CEPAD’s Executive Director, Dámaris Albuquerque, shares and update on the Nicaraguan crisis. Thank you for your continued prayers and support during a difficult time!

August 13, 2019

The political situation in the country continues as hazy as ever. The opposition is badly fragmented and the government takes advantage of the situation by continuing their works in construction of highways, repairing of roads and taking electricity to remote parts of the country. However, the municipal governments have suffered reduction in their budgets so they are not able to carry out their municipal plans for the year.

Even the opposition admits that early elections are no longer feasible because they wouldn’t be able to comply with the electoral calendar. The government continues to work with the representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS) around electoral reforms that the population does not know about. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2021.

The economy is very badly deteriorated. A lot of very small businesses have sprung up everywhere, from selling grilled chicken on the roadside to selling clothes, perfumes and makeup on Facebook. Formal jobs are more scarce than before as organizations and businesses are reducing their staff.

Many people have left the country for economic reasons, but some are returning to Nicaragua after being deported from other countries, as they have overextended their stay in these host countries.

However, the Nicaraguan people are hard workers and full of hope. In the 40 communities where CEPAD works, some of the leaders have left their communities (close to 1%), but those remaining continue cultivating their plots, seeking funds for their community projects such as road repair and potable water and selling handicrafts. This is possible thanks to the training you have supported through CEPAD. They want a better future for their families and they are working towards that goal.

Dámaris Albuquerque
Executive Director of CEPAD