Transportation STRIKE is over, sort of ... but, at what price?

Submitted by Daddy-YO on 9 May, 2008 - 17:44.

All groups have agreed except the CNT (Coordinadora Nacional del Transporte) who have denounced Ortega's use of Army troops for social unrest within the country as unconstitutional. The settlement covers those who transport people. So what did the transportistas win, or we might as well say, what will it cost Nicaragua?

The Managua urban-bus cooperatives already had the biggest break: diesel fuel costs them C$40.5/gal ($2.11/gal), plus they receive subsidies, having already been paid for Jan, Feb & Mar. What they wanted was police protection. There are about 1,000 buses on 35 routes in Managua. Other transportistas wanted the same break on fuel, but they didn't get it.

Taxi & intercity bus drivers will get a discount of C$6/gal (30¢) below the street price. The signed agreement includes a program to provide them with tires, batteries and oil (lubricants) at "preferential prices" financed by ALBA funds. Plus they will be automatically reimbursed 50% of the tax, IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado), on all purchases for their vehicles. Zero tax in 2008. The government will open a special window to facilitate paperwork for the transportation sector on these processes, national or international, to acquire goods, equipment and commercial reinvestments. ENIMPORT (empresa Nicaragüense de Importaciones) has already begun to act on this promise for owners that are members, buying tires, etc.

The government promises to provide intercity (rural) buses (here it's clearly the owners of large cooperatives that will profit) with 'barras electronicas' that allow them to have "exact control over each unit" at half price, financed by ALBA at give-away terms, a 2 & half years grace period, then 5% interest. From http://barraselectronicas.com/ it's evidently a package that uses GSM GPRS (cellular) and GPS technology to monitor the bus' location, speed, and number of passengers on board. Plus dispatch can communicate with the driver.

source: Managua Radio La Primerísima,.9 mayo 2008

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

NO it is not over today,

Submitted by ezgringa on 10 May, 2008 - 20:11.

NO it is not over today, Saturday, May 10th. It is very much continuing in Diriamba and Casares, as I witnessed today in my travels today. Upon asking drivers and Policia today...they all say the new is false, the strike continues... the report by the newspaper is false.

can you get out of granada

Submitted by ol-crank on 11 May, 2008 - 13:36.

any idea if someone can catch a bus from Granada to Honduras?

Seems like it

Submitted by fyl on 11 May, 2008 - 17:07.

We took a quick trip from Estelí to Ocotal today. Most of the regular buses were not running but we passed a TicaBus and a Sol so it looks like they are running.

As for the rest, I am guessing they just decided to get a free weekend out of the deal. Let's see if all gets back to normal by Tuesday (where Monday is for dealing with hangovers).

THE REAL ISSUE IS ORTEGA'S POCKETING OF THE OIL MONEY

Submitted by gueguense on 12 May, 2008 - 13:02.

The strike is really about the fact that if Nicaragua is getting oil from Chavez at below world market prices, why then does the cost of fuel remain among the highest in Latin America?

The exact terms of the Chavez-Ortega deals are not public knowledge, but nicas know that the F$LN is stealing the difference, and worse, the fuel bill will be added to Nicaragua's foreign debt.

The oil is not free. The sandinistas pocket the difference, and the country foots the bill. sounds like another sandinista piñata to me.

Lets hope the Government oils the wheels

Submitted by dirtbag on 10 May, 2008 - 22:34.

or Ortega realises that he/they may have to give up a little of the good thing Chavez gave them, actually it was a gift,to be paid back by future generations. I haven't seen the actual agreement.. what if Nicaragua defaults...maybe Chavez is building an "Empire" I wonder if the agreement is available under the "freedom of the press act?"

Oil prices being a method of survival..gospel according to the Bolivar, whatever, revolution., post 9/11.

Practically speaking, it could be very helpful with things to come,with what's happening now in Nicaragua, and wiil hopefully fire-up FSLN? CPC? appointments good chances for re-election. Begs the question, how much oil can Nicaragua handle? Pity they don't qualify as much as China! From one Latino Boss (Chavez) to another (Ortega). Makes me consider,all I have read about Central and South American Politics is that they don't really trust each other, Whats New? Additionally, There seems an argument to be made, even if it is simplistic.. that the poor folks might have voted into power leaders "on their side" on the promise of better times..a blip in the sun perhaps. Some(Uncle Sam) Americans call it "Populist" Leadership. I echo the fundamental needs reference other comments made regarding education. The schooling. Academic or Trades, the opportunity for any kid Nicaraguan or Outsiders making a home in Nicaragua with School age Kids. It's a habit in some insuler type society's for the rich to get richer, by amongst other methods, keeping the poor ignorant. Then I think of intellect and History, and large populations with large geography like Brazil. Argentina. albeit a bit further to fly to.

The ALBA agreement

Submitted by Daddy-YO on 11 May, 2008 - 13:59.

To partially answer one of your questions dirtbag (nae Shite), I found the Acuerdo Energético entre Nicaragua y Venezuela at http://www.radiolaprimerisima.com/docs . However, being a spendthrift (& die-hard), I haven't sucked up to the great monopolist Bill Gates yet, so I don't have MS Word and can't read it.

Me and my Big Mouth!

Submitted by dirtbag on 11 May, 2008 - 14:41.

Thanks, now I'll have to read the damn thing.