First 18 months of the Sandinista Government

Nick Hoskyns, August 2008

The current war waged in Latin America is a media war: It is clear that the opposition in
Nicaragua just like Venezuela is using the media to try to discredit and derail the government.

This has been very effective in the newspapers and television. It has not been so effective in
the radio.

What must be understood is that the U.S embassy is at their lowest point ever in their ability
to influence Nicaraguan politics.

As it is clear that positive news is not getting out of the country through the normal channels I
am going to highlight some of the achievements so far.

This does not mean that there are not problems and many difficulties. In Nicaragua there
always are, however I am confident in saying the general thrust is in the right direction and
that in many ways the new government is more profound and radical than many of us had
imagined.

Sadly many of the intellectuals, musicians and the NGO sector have started to echo the
criticisms expressed by the right’s propaganda machine.

Happily many facts differ from the general negative perception,

General Economic Data for 2007 compared to 2006 shows Nicaragua is doing pretty
well:
Production per capita up from US$950 to US$1,023
Investment as a proportion of Production per capita up from 29.7% to 31.8%
Exports Have risen from US$1,050 million to US$1,202 million
The foreign reserves have risen US$859 million to US$1,019 million
The external debt has reduced from US$4,527 million to US$3,385 million

Health:
As with Education a free national health service has been re-established.
In the first 18 months of the government infant mortality has been reduced from 90.4 per
100,000 births to 79.8. The number of appointments attended by the National Health Service
increased form 6,630,743 in 2006 to 8,906,119 in 2007. The number of operations rose from
111,194 in 2006 to 151,034 in 2007 or 37%. These operations generally had to be paid for in
previous governments they are now absolutely free. Generic medicines have been promoted
and their prices frozen at the current rate.
For every 100,000 cases, deaths due to respiratory problems were reduced from 35.2 to 30.3
for diarrea81 to 61.4, due to Malaria from 43.2 to 18.1.

Operation Miracle has meant 25,000 Nicaraguans have had free eye operations restoring their
eyesight.
The Sandinista doctors’ movement has organized brigades to the most remote parts of
Nicaragua and carried out 3,000 operations among the 50,000 patients they have attended.
This is on top of what the National Health Service provides and all completely Free.

Basic doctors salaries have been increased from $250 to $500 a month.

Cuba has supported two mobile hospitals for the Atlantic coast.

Education:
The principal of free education for all has been re-instated in Nicaragua. All hidden charges
to students have been prohibited. A free lunch is being given to 995,114 children every
school day with the support of parents and teachers. This is substantial and focused on the
poorest most vulnerable communities.

Massive campaigns for school enrolment have been successful which in turn has meant larger
class sizes and overcrowding in the schools. 3,371 new teachers have been employed.
Salaries for all teachers have been increased considerably from US$ 125 per month too US$
175 – US$ 200 per month.

Social and Environmental:

Drinking water has been installed in 44,000 families 217,000 people.
Electricity has been installed in 10,426 rural households in 234 communities.

The number of people under social security has risen from 440,000 to 490,000. Additional
pensions have been granted especially to war victims. Pensions that for so long had not
improved have been brought back into the realms of reality. Ordinary pensions that were
pitiful and between 200 and 400 Cordoba’s ($12 -$24) have been increased to C$1,240 - C$
1,488 and for total disability the pension has been set at C$2,481.

A subsidized chemist for specialist medicine “Simon Bolivar” has been opened. As well as an
optician which gives free glasses to those on social security.

36,000 hectares of land have been reforested. In 2007 uncontrolled fires in the natural
reserves of “Bosawas” and “Indio de Maiz” were reduced by 70%. Forest fires in general
were reduced by 50% from 2,712 to 1,356 for the year. In a specific initiative for the
protection of giant tortoises “ Tortuga Paslama” 500,000 babies successfully made it back to
sea in 2006 this rose to 1,498,000 in 2007.

Production, small farmers and cooperatives

The Government has given full support to the small farmers and cooperatives prioritizing
food security and production.
Over 20,000 productive bonds have been given to rural women and 16,000 small loans have
been given to urban women for their micro businesses. Interest rates to the poor have fallen
considerably as a result.
155,794 farmers have received support in the way of agricultural inputs.
The institute for cooperative development INFOCOOP has been formed as well as the
national advisory board for cooperatives CONACOOP.

The state has taken up once more its proactive role of strong negotiations in favour of
the poor majority:
The government has maintained favour with the IMF but with swift strong negotiations
reduced the number of conditions imposed by them from 160 to 30.

The case of the CENIS:

In response to the private banks and rich individuals who, during the previous right wing
administrations, benefited to the tune of US$600 million illegally through abuse of power,
and insider trading. The current government has negotiated a tough line with the banks
recovering US$48 million, which are now destined for social programs. For the outstanding
commitments the payment time has been extended from 5 years to 20 years and the interest
rate reduced from 8% to 5%. 39 of the great and the good are now charged and under
investigation including two ex presidents of the National Central bank, and an ex presidential
candidate.

Transnational companies such as the ESSO have been successfully obliged to admit to tax
evasion and forced to pay.

Salaries of top government officials have been reduced. The President’s salary used to be
$7,000 – he now earns $3,200 and the vice president earns $3,100 a month and ministers earn
$3,000 a month.

ALBA
ALBA has been formed between Cuba Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua. ALBA is the
Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas and was born as a stak alternative to ALCA the Free
trade Agreement for the Americas. ALBA is about solidarity and support between Latin
American countries. Cuba offers its human resources and knowledge as well as its immense
experience in maintaining its autonomy. Venezuela provides financial support through
generous agreements with their oil and pays fair trade prices for basic goos they require.
Nicaragua and Bolivia are finding their feet on what they have to offer but the cooperative
experience and knowledge is one aspect we are involved with directly. It is rumored that
Honduras will join ALBA which would have incredible political impact as Honduras is not a
typical left government by a long way. Interestingly Fair trade is constantly mentioned and
has been promoted at a state level under these agreements

Petro Caribe
Petro-Caribe is a lees committed forum for Latin American countries but is seen as a stepping
stone to joining ALBA. Petro-Caribe includes19 countries from Latina America and the
Caribbean who benefit basically from favorable deals for Venezuelan oil. However it is also
expanding into different activities.

Nicaraguan President to U.N Assembly

Father Miguel D Éscoto has been elected president of the general assembly of the United
Nations, he was a key member of the Sandinista government from 1979-1990.