Juanno's blog

Carlos Fernando Chamorro has been awarded a “Maria Moors Cabot Prize” for outstanding reporting on Latin America and the Caribbean. This award, first given seventy two years ago by The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (in New York City) is the oldest international award in Journalism.

The Cabot Prize; “Honors journalists who have covered the Western Hemisphere and, through their reporting and editorial work, have furthered inter-American Understanding”.

http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/economia

"When this technology park (located at kilometer 14.9 of the highway to Masaya) is finished, it will provide jobs for 2,500 employees people. Young people who can make a career with us and with whom we can work to create a motivational environment and culture”

Is Ortega pushing Nicaragua toward a retro-tropical dictatorship with a God complex?

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/the-americas/100720/nicaragua-daniel-...

Looks like everybody is 'upping the anti'.

Forecasters say be prepared for lots of rain as La Niña kicks in and also creates the conditions for several hurricanes and tropical storms for the next three months.

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/07/20/nacionales/32125

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/venezuela/100715/alba-nicaragua-venez...

My thoughts:

If, as the article states (maybe quite rightly) “This is political trade; it’s not sustainable in any way,” said Jose Guerra, a former top official with Venezuela’s Central Bank", and is “ideologically convenient, but nothing else.”

Then how would this suggestion work:

"That’s why Nicaragua’s private sector is asking Ortega to formalize the sweetheart commercial relations by signing a free-trade agreement with Venezuela now before the bubble bursts."

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/07/14/politica/31489

Headlines

Survey conducted between May 19 and June 28. Margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent and a reliability of 95.5 percent. Sample size is 1,600 respondents older than 16 years, from urban, semirural and rural areas throughout the country.

Aleman, (despite being “Pact Man”) is perceived as opposition leader (note: survey completed before he was acclaimed as leader). However; Eduardo Montealegre is the politician with whom respondents "most identified".

By Tim Rogers/Managua Friday, Jul. 09, 2010

"With Ortega, there is no more revolution. His goal is to consolidate power and create a family dynasty." And like Somoza, Hassan said, Ortega is unintentionally unifying Nicaragua's diverse opposition against him".

Read Article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2002920,00.html

It is said that the best way to stop smoking is not to start; therefore, a new law to protect nonsmokers and children less than 18 years was introduced last week as part of a 2008 agreement between Nicaragua and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new Tobacco Control Act addresses the sale of the product, its use and advertising. It is aimed at helping those that do not smoke (secondhand smokers) and preventing adolescents picking up the habit.

Key Points:

Say it ain't so Johnny...

"Capricious application of the customs laws, illegal charges, large fines not stipulated in the rules, delays in deliveries of goods on retention and people being forced to pay more, such as importers, customs brokers, shippers, traders, among others, are part of the 'outrages' committed by the Directorate General of Customs (DGA)."

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/07/03/economia/30139

Nicaragua's parliament yesterday approved the Electronic Signature Law, which will expedite business transactions. "It will allow better access to business done electronically, via Internet, for example” said José Pallais, Presidente de la Comisión de Justicia y Asuntos Jurídicos,

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/07/02/economia/30021