New Player for a Cross-Nicaragua Canal

Submitted by fyl on Wed, 2009/10/07 - 08:46.
For as long as I have lived in Central America, there always seems to be new interest in a Pacific-Atlantic canal crossing Nicaragua. The new player for this year is the UAE. AFP reports on UAE Foreign Minister Prince Abdullah Zayed Al Nayan meeting with President Ortega last Monday.
"We are looking for various means of cooperation" and "of being part of the initiative to unite two oceans with a canal," said Prince Abdullah Zayed Al Nayan after meeting with President Daniel Ortega late Monday.

UAE interest could significantly change the game. They have the money, they have the expertise, they have lower decision-making overhead than most countries, and they are a U.S.-friend. Plus, of course, they have a product that they ship to China that could benefit from "their canal".

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Doubting Thomas.....

Submitted by zapoyol on Wed, 2009/10/07 - 10:49.

Aren't the panamanians widening their canal so they can handle the bigger ships and I don't think the USA would allow it to happen anyway unless there's money to be made. Aren't the chinese managing the Panama canal now? . Anyway as we say in Nicaragua : Hasta no ver no creer.

Assorted reasons

Submitted by fyl on Wed, 2009/10/07 - 10:59.

Yes, the Panama canal is being widened but there are still quite a few reasons in the plus column for a Nicaragua canal. I remember reading the analysis the last time it came up and it may be posted here. This is from memory:

  1. Traffic and potential traffic continues to grow. While a wider Panama canal will handle more traffic and bigger ships, there is still more potential traffic than it can handle.
  2. For a lot of traffic, the Panama canal journey is quite a bit longer than a Nicaragua canal.
  3. The Nicaragua canal would have fewer locks which means a quicker journey through the canal.

The biggest stumbling block, as you mention, is probably what the U.S. thinks. As, at least in theory, it no longer has control over the Panama canal, a UAE/Nicaragua/US deal might actually be a plus. But, yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.

Same old Story

Submitted by Rivense67 on Wed, 2009/10/07 - 10:24.

I am 42 years old and My grandmother owns a farm in Rivas. As a child growing up and going to the farm, I remember the markings (mojones) all over the property that were supposedly used for marking the path of the canal. This might have been in the early to mid 70's. Nothing ever happened nor will it ever happen.

your right

Submitted by sandinog on Wed, 2009/10/07 - 11:21.

Is the same history, for the frentistas has been a repetitive speech, but they want to manage this with a political and ideological parameters.

The problems is that in the actual government with a high % of corruption, is very unlike it that a deal for the interest of the nation could be signed.

The history show that all governments, has been looking for make such project using the same political standards, only Jose Santos Zelaya , make a proposal for a international participation and the last one for Presidente Enrique Bolaños.

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►In February 2004 the FSLN introduce to the National Assembly a law proposal for a regulation of the Canal adjudication project, to avoid the "briefcase companies" , a case that is common in our country , and the FSLN had experience.

http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2004/febrero/23-febrero-2004/naciona...

►In the same year a group of politicians of the PLC were looking for the adjudication of the project, but never show a real commitment.

http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2004/noviembre/26-noviembre-2004/nac...

►In 2006 President Enrique Bolaños , present a proposal for the same project, but due to the animosity of the main parties (FSLN ,PLC) against Bolaños , wasn't take in consideration.

http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2006/10/02/nacionales/30379

►In April of 2007 during a visit of Russian Official delegation, they said to President Ortega , that they have interest in the project.

http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2007/04/25/nacionales/47162

►In December 2008 in the Ortega visit to Moscow , President Medveded sign with Ortega a protocol of intention for a Russia participation in the project.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/35431

►In this article we can see that the governments and international companies in this project have been interested in such project, Brazil ,USA, Israel,Russia China Popular, South Korea , Japan, and others.

http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2009/02/23/economia/96136

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Isn't doubt that this project can be significant for the development of the country, but taking in consideration the magnitude of the project, we must to reflect and think over the political and law system of our country, if is ready to provide the minimum safety to the investor and the execution of the project under a transparent and impartial rules, and assure to the people of Nicaragua that the project will be for the development of the country and the society and not under the same scheme of corruption we have now .

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