Under the program "A Hand to Grow (Una Mano Para Crecer)", Wal Mart Nicaragua, with the support of the Mayorship of Granada (Alcaldía de Granada), the Ministry of Public Work, Industry and Commerce (Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio) and the Nicaraguan Institute of the Small and Medium Company (Instituto Nicaragüense de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa - Inpyme) made the first round of business of their program for the strengthening of small and medium businesses, coined Pymes.
In this round of business the Granadan producers and fabricators presented their products to the collaborators of the Commercial Management of Wal Mart, who determine that the products will have shelf space in The Union (La Union) and Pali (Palí), the Wal Mart stores closest to their communities.
14 Products
Alfonso Martínez, Wal Mart's manager of Commerce and Trade, said that the products the will be tested for commercialization are around 14, between those are perishables, of personal care, textiles, fruits, foods and beauty products.
According to Martínez, "if the product becomes successful, it could be commercialized internationally", he expressed.
The National Assembly will discuss the reform to the General Budget of the Republic today, equivalent to 53.1 million Nicaraguan Cordobas (NIO) (approximately $2.9 million USD), including 10 million Cordobas to pay "pre inversion" costs, that the government sent to the parliament last Friday in order to take care of the repair and rehabilitation of some road sections affected by recent rains.
The discussion of the plenary will be attended by the president of the Republic, Daniel Ortega, who was questioned by representatives of the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense - ALN) and from the Sandinista Renewal Movement (Movimiento Renovador Sandinista - MRS), for responding to "with patches" with regards to the solution of national problems, like the emergency caused by the recent rains that mainly affected the departments in the West and North of the country.
"For us it is more than evidence of a Government who works on the basis of patches: there is a problem with the subject of transportation, he runs to prepare an initiative to subsidize to the carriers; there is a problem with the energy he runs to look for how to pass an subsidy to Unión Fenosa", the deputy Enrique Sáenz from the MRS exemplified, when appearing yesterday in the program Primera Plana, of LA PRENSA and Channel 2 TV.
Last Friday Ortega went to the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) to present the most recent reform proposal to the 2007 Budget. Last September the Government presented a reform, that was approved later by parliament, for 486.7 million Cordobas, part of which were designated towards taking care of the emergency caused by Hurricane Felix in the Autonomous Region of the North Atlantic (Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte - RAAN).
Although it is well justified that the Government is looking for resources to take care of the emergencies, it is evident that it is working in an improvised manner, Sáenz stated.
Members of parliament questioned that in the proposed reform to the 2007 Budget the provision for "pre inversion" be included,on which they indicated that they will consult the representatives of the Government who today will attend the extraordinary plenary session of the National Assembly.
LA PRENSA attempted, without success, to obtain major details from the Executive about this game.
On the other hand the deputy of (ALN), Javier Vallejo, added that the actual government has not demonstrated capacity to plan to future.
What about the Venezuelan Funds?
Deputy Vallejo also indicated that the Government must be transparent to the use of resources that has generated the petroleum treaty with Venezuela and indicated that it would be possible to be destined to take care of the emergency caused in rains. It is estimated that imports of crude could have left the Government with funds of $40 million Dollars.
"If there is something which the presidential couple fears is that the dark things become public and that the people realize all this", he emphasized.
On Ortega's proposal, a moratorium in the payment of the national debt corresponding to Negotiable Certificates of Investment (Certificados Negociables de Inversión - Cenis), in order to free to resources from the Budget, the deputies demanded from the Executive who firmly bases his proposal and than clearly indicates if he has already discussed or reached an agreement with the banks that have such valued titles, emitted between years 2000 and 2001, to guarantee the deposits from the banks bankrupt in that moment.
Honey Producers from all over the country are organizing a national association that will allow them to unify efforts, to improve the quality of the product and therefore to commercialize it better internally and in the foreign market.
The creation of this association is being supported by Fundación Cuenta Reto del Milenio (Account Challenge of the Millennium Foundation), whose representatives met with beekeepers of the west of the country and with delegates of the Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación Agrícola (Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Cooperation), of the Fundación para el Desarrollo Tecnológico, Agropecuario y Forestal de Nicaragua (Foundation for the Technological, Farming and Forest Development of Nicaragua) and the Agencia de Desarrollo Local (Agency of Local Development).
All these organizations are supporting the country's west sector, when recognizing honey as a product of great importance in the foreign markets, as well as in the internal one. On the matter, the beekeeper from the west Fidel Antonio Maradiaga Maple, of the "Aprendiendo a sobrevivir" (Learning to survive) cooperative, of Chinandega, said that there are about 200 small beekeepers in that zone, those that face serious problems in the commercialization.
In that sense Cuenta Reto del Milenio (CRM) acquired the commitment to contribute with the initiatives of association of the apicultural (beekeeping) sector and to offer attendance them for the certification of the honey, to reach greater volumes, to find better markets and to consolidate a brand of honey of bees in the west.
The assistant director of the CRM, Ignacio Vélez, indicated that the program in addition is at readiness to work with the beekeepers in the project of Forest Development with the purpose of seeding the areas used in the apicultural activity.
According to a diagnosis of the Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (Inter-American Institute of Cooperation for Agriculture) (IICA), every year it calculates a national bee honey production to be about 325 thousand kilograms, approximately about thousand 77 barrels.
Between the identified problems they mention the lack of a program for promotion to the apicultural and integral technical assistance, lack of knowledge of the steps to follow to certify the organic production, deficiency in the technical and administrative capacity of the beekeepers and the lack of a development bank of the organic production.
Slowly it takes height
The apicultural industry was born in Nicaragua in the 60s, but it was not until 2001 that a process of organization of the sector began, taking into account that developing it, as much in raw material as in its different products, could get to have much importance for the Nicaraguan rural sector.
The main market is the European, with 80 percent, the remaining 20 percent is shipped to the United States, Taiwan and Japan, towards which 1200 producers export, according to Mific's data.
The apicultural sector is conformed by micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who in their majority are producers that develop in first instance agricultural, cattle, forest, industrial or services activities and, secondly, apicultural like a secondary productive activity.
From: The Literary Digest for September 13, 1926 - Page 13 and 14
“UNCLE SAM TURNS, exasperated, from his French roast to the Nicaraguan stew,” observes one of our editors, as a new revolution, with the unusual complications of United States cruisers and Marines, breaks out in Nicaragua. The Marines “have the situation well in hand,” according to Associated Press reports, but in the meantime a mixture of revolutionists, American “sympathizers” with both sides, and Nicaraguan government troops are fighting over much of the landscape, and a troublesome quirk is given to the situation by Nicaragua's appeal to the League of Nations, charging that Mexico has been actively assisting the revolutionists. The League of Nations calls the matter to Mexico's attention, and Mexico politely requests the League to mind its own business; all of which leaves unchanged the essential fact the Nicaragua is by way of setting the Monroe Doctrine against the League of Nations, and further embroiling this country. “In short, the United States is fighting a Central American war,„ announces The Nation (New York), and thus summarizes the events leading up to the present somewhat mixed situation:
“We landed troops in 1912, and did not get them out until 1925. Then we withdrew, following the election of Carlos Solorzano as president. Solorzano was shortly deposed by Gen. Emiliano Chamorro, veteran of a dozen revolutions. We refused to recognize Chamorro, altho he obviously controlled the country. Our minister invited the chiefs of the political parties to the Legation and told them that , while opposite to violent measures, the United States could not and would not recognize Chamorro, and earnestly hoped for the restoration of the constitutionally elected Solorzano. Solorzano's friends took the hint; they started a revolution. It threatened to succeed. Thereupon, the hoary old story of ‘protection of foreign life and property’ appeared on the stage. We rushed war-ships to both coasts. When the revolutionaries were about to take Bluefields, the government commander appealed to the Marines to save the foreign property. They saved it—and saved Bluefields for the Government. Menawhile, two American aviators, who have been engaged in training Nicaraguans to drop bombs, flew over the sea hunting—and bombing—the revolutionaries’ supply ships.”
From the days of William Walker of Nashville, Tennessee, who with fifty-sis America emigrants sought to establish a Central American empire in 1856, avers The Knickerbocker Press, of Albany, the affairs of Nicaragua have been important to the people of the United States. Revolution has followed revolution, and intervention has followed intervention. Just now, adds the Philadelphia Record, Chamorro, the present ruler of the country, is particularly unfriendly to the United States because:
“Our Government has refused to recognize him, but he is in desperate need of being recognized, because he is trying to raise money by selling a State railway, and Wall Street won't listen to him if our Government doesn't recognize him. He probably couldn't raise any money in Europe on a recognition by the League, but he may think it is worth while to take a chance.”
This editor agrees with several others that “the League isn't going to rn any risk of antagonizing the United States on the Monroe Doctrine.” However, objects the Brooklyn Eagle, “lack of leadership and lack of tact in Washington are to blame when Mexico offends Nicaragua and Nicaragua goes to Geneva about it. We ought to have the confidence and friendship of these two Latin-American Powers.” We evidently haven't got it, remarks The Eagle, concluding:
“With the self-determination of Nicaragua we interfered for a series of years with a force of United States Marines in Managua. When the Marines left, Nicaragua began to rule herself. She is doing so now, and assuming properly her functions as a sovereign in her informal appeal to Geneva.”
Before the Nicaraguan protest gets before the League for action, predicts The Knickerbocker Press: “It is likely that as usual the United States will be helping steele things in Nicaragua.” Chamorro's protest is “very largely buncombe,” believes the Baltimore Sun, his own government being “thoroughly illegal and without foreign recognition.” However, believes the Jersey City Journal, “this particular instance, and many others which could arise where one of the Western Hemisphere countries involved as a League member, might actually result in our undertaking an official part in a parley where the League had a voice.” Another possibility is thus presented by the Newark News:
“For many years this country has acted as Nicaragua's mentor. It is hard to believe the Nicaraguan Government has taken this step without the knowledge, at least, of Washington. Our experience in the Tacna-Arica affair has not been pleasant. It has given us good reason for wishing to be relieved of some of the responsibilities we have assumed under the Monroe Doctrine, and at the present time the State Department can not be eager to become involved in Mexico's affairs. What action the League will take is of unusual moment to us.”
“A plague on the whole matter,” and especially on our interference in South American troubles, sums up the attitude of several commentators, led by the editor of the Des Moines Register. “Nobody, of course, knows what a row in Nicaragua may lead to. Of one thing we may be sure, our motives are to-day questioned everywhere to the south of us, and that seriously.”
But “the United States is deeply interested in Nicaragua,” points out the Pittsburgh Sun, since “we have purchased the right to build an interoceanic canal across that country. American business men have heavy investments in Nicaragua. There are strong incentives to take charge of the country again, as we have taken charge of Haiti.” The alternative, concludes this editor, would be to recognize and support Chamorro, “but the doctrine originally laid down by Woodrow Wilson and adhered to by subsequent Administrations that no Latin-American government set up by force of arms shall be recognized by the United States, stands in the way.” The Washington Post observes:
“It may develop that the United States has made a mistake in not recognizing the Chamorro government. It was established through a coup d' etat, but it was a bloodless stroke, and General Chamorro has maintained his government with the evident support of a majority of Nicaraguans. If a revolution should overthrow him, how could the United States consistently recognize the new régime, in view of its refusal to recognize any government set up by a revolution? Since coup d' etat and revolutions are the customary methods of effecting changes of government in certain countries, the practical method of dealing with them would seem to be to recognize de facto governments if they seem to be supported by the people.
“A collision between the United States and the League of Nations is evidently hoped for by General Chamorro. There will be no collision. The Monroe Doctrine stands where it has always stood. The only interpretation of the Doctrine that can be effectual is the interpretation placed upon by its creator, the United States. If the United States Government should conclude that interference by the League in the quarrel between Nicaragua and Mexico constitutes intermeddling in the political affairs of this hemisphere, there will be no intermeddling. The League is managed by astute European politicians who are too wise to run afoul of the United States.”
Just the same, adds the Baltimore Sun, a very important feature in the situation is:
“The evidence that the Mexican Government seems disposed to take an active interest in Central American affairs—perhaps even to the extent of that intervention which hitherto we have regarded as a prerogative of the United States. This is a new and significant development. It makes it the more incumbent on our Navy Department to avoid with scrupulous care any action which would tend to back one Nicaraguan faction against another.”
Aeromexico, one Mexico's greater airlines, will initiate operations in Nicaragua for the first time as of next June, with at least four direct weekly flights between Managua and Mexico City, according to preliminari information by diplomatic sources.
Julio Escobedo, in charge of Economic Subjects at the Mexican Embassy in Managua, today confirmed to the PRESS the beginning of Aeromexico's operations, which flies mainly to diverse destinations located in America, Europe and Asia.
The arrival of high level airline company executives in Managua within the next hours to make the official announcement of the beginning of the flights between the capitals of Nicaragua and Mexico is awaited.
“The reasons for which the company has decided to operate in Nicaragua are many , among them the economic, social and of kinship ties with Mexico“, he added.
Nicaragua has a Free Trade Agreement - Tratado Libre Comercio (TLC) with Mexico since 1998, with which the diplomat hopes that the enterprise and commercial sector of both countries, as well as the tourism, will be stimulated when having a new travel option.
Mexico is the second destinatuion of nicaraguan exports to North America, which generated 47 million dollars last year.
“We landed troops in 1912, and did not get them out until 1925. Then we withdrew, following the election of Carlos Solorzano as president. Solorzano was shortly deposed by Gen. Emiliano Chamorro, veteran of a dozen revolutions. We refused to recognize Chamorro, altho he obviously controlled the country. Our minister invited the chiefs of the political parties to the Legation and told them that , while opposite to violent measures, the United States could not and would not recognize Chamorro, and earnestly hoped for the restoration of the constitutionally elected Solorzano. Solorzano's friends took the hint; they started a revolution. It threatened to succeed. Thereupon, the hoary old story of ‘protection of foreign life and property’ appeared on the stage. We rushed war-ships to both coasts. When the revolutionaries were about to take Bluefields, the government commander appealed to the Marines to save the foreign property. They saved it—and saved Bluefields for the Government. Menawhile, two American aviators, who have been engaged in training Nicaraguans to drop bombs, flew over the sea hunting—and bombing—the revolutionaries’ supply ships.”
