Sandinistas won in 105 of the 146 municipalities but the opposition alleged fraud in some of the races, including those of major cities such as Managua, Leon and Jinotega.

Some clashes turned violent. On Nov. 8, in the city of Nagarote the press reported that Sandinista sympathizers threw homemade bombs [like large firecrackers] in the direction of an opposition protest organized by the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC), the “Let's Go with Eduardo” Movement (MVE), the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), and other organizations. Police kept the two groups separated by one block. Two Sandinista supporters were detained and two police officers were injured. The following day in Masaya opposition groups were unable to rally when they were reportedly attacked by Sandinista supporters. There were three injuries. There was also a clash that day at the National Autonomous University in Managua with both sides throwing homemade bombs. Opposition press reports said that the opposition youth gave the Sandinista supporters “some of their own medicine” when they were attacked by rocks and homemade mortar launchers. Evidently no one was injured. Eighteen organizations and the losing opposition mayoral candidates called for a national protest against the 2008 elections in Managua on November 21.

On Nov. 3, opposition groups ended a boycott of the National Assembly and introduced a bill to nullify the 2008 elections. It was sent to committee for consideration. While PLC deputies celebrated the action, FSLN representatives noted that it was unconstitutional and a Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) deputy said it would create a conflict among the different branches of government. The end of the boycott means that urgent legislation, most particularly in the economic sphere, can now be considered.

Topic 3: ALBA projects to expand in forestry and irrigated agriculture

The Joint Nicaraguan Venezuelan Commission will expand its projects in Nicaragua based on the solidarity principles of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), stated Venezuelan Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua and Petronic director and ALBANISA president Francisco Lopez. The commission includes other high level Venezuelan officials who are visiting Nicaragua.

Jaua, Caribbean Coast Development Council Secretary Lumberto Campbell, and Nicaraguan Fisheries Institute Director Steadman Fagoth met with the community of Wasakin in Rosita last week to explain to residents the Grannacional Forestry project put forward as part of the One ALBA program. Grannacional Forestry will help the Wasakin community of Rosita recover and sell timber felled by Hurricane Feliz in 2007 as well as establish a tree nursery and sustainable economic forestry projects. However, the press reported complaints by the North Atlantic Autonomous Regional Council that it was not informed or involved in approval of the project in violation of the Autonomy Law.

Members of the Joint Nicaraguan Venezuelan Commission visited the ALBA Irrigation Project set to begin next year. Presidential advisor Paul Oquist explained that under this plan 1.5 million acres would eventually be irrigated with water from Nicaragua's great lakes to produce 3.85 million tons of food in an effort to assure food security for the region. In the first stage, 12,350 acres in the zone between Lakes Cocibolca and Xolotlan ((Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua) will be irrigated with an investment of US$17 million which is expected to produce 31.46 million tons of food per year. The project will benefit 1,500 small farmers with an average acreage of 7.4 acres each.

Oquist said it would mean a profound social transformation in which farmers would pay back loans with grains and other agricultural products as part of a “family and community agriculture model.” The second stage will involve irrigating the west banks of Lake Cocibolca between Nandaime in the Department of Granada and Sapoá in Rivas and from Granada to Managua with the expectation of producing 377,000 tons of food with an investment of US$208 million over five years. The third stage would include the areas of Tipitapa, Nagarote, Leon, Chinandega, and the area around the Maribios volcano range with an investment of US$2 billion to begin in 2012. The latter stages will require new topographical studies because the first feasibility studies for the projects were done in 1985.

Jaua said that Nicaragua had been converted into a strategic food reserve to enable Venezuela to confront the supply boycott of the Venezuelan oligarchy which has a monopoly over the country's agricultural industry and is attempting to blackmail the Venezuelan people and government. He said that “Nicaragua has been a sure source of meat, milk, and black beans which are all mainstays of the Venezuelan diet.”

In related news, the National Assembly approved an initiative confirming that loans from Venezuela under ALBA, which have been routed through private joint corporations, will not become public debt. The initiative passed with 82 votes, including those of the Sandinista Party. The legislators voted that any international assistance in the form of loans that does not pass through the National Assembly does not constitute public debt. Some countries, including the United States, and institutions provide money in loans or grants directly to organizations, companies, farmers, or businesspeople.

Topic 4: Authorities analyze change in electricity generation

Mayors from every municipality met in Managua with government officials and representatives of the electricity sector to discuss changes in the generation and delivery of electricity. Sadrach Zeledon, president of the Nicaraguan Association of Municipalities (AMUNIC), said that the meeting of all the actors of the energy sector with the mayors was to discuss different aspects of the change in the way electricity is produced in Nicaragua. Currently 71% of Nicaragua's electricity depends on petroleum while 29% is from renewable sources.

Both the generation and transmission of electricity, as well as the efficiency of each, was discussed. Zeledon touted the progress made by the Sandinista government which, in less than a year, eliminated electricity blackouts that had plagued the country. He cited as the cause that, during the 16 years of neoliberal governments, investment in electricity infrastructure was zero. He said President Daniel Ortega is determined to reduce the dependency on petroleum for electricity production.

Zeledon said that each mayor and municipality must help achieve the goal of renewable energy production and support the wind, hydro, and geothermal projects necessary to achieve it. Emilio Rapacciolli, Minister de Energy and Mines explained the national energy plan designed to bring about the changes. He explained that there are three strategic poles to the energy policy including the renewable projects, rural electrification which now stands at 65%, and improved efficiency.

He announced that in a few days all the systems of electricity production from the sugar processing plants will be integrated into the national grid. He noted that the nation now generates 600 megawatts of electricity producing a 100 megawatt reserve over the 500 megawatts needed for normal demand. He said, “There are many areas of the country that would be able to have electricity using the reserves that we have but they don't have it yet because we are still working on the transmission lines.”

Topic 5: Government cuts maternal mortality in past two years

Minister of Health (MINSA) Guillermo Gonzalez stated that for the first time in 2008 Nicaragua saw a drop in the number of maternal deaths which prior to that year was always around 300. In August of this year there was an in increase in deaths attributable to influenza, but in spite of that, Gonzalez said he was confident that the year would end with fewer maternal deaths than the previous year. He said that there were a total of 95 maternal deaths in 2008 and that 2009 would likely end with 83-85 maternal deaths.

The Ministry of Health supports 72 Maternal Houses which provide prenatal health services to rural women. Government health clinics around the country keep censuses of pregnant women and women with high risk pregnancies are taken to health centers before their delivery dates in order to prevent problems. “We do not depend on the pregnant women to seek us out at our clinics,” Gonzalez said, “but rather we are in the communities with health volunteers and midwives contacting pregnant women and that translates into more appropriate handling of their pregnancies. We have also increased the percentage of pregnant women who receive prenatal care from 60% to 77%.” Gonzalez also described advances in preventative healthcare and discussions with youth and adolescents about sexuality and responsible sexual behavior as contributing to the drop in maternal deaths. With the help of the Ministry of Education (MINED), MINSA has extended sex education in the schools.

This hotline is prepared from the Nicaragua News Service and other sources. To receive a more extensive weekly summary of the news from Nicaragua by e-mail or postal service, send a check for $60.00 to Nicaragua Network, 1247 E St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. We can be reached by phone at 202-544-9355. Our web site is: www.nicanet.org. To subscribe to the Hotline, send an e-mail to nicanet@afgj.org
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