Support the overwhelming majority of Nicaraguans who don't want US sanctions

Since 2007 Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Americas, has undergone a remarkable turnaround.  Key achievements include reducing poverty and inequality, diversifying the economy, while at the same time promoting greater economic and social stability.

This includes free health care and education at all levels, extensive electrification, housing, renewable energy and road building programmes, and support for small family businesses, particularly for women.

According  to a World Bank report in October 2017, ‘Nicaragua’s macroeconomic stability has allowed the country’s decision makers to shift from crisis control mode to longer-term, pioneering strategies to fight poverty, particularly in remote rural communities.’

However, all this would be threatened if proposed US legislation called the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) Act is approved by the United States. It would mean that the US would use its influence in international lending institutions to block all loans to Nicaragua from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and other institutions. Running at US$250 million annually, these loans are being invested in education, social programmes, electrification, roads and other infrastructure initiatives.

US sanctions would mean the reversal of the Nicaraguan government’s highly successful poverty reduction programmes; those who are most impoverished would suffer the most serious consequences.

According to an October, 2017 independent poll carried out by M&R Consultores, 77.8% of Nicaraguans indicate that the government gives them hope. Among them is street seller Flor de María Avellán who stated: ‘I am active as a woman and as a trade unionist with great hopes of being able to pass on with love a better world to our sons and daughters.’

A December, 2017 poll indicates that 90% of Nicaraguans don’t want US sanctions. The NICA Act is also opposed by the Nicaraguan parliament, trade unions, the private sector, almost all political parties, religious leaders and the government.