When Will The Ortega Government Disclose the Albanisa Income ?

Submitted by bluewater on 14 May, 2008 - 09:34.

As Nicaragua enters the second week of a now bloody transport strike the common themes for the protesters and the general populace are, where is the Venezuelan oil money, why wont the government disclose the amounts they are receiving and how are these funds being used? The same questions have been repeated over and over by the IMF, the countries that provide direct budget support and the National Assembly. Please enlighten me, why wont the government be transparent about this money? It is really sad to see competent government officials like Transport Minister Martinez have to evasively tell the press and public he does not know how much money ALBANISA has to donate for the transport subsidy. After all these are supposedly public funds.

‹ Dealing with the "price crisis" Moving w/family to Central America ›
( categories: )

Comment viewing options

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

Keeping the amount a secret is backfiring on Ortega

Submitted by Daddy-YO on 14 May, 2008 - 19:25.

Just look at how many are already planning on how to spend the funds: the transportistas & owners for fuel subsidies and special discounts, many opposing lawmakers, plus all those CPC members wanting to make local improvements & help their neighbors.

All know ALBANISA exists; that's no secret. And with the skyrocketing price of petroleum all must figure that Nicaraguans are rolling in the clover that grows over Venezuela's oil fields. The money does belong to Nicaragua, doesn't it?

ALBANISA= STASH IN CREDIT SUISSE

Submitted by gueguense on 14 May, 2008 - 22:29.

Daddy-Yo is 100% right. The people knew that Ortega et al were stealing the money. The amount is being added to Nicaragua's debt tab!

La chayo and trompudo went on a trip across Africa and the Middle east. I can assure you they were making dead drops...of dough that is.....

by now of course that money is in Panama, the sandinistas favorite place to launder money though I hear Cuba is also friendly...too bad Vesco is said to have recently died. The man had a Ph.D in money laundering

I know -:)

Submitted by fyl on 14 May, 2008 - 13:35.

I don't think this was a serious question but the real answer is "just before the November elections". It's a lot like how roads get fixed right before elections here in Estelí.

I am sure there will be a great "look what we did for you" story associated with it.

Serious question

Submitted by bluewater on 14 May, 2008 - 16:23.

It is just perplexing that a "populist" government will not dislose the amount of a parallel budget, supposedly devoted entirely toward public works. If you are thinking "November Surprise" who would rally around the disclosure of a budget number that was sought for over a year? This morning, per Radio Ya, Nicaragua unilaterally delayed the scheduled meeting with the IMF. No money from the Fund for budget support has been disbursed since January for lack of compliance. The IMF has been almost begging the government to disclose the amount of the "off the books" support to maintain the program. The real serious question is, what will Nicaragua be like if the goverment fails to maintain the agreed upon macreconomic program?