Nicaragua

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NicaNotes: Veterans For Peace Delegation Visits Nicaragua: A Call for Solidarity and Truth in the Face of Disinformation — Part One
July 3, 2025

NicaNotes: Veterans For Peace Delegation Visits Nicaragua:
A Call for Solidarity and Truth in the Face of Disinformation — Part One
By Gerry Condon

(Gerry Condon is a Vietnam-era veteran, war resister, and a former president and current board member of Veterans For Peace. He led the first two US veterans’ delegations to revolutionary Nicaragua in 1983-84, and coordinated the Veterans Peace Convoy to Nicaragua in 1987. He also led a Veterans For Peace delegation to Nicaragua in 2019 and the recent one in March of this year. Joshua Shurley teaches political science at Fresno City College. His Ph.D. research focused on the impact of US special operations on civilian populations. He is national vice-president of VFP.)

[This is Part One of the report of the March 2025 Veterans for Peace trip to Nicaragua. The veterans’ delegation also gave a report back on a June 22, 2025, webinar with the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition.]


Group photo of the Veterans For Peace delegation at a memorial to Sandino. Left to right: Al Glatkowski, Dan Shea, Gerry Condon, delegation translator Becca Maholly Renk, Chris Smiley, Douglas Ryder, Michael Kramer, Joshua Shurley. Photo: Coleen Littlejohn

In a powerful demonstration of international solidarity, seven U.S. veterans visited Nicaragua in mid-March as part of an official delegation of Veterans For Peace (VFP). As the U.S. continues to grapple with mounting challenges such as increasing authoritarianism, mass deportations, and the dismantling of social services, the delegation’s visit underscores a vital message: that solidarity between the peoples of the U.S. and Nicaragua can help break through the lies and disinformation promoted by powerful interests and reveal how the struggles of ordinary people are interconnected.

Veterans For Peace, a 40-year-old U.S.-based organization founded by former members of the military, is committed to “restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations.” The veterans’ delegation to Nicaragua was more than just a show of solidarity—it was an act of resistance against the disinformation campaign that has consistently misrepresented the Sandinista government and the realities of life in Nicaragua.

Delegation members were VFP Vice President Joshua Shurley, VFP Board Member Gerry Condon, VFP Communications Director Chris Smiley, At-Large Member Alvin Glatkowski of Virginia, and Michael Kramer, Douglas Ryder and Dan Shea, three presidents of their respective VFP chapters in Northern New Jersey; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; and Portland, Oregon.

The Struggles We Share

Nicaragua, the third poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has long been a symbol of revolutionary spirit. The country’s history is marked by the struggle of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) against U.S.-backed dictatorship and imperialism. Despite facing U.S.-led economic sanctions and limited resources, Nicaragua has made remarkable strides in lifting people out of poverty. The FSLN’s commitment to poverty reduction, and providing free, quality healthcare and education for all serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved when the needs of the people are prioritized over profit.

In contrast, the U.S. is experiencing its own form of decline. Increasing authoritarianism, the dismantling of democratic institutions, and mass deportations are signs of a system that prioritizes corporate power over human dignity. Many Americans are now beginning to face the harsh realities that countries like Nicaragua have endured for decades. From climate change-induced ecosystem collapse to the ongoing threat of nuclear war, it is clear that the U.S. is not immune to the consequences of imperialism and neoliberalism. The challenge is no longer confined to far-off nations but is increasingly felt on U.S. soil.

What We Saw and What We Learned

During the delegation’s visit, members traveled to Matagalpa and San Ramón, a region where the transformative effects of Sandinista policies were visible. From universities in rural communities to healthcare facilities that provide free services to all citizens, the delegation witnessed firsthand the immense efforts made to ensure that no one is left behind. This contrasts sharply with the past, when U.S.-backed governments turned a blind eye to the needs of the most vulnerable.

Dramatic Reductions in Maternal and Infant Mortality

Since the Sandinista government’s return to power in 2007, Nicaragua has made major strides in maternal healthcare, largely through its maternity wait homes (known in Spanish as Casas Maternas) program. These community-based centers offer free, comprehensive care to women with high-risk pregnancies—providing safe housing, prenatal education, and transport to hospitals when it’s time to give birth. During our recent Veterans For Peace delegation, we visited the Casa Materna “Martina Alemán” in Matagalpa, where we saw firsthand how this program supports women in remote areas. It’s part of a broader public health effort that has helped reduce maternal mortality by 70% and infant mortality by 56%.


The VFP delegation met with staff and expectant mothers at the Casa Materna Martina Aleman in Matagalpa. Photo: Veterans For Peace

“What a difference it makes when a government prioritizes the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. And what a contrast to the U.S., where things are moving in exactly the opposite direction,” said Joshua Shurley, national vice president of Veterans For Peace.

Meanwhile, in the United States, maternal health outcomes continue to worsen—especially for women of color. Many areas lack basic access to maternity care with hospitals closing and services becoming more centralized and expensive. These outcomes are deeply connected to ongoing political attacks on reproductive healthcare, including abortion bans, clinic closures, and restrictions that make even basic care harder to access. Pregnant people face rising out-of-pocket costs, limited or no paid leave, and increasing legal risks just for seeking care.

The Casa Materna model—and Nicaragua’s broader approach—shows what’s possible when healthcare is treated not as a commodity, but as a public good and a human right. For Veterans For Peace, these lessons are profound. One overarching mission of Veterans For Peace is to build a culture of peace—and what we saw in Nicaragua reminds us that peace isn’t just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity, and care for the most vulnerable.

U.S. Economic Warfare Continues

Nicaragua’s achievements are all the more impressive given the continuing U.S. economic warfare against its progressive government. The US has imposed sanctions on Nicaragua since 2018, when it opposed an IMF loan to Nicaragua to aid its finances after the US-inspired coup attempt, and then used its influence to block loans from the World Bank and similar institutions. Nicaragua’s finance minister said that this costs the country around $500m annually in development funding that would go to its poorest communities.

There are now threats of new sanctions. The US has been attempting to stop loans from the Central America Bank for Economic Integration, and is also threatening to attempt to exclude Nicaragua from the CAFTA trade agreement. The Trump Administration recently threatened higher tariffs on Nicaraguan exports than those applying to its neighbors, although these higher tariffs have been suspended until July.

Sustainable Energy and Food Sovereignty

Nicaragua’s ability to withstand punishing U.S. economic warfare (aka “sanctions”) is partly a result of its focus on “food sovereignty” and renewable energy, making progress in sustainable agriculture and energy production. Ninety per cent of the food that Nicaraguans eat is grown in Nicaragua, and over 70% of Nicaragua’s energy needs are met by wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric.


The VFP delegation was covered extensively by Nicaraguan media. Here, several outlets are interviewing VFP Board member Gerry Condon. Photo: Veterans for Peace

Free Education for All

Free education is a cornerstone of Nicaragua’s development strategy, with investments in vocational schools and colleges to empower the youth. The delegation visited INATEC (National Technological Institute) in Granada, where students are learning vocational skills as part of the FSLN’s broader commitment to its most valuable national treasure: its youth. These students are being empowered to build their futures through education, a stark contrast to the eroding access to education and opportunities that many youth in the U.S. face today.

The U.S. veterans also visited a school for the arts in Masaya, further underscoring the importance of cultural expression and the value of the arts in building a free and just society. Nicaragua’s commitment to fostering creativity and providing artistic education stands in stark contrast to the growing marginalization of the arts in many U.S. educational systems.

U.S.-Backed Attempted Coup in 2018

Additionally, the delegation traveled to sites in Masaya where brutal violence occurred during the U.S.-backed coup attempt in 2018. Western media portrayed these events as a crackdown by the Nicaraguan government on peaceful protesters. However, firsthand accounts from those on the ground reveal a different story: the so-called “peaceful protesters” were violent mobs, funded through shadowy arms of the U.S. intelligence sector, whose aim was to return the country to neoliberal rule. The truth, as witnessed by the veterans’ delegation, is far more complex than the simplistic narrative often pushed by mainstream media.

This is Part One of a two-part series. Part Two will appear soon!

For more information about the work of Veterans for Peace, check out the VFP website.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

100 Families Receive Homes

The Managua mayor’s office turned over the keys to more than 100 houses to an equal number of families in the Camino del Río housing development, located in District VI of the capital, adding to the1,800 new houses so far in the project, according to Mayor Reyna Rueda. The goal is to build more than 5,300 houses in this subdivision of affordable housing. Rueda added that the access road to this sector, which will benefit the inhabitants of Villa Jerusalén and Sabana Grande, is 40% finished along with the construction of 60 blocks of streets within the two new housing complexes. The construction of the primary and secondary school for this neighborhood has made significant progress. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/cien-fam ... as-nuevas/ (La Primerisima, 28 June, 2025)

Overpass on Heroes of the Insurrection Highway Ready

Co-President Rosario Murillo reported that, in commemoration of revolutionary leader Julio Buitrago Urroz, an overpass on the North Highway and the Heroes of the Insurrection Highway will be inaugurated on July 15. This is part of a beltway that goes from the north highway around to the South Highway near 7Sur. This work strengthens the road infrastructure of Managua and will reduce traffic congestion. The overpass is part of a much larger project to provide a better connection between the North Highway and the South Highway which will speed up the transfer times from one point to the other. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/listo-tr ... era-norte/ (La Primerisima, 26 June 2025)

Massive Participation in Multi-hazard Drill

SINAPRED (National System for Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters) reported that 2.3 million people in neighborhoods throughout the country participated in the drill on June 26 which put into practice multi-hazard, family, community, municipal, departmental, regional and institutional response plans for dealing with the effects of hurricanes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, among other phenomena. Participants, organized in 43,845 community, work center, institutional and municipal brigades, participated in 12,646 scenarios that were prepared for this exercise in 8,007 neighborhoods and communities. According to the report, 66,719 citizens participated in the 1,682 health units, 178 maternity homes and 101 homes for people with special needs, including health personnel, patients and visitors. The educational system reported the participation of 1.2 million in 9,612 public and private educational centers. Meanwhile, the municipalities reported the participation of 22,953 citizens. Other mobilizations included the National Police – 8,742 members; Nicaraguan Army – 10,000 troops; and 2,754 United Firefighters in 228 stations nationwide. The private sector reported the participation of 31 free trade zones, 106 markets, 18 commercial and recreational centers, 268 private institutions, 69 cooperatives and 233 churches of different denominations. Over 200 communities vulnerable to tsunami threats were mobilized in coastal areas. SINAPRED said that of the 60 sirens of the early warning system in the Pacific, 58 activated automatically; the rest were activated manually.

Drill Turns into Real Disaster Response in Some Areas

According to SINAPRED, in the Santa Elena neighborhood of District 6 of Managua, a special plan different from the national drill had to be developed due to heavy rains—communication mechanisms were activated from the national, municipal and district levels with the support of SINAPRED’s Mobile Data Center and deployed to guarantee autonomous communications and technological support at the affected site. At that place, ten action protocols were tested including self-protection measures and evacuation of 1,520 people from 313 homes. The skills of the local brigades were tested in real time with the rescue of 10 people, who were transferred to the field hospital deployed for initial care. A temporary shelter was set up in the Luz de Cristo Church, with kitchen, health, sleeping and psychosocial support areas. The damage assessment team was also activated with the participation of 12 technicians from national institutions.

The SINAPRED report adds that there were also scenarios of intense rains which caused floods in the communities Ochomogo, San Rafael, Barraza, San Roque, Barrio Cuba, Pozo de Oro, Las Banderas, El Jabillo, San Isidro, Apompoa 2 (San Miguel), San Antonio 1 and 2, La Sirena, Potosí 2 (Paso de Piedra), Calle En Medio (San Gregorio) and El Limonal 2. Community leaders activated family and community plans for the protection of life. The local Brigade of San Rafael, in coordination with the municipal emergency brigade, activated an emergency alert for the search and rescue of two people who were swept away by the strong currents of the Ochomogo River who were transferred to the health post in the San Rafael community. They also carried out an evacuation of people located on the banks of the river to safe places and temporary shelter in the Joshua 1-9 Church with the support of brigadistas and community members. (La Primerisima, 26 June 2025)

Sandinistas Reenact 1979 Retreat to Masaya

On Sunday, June 27th, thousands of Sandinistas took part in a caravan of motorcyclists to commemorate the tactical retreat [el repliegue] from Managua to Masaya on June 27, 1979, as part of the preparations for the celebration of the 46th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution on July 19th. Despite the heavy rains in some regions, the enthusiasm of the people was palpable. Red and black flags, slogans and whistles accompanied the caravans in memory of the historic struggle and the popular victory of 1979. The motorcade was commemorating the 46th anniversary of the withdrawal from Managua that was a fundamental step in the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship. The dictatorship was bombing its own cities, including Managua and the retreat was in great part a life-saving effort. Historical combatant Francisco Salinas, who has always been a part of the revolutionary project, stated that “Today we are commemorating another year of the Tactical Withdrawal to Masaya with this motorized caravan.” With this activity, the population joined the national celebrations that will culminate on July 19, reaffirming their commitment to keep alive the memory of the revolution. See many excellent photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/alegres- ... iempre-19/ (La Primerisima, 28 June 2025)

Chinandega Opens Remodeled Baseball Stadium

The mayor’s office of Chinandega announced it has concluded the rehabilitation of the Efrain Tijerino Mazariego baseball stadium. Mayor Aura Lila Padilla, said the project was carried out by the Sandinista government and benefits the population, local athletes and those who enjoy each game. The remodeling included the construction of the parking lot, the main façade of the stadium, improvements in the playing field, booths, seating and fan areas. Scarth Martinez, coordinator of Sandinista Youth in Chinandega, commented, “We, the youth, feel happy because we are the protagonists [in these sports], in these improvements that our government makes for healthy recreation where you can come and enjoy.” Chinandega continues to advance in the development of the sport which, in addition to the enjoyment of the fans, benefits the merchants who offer their food and projects when there are baseball games in the different championships that are played there. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/chinande ... e-beisbol/ (La Primerisima, 28 June 2025)

Anniversary of World Court Decision Against the US

Thirty-nine years ago, on June 28, 1986, at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, justice shone in favor of the Nicaraguan people; David defeated Goliath once again. The Court’s ruling was a historic milestone for international law. Nicaragua had sued the United States for financing paramilitary activities and arming the counterrevolution (the Contras), for the mining of ports, damage to the economy and most importantly, loss of human lives, 38,000 at that point in time. Out of 16 judges, 15 voted in favor of the Nicaraguan people. The estimated value that the United States should pay Nicaragua was calculated at $US17 billion. The Nicaraguan team of lawyers, led by Dr. Carlos Arguello, gave moral and patriotic lessons at the highest court in the world, making the peaceful settlement of international disputes prevail as a principle of international public law. At 39 years from that decision, the government of Nicaragua reiterated its commitment and vocation for peace, the defense of the principles of international law as a mechanism for peaceful settlement of international disputes. (La Primerisima, 28 June 2025)

Inspections to Avoid Hiring Child Labor

Ministry of Labor inspectors visited 29 companies last week as part of its activities related to preventing child labor and to protecting adolescent workers 18 and older. According to the report released by the Ministry, 184 agreements have been signed with employers committing to the non-hiring of child labor and 39 certificates were issued to adolescents who met the minimum working age. Of this total, 56% were issued in the department of Estelí. (La Primerisima, 28 June 2025)

External Debt Decreases

The Nicaraguan Central Bank report on the country’s total external debt corresponding to the first quarter of 2025 indicates that the total external debt decreased by US$3.2 million (-0.02%) with respect to the balance of December 2024 (US$15.8 billion). This is the result of the US$40.3 million decrease in the private external debt and the US$37.2 million increase of the public external debt. Disbursements during the quarter were US$749.6 million, of which 85.7 percent came from private creditors and 14.3 percent from official creditors. The main destinations of these resources were the following economic activities: electricity, gas and water (31.9%), commerce (27.8%), financial intermediation (14.8%), manufacturing industry (9.6%), construction (8.0%), mining (5.2%), public administration (1.8%), and other sectors (0.9%). Of the total disbursements, US$642.1 million went to the private sector and US$107.5 million to the public sector.

The external debt service was US$903.9 million in the quarter, of which US$783.6 million were principal payments and US$120.4 million were interest and commission payments. Of the total service paid, 78.2% corresponded to the private sector, and the rest to the public sector (21.8%). In terms of financial conditions, the average term of the private sector’s long-term external debt remained at 14 years with six years for non-financial sector debt and 23 years for the financial sector. The weighted average interest rate was 5.26%. External public debt recorded an average contracted term of 21 years, including a 10-year grace period, with an average interest rate of 2.78%.

The Central Bank also reported that the total external debt (public + private) at the end of the first quarter of 2025, was US$15.8 billion, of which 55.1% (US$8.7 billion) corresponds to the public sector and 44.9% (US$7.1 billion) to the private sector. Of the total external debt, 44.1% was with official multilateral creditors, 31.3% with official bilateral creditors, and 24.6% with commercial banks, suppliers and others. (La Primerisima, 30 June 2025)

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-veterans-for ... n-part-one

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NicaNotes: Celebrating Mothers…By Helping Them Survive!
June 5, 2025
By Becca Renk

(Becca Renk has lived and worked in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua for 25 years with the Jubilee House Community and its project, the Center for Development in Central America. Recently she participated in a webinar, “Nicaraguan Programs of Maternal & Child Health: A Cross-National Comparison.” You can watch the webinar recording here.)


Since 2007, Nicaragua has managed to reduce maternal mortality by 79.8%, reduce neonatal mortality by 62.5% and reduce infant mortality rates by 58.6%.

I gave birth to both of my daughters at home with an attending OB/GYN, a pediatrician, a nurse, my husband Paul as support, Kathleen as a doula, various other members of our community in the room, and in the case of my older daughter, also with the pet monkey Bella watching from outside the window. (“You told me it was just going to be two people,” the doctor chided me afterward, “You never mentioned the monkey!”)

At the time, in the early 2000s, it was common for Nicaraguan women to give birth at home. But unlike my neighbors, I had the privilege and resources to pay for prenatal care and to hire a doctor to attend the births. For most women, regular checkups were difficult to access, and impossible for women in rural areas who were far from health centers. Women were afraid to go to the hospital, and often opted to give birth at home with only a lay midwife and no emergency services if things went wrong. From 1990 to 2006, Nicaragua suffered under neoliberal governments which stripped the people of their basic rights – health care and education had essentially been privatized – and pregnant women in particular were affected.

Our younger daughter Orla was born in 2006, shortly after Nicaragua had once again elected a Sandinista-led government, a government which has been re-elected in three subsequent elections. President Daniel Ortega declared health care and education free again immediately upon entering office and over the 18 years of Orla’s life, we have seen how this government has set about restoring Nicaraguan’s rights with particular emphasis on women’s rights.

Last week, Nicaragua celebrated its biggest holiday. Bigger than Christmas, or Easter, or even the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is a day when Nicaraguans celebrate the holiest of holies: their moms.

Mother’s Day in Nicaragua is on May 30th and it is a mandatory paid holiday. All around the country, people celebrated their mothers with gifts, food, cake, and pinatas. At the Nueva Vida Clinic we are preparing chop suey for 100 people and the men on staff are organizing a program replete with dance numbers. But in Nicaragua, honoring mothers is not just lip service paid one day a year. Over the past 18 years, the Nicaraguan government has honored mothers every day in tangible ways, such as taking care of women during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Worldwide, pregnancy and childbirth can be dangerous, but 80% of maternal deaths are entirely preventable. Nicaragua has proven this: despite being one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, since 2007 it has managed to reduce maternal mortality by 79.8%, reduce neonatal mortality by 62.5% and reduce infant mortality rates by 58.6%.

Through the country’s universal free healthcare system, all prenatal, childbirth and post-natal care in Nicaragua is offered countrywide free of charge – c-sections, premature births, neonatal ICU stays and, incredibly, even fetal surgeries are all free. Nicaragua is the only Central American country offering this type of surgery free in the public health system.

Home births like mine and so many of my neighbors are now nearly unheard-of – 97% of all births are in hospitals. In rural communities where we work, lay midwives who once attended home births have now been incorporated into the healthcare system to provide prenatal care and in-hospital birth support.

In Nicaragua, 75 hospitals have been built new or remodeled since 2007 to make giving birth in a hospital a possibility even for rural families. Respect for Nicaragua’s diverse cultures has been incorporated into new hospital birthing facilities so that Indigenous women can safely give birth squatting or standing up, the way that women in their communities have traditionally given birth.

For those who still live far from hospitals, a network of 201 maternal wait homes around the country provide space for more than 72,000 women per year to stay near a hospital for the last two weeks of their pregnancy. Food, housing and vocational training is provided free of charge, women rest and are checked by medical staff regularly, and when they go into labor they give birth safely in the hospital nearby.

Post-partum, Nicaraguan women and their babies receive free quality healthcare and working women are guaranteed full pay maternity benefits. Last month, the maternity leave law was increased from 84 days to 91 days of mandatory paid leave. Free daycare programs around the country provide care, meals and preschool for babies and children up to six years of age so their moms can work.

In fact, Nicaraguans today have much better access to perinatal care than my home state of Idaho. In March of 2023, the hospital where I was born – Bonner County General Hospital – stopped attending births. With this closure, the nearest hospital with perinatal care is now at least an hour away. But many families in rural North Idaho are low-income, lacking health insurance, and with limited access to reliable transport. For these families, the journey to the hospital might be as long as three hours in good weather and longer in a north Idaho winter. There are women and babies who are dying.

Unfortunately, while Idaho’s case is extreme, it is not alone: according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, maternal mortality rates in 2021 increased by 40 percent over the previous year across the U.S., and outcomes are uneven, with Black women disproportionately dying during pregnancy.

How is it that a Third World country like Nicaragua has better maternity care than one of the richest countries in the world?

The answer is that the Nicaraguan government has the political will to provide that care. Over the past 18 years, eradicating maternal and infant mortality has been a top priority that is carefully followed up on at all levels.

Recently I was at the local public hospital where I live in Ciudad Sandino, just outside Managua. The director was ordering exams for a 19-year-old woman who was pregnant and very close to her due date. She had just returned from the United States, where she had been working but couldn’t afford to see a doctor. She’d had no bloodwork, no ultrasounds, no prenatal care at all. She had returned to Nicaragua where she could give birth safely for free without incurring debt, but she was returning as a high-risk pregnancy due to lack of care. The hospital director personally ensured that she was transferred to the maternity hospital in Managua for specialized care.

For Nicaragua’s healthcare system, a pregnant woman or her baby dying is an unacceptable outcome, and healthcare workers at all levels take every possible measure to prevent that.

The result of this is that no pregnant women have died in Ciudad Sandino over the past three years. Nationwide, only 21 pregnant women died last year. Simply put, Nicaragua is taking every step possible to ensure that pregnant women survive to celebrate Mother’s Day.

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Briefs
By Nan McCurdy
Drinking water coverage reaches 95%
The Sandinista government, through its Nicaraguan Water and Sewer Company (ENACAL). has reached 95% drinking water coverage nationwide compared to the 65% coverage registered before 2007, Alina Lagos, executive vice-president of the institution, told INFORME PASTRÁN. ENACAL is carrying out multiple projects throughout the country, with investments of millions of dollars aimed at improving the quality of life. In the city of León, the construction of a drinking water project was completed with an investment of more than US$40 million, which includes the installation of 198 kilometers of pipelines. In addition, three wastewater treatment plants are being rehabilitated and two new ones are under construction; at 95% completion, they are scheduled to be inaugurated this year. In Chinandega, a wastewater treatment plant was recently inaugurated and is already serving several neighborhoods, while in Nandaime, more than US$5 million was invested in a drinking water project that has improved service in previously underserved neighborhoods. Other notable projects include Masaya, with investments of US$21 million in potable water and US$18 million in sanitary sewerage; and Managua, where a storage tank was built in Las Pilas with financing from Japan for US$10 million. While ENACAL reported 95% coverage in drinking water and 55% in sanitary sewerage at the end of 2024, the goal is to reach 99.1% in drinking water and between 75-80% in sanitation by 2030. (Informe Pastran, 29 May 2025)

200 Mothers Receive Lots in the Bismarck Martinez Housing Program
The Mayor’s Office of Managua will hand over deeds to property lots to women of District VI, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, reported the Co-President Rosario Murillo. “Tomorrow 200 new property lots will be delivered through the Bismarck Martinez Program in the Villa Esperanza Urbanization to mothers in honor of Mother’s Day.” She added that, “Nicaraguan mothers are brave, heroic, hardworking, they are fighters and full of hope.” Murillo also said that more than 40,000 activities are being carried out around the country in salute to Nicaraguan mothers, among which stands out the visit of mothers and family members to the eight prisons of the country as well as the cleaning of the country’s cemeteries. Nicaraguan Mother’s Day is always on May 30 and is a national holiday. (La Primerisima, 30 May 2025)

Nicaragua is Co-Founder of Global Mediation Organization
On May 30, Attorney General Wendy Morales represented Nicaragua at the founding of the International Organization for Mediation (OlMed), the first intergovernmental organization dedicated exclusively to mediation for the resolution of international disputes. China, promoter of the initiative, describes OlMed as a powerful multilateral tool that marks a turning point in the construction of a new just, peaceful, multicentric and pluripolar world order. OlMed is based on essential principles such as respect for the sovereignty of States, self-determination of peoples, good faith and legal certainty. It is the result of China’s efforts to create an intergovernmental organization dedicated to mediation and is the world’s first international intergovernmental legal organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation as a peaceful means of maintaining peace based on mutual respect and understanding. About 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations attended the signing ceremony. Thirty-three countries, including Nicaragua, Pakistan, Indonesia, Belarus and Cuba signed the convention on the spot, making them founding members of the IOMed. The IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong. (La Primerisima, 30 May 2025)

237 New Museums Created Nationwide
The government has been the driving force in the creation of seven new museums this year: the Archaeological Museum in Chinandega; Coffee Museums in the municipalities of El Crucero, El Tuma La Dalia and El Cuá; Museums of the Revolution in La Paz Centro and Mateare; and the Museum of the Birthplace of Josefa Toledo de Aguerrí in the city of Juigalpa. [Toledo de Aguerri (1866-1962) was a pioneering educator, writer, and feminist.] It was reported during the new openings, that there are now a total of 237 spaces of this type in the country, mainly museums of the Revolution, community museums, and museums about livestock and coffee agriculture. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/a-nivel- ... 37-museos/

(La Primerisima, 29 May 2025)

Photovoltaic Plant to Be Built in Nindirí
The construction of the ENESOLAR photovoltaic project in the municipality of Nindirí, Department of Masaya, will begin this week, reported Co-President Rosario Murillo.

She said that “the photovoltaic plant, ENESOLAR 3, will be built with support from the Chinese State Company CCCC.” She added that this project will have a capacity of 70 megawatts to boost ENACAL’s [the national water company] pumping systems and improve water services for the population.” Rosario reported that this project has “an investment of US$81 million with solidarity financing from the People’s Republic of China.” (La Primerisima, 2 June 2025)

New Homes for Several Families in Tipitapa
On May 30, Mother’s Day, three families from Tipitapa received the keys to their new houses leaving behind the precarious conditions in which they had lived. This is part of the program of restauration of rights promoted by the Sandinista Government through INVUR and the Mayor’s Office of Tipitapa. Nidia Ávalos, resident of the Anexo San Francisco neighborhood, was visited last December when she was still living in a small tin house with her family. On Mother’s Day, she received her new house valued at about US$9,000. In Ciudadela San Martin, Maria Anselma Hernandez lived with her daughters and grandchildren in conditions of extreme poverty. Her makeshift home is now a thing of the past after receiving her new house, given as a tribute to Nicaraguan mothers. In the Tipitapita sector, Marino Mendoza Picado, who had built a small house with pieces of tin roofing and wood, now lives in a decent house built on his own land. See before and after photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/cambia-t ... -tipitapa/ (La Primerisima, 31 May 2025)

In June 2 Speech, President Welcomes Returning Nicaraguans
On June 2, during the ceremony for the promotion of Bayardo Rodríguez (Army Chief of Staff) and Marvin Corrales (Army Inspector General) to the rank of Colonel General of the Army, President Daniel Ortega described the behavior of the US authorities against migrants in their country as fascist and expressed Nicaragua’s solidarity with all those persecuted brothers and sisters. He spoke of the suffering of the Venezuelans and Nicaraguans abroad. He condemned Donald Trump’s order of expulsion for more than 500,000 Latin American citizens. “Today I want to express our solidarity with all those persecuted and in particular the Nicaraguan brothers and sisters, who always have Nicaragua’s doors open, and who have been arriving in flights and are very well taken care of [here],” he said. “We tell them, do not think of returning to the United States again, it is a terrible what is going on there. Our solidarity is with all those families who are being persecuted. Our solidarity is with those who have returned to Nicaragua and we tell them: this is your land, this is your homeland, and here you will be able to work in peace,” he added.

The president also said that a plan will be designed with the objective of reducing deaths in streets and highways of the country. “That, I would say, is a priority, for the life and the health of Nicaraguan families, for the families of the drivers themselves because, due to high speeds, drivers perish and hit pedestrians and bikers and those who ride horses, or those who ride motorcycles. We have to make a security plan to safeguard the lives of Nicaraguans, in public and private transportation,” he said. The plan includes having much lower speed limits.

He emphasized that the construction of new hospitals is accompanied by direct attention to the population, through the Mobile Clinics that go to the neighborhoods and communities. “This is fundamental attention that we have prioritized because the first duty we have as revolutionaries, as Sandinistas, as Nicaraguans, is to watch over the lives of Nicaraguans.”

President Ortega said that “we will continue to develop the programs that have been carried out throughout these years, in all fields; in the fields of education, in the field of academic training, that is to say, from the first grades to the post grads, and the courses that have been developed, and also where we are making progress with exchange and cooperation with countries that have a great scientific development and that are already coming here to transfer knowledge.”

Ortega reiterated his commitment to peace both nationally and internationally and condemned the attacks in the Gaza Strip. The poor people are fleeing, persecuted, like the Nazi persecution against the Jews, he said.

He highlighted the joint regional efforts in security and the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. The Nicaraguan Army has been able to establish an instrument where Central American armies can make plans to defend the security of our countries, he said. (La Primerisima, 2 June 2025)

First Section of Coastal Highway Completed
The first phase of the Coastal Highway on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast (from Masachapa to the border with Costa Rica) is divided into three sections: Section I: From Masachapa to the town of Las Salinas, with an approximate length of 67 kilometers. Section II: From the town of Las Salinas to San Juan del Sur, with a length of 38 kilometers. Section III: From San Juan del Sur to the border with Costa Rica, with a length of 36 kilometers.

The first 60 kilometers is complete; it is part of a 119-kilometer section that goes from Masachapa [about an hour’s drive from Managua] to Las Salinas and is part of the ambitious 335-kilometer initiative all along the Pacific coast which seeks to transform connectivity and boost tourism, agriculture and fishing in the region. The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Óscar Mojica, highlighted the immediate impact: “We are seeing a significant expansion in the flow of tourists to 64 beaches benefited in this first stage.” The road incorporates drainage systems, signage, environmental measures and sidewalks. The second phase, of 97 kilometers, will go from Masachapa to Poneloya [near Leon]; completion is scheduled for 2026. Director of Roads of the Ministry of Transportation, Harold Tellez said that 47 bridges are being built on the coastal road. “This helps us to have more confidence, more safety at the moment of passing through the areas, which historically were a flood zones.” See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/concluye ... costanera/ (La Primerisima, 3 June 2025)

New Parks and Recreational Spaces Open
Different municipalities are making progress in the improvement and construction of spaces for recreation, leisure and family enjoyment. The week of June 2 to 7, parks and recreational spaces are scheduled to open in several municipalities. In Jinotega, the beautification of the Carlos Fonseca Amador Central Park in the Mauricio Altamirano neighborhood will be completed. In Totogalpa, the construction of the second stage of the park in the Ceiba de Oro community is in progress. In San Rafael del Norte, the Urania Zelaya Park in the Luis Zeledón neighborhood is being improved and in Santa María, a green and recreational area is being built in the Rodolfo Gutiérrez neighborhood. (La Primerisima, 3 June 2025)

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NicaNotes Newsletter, Nicaragua

NicaNotes 7.24.2025: The Strength of Peace: Nicaragua Celebrates the 46th Anniversary of July 19, 1979!
July 24, 2025
By Nan McCurdy

(Nan McCurdy has lived most of the last 40 years in Nicaragua. She is the editor of NicaNotes, the weekly report on Nicaragua put out by the Alliance for Global Justice and she co-facilitates a monthly webinar series on Nicaragua.)


Fifty thousand people were invited from all over Nicaragua to this year’s July 19th celebration.

This year was different from other July 19th celebrations since 2021 when there were perhaps 5,000 people invited – this year there were about 50,000! It took place in the Plaza de la Fe where July 19th celebrations have been held for years and years with open attendance of hundreds of thousands and little organization. That changed in 2020 with Covid. This time invitations were organized by the municipalities all over the country and those invited road into the plaza on Chinese buses. The picture below is of Abi Perry and others on a bus arriving from Masaya. And as you can see from the photos, the organization was phenomenal to accommodate the 50,000.


Abi Perry (left) and others ride from Masaya to the Plaza de la Fe for the July 19th celebration on Chinese buses

The fun began on July 17 when the country yearly celebrates the day that the last Somoza president fled the country along with most of the feared Somoza National Guard. It was clear that day that the Sandinista revolution had triumphed.

July 18 is always filled with vigils in every neighborhood and town to welcome in July 19. At midnight beautiful fireworks displays are seen brightening the sky. This year, I went with family and friends downtown to Simon Bolivar Avenue, named after the famous Venezuelan revolutionary leader whose dream was for all of Latin America to unify in order to resist colonizers like the United States and European nations. At the south end of the boulevard is a roundabout with a huge depiction of another Venezuelan revolutionary leader – Hugo Chavez – who spoke at a number of July 19th celebrations. I was fortunate to see him in 2004.


On July 18, Nan along with family and friends went to the festivities along Simon Bolivar Avenue in Managua.

The atmosphere was like a huge party with dancing and singing and people just hanging out with family and friends. Then we went to another vigil nearby in the popular barrio known as San Antonio. They always go all out and this year was no exception. The Venezuelan band Guaraguao, best known for Las Casas de Carton (Cardboard Houses) and No Basta Rezar (It’s Not Enough to Pray), played at this vigil to thousands of people in this tiny neighborhood, filled up to overflowing with others like us who had come to participate. Once again, at midnight there were fireworks everywhere.

July 19 begins with “Dianas” (songs sung to wake people to celebrate a festival) all over the country. There are car parades with FSLN flags and signs and people singing and chanting. In every town and city there are festivities in commemoration of July 19 – the day celebrated as the culmination of the struggle against the Somoza (and US) dictatorship. The United States supported three Somoza’s, a father and two sons, during the 45 years of their governments, imprisoning, torturing and killing anyone considered in opposition to their rule. My husband tells me that, in those years, it was a crime to be a young man as the dictatorship assumed you were a Sandinista.

As the 50,000 specially invited to the evening celebration were coming in by bus to the plaza down by Lake Xolotlán, thousands of other people were lining roads – the roads that co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo would pass to get to the Plaza de la Fe. I drove down with my son and we parked by a television station then walked about a half mile. We joined in the contagious anticipation. Daniel always drives himself – of course there are police cars in front and in back and police lining the road – but not getting in the way of onlookers who want to see their co-presidents. About six o’clock they slowly passed with windows down waving at everyone. I was particularly excited, like a kid on Christmas morning (even though I’m 70) and ran down about four blocks to get in front of the caravan in order to see them a second time – and I did. There is definitely a groupie atmosphere around Daniel – he started fighting for a free country at age 14; he was imprisoned and tortured for seven years; and he’s won five elections, the last with more than 75% of the vote!! Then, families continued their parade and picnic-like evening accompanying the celebration and watching it on huge jumbo screens placed around the country. I was impressed that at every event I saw mainly families and friends – very few drunks!


Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo arrive for the ceremony at the Plaza de la Fe.

Probably most Sandinistas spent the evening of the 19th at home with their families watching on TV the incredible views of 50,000 people, mainly youth, dancing to the first 90 minutes of familiar revolutionary music. Then some of the special guests were introduced and given time to share a message. One of the things that Ana Kuznetsova the chairwoman of the Russian State Duma said was “Under the leadership of our President Vladimir Putin, Russia fully supports those who defend their freedom, their values, their children, their future.” Then there was a joyful address by Ma Hui, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He said “I would also like to convey the sincere greetings of all the 100 million members of the Communist Party of China to our Sandinista Compañeros and to the Heroic People of Nicaragua.” He went on to say, “In a world full of transformations and turbulence, the risks and challenges faced by all countries on the planet are growing. We are pleased to note that under the leadership of Co-Presidents Comandante Daniel Ortega and Compañera Rosario Murillo, the Nicaraguan people, closely grouped around the Sandinista National Liberation Front, firmly defend their sovereignty and dignity, and persist in following the path of development adapted to the realities of their own country, constantly reaching new achievements in your socio-economic development, for which we express our congratulations.” To read all the speeches including those of the Co-presidents: https://www.tortillaconsal.com/bitacora/node/7106

Daniel spoke of many of the wars waged today by the US including in Gaza: “And that is no more nor less a plan, by [Israel], concocted with the Yankee government and with the complicity of the European governments to disappear the Palestinian State, as they have said very clearly and openly. They are self-confessed criminals! There they are armed, given weapons by the Europeans, by the United States, because they want to take over the whole Region, and they are doing it….”

He went on to say, “They are murdering every day! Even media in the United States or in Europe are now beginning to report the crimes. And what does the United Nations do? The United Nations is nothing but an instrument of the imperialist countries which want to dominate the world, even if the world itself disappears with the risk of humanity disappearing, because they have no qualms about bombing everywhere.”

The Co-President stated further, “We have already seen how they launched an armed provocation, a plan put together by the United States and Israel to bomb Iran on the pretext that what the Iranians were working on were atomic weapons. Iran is a huge nation; it used to be the Persian Empire; it has a population of 90 million inhabitants; it has great wealth; and undertakes a great deal of work, with a lot of resources. And the Iranians, complying with the United Nations standards, had presented a plan to work with the uranium and use it in peaceful activities as they have done for some time; they have many plants generating nuclear energy with uranium. These are energy producing plants which are cheaper and safer than the plants that are installed via traditional networks.”


Members of the Sandinista Youth listen to the speeches at the July 19th celebration

As always Co-President Ortega took the opportunity to give a history lesson since so many attendees are teenagers. This time he talked about the Spaniards, the British and the United States; especially the invasion by William Walker and his men which was supported by the US government. Walker named himself president, reinstated slavery and made English the national language. Needless to say, he was expelled with help from Nicaragua’s neighbors. Walker tried again a few years later and the Hondurans put him in front of a firing squad. This reminds me of a popular song written and sung often during the years of Reagan’s war against Nicaragua called El Yanqui se Va a Joder (the Yankees are going to get their butts kicked). In spite of US sanctions on Nicaragua which cut off much needed loans, the Nicaraguans overall support their government because it is the only one that has brought progress and development to the majority of the people with free education and healthcare; with 90% food security; with the best roads and infrastructure in the region, with one of the highest percentages of renewable energy in the world and 90.6% of the population have electricity; with parks and stadiums everywhere – a real emphasis on the right to recreation and sports and so much more. This country won’t be easy to beat through coup attempts like the one in 2018, with hundreds of millions of dollars from US institutions like USAID, the NED, and Freedom House going to the opposition to try to undermine the government. The Nicaraguan example will not easily be stopped and many countries will follow in its footsteps.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Nicaragua Presents Pleadings against Germany for Complicity in Genocide in Palestine

On July 21 the government of Nicaragua formally presented its written pleadings in the form of a Memorandum before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its case against Germany for alleged violations of international law related to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In its written statement, Nicaragua alleges that Berlin has breached its fundamental duties under international humanitarian law and the principle of self-determination of the Palestinian people. In the Memorandum, Nicaragua demonstrates that Germany’s violations date back decades, and points out that these violations include the failure to comply with the obligation to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and the failure to respect and promote the realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. It also accuses Germany of collaborating directly or indirectly with the maintenance of the regime of occupation, segregation and apartheid imposed by Israel.

Nicaragua supports its complaint with evidence of the political, financial and military support that Germany has offered to the Israeli state, which has facilitated the commission of serious international crimes. The complaint is also based on the Advisory Opinions issued by the ICJ in 2004 and 2024, which warn about the responsibility of third States not to assist illegal acts. “Nicaragua again calls upon all countries to take the concrete measures to stop genocide, apartheid and war crimes, and calls upon them to comply with the relevant rules of International Law, including the duty not to recognize as legitimate the situation created by the illegalities committed by Israel as confirmed by the ICJ in its Advisory Opinions of 2004 and 2024.”

In its brief, Nicaragua requests that Germany suspend the supply of armaments, end its relations with the occupied territories and guarantee the non-repetition of such conduct.

In addition, it demands reparation measures for the Palestinian victims and a position consistent with current international law. Nicaragua reaffirmed its commitment to international legality and the peaceful resolution of disputes. It urged the international community to act decisively to stop genocide, apartheid and war crimes in Palestine, in accordance with the legal mandate of the ICJ. (jpmas.com.ni, 21 July 2025)

“We Carry These Principles in Our Hearts!”

During his speech on the anniversary of July 19, 1979, the triumph over the tyranny of the Somoza dictatorship, supported and funded for 45 years by the United States, Co-President Daniel Ortega emphasized the principles that Nicaraguans have and carry in their hearts and consciences. During the ceremony for the 46th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Popular Revolution, the leader said that “we have inherited these principles and we carry them in our hearts, in our conscience, and they are the principles that our General Sandino left us … when he told the Yankees: “I won’t surrender or sell out.”

He continued, “We have peace, that does not mean that the enemy rests, the enemy is always conspiring, is always trying to provoke bloodshed, is trying to provoke pain in Nicaraguan families, because they think they can overthrow the revolution, and because they have the backing of the imperialists of the earth,” he said. He went on to say, “Here there is no space left for the terrorists, the conspirators, the sell-outs, because they know that when they are discovered, they will be captured and prosecuted.”

He spoke about the multiple invasions by foreign powers emphasizing that from the 19th century to the 1980s, the Nicaraguan people have risen up time and again in defense of their sovereignty. With comparative data, he underscored the contrast between the population and power of the United States versus a Nicaragua, that is small but with a big and rebellious heart. “In 1855 Nicaragua had 214,000 inhabitants, while the United States already had 27 million. In 1926, during Augusto C. Sandino’s struggle for sovereignty from the United States, Nicaragua had barely more than half a million inhabitants compared to 117 million in the United States. Neither with airplanes nor with mercenaries could they defeat Sandino. He also recalled the aggression of the 80’s, when the United States trained, armed and directed the counterrevolution, saying, “They could not defeat the Sandinista Popular Army nor the citizens that defended the homeland.”

For her part, Co-President Rosario Murillo reaffirmed that Nicaragua has fought and defeated imperialism, with dignity, with conscience, with unity. “We have been able to travel all roads with our flags raised high, with the victories of reason, that great spirit that is the strength of our glorious country. She said that this is the strength of peace. We live it, we know it, we see it.… Long live those who struggle for peace!”

U.S. activist Brian Willson, peace advocate, war veteran and supporter of the just causes of peoples in resistance, sent a message through a video where he expressed his deep admiration for the Nicaraguan people and their Revolution. [Willson was not in attendance because he fell, broke his pelvis and is hospitalized.]

In the video transmitted in the Plaza La Fe he described the Revolution as “a light of hope for the whole world.” “Since 1986 I have been traveling to Nicaragua and loved it so much that I tried to stop a train full of ammunitions bound for the contra there. The train didn’t stop. I was going to spend a year in jail, but they decided to kill me,” Wilson said, alluding to the attack he suffered on September 1, 1987, when he was brutally run over by a U.S. military train in a non-violent protest action. “I consider the Revolution to be incredibly unique and a benchmark for the whole world to follow.” He urged his fellow Americans to get a closer look at the revolutionary process in Nicaragua. “I hope other Americans will come here to learn about the Revolution. The gringos are unaware of these struggles, just as I was unaware of them when I went to Vietnam. It is amazing how Nicaraguans have withstood the pressure of the United States, the interference against their sovereignty. Congratulations for their tenacity!” See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/aqui-todos-somos-daniel/ (La Primerisima, 20 July 2025)

Honoring the Hero of Peace Gabriel Vado in Masaya

On July 14 and 15, 2018, during the US-directed and financed coup attempt, 22-year-old police officer Gabriel Vado Ruiz was tortured, murdered and his corpse burned by the coup groups. A priest was one of the people behind these crimes and advised those torturing him to put his body in a latrine so it wouldn’t be found. Another priest and US-financed “human rights” director tried to hide his burned remains. Vado was posthumously promoted to Commissioner General.

Sandinistas as well as the people of Masaya participated in the act of commemoration of the seventh anniversary of Vado’s killing on July 15, 2025. The activity took place at the monument erected in his honor located in the city of Masaya. Floral offerings were placed by family members, members of the National Police, political leaders and relatives. Vado Ruiz is remembered as a servant committed to his community, standing out for his vocation of service, dedication and defense of institutional principles. Commissioner General Elvira Castillo, of the National Police Headquarters, affirmed that Vado’s legacy lives on in each and every law enforcement officer. He was a leader in the field, with great human and professional capacity. This tribute is a just recognition of his memory, she said. In the following photos you will see his mother, and in another his wife and son who was a baby when he was murdered: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/honran-a ... en-masaya/ (La Primerisima, 16 July 2025)

Cervical Cancer Mortality Falls by 17.5%

Programs promoted by the Sandinista government have reduced mortality from cervical cancer by 17.5% during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

In recent years, the country’s health model has been strengthened through various actions, including the organization of Health Fairs where thousands of women receive pap exams for the early detection of this type of cancer, as well as the timely follow-up and treatment of women diagnosed with the cancer. (La Primerisima, 22 July 2025)

More Than 54,000 Turtles Released So Far at Chacocente Beach in 2025

Environmental conservation area guards of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) together with tourists released 384 sea turtles of the lepidochelys olivacea species (known as Paslama in Nicaragua and Olive ridley in the United States) in the Escalante Chacocente River Wildlife Refuge, located in the municipality of Santa Teresa, Carazo. The release is part of the constant effort to protect these endangered species through the national campaign Together We Conserve Our Sea Turtles promoted by the Sandinista government. MARENA reported that so far in 2025, more than 54,000 turtles have been released in Chacocente beach. MARENA points out that from July 14 to 29, the first massive arrival of sea turtles of the year is expected at the Escalante Chacocente River Wildlife Refuge in Santa Teresa, Carazo and La Flor, in San Juan del Sur, Rivas, two of the main nesting sanctuaries for thousands of sea turtles on the Nicaraguan Pacific. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/mas-de-5 ... hacocente/ (La Primerisima, 16 July 2025)

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46 Years Later, Nicaragua’s Youth Still Lead the Revolution
July 22, 2025


Nicaraguan youth mosquito eradication team. Photo: Becca Renk.

By Becca Renk – July 20, 2025

Revering heroes and treasuring youth

One of the questions I’m asked most frequently about Nicaragua is: “Does the revolution have a future?”

Forty-six years ago, a popular revolution led by Nicaragua’s youth overthrew the brutal Somoza dictatorship. Today, those viewing the country from the outside see that the surviving muchachos – the kids who defeated Somoza – are now in their 70s and 80s, and they worry that Nicaragua’s revolution won’t survive without them. To anyone who visits the country, however, it is obvious that Nicaragua’s revolution, which has managed to both revere its historical heroes and also treasure its youth, is stronger than ever.

This week, as the country celebrates the anniversary of its victory over Somoza’s tyranny, the streets are filled with committed youth: a new generation which is enthusiastically picking up the reins of the revolution and guiding Nicaragua forward.

Young people currently make up 70% of the population. Although Nicaragua’s co-presidents are in their 70s, their government leadership at all levels is largely made up of young people.

“We’re not at all surprised that we have so many young people as deputies in the National Assembly, ministers, deputy ministers and directors,” declares Nicaragua’s Youth Minister, Darling Hernández. “This is just the practical application of our revolutionary slogan, “Youth for President.’”

So how does Nicaragua’s revolution, founded by Baby Boomers, manage to be relevant to Gen Z?

Revolutionary and evolutionary
The Sandinista Revolution, as Nicaraguans say, not only revolutionary, but evolutionary. It is continually evolving to meet the changing needs of its people, and its youth in particular. This is accomplished through a constant and fluid conversation that starts in Nicaragua’s families and communities, and goes all the way up to the Presidency. This conversation is largely facilitated by the country’s strongest movement: the July 19th Sandinista Youth, or JS19J.

The JS19J model encourages youth participation in the revolution beginning in secondary school, then continuing in university and beyond. Pre-teens are invited to join a wide variety of community activities: organizing piñatas for children, planting trees, visiting the elderly, dancing, singing, and participating in emergency relief brigades. Youth are given organizational responsibilities early on and encouraged to take initiative and share their ideas, all of which fosters ownership and their continued participation.

Gradually, they are encouraged to focus on the area of work that most interests them: the JS19J is made up of five movements: environmental, cultural, sports, communication, and solidarity promotion. Youth in those movements become leaders at municipal, departmental and then national level, with the brightest leaders often moving into the government’s ministries or elected positions before the age of thirty.

More than a political party
“As an artist, I am very grateful for the opportunity the revolution has given me,” says Abril Reyes Arriaza, a 23 year-old singer who has been organized in the JS19J Cultural Movement since secondary school. For Reyes, being a Sandinista is much more than just being a member of a political party, it is being part of a family that knows how to lift up and support one another.

“Our leadership is always very aware of each person, the situation of each one of us who are involved and who contribute our grain of sand to the revolution,” says Reyes.

“At one point, I was in the ICU. I didn’t think I would survive,” she remembers. But Reyes’ comrades never gave up hope and were constantly following up on her case. She recognizes the importance of their support. “They gave me the attention and treatment I needed, and they do the same for everyone.”

In other countries, there is often generational warfare: youth are pitted against the older generations who refuse to give up power. In “developed” parts of the world such as the United States, where the median age for senators is 64.7 years old, young people are bereft of opportunities. Increasingly unable to afford third level education limits employment prospects for youth. Rising costs of living and lack of housing can also mean that young people must choose between endless debt and continuing to live with their parents well into adulthood.

Intergenerational leadership
By contrast, in Nicaragua, there is an intergenerational leadership which manages to both respect its elders and venerate its youth.

“Our job is to put young people in power,” declares Minister Hernández.

On a practical level, putting youth in power ensures that young people’s needs are met. In Nicaragua, free universal health care, subsidies for transport, electricity and gas are just a few of the programs that make improved quality of life accessible for young people. The most important program for Nicaragua’s youth, however, is the universal access to free quality education preschool through university, including hundreds of free vocational training programs.

“As a young person, I see more and more opportunities all the time,” says Reyes. “I don’t think that anyone needs to leave our country to find new opportunities because there are plenty of them here.”



Songs of revolution
Reyes is not the only young person to recognize this. On the evening of the 19th of July, more than 50,000 people are gathered in the Plaza of Faith in Managua to show their support for the ever-evolving revolution, and the crowd is overwhelmingly young. For more than four hours, Plaza vibrates with joy – quite literally during the 21-gun salute to Nicaragua’s achievements in poverty eradication – and most of that time, young people are dancing and singing along with revolutionary songs.

Some of these songs were recorded when the grandparents of these dancing youth were still clandestinely fighting Somoza’s National Guard. Yet, the youth sing along to all the words. Some of these songs were recorded recently by a new generation of revolutionary artists – Reyes’ voice can be heard on five of the new songs recorded on the 46th anniversary album. Yet, Daniel Ortega also sings along to all the words.

We are all Daniel
When the music finally changes tempo and Ortega picks up the microphone, the crowd is euphoric, chanting, “Daniel! Daniel! Daniel!”

Looking out into the sea of young faces, the 79-year-old leader says, “We are all Daniel here. From the smallest girl to the young man, our entire people. We are all Daniel. That is why it is unthinkable that any leader could emerge in our country who does not share our way of thinking, our commitment and the principles that we have inherited. You and me, we have inherited that principle that we carry in our hearts and in our conscience, which is the principle that our General Sandino bequeathed to us… ‘I don’t surrender and I don’t sell out!’”

With these succinct words, Daniel Ortega, hero and Commander of the Nicaraguan Revolution, shows how the changing of the guard is taking place in Nicaragua: with one generation willingly, consciously, confidently passing the revolutionary torch on to Nicaragua’s next generation.

For Nicaragua’s youth, who have been preparing for this since childhood, grasping that torch and running with it comes as easy as breathing. Although Reyes has never had to pick up a weapon, she has been defending her country and her revolution since the first time she picked up a microphone and sang her heart out.

“I am so very grateful to the Sandinista Front for always giving us opportunities,” Reyes says. “I am sure that no other government could have done what we are doing here today: making a revolution.”

https://orinocotribune.com/46-years-lat ... evolution/

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Freedom From Hunger: Celebrating Nicaragua’s Gains & Feeling Anguish for Gaza
August 5, 2025



By Becca Renk – Aug 3, 2025

1999: Hurricane Mitch aftermath
The image is forever seared in my mind: Francisco was two years old, his thin legs and swollen feet were covered in sores. Straw blond hair stuck to his head as he listlessly nursed from his teenage mother’s breast. He weighed 13.5 pounds.

It was the summer of 1999, and I was weighing babies in Nueva Vida. I’d come to Nicaragua in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch to help in any way I could through the Jubilee House Community and its project in Nicaragua, the Center for Development in Central America (JHC-CDCA).

With its main office located just a mile down the road from the largest Hurricane Mitch resettlement camp in the country, the folks at the JHC-CDCA were busy. Nine months after the hurricane, the 12,000 people in Nueva Vida—who had been moved from Managua’s flooded lakeshore—were still sleeping on the ground in black plastic tents. There were water spigots throughout the camp where families could haul water for cooking and washing and electricity was connected to the tents via a spiderweb of pieced-together barbed wire.

Mitch’s malnutrition
Families had lost their sources of income—many had been fishermen in the lake, or dug through Managua’s trash to find recyclables to sell. In Nueva Vida, there was no lake and no dump.

Without work, there was never enough to eat. Aid trucks from the big humanitarian organizations had stopped coming—undoubtedly moved on to the next disaster—and families were left struggling to put food in their kids’ mouths.

We’d been meeting with the leadership emerging from the chaos that was Nueva Vida in the early days, and a list of priorities for the community had been drawn up. Top on that list was a health clinic—at that time, Nicaragua’s neoliberal government had essentially privatized health care, and the people of Nueva Vida had no access to doctors or medicine. Although we were still a few months away from setting up what would become the permanent Nueva Vida Clinic, nurse Linda Mashburn came down to Nicaragua that summer and led a nutritional census of the children to get a better idea of the scope of the malnutrition.

That was how I came to be in the tent with Francisco and his mother in a gut-wrenchingly intimate moment where I knew that a child’s life hung in the balance as he suffered from starvation in front of my eyes. That image, and that feeling, has haunted me for 26 years, and will be with me for the rest of my life.

2025: Nicaragua’s New Generation
What was Francisco’s fate? We don’t know. We brought immediate food aid to the family, but they soon moved on, and we lost track of Francisco as we lost track of so many others in that refugee camp.

Fortunately, I can tell you the fate of Nicaragua’s new generation. Earlier this year, our clinic participated in a nation-wide nutritional census, helping to weigh and measure children in Nueva Vida and the rural areas where we work. Our health promoters registered 185 children to receive micronutrients from the Ministry of Health every month to help with their growth and development.

Last week, as we handed out the first packets to our tiny patients, the results of the nutritional census came back:

46.6% reduction in acute malnutrition, from 5.8% in 2016 to 3.1% in 2025.

56.9% reduction in chronic malnutrition, from 13.7% in 2016 to 5.9% in 2025.

In 2025, Nicaragua has free universal health care, free education with a hot meal daily for 1.2 million school children, and a host of poverty reduction and income generation programs. This integral approach by the Sandinista government and its herculean efforts to ensure that these programs reach every corner of the country help guarantee that Nicaraguan children today won’t know the type of hunger that Francisco suffered in 1999.



1990-2006: Hunger in neoliberal Nicaragua
There is no stronger fear than hunger. Hunger has been used historically to control people: if your children are hungry, you will be willing to work for little and accept bad working conditions just to feed them. During the 16 years of Nicaragua’s neoliberal government rule, big business required a cheap, docile workforce in order to further enrich the wealthy. The government’s complete abandonment of the poor led to chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years old, which had reached 21.7% by 2006.

1970s: Hunger in Nicaragua under Somoza
Further back, under the cruel Somoza dictatorship, malnutrition rates were even higher. Keeping the Nicaraguan people hungry was essential to quell uprisings and ensure Somoza’s continued reign. In the 1970s, a group of poor peasants met to discuss and interpret the gospel, and these conversations were recorded in The Gospel in Solentiname. During a discussion of the Slaughter of the Innocents from the Book of Matthew 2:16-18, an astute young observer said, “[In Nicaragua] there is so much infant mortality, and so many stunted, undernourished children. I think that is persecuting children. I think the same thing is happening here as happened to Christ when he was persecuted as a kid.”

Today: Gaza’s slow starvation
The persecution of children through forced hunger continues today.

As I celebrate the victory of historically low malnutrition rates and feel joy for Nicaragua’s children, I simultaneously feel anguish for the children of Gaza: in the past 10 days, the daily death toll from forced starvation has increased alarmingly.

With Palestinians unable to leave Gaza, no farming due to constant attacks, and fishing banned by “Israel,” all food must be brought into Gaza from outside. These food shipments are controlled by “Israel,” and carefully calculated to allow people to slowly starve, designed to control the Palestinian people through hunger.

Right now, it feels as if the whole world is standing inside a black plastic tent, watching all of Gaza’s children desperately trying to latch on their mother’s breast. We are all in a a gut-wrenchingly intimate moment where we know that the lives of these children hang in the balance as they suffer from starvation in front of our eyes. This genocide will surely haunt the world forever. The question is, will we move to stop it?

https://orinocotribune.com/freedom-from ... -for-gaza/

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NicaNotes: “Productivity Improvements to Cope with New Tariffs”: An Interview with the President of Nicaragua’s Central Bank, Ovidio Reyes
August 7, 2025

(Interview of Ovidio Reyes, President of Nicaragua’s Central Bank, by Semyon Senderov, on the RT’s Spanish language “Interview” program at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia on June 23, 2025. Translation by Tortilla con Sal.)


Ovidio Reyes explains that, in the face of Trump’s tariffs, “We have to look for new alliances and new agreements.” Photo: El 19 Digital

Journalist Semyon Senderov: Welcome to a new edition of INTERVIEW. Today we have an opportunity to talk with the President of the Central Bank of Nicaragua, Ovidio Reyes. Ovidio, thank you so much for being with us, for finding the time for us.

First of all I want to ask you about the economic situation of Nicaragua, because as you will know better than anyone, there are new data; in fact, the Gross Domestic Product is growing, it marked a growth of 3%. How do you assess this situation? Does it have only internal effects, or does it also influence, for example, the situation in general, between neighboring countries?

Central Bank President Ovidio Reyes: Yes, the Nicaraguan economy has been growing steadily in the last three years, we believe that the potential growth is around 4%, between 3 and 4%. In other words, that’s where we are. But it is not only economic growth, that is to say, we have declining inflation, the last inflation report is barely 1% year-on-year; that is a very low inflation rate. Likewise, the unemployment rate stood at 3%, which is a rate with which the economy can be said to be stable, and that it is at its potential level.

A set of policies has been implemented to achieve this result, the main one, I would say, has to do with the policy of promoting foreign trade via our exports, and the insertion of our country in different international markets. In fact, we have a good performance of the export sector, which this year has had important growth rates, that are around 8%, growing our exports, and especially a country like ours that produces raw materials for the international market and this has had a positive consequence for our country.

On top of that, public finances are very healthy, unlike other countries that unfortunately have fiscal deficits. Nicaragua has had a fiscal surplus in its budget accounts for the third year running, and this has allowed the public debt to be reduced, our public debt stands at about 54% of GDP. Compared with other countries too, it is a low level of debt, and it is something that we call Fiscal Consolidation, contributing to this result with accumulation of International Reserves and reduction of international obligations, and that strengthens the current account surplus in the balance of payments.

In summary, we have a good macroeconomic context that the economy knows how to take advantage of, and our companies that have joined the international market, are able to generate enough resources, and continue maintaining that result that is positive.

Senderov: I think that, in this context, you mentioned very low inflation levels, many countries would be looking at it with envy. Because this is really an issue that worries many nations, especially now when I think it is very difficult to predict the economic future, if we take into account, for example, the decisions of Donald Trump, the US President who threatens other countries, who applies economic pressure. Do you think this has a serious effect, in general, and how could countries cope with it? How could they avoid that economic worsening, because of his policies?

Reyes: Inflation in Nicaragua is a result of two factors, one is external and has to do with the evolution of international prices, with the pandemic international prices soared and inflation in Nicaragua as well. We even came to have inflation of 11%, as a result of the generalized increases in the prices of the products that we import, which came to grow on average by 22% in our case. That is, there is an international effect of course which affects us and has affected us; but then prices began to decline internationally. We also reinforced ourselves with a set of policies, like the ones I mentioned, and now we have 1% inflation.

At the international level there is talk that the effects of the tariffs implemented by the United States government have not yet been manifested. In fact, there is a waiting period; everyone expects that, and it bears repetition, that there will be a few months, a few months that will elapse before they are reflected in the prices. [Editor’s note: On July 31st, the Trump administration announced a tariff rate of 18% for Nicaragua.]

While this is happening, we are working on internal consolidation. Of course, measures such as tariffs do have an impact and a repercussion of scale, especially in the case of such a large economy, like that of the United States, and of course that is also a concern. But, in our case, what we did was to promote actions so that the productive sectors did not get complacent and instead sought productivity improvements and production increases so as to compensate for this action, which may have long-term consequences, as economists are pointing out, on prices.

The only way, that at least we see, since we are a small economy and we are not on the scale of industrial nations, is to seek productivity improvements and competitiveness improvements internally to be able to compensate for those tariffs.

Undoubtedly, the most affected countries are going to feel a negative effect on their production, on their jobs; but, well, experience shows that, faced with these shocks, in the end the economy goes through a cycle, and that alternatives will have to be found, and that’s the other part, that I think all nations, all of them, including us, are looking for other markets, because faced with actions of that nature, the only thing that remains for one to do is to look for new markets.

In fact, our participation in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum here is carrying out that action, of looking for alternative markets, because in the face of unchanging policies in the US, we have to look for countries with more stable policies. I even believe that this will lead to the formation of new trade agreements and alliances worldwide, so as to have predictability, which is what all entrepreneurs, investors and traders are looking for, to have predictable policies.

Senderov: You have just made a quite serious warning to other countries, that they should prepare for the consequences that are still to come, is that right?

Reyes: Indeed, I think all countries are doing it, perhaps some more than others, especially those that are going to have a greater impact on their tariffs than the countries in which the tariff was 10%. But regardless of that, we have to look for new alliances and new agreements.

Senderov: Do you think that the other Latin American countries could copy your model of solving this problem, for example, by focusing on issues such as foreign investment?

Reyes: I think so, in fact, all countries have opted for foreign investment, because it is a component that helps to cushion the effects of internal slowdowns as well. We, for example, had a decrease in investment, and yet with all the recent economic results we now have an acceleration of foreign investment in Nicaragua. We went from having a low that brought us foreign investment of just 7% of GDP, now to a foreign investment equivalent to 14% of GDP. In other words, this helps us to have fresh resources, but above all to continue accumulating capital, which is what is needed to be able to export and produce more.

Senderov: But it’s not just about the conditions now, about Donald Trump’s decisions, for example. The case of Nicaragua is that its institutions suffer strong sanctions by the United States and the European Union. What are Nicaragua’s strategies to deal with them, and maybe it could work for other nations as well?

Reyes: You see, the strategy is to have flexibility; that is, one cannot impose rigidities in the face of sanctions; that is to say, one must let the economy flow, let the markets flow, let payment systems develop, and let citizens find alternatives and solutions. In fact, it is not a good action to move to control the markets; it is quite the opposite, in a framework of more flexibility, that allows those trade channels that were closed to find new routes, especially those that are in the private sector, because the decentralized economy today works very well. So, what can be done from the Government point of view is the promotion of trade agreements and treaties, so that then the economy can seek its channels.

Senderov: What is the relationship of the Central Bank of Nicaragua with international organizations, for example, such as the International Monetary Fund?

Reyes: Well, Nicaragua signed the IMF Agreement and is part of the organization in terms of the share capital it owns in that Institution. Therefore, we have the responsibility and the rights also acquired by being a member of the Fund, to request access to its financing, but also to have communication with them. We have a fluid communication with the International Monetary Fund in economic matters so that their respective evaluations are carried out. In fact, the last assessment they made of the country’s economy was positive, and the exchange of information is part of that relationship.

Of course, the IMF as an institution has an important role at the global level as a stabilizer; there are situations in which sometimes that function is not fully fulfilled. But, yes, theirs is an important opinion which at least in the case of Nicaragua is quite representative and is listened to by investors; so, we try to maintain the reputation that we have had and that we have achieved based on our own effort.

Senderov: It is important that you now differentiate between one case and another, so to speak, because the IMF in particular has often been severely criticized, for example, sometimes for its politicization which is one opinion; sometimes for practically choking other nations with its aid, but also with the impositions of its financial policies. In your opinion, is it possible for this type of body to completely abstain from politics?

Reyes: It’s a bit complicated to think that an international institution is going to be totally isolated from everything else, isn’t it? It is difficult, but it is the ideal, because according to the constitutive agreement of that body, it signs economic agreements, not political agreements. In fact, in the design of the international organizations, it is the United Nations that is the political body while the IMF and the World Bank are financial arms that should support all countries equally.

This is something that we have discussed frankly with the International Monetary Fund, and we have asked them, and requested that the dialogue be of an economic order, of an economic nature. Because in the economic order we understand each other very well; that is, they ask, for example, for economic stability; well, we agree to ensure economic stability; financial stability, banking stability, and in fact, we actively deliver that banking and financial stability.

So, the well-established slogan at the IMF of fiscal consolidation is fiscal surplus; then, we say, perfect, we are going to ensure that and we agree that a country needs fiscal consolidation and fiscal surplus. We agree on that kind of thing. But if we are then going to political matters, I think they do not have the expertise to talk about these issues.

Senderov: I understand that the Central Bank also plays a very important role in helping the development of rural areas, areas that are difficult to access. What are the strategies that your institution is taking precisely?

Reyes: Well, the Central Bank has been promoting payment systems, using financial technologies, for retail payments; in fact, we have development plans that we have been discussing with the country’s financial system to be able to expand these services to new service users, to the largest possible number.

In fact, we have virgin terrain, because in Nicaragua, the degree of financial depth is still low compared to other countries. That is to say, we have about 22% of the population with access to formal financial services and the rest do not have it. So, for us this is a strategic issue—to be able to provide financial services. We have raised this very successfully with the country’s financial institutions and we are already developing solutions.

The banks are currently designing payment services, transfer services, and we are going to do our own work from the Central Bank, to be able to provide this access to the entire population, as far as possible. In addition, we have already had an 80% degree of depth of cellular telephony; if we look at it mathematically, 80% access to cellular telephony, 20% access to financial services, then we are talking about 60% of the population that could access financial services through cellular technology.

We are all making this effort and we would hope that, with that factor, and in addition to other indicators, for example, access to energy in Nicaragua is fantastic…. We have about 90% access to electricity, and that, combined with cellular telephony, is a promising field. I think that in the coming years we will see a financial deepening in Nicaragua in that sense.

Senderov: I imagine that now attention can also be diverted a little, because if we see, for example, the news of recent days, global conflicts, we talk for example about the conflict that broke out between Iran and Israel, this could really affect the economic world.

Reyes: Indeed, a conflict of this nature and scale can have consequences; however, countries need to continue to have communication and means of payment. Regardless of what may happen in the rest of the world, it does not prevent us, with our own effort and resources, and we have to continue with that development.

Senderov: But the consequences could reach all the way to Latin America.

Reyes: Agreed, but in the long run also, internally as a country, as a nation, we need to continue developing financial services, anyway. In other words, it is something that we are not going to stop doing because of world conflicts. I have already explained the numbers, we are talking about the possibility that 60% of the population has access to financial services through electronic means, we cannot give up on that, regardless of what happens. The truth is that I am talking, in this sense, about the internal economy, not about the external economy; so, in that sense, we are going to continue working.

As for transactions and payments, of course, international payments are going to be more complicated in the face of such an event, because all these issues of sanctions and threats of unilateral actions, of course that can generate a brake on activity. But, we have seen that in the face of these difficulties we have to innovate, we have to think about alternative ways of doing things, and it has worked for us. From the different negative events that we have affected us as an economy, we have tried to look for the advantages, and draw on our strengths so as to be able to move forward.

Senderov: Speaking of the threats, because you already mentioned some in your opinion, in general, what are the threats for Latin America?

Reyes: At the moment I think the two most general ones have to do with trade issues, the unpredictability issues now of unstable trade tariffs, that is an issue that worries everyone. In fact, in the last meetings we have had with Central Bank Presidents, that is the topic that is being discussed. Even in our talks with the International Monetary Fund, that is the issue.

The trade issue is a very relevant issue, and the other one is the migration issue; in our case, Central America is a large recipient of family remittances, the flow of foreign currency from all citizens residing in the United States who receive money from their relatives. In recent legislation proposed there in the United States, there was a 3.5% tax on all remittances. So, these are two issues at least in the case of our region, Central America, even Mexico. They are relevant issues that need to be addressed, they are the main risks for us.

The main risks that we see, in the case of our countries, come from the international context, rather than from the internal context. Because Latin America has made great progress in economic stabilization; there are countries that have their particularities, but after many years of instability, Latin America has a good context in terms of stability. So, anything that disturbs things, for example, these conflicts, anything that disturbs international trade, is a matter of legitimate concern of our country.

Senderov: You were able to be present at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, how do you assess the results of this event and whether it was possible to reach some kind of agreements, because we have already seen it in numerous meetings precisely with Latin American representatives.

Reyes: I think that all these spaces are important for what we were talking about, to look for alternatives for our countries, and we see that there is also a lot of interest from national investors from Russia in this event, but also from the rest of the world, I understand that there are 140 countries participating here.

At least in our case we have fulfilled an important agenda, and agreements have been reached in different areas of work, especially in health care and in education. I think it is also an opportunity, of course, for Russia to show its economic muscle, because it has a strong economy in the sense that it has managed to overcome all obstacles and is making progress.

Senderov: And it is the most sanctioned country in the world.

Reyes: And we must learn from that experience, because nations like ours face all these threats, and it is important to know how they are managed, to know about policy, to learn from the entrepreneurial spirit so as to be able to replicate these actions in countries like ours and to be able to continue reaping success in economic development.

Senderov: When talking about alternatives, special attention is always paid to the BRICS, and in fact there is a lot of talk in the Forum on this. How do you rate this instrument now?

Reyes: I think it is an excellent multilateral instrument; there is political will on the part of the countries that make up the BRICS, to develop a new trade scheme. That is welcome, we see an opportunity there, because, in addition, there is mention of an alternative payment platform to the existing ones, and if we believe in the competitive world, the more offers there are of payment systems, and the more offers there are of commercial agreements, then there is more competition, and things should be better.

It is an opportunity for many countries. In fact, there is a founding country from Latin America in the BRICS, such that Latin American countries can also participate in this organization in order to have the benefits, not only of payment systems and trade, but also of the financing that could come from the New Development Bank (NDB) that was founded by the BRICS. It is a very solid initiative of emerging nations with large economies, with a lot of trade and big populations, which I think Nicaragua is interested in being a part of.

Senderov: From the US they even sometimes make threats, they throw out these comments that they do not want others to participate in the BRICs. Does that make you feel threatened?

Reyes: For the meantime the US position does not affect us. And I would say sometimes there are reactions that are exaggerated. Generally, I think that competition is not to be feared; on the contrary, you have to accept it, one should not feel challenged because a rival appears since together with them, we can offer a service, and in any case the world is growing and there are constantly new clients. So, one more member added to the group of bidders, is not going to hurt you, on the contrary, it is going to force you to compete better.

Senderov: So, would you say that a new world order is forming right now?

Reyes: Of course it is forming, because when there are actions that try to holding back economic development, one has to look for new alliances, new methods, and new ways of doing things; it is inevitable that this will happen.

Senderov: Thank you very much for your time and for this Interview.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Thousands Celebrate “Minguito”

Thousands of Catholic followers participated in the start of the ten-day celebration in honor of Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo) of Guzmán, the patron saint of Managua, at the beginning of the most popular patron saint festivities in the country. The tiny statue of the saint, measuring only seven inches in height and protected by a glass case, left its usual sanctuary in a church at Las Sierritas in the southern hills of Managua and was transferred to the Church of Santo Domingo at the north end of Managua near the Eastern Market and Lake Cocibolca. On August 10, with another festival, Santo Domingo will be moved back to the church in southern Managua. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/cientos- ... de-guzman/ (La Primerisima, 2 August 2025)

New 270,000 Square Foot Hospital in Ocotal

The Héroes de Las Segovias Hospital consists of seven buildings covering a total area of 270,000 square feet, with a capacity of 236 beds. The hospital, in the city of Ocotal, will offer physical medicine services, oncology and chemotherapy, a nephrology unit with dialysis and hemodialysis, a pain clinic, endoscopic services, rehabilitation with hydrotherapy, maxillofacial surgery, outpatient consultations, emergency care, hospitalization, an obstetrics unit, neonatology, and a pharmacy. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/nuevo-ho ... cuadrados/ (La Primerisima, 2 August 2025)

Nurseries Produce One Million Plants

On August 1 local authorities reported the production in the country’s nurseries of one million new plants between January and July this year. During the week of July 27 to August 1, seven nurseries were expanded in the municipalities of Morrito, El Castillo, San Carlos, La Concordia, La Libertad, San Miguelito, and San José de Cusmapa, bringing the total number of expansions and improvements to 47. (La Primerisima, 1 August 2025)

National Assembly Approves Law Strengthening Border Security

On August 5 the National Assembly approved a law establishing a border territory from the international borders to 15 kilometers inside national territory. Deputy Edwin Castro explained that the new law strengthens the legal framework and guarantees sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. “The new law clearly defines the protection of our border to prevent illegal transactions committed internationally by organized crime, and supports our principles of self-defense. It establishes that the entire border area delimited to 15 kilometers from the border will be the exclusive property of the Nicaraguan state, which does not affect the Nicaraguans who live there,” he explained. See law: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/asamblea ... fronteras/ (La Primerisima, 5 August 2025)

Universities to Have Placements for 60,000 New Students in 2026

Nicaragua’s universities expect to accept 60,000 new students for the next academic year. The 60,000 placements are for new students, primarily high school graduates who will begin their university studies in February of 2026. Bismarck Santana, technical secretary for university affairs, said on Aug. 5 that more than 240,000 students across the country have now returned to second semester classes which began in July. Although the official enrollment period for 2026 is now closed, universities continue to handle special cases of young people who had difficulty registering. Santana said that the University in the Countryside program currently serves 38,000 students in rural areas, 60 percent of whom are women. He added that, as part of comprehensive training, content on history and national Identity, as well as English are being incorporated into more than 30 percent of degree programs, in accordance with the National Education Strategy. (La Primerisima, 5 August 2025)

Workers Reaffirm Support for the Sandinista Government

The 15th National Congress of the Sandinista Workers’ Union (CST) reaffirmed its historic commitment to the Sandinista Popular Revolution and to defending the rights and welfare of workers, said Pedro Ortega, who was re-elected as secretary general of the CST Executive Committee. “As workers, we want to reaffirm that commitment to the Revolution and also to Comandante Daniel [Ortega] and Compañera Rosario [Murillo], who have supported the workers and have also supported the struggles of the Nicaraguan working class,” he said.

Also at the CST Congress, the president of the Central Bank of Nicaragua, Ovidio Reyes presented an optimistic outlook for the national economy, highlighting the achievements made thanks to policies aimed at inclusive growth. He noted that Nicaragua maintains sustained macroeconomic stability, with average economic growth of 4%, a pace which is expected to continue in the coming years. “The country’s economic dynamism is reflected in the 10% growth in exports, driven by the quality and competitiveness of Nicaraguan products. “Nicaraguan products are reaching such a level of quality and competitiveness that it is driving the export sector,” he said. “There is a lot of entrepreneurship in our country. That is a new reality,” said Reyes, highlighting that this [small and medium business] sector, together with formal jobs, contribute significantly to economic development. He emphasized the commitment to continue consolidating these conditions to ensure an increase in real wages, maintain stable inflation, reduce the unemployment rate, and continue the fight against poverty. (Informe Pastran, 4 August 2025)

Fairs and Fair-Trade Events Generate US$100,000 in Five Days

From July 28 to August 3, the Ministry for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship organized more than 90 fairs, markets, farmers’ markets, and fair-trade events nationwide, generating more than US$100,000 in sales. 1,470 entrepreneurs, artisans, merchants, and SMEs (small and medium scale businesses) participated during this period. The main products offered were handicrafts, leather products, boots, hats, bags, textiles, clothing, natural medicine, food, traditional desserts and sweets, vegetables, and jewelry, among others. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/emprendi ... en-ventas/ (La Primerisima, 4 August 2025)

New Streets and Roads Built So Far in 2025

The country’s various municipalities have improved and built 2,156 streets and 2,636 kilometers of roads so far this year. During the week of July 28 to August 2, municipalities inaugurated 46 new streets and 65 kilometers of improved roads in

Larreynaga, Diriomo, Rivas, Matagalpa, El Cuá, Managua, San Marcos, Jinotepe, Nindirí, Cinco Pinos, Río Blanco, San Carlos, Dolores, El Crucero, Bilwi, Wiwilí de Nueva Segovia, and San Nicolás. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/se-han-c ... e-caminos/ (La Primerisima, 4 August 2025)

International Arts, Culture, and Food Festival

The Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR) inaugurated the 11th edition of the International Festival of Arts, Cultures, and Food of Our Peoples on August 2, showing aspects of many different countries’ roots, history, and culinary richness. Attendees are finding a wide variety of cuisine, prepared on the spot, as well as aspects of the culture and traditions of each country. The co-director of INTUR, Mara Stotti, said that this “event highlights the diversity of traditions, gastronomy, and cultural expressions of 40 countries. Today, the Olof Palme Convention Center once again becomes a meeting point; each country showcasing its roots, history, and culinary wealth. This is a window to the world, where through dance, music, and food, we are transported to different corners of the globe,” she said. Camila Ortega Murillo, Coordinator of the National Commission for the Creative Economy, greeted the accredited diplomatic corps and all the countries participating with their gastronomic and cultural offerings. She said that over the next two days, they will welcome Nicaraguan families and visitors from around the world who come to taste the food, but also to experience the culture and art of all the countries participating. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/arranca- ... stronomia/ (La Primerisima, 2 August 2025)

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-productivity ... idio-reyes

[blindpig]

A Quartet of Nicaragua Critics Sings From Washington’s Songbook
August 12, 2025


Poster of solidarity with Nicaragua reading “ Nicaragua Against Empire.” Photo: Network in Defense of Humanity, Irish Chapter/file photo.

By John Perry and Roger D. Harris – Aug 10, 2025

In recent weeks, a motley crew of writers has found common cause in attacking Nicaragua’s Sandinista government: Jaden Hong, a high school student from Sammamish, Washington, who has never visited the country; Jared O. Bell, a former USAID Foreign Service Officer; Barb Arland-Fye, editor of a Catholic newspaper in Iowa; and Gioconda Belli, a 76-year-old Nicaraguan novelist in self-exile. Writing in outlets ranging from The Teen Magazine to the New York Times, they have produced a string of biased, ill-informed pieces that repeat the same well-worn falsehoods about Nicaragua’s elected government.

Their attacks on Nicaragua’s revolution reflect Washington’s talking points as it pursues its regime-change agenda. Jaden Hong tells “Gen Z” in The Teen Magazine that Nicaragua’s democracy is fading. Jared O. Bell, who lost his USAID job in Managua when Trump shuttered the agency, complains in Peace Voice about the country’s “stolen democracy.” Barb Arland-Fye, in The Catholic Messenger, writes glowingly about a key organizer of the violent coup attempt in Nicaragua in 2018. Novelist Gioconda Belli is given a guest essay in the New York Times to lament her “country’s dictator.”

Belli, born in Nicaragua but living abroad since the 1980s, has been a critic of the Sandinista government since it first regained power through the ballot box in 2007.

Her status as a novelist ensures that the NYT, the Guardian, Spain’s El Pais and other mainstream outlets give her space to vent her anger against a revolution which she supported initially but has since been labeled a “farce.”

Many of Nicaragua’s liberal intellectuals opposed the Somoza dictatorship in the 1970s, but their commitment faded as the initial glamour of the revolution turned into the hard work of tackling the needs of the country’s poor and working people. As ordinary Nicaraguans were given greater voice, and taxes were raised to pay for new schools and hospitals (60% of the country’s budget goes to social programs), they maligned people’s power as an emerging “dictatorship.”

The list of privileged critics of the Sandinista government, whose status gives them access to the New York Times and other corporate outlets, include Belli and her brother Humberto, along with Sergio Ramirez (a “novelist betrayed by the revolution”), journalist Carlos Chamorro and many more. Some work directly for mainstream media, such as Wilfredo Miranda (El Pais) and Gabriela Selser (Reuters). Supposedly revolutionary in their youth, they are now part of Washington’s soft power apparatus and help feed its imperialist agenda.

Of the lies in Belli’s recent NYT article, one stands out: that “peaceful protesters were shot” during the coup attempt against Nicaragua’s elected government in 2018. This falsehood is repeated in the other three articles. Bell says that “student-led protests… were met with brutal, deadly repression.” Hong says that “lethal force” led to “355 dead and hundreds injured.” For Arland-Fye, it was a “deadly crackdown.” That the protestors were far from “peaceful” is obvious from the fact that 22 police officers were killed and over 400 injured in attacks launched from the hundreds of roadblocks erected by the coup-mongers throughout the country.



Arland-Fye’s sycophantic piece is about opposition figure Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega. The cleric had called the coup roadblocks “a wonderful idea” and said he hoped to see President Daniel Ortega in front of a firing squad. The Iowa bishopric, for which Arland-Fye writes, has just awarded Baez a “peace prize.”

The suggestion that Trump is following an Ortega “playbook” appears in two of the articles: it could hardly be more absurd. Unlike Ortega, Trump is not building public hospitals, he’s dismantling Medicare. Also unlike Ortega, he isn’t presiding over a country which is championing the shift to renewable energy; nor is he building 7,000 affordable homes each year. Trump, instead, is drastically cutting federal spending for social needs.

Rather than following a Nicaraguan “playbook” of peaceful cooperation with its neighbors, both Trump administrations (and Biden’s, both echoing Reagan in 1985) have incredulously declared Nicaragua an “extraordinary threat to the national security” of the US. But it is Nicaragua’s remarkable battle against poverty, unmentioned in the articles, that is seen by Washington as the real “threat,” because it challenges the neoliberal order.

The article by Bell, a former USAID worker, is perhaps unintentionally the most revealing. Prior to the 2018 coup attempt, USAID spent millions of dollars creating Nicaragua’s anti-Sandinista media apparatus. After the coup attempt failed, the Sandinista government justifiably closed NGOs and media outlets funded by USAID or its auxiliary body, the National Endowment for Democracy. They did so based on legislation patterned after the US’s Foreign Agents Registration Act. Nevertheless this funding continues—going to anti-Sandinista outfits in Costa Rica and in the US itself.

USAID had maintained a Nicaraguan presence by having staffers like Bell in the US embassy in Managua. Their role, as his article makes clear, was not to assist the government in fighting poverty but to engage with “exiled civil society leaders and independent [sic] journalists” opposed to the revolution. The ”independence” of US government-funded journalists goes unquestioned.

Meanwhile, the USAID, while formally independent, now operates under the direction of the State Department. But its clandestine work assuredly continues.

The saddest of the four articles is by teenager Jaden Hong. If he were to visit Nicaragua, he would see for himself how young people have free, good quality education right through to university level and beyond. He would see how the government has addressed malnutrition in youngsters by providing all of them with free school meals. He would note that parks, playgrounds and sports facilities have sprung up around the country.

Above all, if he took part in one of the frequent mass demonstrations in support of the government, he might wonder at the fact that most of those around him are other young people. Unlike Gioconda Belli, they are too young to recall the revolutionary years of the 1980s. But they are old enough to recognize the revolution’s achievements and to be determined to protect them from Washington’s attacks.

https://orinocotribune.com/a-quartet-of ... -songbook/

[blindpig]

NicaNotes: Freedom From Hunger: Celebrating Nicaragua’s Gains & Feeling Anguish for Gaza
August 14, 2025
By Becca Renk

(Becca Renk is originally from Idaho, USA. For 25 years, she has lived and worked in sustainable community development in Nicaragua with the Jubilee House Community and its project, the Center for Development in Central America. She coordinates the solidarity work of Casa Ben Linder.)


Earlier this year, the Nueva Vida Clinic participated in a nation-wide nutritional census, helping to weigh and measure children in Nueva Vida and the rural areas which the Clinic serves.

1999: Hurricane Mitch Aftermath

The image is forever seared in my mind: Francisco was two years old; his thin legs and swollen feet were covered in sores. Straw blond hair stuck to his head as he listlessly nursed from his teenage mother’s breast. He weighed 13 ½ pounds.

It was the summer of 1999, and I was weighing babies in Nueva Vida. I’d come to Nicaragua in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch to help in any way I could through the Jubilee House Community and its project in Nicaragua, the Center for Development in Central America (JHC-CDCA).

With its main office located just a mile down the road from the largest Hurricane Mitch resettlement camp in the country, the folks at the JHC-CDCA were busy. Nine months after the hurricane, the 12,000 people in Nueva Vida – who had been moved from Managua’s flooded lakeshore – were still sleeping on the ground in black plastic tents. There were water spigots throughout the camp where families could haul water for cooking and washing and electricity was connected to the tents via a spiderweb of pieced-together barbed wire.

Mitch’s Malnutrition

Families had lost their sources of income – many had been fishermen on the lake, or had dug through Managua’s trash to find recyclables to sell. In Nueva Vida, there was no lake and no dump. Without work, there was never enough to eat. Aid trucks from the big humanitarian organizations had stopped coming – undoubtedly moved on to the next disaster – and families were left struggling to put food in their kids’ mouths.

We’d been meeting with the leadership emerging from the chaos that was Nueva Vida in the early days, and a list of priorities for the community had been drawn up. Top on that list was a health clinic. At that time, Nicaragua’s neoliberal government had essentially privatized health care, and the people of Nueva Vida had no access to doctors or medicine. Although we were still a few months away from setting up what would become the permanent Nueva Vida Clinic, nurse Linda Mashburn came down to Nicaragua that summer and led a nutritional census of the children to get a better idea of the scope of the malnutrition.

That was how I came to be in the tent with Francisco and his mother in a gut-wrenchingly intimate moment where I knew that a child’s life hung in the balance as he suffered from starvation in front of my eyes. That image, and that feeling, has haunted me for 26 years, and will be with me for the rest of my life.

2025: Nicaragua’s New Generation

What was Francisco’s fate? We don’t know. We brought immediate food aid to the family, but they soon moved on, and we lost track of Francisco as we lost track of so many others in that refugee camp.

Fortunately, I can tell you the fate of Nicaragua’s new generation. Earlier this year, our clinic participated in a nation-wide nutritional census, helping to weigh and measure children in Nueva Vida and the rural areas where we work. Our health promoters registered 185 children to receive micronutrients from the Ministry of Health every month to help with their growth and development.

Last week, as we handed out the first packets to our tiny patients, the results of the nutritional census came back:

46.6% reduction in acute malnutrition, from 5.8% in 2016 to 3.1% in 2025.

56.9% reduction in chronic malnutrition, from 13.7% in 2016 to 5.9% in 2025.

In 2025, Nicaragua has free universal health care, free education with a hot meal daily for 1.2 million school children, and a host of poverty reduction and income generation programs. This integral approach by the Sandinista government and its herculean efforts to ensure that these programs reach every corner of the country help guarantee that Nicaraguan children today won’t know the type of hunger that Francisco suffered in 1999.

1990-2006: Hunger in Neoliberal Nicaragua

There is no stronger fear than hunger. Hunger has been used historically to control people: if your children are hungry, you will be willing to work for little and accept bad working conditions just to feed them. During the 17 years of Nicaragua’s neoliberal government rule, big business required a cheap, docile workforce in order to further enrich the wealthy. The government’s complete abandonment of the poor, as mandated by the IMF and World Bank, led to chronic malnutrition in children under five years old, which had reached 21.7% by 2006.

1970s: Hunger in Nicaragua Under Somoza

Further back, under the cruel Somoza dictatorship, malnutrition rates were even higher. Keeping the Nicaraguan people hungry was essential to quell uprisings and ensure Somoza’s continued reign. In 1970s, a group of poor peasants met to discuss and interpret the gospel, and these conversations were recorded in The Gospel in Solentiname. During a discussion of the Slaughter of the Innocents from the Book of Matthew 2:16-18, an astute young observer said, “[In Nicaragua] there is so much infant mortality, and so many stunted, undernourished children. I think that is persecuting children. I think the same thing is happening here as happened to Christ when he was persecuted as a kid.”

Today: Gaza’s Slow Starvation

The persecution of children through forced hunger continues today.

As I celebrate the victory of historically low malnutrition rates and feel joy for Nicaragua’s children, I simultaneously feel anguish for the children of Gaza: in the past ten days, the daily death toll from forced starvation has increased alarmingly.

With Palestinians unable to leave Gaza, no farming due to constant attacks, and fishing banned by Israel, all food must be brought in to Gaza from outside. These food shipments are controlled by Israel, and carefully calculated to allow people to slowly starve, designed to control the Palestinian people through hunger.

Right now, it feels as if the whole world is standing inside a black plastic tent, watching all of Gaza’s children desperately trying to latch on their mother’s breast. We are all in a gut-wrenchingly intimate moment where we know that the lives of these children hang in the balance as they weaken from starvation in front of our eyes. This genocide will surely haunt the world forever. The question is, will we move to stop it?

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

PAHO/WHO Annual Country Report for 2024

The recently released PAHO/WHO Annual Country Report for 2024 focused on Nicaragua’s implementation of innovative health technologies, according to the organization’s representative in Nicaragua, Ana Elena Chévez. Chévez added that the document also highlighted the Nicaraguan model Strengthening the Family and Community Health, as well as how it preserves historic achievements in vaccination and medical supply management.

Nicaragua continued to reduce risks in childbirth by incorporating specialized equipment, special training of all health personnel, and monitoring tools such as first-trimester screening and use of the partograph [a modern system of monitoring labor and childbirth], the report said. The agency recognized the high vaccination coverage thanks to the strengthening of the cold chain [making sure vaccines are kept cold], the improvement of the expanded immunization program’s information system, and the continuous supply of vaccines, including those for seasonal influenza. (La Primerisima, 9 August 2025)

Social Investment Still a Priority

The health and education sectors in Nicaragua account for 68.5% of total social spending reaffirming the importance of these basic services for the population. Specifically, the Ministry of Health has spent more than US$57.5 million this year on projects, including the replacement and equipping of a hospital in Wiwilí, the construction of another in Las Minas, the new hospital in Nueva Segovia, and another in León. All are large state of the art hospitals. The Ministry of Education has also increased its budget, with notable projects such as the construction and equipping of new educational facilities in Camino del Río and Villa Esperanza in Managua, and improvements to schools in many municipalities. (Informe Pastran, 11 August 2025)

2018 Horror Center in Jinotepe to Be Bismarck Martínez School

On August 12 Co-President Rosario Murillo announced that the former San José School in Jinotepe used as a torture center during the US-backed coup attempt in 2018, has been transferred to the state and will be named after the hero Bismarck de Jesús Martínez.

Co-President Murillo said, “Many Sandinistas were murdered at the San José roadblock [created and managed by thugs who were paid with money from US organizations like USAID and the NED, channeled through Nicaraguan non-governmental organizations] and, although the school had nothing to do with it, Sandinistas from Jinotepe and Carazo were murdered at the San Jose School.” Murillo continued, “Now at the school we have a new educational center which is an achievement of peace, the peace we protect and deserve. In 2018 in Jinotepe, the San Jose Catholic School was converted by the coup mongers into a center where people were tortured and murdered, like Bismarck Martinez. Now, this school has been transferred to the state because it is emblematic of the 2018 barbarism. But it is also emblematic of the Jinotepe families who defeated the coup plotters.”

Murillo went on to say, “That center of torture and hate crimes, formerly known as Colegio San José, will now bear the name of the Hero, the Martyr, comrade Bismarck Martínez. The coup plotters tortured Bismarck Martínez then they murdered him on the surrounding grounds. Now, in these times of victories for peace, that place will be known by the name of the martyr Bismarck, an emblematic comrade whose murder shocked the entire country. We are working to be able to reopen the school next week. Some 600 students from kindergarten to the final year of high school will be covered by the free education policy of the government of the People’s President.”

Murrillo ended by saying that, “We will never forget Bismarck, and we will never forget those hate crimes, that coup-mongering, drug-trafficking coup that sought to undermine the common good and our Christian, socialist, and solidarity-based project. What does well-being mean? Education, health, work, peace, security, prosperity. Let’s move forward with the example of Bismarck Martínez, martyr of the Nicaraguan people, murdered by the criminals who will not return.” (La Primerisima, 12 August 2025)

Millions of Dollars Invested in Hospital Network

The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit presented the Budget Execution Report for January to June 2025, highlighting advances in infrastructure and equipment in the health sector, managed by the Ministry of Health (MINSA).

With a total allocation of US$5.3 billion, MINSA is promoting key projects to strengthen the country’s hospital network. Among these is the Dr. Oscar Danilo Rosales Hospital in León, with an investment of US$10.5 million. This project is 96.1% complete and will be inaugurated on September 21. Also, the construction and equipping of the Nueva Guinea Departmental Hospital is moving forward with an investment of US$13.7 million and is 84.9% complete. The Aldo Chavarría Mairena National Rehabilitation Center in Managua is being rebuilt; this project is in the pre-investment study phase, laying the groundwork for its future development.

On August 27, Nicaraguan families will celebrate the opening of the Héroes de Las Segovias Hospital in Ocotal, a monumental project promoted by the Sandinista government. This modern hospital, with an investment of US$93 million promises to transform medical care in the region, benefiting the inhabitants of three departments – Nueva Segovia, Estelí, Somóto, and beyond. The Nuevo Amanecer Regional Hospital, North Caribbean Coast is advancing with an investment of US$7.85 million and is 54.4% complete, improving medical care in the Caribbean region. The Héroes de las Segovias Departmental Hospital will be inaugurated on August 27 and was built with an investment of US$3.3 million. The Fidel Ventura Primary Hospital in Wiwilí will replace existing healthcare infrastructure. The primary Hospital in Condega, Estelí, is complete and already serving the population. The expansion and equipping of the Clinical Laboratory at the Juan A. Brenes Hospital in Somóto has been completed, improving diagnostic services. The Somotillo Primary Hospital in Chinandega has also been recently finished. (La Primerisima, 12 August 2025)

21 Municipal Markets Renovated

Twenty-one municipal markets around Nicaragua have been renovated and improved in various municipalities across the country this year with money from the national government. Four renovated and improved markets have been inaugurated in Managua, two in El Rama, and one each in San Marcos, Somotillo, Quezalguaque, Chinandega, Matagalpa, San Juan del Sur, Ocotal, Chichigalpa, Jalapa, La Paz de Carazo, Pueblo Nuevo, San Juan de Río Coco, Telpaneca, Villanueva, and San Francisco del Norte. These projects guarantee more dignified conditions for Nicaraguan merchants and families, strengthening the local economy and the model of people-centered leadership. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/rehabili ... nicipales/

(La Primerisima, 11 August 2025)

Families in Somoto Receive Keys to New Homes

Nine families received the keys to their new homes in different neighborhoods of the city of Somoto, Madriz, through the social housing program. This is a project that continues to make dreams come true for families in this municipality, implemented by the Sandinista government through the Nicaraguan Institute of Urban and Rural Housing (INVUR) and the Somoto mayor’s office. There are social housing programs all over the country where the recipient will pay nothing or a small monthly contribution. There are also hundreds of affordable housing projects where the recipient pays the equivalent of US$30 or more per month. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/mas-fami ... e_vignette (La Primerisima, 11 August 2025)

Nicaragua Stands Out in Business Tourism

According to a recent report by the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat (SITCA), Nicaragua ranked as the second country in Central America with the highest proportion of business tourism in 2024, surpassed only by Guatemala. The study reveals that, out of a total of one million tourists who visited Nicaragua during the year, 8.4% did so on business trips. This percentage places the country in a prominent position in the region, surpassing El Salvador (7.5%), Honduras (7.3%), Costa Rica (5.1%), Panama (4.5%), the Dominican Republic (2.7%), and Belize (3.4%). Business tourism is not the predominant category in Nicaragua; leisure, sun, and beach tourism continue to be the main reasons for tourists visiting the country, in line with the regional trend. In 2024, most visitors to Nicaragua came attracted by recreational and vacation activities, consolidating the country as an attractive destination for both rest and commercial opportunities. This flow of tourists contributes significantly to the local economy, especially in sectors related to services and commerce. (Informe Pastran, 11 August 2025)

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-freedom-from ... h-for-gaza

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President of Nicaragua: US Aggression Against Venezuela Threatens All of Latin America
August 22, 2025


The co-presidents of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, participate in the 13th Special Summit of Heads of State and Government of ALBA-TCP, August 20, 2025. Photo: Presidency of Nicaragua.

The co-president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, called for the unity of Latin American leaders amid the US threats of capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

“We call for unity from the grassroots of the peoples and for the dignity of Latin American leaders to defend the sovereignty of their own peoples, because the threat against our brother Nicolás Maduro is also a threat to the sovereignty of Venezuela and that of all Latin America and the Caribbean. This cannot be overlooked,” emphasized Ortega.

The Nicaraguan president made this statement at the 13th Special Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) on Wednesday, August 20, which was held to repudiate the latest US aggression against Venezuela and Washington’s naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea.

The Nicaraguan president considered the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as submissive and cowardly, as it had remained silent about the $50 million bounty offered by the US government for information leading to Maduro’s capture.

“There has not been a strong response from CELAC … That is cowardice, that is submission,” he expressed. “Today they do this to Venezuela and tomorrow they will try to do it with another country. How is it possible that all of Latin America has not reacted unanimously and strongly to the threat posed by the Neros of Washington, offering a reward of millions of dollars for the life of the legitimate president of Venezuela?”

According to Ortega, unity for the defense of peace is fundamental, a peace that has been constructed in Latin America and the Caribbean despite all the aggressions from Washington.

“Latin America and the Caribbean is a territory of peace. We declare it, we decide it, and we are acting on it, despite the contradictions that may exist among nations, despite the differences that may arise,” he noted. “We are marching forward, overcoming blockades, sanctions, and all kinds of threats.”

Ortega criticized international organizations, such as the United Nations, for not acting against the “imperialist powers” that attack other nations to dominate their territories, as Israel is trying to do, in its “determination to destroy the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

https://orinocotribune.com/president-of ... n-america/

[blindpig]

NicaNotes: Revolutionizing Tourism: a community model that benefits local people and tourists
August 28, 2025
NicaNotes

August 28, 2025

[This article is based on a webinar of the same name organized by the Casa Ben Linder in Managua in July 2025. The webinar was introduced by CBL coordinator Becca Renk with contributions from four recent participants in CBL delegations: Ken Yale, Gayle Nielson and Larry Fisk from the US, and Geraldine Cawthorne from the UK. The article was first published by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group (NSCAG).]

Community-Based Tourism

Since 2007 Nicaragua has developed a community-based tourism model which ensures that the benefits reach local people, is culturally appropriate, and minimizes the environmental impact. It is also a model that warmly welcomes tourists, creates local jobs in family and community focused businesses.

Tourism provides an alternative source of income for local communities, reducing reliance on destructive activities such as firewood sales for economic survival or internal rural to urban migration in search of jobs. Community-based tourism encourages the growth of local businesses, from family-run guesthouses to small-scale tour operators and craft markets. This economic boost helps create jobs and stimulates the local economy, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are felt throughout the community.


Community tourism helps local handicraft producers like this potter in La Paz Centro showing his ovens to a tour group.

Anasha Campbell, the Minister of Tourism, highlights the way in which tourism can also serve to enhance mutual understanding between different cultures and foster a spirit of peace. The government reinforces this model through providing free training programs for those working in the tourism sector. Even tiny tourism operations can train their staff for free in everything from event planning to waiting tables, to English, to bird identification.

The tour delegations organized by Casa Ben Linder visit Pedro Guerrero, a fifth-generation Indigenous potter who is also the deputy mayor of the town of San Juan de Oriente. They enjoy learning from local cooks to make Indio Viejo, a traditional dish, as well as, of course, gallo pinto and tajadas, which are usually their favorites. The bird brigades stay at locally owned Hotel Cabanas Paraiso on Solentiname with their wonderful local bird guide Laureano Mairena.

In 2016/17 tourism was booming in Nicaragua. However, from 2018 – 2023 the tourism sector contracted as a result of the 2018 attempted coup, two major hurricanes at the end of 2020, and the COVID pandemic. Since 2024, tourist numbers have steadily risen, 75% of them Nicaraguans taking advantage of the greatly improved infrastructure, and stunning scenery within their own country.

Nicaragua has received a number of tourism accolades in 2025. It made the top 25 places to visit by the world’s most influential travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler. It was one of the places on the top 50 list of Travel + Leisure Magazine and #14 on the New York Times List of “52 Places to Go in 2025“ which called Nicaragua, “A darling of ecotourism… ready for its next renaissance.”

“A well-integrated community model of poverty reduction!”

Ken Yale, an educator and anti-imperialist activist from the San Francisco Bay area, who visited Nicaragua on the CBL Women’s Empowerment delegation, has travelled extensively to more than forty countries. This is how he described his experience as a participant on the delegation: “As an educator, going to Nicaragua on the Women’s Empowerment Delegation was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had, as an activist one of the most inspiring, as a traveler one of the best organized.”

He noted that the program was an opportunity to witness the way in which the government’s well integrated community model of poverty reduction plays out at all levels from government ministries, the National Assembly, women’s police stations, health clinics, to maternity wait homes, and individual families. One example that the delegation witnessed is a gender equality campaign against violence against women being implemented across at all levels.


The Women’s Empowerment Delegation visited one of Nicaragua’s 205 maternity wait homes in July.

Why visit Nicaragua? Ken went on to highlight the fact that so many leaders internationally claim they will or are making changes to address high levels of poverty but in practice very little transpires. Nicaragua has moved beyond poverty reduction rhetoric to implementing a model that addresses people’s material needs. This demonstrates what is possible with political will on the part of the government and everyone working together to promote lived wellbeing for everyone.

“Dramatic improvements from 1991”

NSCAG activist Geraldine Cawthorne from London was visiting Nicaragua for the third time having previously been to the country on environmental and women’s brigades 30 years ago. She described what things have changed and what has remained the same.

Her last visit was in 1991, a year after the shock election of the UNO neoliberal government, a time when many Sandinistas were distraught at the election result. Geraldine describes meeting Sandinistas who explained that they had voted for the US backed UNO because they believed that was only way the agony of deaths and economic hardship from the long contra war would come to an end.

In 1991, the brigades slept in dormitories in bunks; water was rationed and there was no electricity. Transport was by truck, on foot, or in a Toyota pickup that often got stuck in the mud or broke down, or both. The 175-mile journey from Managua to San Carlos took all day on a dirt track.

On the island of Solentiname on Lake Cocibolca (Nicaragua) the health clinic was a wooden cabin with basic medicines, two exhausted doctors staffed a hospital, and children at best attended school for only a year. Travelers to Nicaragua from London in those pre internet days carried piles of paper documents and everything else including tires for a vehicle.

Fast forward to 2025 the improvements to infrastructure are dramatic: The journey from Managua to San Carlos takes 2-3 hours on a paved road; facilities in hostels and hotels are unrecognizable; and the widespread use of technology especially WhatsApp has revolutionized communications.

On the island of Mancaron, part of the archipelago of Solentiname, a well-equipped health center is open all week and makes regular visits to outlying islands. Mancaron has two primary schools and one secondary school. But what has stayed the same is the sense of everyone working together, the energy, warmth, care, and support for each other.

Getting to know local people and experience the spectacular flora and fauna

Gayle Nielson from Minnesota visited Nicaragua on the Casa Ben Linder bird brigade in February 2025. The bird brigade also travelled from Managua to San Carlos, before taking a boat trip along the San Juan River (that forms the border with Costa Rica) and then traveled to Mancaron Island. Very knowledgeable guides from local communities who knew everyone living there made the trip especially enjoyable. The program included visits to a cacao co-operative, artisan workshops, and petroglyphs.



Gayle described the richness of Nicaragua’s scenery and fauna and flora: from orchids to two toed sloths, to caimans, anteaters, and the spectacular crater lake Laguna de Apoyo.

Getting to Understand History: Nicaragua at the cross roads of colonial exploitation

Larry Fisk from Minnesota had a particular interest in the key historical events and figures that have shaped Nicaragua. These included the 6,000-year-old footprints of Acahualinca believed to be the earliest human footprints in the Americas.

Larry explained the strategic importance of the Rio San Juan and how the river played a role in 18th and 19th century geopolitical power struggles involving the Spanish and the US in an alliance against the British. The Spanish constructed a fort at El Castillo in the late 17th century to fend off pirates and buccaneers including Lord Nelson who failed in an attempt in 1780 to capture the fort for the British.

US ‘conquistadores’ include the businessman Cornelius Vanderbilt who operated a steamship service along the Rio San Juan transporting prospectors to the Californian gold fields, and the infamous filibuster William Walker who declared himself president of Nicaragua driven by the US doctrine of manifest destiny.

This US belief in its right to shape and control the entire continent in its own interests continues through history to this day. Examples include the US Marines occupation of Nicaragua from 1913 to 1933, the brutal contra war of the 1980s, and the current US sanctions (illegal unilateral coercive measures) and multiple other forms of intervention.

But Nicaragua’s history is also one of rebellion and resistance to foreign intervention. Most famously, in recent history Augusto César Sandino led a rebellion between 1927 and 1933 against the US occupation of Nicaragua by the US marines. The Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN) took his name and he has become an inspiration and symbol of resistance to US imperialism throughout the continent.

Visit Nicaragua!

The country is a respite from battles back home, a place with extraordinary scenery, flora and fauna, where you can breathe freely, a country that counteracts the myth that things will never change, an example of decent, caring, welcoming society that believes in people.

Casa Ben Linder is sponsoring trips to Nicaragua in 2026, including “Bird Brigade: Birding in Nicaragua” from January 22 to 31, “Women in Nicaragua: Power & Protagonism” from March 7 to 15, “Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua” in June, and “Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution” from July 11 to 20, all in 2026.

To listen to the recording of the webinar click here.

To contact Casa Ben Linder about guest house reservations or delegations click here.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Electrification Reaches 99.6% of Nicaraguan Homes

Nicaragua has achieved a historic milestone in its energy sector, reaching 99.636% electricity coverage in July 2025. This monumental advance, driven by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and the National Electrical Transmission Company (ENATREL), is the result of a decade of efforts by the Sandinista government. From 2007 to July 2025, the Nicaraguan energy sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation. A MEM report shows that 760,965 homes have been electrified, benefiting more than 4,003,132 inhabitants. The coverage target for 2025, set at 99.73%, is about to be achieved. The success of Nicaragua’s electrification strategy would not be possible without the implementation of a large number of projects: 10,336 projects have been carried out between 2007 and July 2025. These projects, which include the installation of transmission and distribution networks, have been crucial in expanding service to communities that previously lacked access.

The use of renewable energy has played a key role in the expansion strategy. The installation of 12,938 solar panels is one example of the country’s commitment to providing energy in hard-to-reach areas. This initiative not only contributes to sustainability, but also brings electricity to the most remote corners of the country. Nicaragua is a leader in electricity coverage in Central America, ranking first as the country with the highest coverage in the region. The focus on rural electrification and the adoption of clean technologies, such as solar panels, demonstrate an energy development model that prioritizes inclusion and sustainability. (Informe Pastran, 25 August, 2025)

Central Bank and CABEI Sign Renewal of Credit Line

The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) signed the sixteenth renewal of a credit line for up to US$200 million aimed at strengthening the liquidity management of the BCN, the entity responsible for the country’s monetary and exchange rate policy. This revolving agreement, valid for one year from August 21, 2025, seeks to promote financial, monetary, and exchange rate stability in Nicaragua, in line with the BCN’s objectives. The credit line, first signed in 2009, reaffirms CABEI’s commitment to the country’s economic development. The importance of the Central Bank’s receiving credit lines from CABEI lies mainly in strengthening its liquidity and capacity to respond to economic contingencies. These credit lines are a crucial financial instrument that benefit the country in several ways, such as supporting liquidity management; strengthening the Córdoba and stability; promoting economic development; and providing access to favorable conditions for loans. (Informe Pastran, 21 August 2025)

Nicaragua Attracts Foreign Investment

Nicaragua is establishing itself as an attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Central America, reaching a historic high of US$1.352 billion in FDI in 2024, according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This amount represents a 21% increase over 2023, highlighting the country as one of the most dynamic in the region in attracting foreign capital. A recent report by El Salvador.com points out that FDI has become a key driver of Central American economic development, boosting job creation, technology transfer, and new export opportunities. While Costa Rica leads with a record US$5.298 billion and Panama follows with US$3.24 billion, Nicaragua is positioning itself as a strong competitor. Guatemala obtained $1.694 billion and Honduras $1.309 billion, leaving El Salvador behind, which attracted only $640 million in 2024, 11% less than in 2023. Nicaragua’s success is attributed to its competitive advantages in sectors such as manufacturing and free trade zones, as well as the recent approval of a new Foreign Investment Law. (Informe Pastran, 21 August 2025)

Ocotal Hospital Opens its Doors

The Héroes de las Segovias Hospital in Ocotal will be inaugurated the week of August 25, Nicaragua’s Co-President Rosario Murillo announced. She explained that the inauguration of the new hospital will be held in honor of the 58th anniversary of the heroic battle of Pancasán [Sandinistas working to raise the consciousness of impoverished peasants in the mountains were detected by the Somoza National Guard leading to a bloody battle]. “We are celebrating Heroic Pancasán; each of these momentous moments in our history is celebrated with works that are love, works that are the inalienable rights of our people,” she said. “Heroism is rewarded with works that provide the better life that Nicaraguan families deserve,” she added. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/hospital ... ta-semana/ (La Primerisima, 25 August 2025)

631 Men Arrested for Crimes Related to Sexual Violence so far in 2025

The National Police reported that in the first eight months of this year, 631 individuals accused of rape and sexual abuse were arrested throughout the country. “From January 1 to August 20, 2025, we have a total of 355 prisoners for the crime of rape. For the crime of sexual abuse, we have 276 prisoners,” revealed a police report. It was also reported that in the last week 13 complaints were received through the Women’s Police Stations; five were for crimes and eight for misdemeanors, leading to the arrest of ten individuals. The law enforcement agency reported that in the last week, 14,720 door-to-door visits were made and 11,025 community meetings were held. (La Primerisima, 21 August 2025)

ID Cards Issued to People with Disabilities

On August 25 the Ministry of Health issued 400 ID cards to people with disabilities through the Todo con Voz (Everyone with a Voice) program. The card allows people with disabilities to access specialized medical care, employment, and assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, among others. It also provides discounts on public utilities such as water, electricity, and transportation. The national coordinator of the Todos Con Voz program, William Miranda, said that in order to obtain this document, applicants must meet certain requirements, mainly having some type of physical, motor, hearing, or visual disability. The event was held in commemoration of the National Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to statistics, there are 201,600 people with disabilities in the country with seven main types of disabilities, for which they receive comprehensive care. (La Primerisima, 25 August 2025)

Images of the Julio Buitrago Overpass in Managua

The Sandinista government presented impressive images of the Comandante Julio Buitrago overpass on the north highway which connects the airport and the center of the city. Photos and videos show details of the impressive infrastructure. According to authorities, more than 50,000 vehicles are expected to use the overpass daily. This important work of progress is dedicated to Comandante Julio Buitrago Urroz, known as the Father of the Urban Resistance, who was a member of the Historic National Directorate of the FSLN (Sandinista Front for National Liberation). His last battle in 1969, when he single-handedly resisted a siege by the National Guard in Managua for hours, made him a beloved martyr for the Sandinista cause. His story has been embraced as an inspiration for new generations of Sandinistas. His figure represents the fervor of a youth that, in a context of brutal repression, believed that only armed struggle could change the destiny of Nicaragua. See videos and photos of the overpass: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/imagenes ... -buitrago/ (La Primerisima, 24 August 2025)

Belarus Donates 128 Trucks

On August 26 government officials received the first lot of 128 trucks of different kinds from Belarus. The trucks are intended to strengthen municipal governments and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI), as part of a total of 712 units. The head of the MTI, Óscar Mojica, said that this equipment will enable the construction and maintenance of the country’s highways and roads. “We want to emphasize that the acquisition of 712 pieces of construction equipment contributes to strengthening the capacities of the national and municipal governments to implement their plans for emergency control and advance the construction of our modern road network. The acquisition of this equipment will benefit some 3.3 million people,” he said.

Belarus Ambassador to Nicaragua Vitaly Barchuk said, “Belarus considers cooperation with Nicaragua to be one of the most important priorities in its foreign policy in Latin America. On behalf of President Alexander Lukashenko, allow me to extend warm greetings to the Co-Presidents of the Republic of Nicaragua, dear Comandante Daniel and dear Comrade Rosario Murillo. It is true that a great deal of trust has been built up over more than 30 years, and this has been particularly active in recent years,” he said. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/belarus- ... ias-y-mti/ (La Primerisima, 26 August 2025)

Attorney General’s Office Ready to Investigate and Punish Acts of Corruption

A law which was unanimously approved on August 26 by the National Assembly

will allow for the identification and prosecution of individuals involved in acts of corruption. The law establishes the legal framework, functions, and authorities that make up the Attorney General’s Office [Procuraduría General de la República] (PGR) and its scope regarding corruption. During a plenary session of the Assembly, Deputy Auxiliadora Martínez, chair of the Justice Committee, said “With this law, we ensure that the country’s resources go where they should go, into the hands of our working people and that every penny from the treasury is transformed into more schools, more hospitals, and roads to unite communities.” The Office of the Presidency had instructed the relevant institutions to take decisive action to punish any form of corruption that threatens the interests of Nicaraguan families and the population. To carry this out, the Attorney General’s All Against Corruption Office was created.

The explanatory memorandum says that the State, through the PGJ, will not allow, under any circumstances, the concealment or cover-up of interests apart from those of the population in order to commit or continue committing acts of theft and looting of the treasury and the assets of the Nicaraguan people. Any act that violates the laws of probity and threatens the supreme interests of the nation will be punished with the penalties established in the codes. The PGJ will be composed of all the bodies of the current Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and will incorporate the Public Prosecutor’s Office and other bodies that perform similar functions in order to guarantee the protection of the national heritage of the State and the Nicaraguan people. See law: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/lista-pr ... orrupcion/ (La Primerisima, 26 August 2025)

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-revolutioniz ... d-tourists

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3 Crucial Accusations Rejected as Nicaragua Political Tensions Escalate

September 13, 2025 Hour: 2:27 pm



Nicaragua Political Tensions: Nicaragua rejects US accusations over prisoner rights in escalating political tensions, affirming sovereignty and legal process respect.

Nicaragua Political Tensions

Nicaragua political tensions intensify as government rejects US prisoner rights accusations

The Nicaragua political tensions sharply increased this Saturday after the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly rejected allegations made by the United States Embassy in Managua regarding the health and treatment of political prisoner Yerri Gustavo Estrada Ruiz. These accusations, claiming mistreatment and abuse of Estrada—a convicted figure labeled as a coup conspirator—were dismissed as lies and slanders undermining Nicaragua’s sovereignty.

Authorities defended Estrada’s physical health and prison conditions, backing their stance with official statements and documentary evidence. On Friday, Estrada was publicly presented to the media, confirming his stable condition and that he enjoys all his rights as a detainee, including family visits. This public display directly contradicted the US Embassy’s claims of violence and mistreatment during his detention.

The official statement from Nicaragua’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US government’s narrative as deliberately false and intrusive. They affirmed, “Nothing can legitimize the spread of lies and slanders,” and emphasized that such accusations damage diplomatic relations, which require verification, accuracy, and respect in all communications.

Deepening Nicaragua political tensions amid diplomatic confrontation
The Ministry criticized the tone used by the US Embassy, describing it as irresponsible activism detached from truth and respect for human rights. This response is part of an escalating international political conflict centering on the handling of political prisoners and Nicaragua’s image before Western governments and multilateral organizations.

The Sandinista Government’s Communication Council released recent photos of Estrada, showing him in good physical shape, accompanied by confirmation of a visit from his spouse, Xochitl Natalia Castil Velásquez. Estrada, originally from Quezalguaque in León department, born May 31, 1995, has been detained for several weeks accused by Nicaraguan law of treason and promotion of terrorist acts.

In interviews with local media, Estrada denied any verbal or physical abuse by prison staff, describing the treatment as humane and respectful of his basic rights. These personal statements sharply contrast the US Embassy’s version, which has been widely circulated internationally.

Nicaragua Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official Site
US State Department Reports on Human Rights
Amnesty International on Political Prisoners

Geopolitical context
The Nicaragua political tensions reflect broader regional disputes in Central America, where authoritarian governance clashes with opposition movements amid international scrutiny. The discord over political prisoners, legality, and human rights narratives fuels polarized foreign relations particularly with the United States, complicating diplomacy in a politically tense electoral period.

This standoff illustrates the complex battle over narrative control regarding human rights and governance legitimacy in the region. Nicaragua’s firm rejection of US claims aligns with efforts by allied nations to preserve national sovereignty against what they perceive as external interference. Conversely, Washington’s critical stance adds pressure on Managua but deepens diplomatic fractures, impacting multilateral cooperation and regional stability.



Social media strategy and communication efforts

The Nicaraguan government is actively employing public presentations and widespread image dissemination of Estrada to strategically address and mitigate international criticisms. This carefully orchestrated campaign seeks to demonstrate humane treatment and adherence to legal standards in their actions. By showcasing these aspects through various media, the government aims to present a counter-narrative to unfavorable international perceptions.

This specific communicational tactic is designed to achieve multiple strategic objectives. Firstly, it reinforces the government’s official narrative, ensuring a consistent and controlled message is conveyed both domestically and internationally. Secondly, it serves as a defense mechanism to fend off mounting diplomatic pressure from various nations and international bodies. Finally, this strategy aims to rally support, not only within Nicaragua itself but also from international allies who are sympathetic to the government’s position.

Ongoing controversy continues to surface in international human rights forums and diplomatic channels, indicating the persistence and gravity of the political divide.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/nicaragu ... -tensions/

Nicaragua Denounces US Defamation on Terrorist Yerri Gustavo Estrada Ruiz


Nicaraguan putschist Yerri Gustavo Estrada Ruiz Nicaraguan citizen, accused and convicted of terrorist activities in Nicaragua. Photo: CCC Cesar Lopez

September 13, 2025 Hour: 6:45 pm

The Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested against a note from the US Embassy that it described as slanderous and defamatory, full of falsehoods about the situation of the “Nicaraguan coup” Yerri Gustavo Estrada Ruiz.

The Nicaraguan government denounces this action as an attempt to interfere and rejects the dissemination of what it considers lies and slander promoted by the US State Department.

Remember the statement that the Nicaraguan citizen, coup supporter, accused and convicted of terrorist activities in Nicaragua, was presented to the media this Friday, and as could be observed, enjoys not only perfect health, but all of his rights as a person in a prison situation, including family visits.

#Notadeprotesta del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de #Nicaragua a la Embajada de los #EstadosUnidos de América pic.twitter.com/8fbojXguDP

— El 19 Digital (@el19digital) September 13, 2025

Therefore, they add, this completely contradicts the offensively and officiously amplified lies, with interests improper to national sovereignty and dignity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that this type of publication and false accusations expose those who spread them, and do not fit into diplomatic ties, which require verification, certification, and truthfulness, as well as respect in all communications.

The Communication and Citizenship Council of the Sandinista Government released this Friday images of the terrorist Yerri Gustavo Estrada Ruiz, who not only enjoys good health, but has also recently received a visit from his spouse Xochitl Natalia Castil Velásquez.

Estrada Ruiz, who was born in Quezalguaque, a municipality in the department of León, on May 31, 1995, has been detained for several weeks, accused of, among other crimes, treason against the homeland and promoting terrorist acts.

In statements to the local press, he acknowledged that he had not received any type of verbal violence or physical abuse from the prison authorities, whose treatment of him he described as humane and respectful of his basic rights.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/nicaragu ... rada-ruiz/

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NicaNotes: Twisted Comparison of Ortega to Trump
September 4, 2025

NicaNotes

By James Phillips

(James Phillips is a cultural anthropologist who lived in Nicaragua and worked with Witness for Peace during the contra war in the 1980s. He has returned to Nicaragua many times, including September of 2018, and has written about various aspects of Nicaragua and its relationship to the U.S.)


While some media say Trump and Ortega are alike, Trump cuts aid to education while Nicaragua expands free education to all from kindergarten through university. Photo: World Food Program

Recently several articles have appeared in different print media, spreading some of the same falsehoods and innuendos about the Nicaraguan government and Daniel Ortega that we have seen and heard for years. Addressing four recent articles, John Perry and Roger D. Harris discuss and quite effectively expose their falsehoods.

Some of the untruths touted in these anti-Nicaragua articles are simply updated versions of Reagan-contra propaganda from the 1980s, such as the “Sandinistas are persecuting religion” trope. One might begin to think that the propaganda experts in Washington have run out of creativity and are not able to concoct a new approach. But there is something new and revealing in at least two of the recent anti-Nicaragua articles. They claim that Donald Trump is modeling his aspiring fascist dictatorship in the U.S. after “Ortega’s playbook.” This approach is absurd for at least two reasons, but it is calculated to appeal to a specific group of U.S. citizens.

Donald Trump and Daniel Ortega are not only not alike, they are polar opposites. Donald Trump deploys unidentified agents with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) vests and masked faces with no identification, to arbitrarily round up and detain men, women, and children, including a fifteen-year-old teen on his way with his teammates to a high school soccer match. The teen was dragged out of a vehicle at gunpoint and detained. Some of the thousands whom Trump’s masked enforcers have kidnapped have been shipped off to be imprisoned and tortured in foreign countries. Others, including young children, are detained in squalid holding centers in the U.S., often in crowded cages with no privacy, little food and water, and no access to phones, lawyers, or family. In stark contrast, Daniel Ortega does not round up and deport people to third countries to be imprisoned and tortured there. Nicaragua did deport some of the leaders of the 2018 coup attempt, sending them to the Vatican or to Washington where they enjoyed a warm welcome and have been able to perpetuate their tales of “persecution” by the Sandinistas. As far as I know, Nicaragua has no equivalent of ICE. Far from detaining children, Ortega’s government has been building maternity and birthing centers and urban and rural schools with free lunches.

Donald Trump and his enablers in Congress have passed a budget and a set of policies that rob from social services, health and education, in order to funnel money to the already super wealthy, while the poor are deprived of even the most basic health security network. In contrast, Daniel Ortega’s government directs sixty percent of Nicaragua’s budget to services that benefit the people. The result is apparent in areas of health care and education and in productive lives.


In the policy areas of addressing climate change, expanding access to education and health care, and many others, Daniel Ortega and Donald Trump could not be farther apart.

Donald Trump is systematically attacking the alternative energy initiatives and policies that promote self-reliant alternatives to fossil fuel. Since the U.S. is a major polluter, Trump’s policies are on track to create climate chaos and misery for millions throughout the world. Meanwhile, super wealthy fossil fuel executives get richer. Daniel Ortega’s government has promoted alternative forms of energy, creating more self-reliant and sustainable energy, contributing to Nicaragua’s decreased dependency on foreign energy, and to the health of the planet.

Donald Trump is slapping punitive sanctions on various countries, sanctions that exacerbate poverty and misery, and are considered an act of war against other countries. Previous U.S. Administrations and the U.S. Congress have been doling out sanctions against recalcitrant countries for years, but Trump ad his enablers have taken this act of war to new levels. Daniel Ortega does not slap sanctions or tariffs on other countries to make their people suffer. On the contrary, he and his government have tried to protect the Nicaraguan people from the most damaging effects of U.S.-imposed sanctions.

Donald Trump’s government is a criminal racket with little transparency. He and many of his associates have been indicted multiple times or accused of gross corruption and coverups. They use power, bribery, and threat to escape prosecution. Daniel Ortega’s government has been praised by international institutions for its transparent and efficient use of funds. Again, the result is apparent in the funding of projects and social services that benefit the people.

Donald Trump is waging war on facts and science. His associates ignore or contradict proven medical and other scientific breakthroughs such as vaccines. Daniel Ortega embraces scientific and medical knowledge for the benefit of the Nicaraguan people.

Donald Trump creates a fantasy world and cannot talk without lying. Daniel Ortega does not define reality by lying. He lives in an actual world and addresses its problems rationally.

Donald Trump has never been poor, never suffered, never fought for a cause larger than himself. He is distant from the daily needs and struggles of most of the U.S. population, despite his pretense that he is one of them. Daniel Ortega was imprisoned and tortured for his part in leading a revolution to free the Nicaraguan people from the US-sponsored Somoza dictatorship. Ortega knows what the Nicaraguan people have endured. Donald Trump and Daniel Ortega could not be more different.

The whole idea that Trump is playing by Ortega’s fascist “playbook” is not only absurd but entirely backwards. Washington does not get its blueprints from Managua. Somoza’s Managua got its blueprints from Washington. Daniel Ortega was, and to this day remains, an important force in helping Nicaragua break free of Washington’s playbook.

Why is this twisted propaganda comparison between Trump and Ortega of importance? Its basic logic is guilt by association and it is intended for U.S. liberals and progressives who strongly dislike Trump. The basic logic goes: If you dislike Trump, you should really dislike Ortega who has been Trump’s model. If Trump is bad, imagine how much worse Ortega must be! Or, If Trump is bad, it must be because he is taking his cues from Ortega. This is a message tailored to appeal to the political center and left in the U.S. to ensure their condemnation of Ortega. We can expect more of this, but it is not hard to refute with facts, just hard to get through the media wall.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Nicaragua to Purchase 548 Buses from China

On August 29, the governments of Nicaragua and the People’s Republic of China signed a contract for the supply of 548 buses, equipment, and machinery from the Yutong Company, which will strengthen transportation services and other activities in different municipalities. In the last two years 2,000 buses have been received from China and are in circulation throughout the country, and a long-term cooperation plan has been established with China. Co-President Daniel Ortega thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people and government, and the Yutong company on behalf of himself and Co-President Rosario Murillo for opening the doors to cooperation with Nicaragua, which will allow for better transportation conditions for the people and bring in equipment and machinery that will contribute to the growth of the nation. (La Primerisima, 29 August 2025

Committee Presents Report on Atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza

A report condemning the genocide committed by the government of Israel in the Gaza Strip was presented on August 28 during a meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The report was presented by Jaime Hermida Castillo, Nicaragua’s ambassador to the United Nations and vice-chair of this committee. The Nicaraguan representative served as rapporteur for the committee, informing the membership of the critical developments in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem, the intensification of the conflict in Gaza, widespread humanitarian crises, and Israel’s continued violations of Palestinian rights. Hermida also highlighted the committee’s recommendations and statements to the international community, including its strong condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has caused mass displacement, starvation, and the spread of disease.

The committee report calls for action in response to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, including investigating the use of starvation as a method of warfare and other actions prohibited by international law. During the meeting, important dates in 2025 relating to the Palestinian issue were announced, including the celebration of the next International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which will be held on November 25 at the United Nations headquarters. (La Primerisima, 29 August 2025)

Important Water and Sewage Projects Advancing

The Nicaraguan Water and Sewerage Company (ENACAL) is currently developing the Managua South Bank Project, a key initiative to improve sanitation in Lake Managua and guarantee access to drinking water and sanitary sewerage in the municipalities of Tipitapa, Managua, and Ciudad Sandino, representing an investment of more than US$200 million. Ervin Barreda, executive president of ENACAL said that this project, financed by the German bank KFW, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and counterpart funds from the Nicaraguan government, includes several works already underway and in the bidding process. Among the most notable components is the expansion of Managua’s collectors, which consists of the installation of large-diameter pipes, up to 52 inches, to facilitate connection to the sanitary sewer system in numerous neighborhoods and developments. This infrastructure will allow for the integration of isolated wastewater treatment systems, improving the access to the public system.

In Tipitapa, a comprehensive sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment system is being built, which will cover nearly 100% of the city. Barreda explained that this component will radically transform the living conditions of some 10,000 families, eliminating problems such as wastewater running through the streets. Currently, the project is 13% complete. Parts of the expansion of the Managua wastewater treatment plant, the drinking water project in Tipitapa, and the sanitary sewer system in Ciudad Sandino are still in the bidding phase. Barreda expressed optimism about the possibility that all the works will be in full swing by the end of 2025, and finished between 2026 and 2027. (Informe Pastran, 28 August 2025)

New Hospital Opens its Doors in Ocotal

The new Héroes de Las Segovias hospital in Ocotal, Nueva Segovia, is now serving families with modern facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and dedicated healthcare staff. The infrastructure consists of seven buildings covering an area of 25,000 square meters, with a capacity of 236 beds. It offers physical medicine, rehabilitation with hydrotherapy, maxillofacial surgery, oncology and chemotherapy, a nephrology unit with dialysis and hemodialysis, a pain clinic, endoscopic services, outpatient care, emergency care, hospitalization, an obstetrics unit, neonatology, and a pharmacy. The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will benefit more than 300,000 residents in this northern region of the country. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/abre-sus ... de-ocotal/ (La Primerisima, 2 September 2025)

Energy Transformation with Solar and Biogas Projects

ENACAL is making progress in implementing renewable energy projects aligned with the national strategy for transforming the electricity generation matrix. These initiatives seek to ensure the sustainability of drinking water and sanitation services, and also to contribute to the national electricity system. With 80% of the work completed, the solar plant located in San Isidro, financed by the People’s Republic of China, has a peak capacity of 61.45 megawatts. The plant already generates energy for the project’s internal activities and is in the testing phase. It is expected to be operating at full capacity between February and March 2026. In the Malpaisillo sector, department of León, another solar plant is being built with funds from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). This facility, which is 85% complete and has a peak capacity of 22 megawatts, will also begin operations in the first quarter of 2026. Both plants will add approximately 83 megawatts to the national interconnected system, significantly reducing the energy expenditure of ENACAL’s pumping systems.

At the same time, ENACAL is developing the Enesolar 3 plant in Nindirí, Masaya, with a projected capacity of 70 megawatts. Currently in the final design stage, this project will begin installing panels in the next two months, with a view to being operational in early 2027. This effort, added to one megawatt generated by biogas at the wastewater treatment plant in Managua, will allow ENACAL to add nearly 152 megawatts to the national grid. The biogas plant in Managua, with a capacity of one megawatt, represents a pioneering initiative in Nicaragua and Central America. Completed and in the adjustment stage, it is expected to begin operations in October 2025. “It is a pioneering project in the country, there are very few in Latin America,” said Barreda, highlighting its contribution to strengthening the electricity system. These projects strengthen the energy matrix, and also generate significant savings for ENACAL. “Those savings translate into improved service for families.” (Informe Pastran, 28 August 2025)

Nicaragua Joins China’s Global Governance Initiative

On Sept. 1, coinciding with the summit meeting of the Global Governance Initiative in Tianjin, China, the Nicaraguan government issued a statement joining the Initiative. The statement, signed by Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo and approved by the National Assembly, noted that “the Initiative is based on the Sovereign Equality of States, the International Rule of Law, Multilateralism, a People-centered approach and genuine actions aimed at strengthening cooperation, responding to the common challenges of humanity, reducing the North-South divide and better defending the common interests of all countries.” The statement also said that the Initiative was “aimed at promoting the construction of a more just and rational system of global governance, working together for the community of a shared future for humanity.” (El 19 Digital, 1 September 2025)

“Blockades and Sanctions Cannot Impede Development and Growth”

On Sept. 2, Co-President Daniel Ortega spoke at an event marking the 46th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Army. He saluted the families of the comrades who had been promoted, a total of 262. Then he said that Nicaragua is supporting the initiatives taken at the meeting being held in the People’s Republic of China, where leaders, politicians, and presidents from many countries were meeting to define a new balance of power, not for war, but for development. “President Xi Jinping made a proposal that we immediately welcomed, in which he suggested joining forces with countries … that respect us for our dignity, our courage, and our honor so that we can come together and develop programs for peace,” he said. Ortega said that President Xi announced funds to protect and help countries and peoples in the most difficult conditions, and made a commitment that the support would be based on solidarity and without conditions. He said that the aid is in the areas of health, education, economic development and military. Countries that do not have significant resources and are victims of anarchy, such as the case of Haiti, will be helped.

The Co-President stated that “in Latin America, we have a commitment, an agreement, the Latin American community of states, CELAC and we are committed to being a zone of peace, but there are always governments that submit to interventionist policies in order to find ways to dismantle this type of project.” He went on to say that despite the blockades and sanctions, growth and development are being achieved. “And of course, we have cooperation from sister nations, the Venezuelan people who have provided us with extraordinary cooperation, the People’s Republic of China is providing us with extraordinary cooperation, without any political conditions, without getting into that, simply buses, here come the buses, prepared in China, with the high technology they have, they have given us scholarships for young people to go there to study advanced technology. In other words, these countries offer cooperation for peace, for well-being so that even more homes can be built than are already being built.”

The Co-President reiterated that Latin America wants peace. What the United States has done, with its warships carrying planes, helicopters, and rockets, is going nowhere.

He commented that they do this to intimidate Latin American governments and attempt to overthrow them. (La Primerisima, 3 September 2025)

https://afgj.org/nicanotes-twisted-comp ... a-to-trump

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“90% of Nicaraguans Feel Spied Upon” – True, or Fake News?
Posted by Internationalist 360° on September 16, 2025
John Perry and Francisco Dominguez


Image from El Pais propaganda article from December 12, 2019 , taken during violent and deadly US-backed opposition destabilization campaign, showing national police confronting a ‘cameraman’ in Managua.

The “spied upon” headline from El Pais is unequivocal. The story, in the newspaper’s English-language edition, says that Nicaraguans live in “a climate of permanent surveillance” in which they distrust even their neighbors. Further, apparently harmless community meetings are really “a mechanism of social control” where they “feel watched.” El Pais sources a survey carried out “independently” by an organization called Hagamos Democracia (“Let’s Make Democracy”), based in Costa Rica. Its president, Jesús Tefel, says that people can’t “express opinions openly for fear of being betrayed.” El Pais’s conclusion is that Nicaraguans live under “constant surveillance and repression.”

Is this true or is it fake news? To probe this question, let’s first take a look at the author of the article and the main sources used.

Wilfredo Miranda, the journalist, is a Nicaraguan based in Costa Rica. He’s written 23 articles for El Pais in the past twelve months, all but two of them negative stories about Nicaragua’s government. This is hardly surprising since his career has been entirely in opposition news outlets, such as Divergentes, which he founded, and Confidencial. The latter is owned by the wealthy Nicaraguan family of the Chamorros, who received at least $7 million from USAID to promote opposition media in the run up to the attempted coup in Nicaragua in 2018. Miranda has also written for the UK Guardian and for the Washington Post.

Hagamos Democracia is a non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 1995 in Nicaragua, closed by the government in December 2018 and now based in Costa Rica. Its funding sources prior to its closure included USAID (US$801,390) and the National Endowment for Democracy (US$525,000). In Costa Rica it received US $1,114,000 from Washington to work with exiled political activists. Its sparse website claims the NGO is independent. It says nothing about its funding sources or how it’s run.

Jesús Tefel, a Nicaraguan exiled in Costa Rica, became the organization’s president in 2024. Tefel is a founder of one of Nicaragua’s main opposition political parties and part of an initiative called “Monteverde,” which is attempting to unite these diverse groups.

Behind Hagamos Democracia is Luciano “Chano” García, alleged to have bought its presidency in 2017 until he stood down in Tefel’s favor last year. Chano is a long-time opponent of Nicaragua’s Sandinista government and a relative of former dictator Anastasio Somoza. An organizer of the coup attempt in 2018, he recruited known violent, criminals, called for the overthrow of the government and campaigned for police officers to desert their posts. When the coup attempt failed, he fled to Costa Rica, allegedly with the help of a CIA agent. Chano is accused by Nicaragua’s attorney general of organized crime, terrorism, and conspiracy against the constitutional order.

Second, let’s look at the survey itself. How was it carried out when the population is supposedly “under constant surveillance”? How can Hagamos Democracia conduct a survey in a different country? We do not know because the survey has not been published, but previous surveys have been. Here’s how they work:

Typically they have 400 respondents out of Nicaragua’s 7 million population, the bare minimum to ensure reasonable confidence in the results, provided that the sample is truly random.
But it isn’t: surveys are done using Whatsapp or Signal, limiting their coverage to people with smartphones who use those apps, excluding huge numbers of the government’s working-class supporters.
Respondents then have to fill in a Google questionnaire with around 45 questions – a further barrier, limiting the survey to those with the necessary skills and familiarity with such forms.
Worse still, assuming that those carrying out the survey say who they work for, many Sandinista sympathizers would simply hang up on hearing the words “Hagamos Democracia.”
Third, let’s look at the timing: the survey was carried out July 18 to 23 this year, precisely the weekend when millions of Nicaraguans were celebrating the 46th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution. There could hardly be a worse moment to carry out a balanced survey that required detailed attention to a survey form.

Faced with all these facts, an objective observer would surely conclude that the survey is political propaganda and that a responsible newspaper would have ignored it.

In any case, a thoughtful reader might ask, if these neighborhood meetings are “a mechanism of social control”, why do people go to them? The reality is that, while naturally their effectiveness varies, many are excellent examples of grassroots democracy, designed to hold public services to account. For example, in the city of Masaya one barrio committee has been pushing for better garbage-collecting services and assists the local health center in ensuring that local people with chronic illnesses get treatment. A typical meeting in this barrio sees 100-200 neighbors listening to and questioning officials in a friendly atmosphere, far from the “repression” portrayed by El Pais. Such levels of participation should be the envy of western “democracies”, rather than being scorned.

El Pais also fails to set the context for the issues covered in the article. If readers knew that Nicaragua had suffered a violent, US-funded coup attempt in 2018, in which over 200 ordinary people and 22 police officers were killed in opposition violence that continued for three months, they might appreciate why a degree of vigilance is required.

This omission is not surprising. El Pais’s demonization of Nicaragua goes back a long way. It unashamedly supported the 2018 “rebellion” and glorified the US-funded violence. Many of its articles about Nicaragua, like this one, appear to ignore its own ethical code about balanced reporting.

El Pais ridicules President Ortega’s warning in July of growing threats from Washington, against a country whose defense budget is one of the smallest in the Americas. Yet the warning resonates with many Nicaraguans who want no repetition of 2018’s violence. Most regard Nicaragua’s standing as one of Latin America’s safest countries to be worth protecting and view with alarm the growing lawlessness in next-door Costa Rica (over 500 homicides in 2025 so far).

Readers might also wonder why El Pais singles out Nicaragua, when its readers in the West really are under “permanent surveillance.” According to some studies, those in the USA are caught on surveillance cameras 34 times a day, while for people in the UK the number doubles. Spain uses Israeli “Pegasus” spyware against those pushing for an independent Catalonia. And, of course, secret surveillance of our phone calls and emails has been revealed as widespread by Edward Snowden and other whistleblowers.

The irony of El Pais’s article is that, unconsciously, it pays a backhanded compliment to a country where – according to this fake news survey – only “90%” of Nicaraguans feel spied upon.

https://libya360.wordpress.com/2025/09/ ... fake-news/