PHONE CALL TO LIMAY 4/22/07
Present on the call: Marilyn Carlisle, Barbara Larcom, Tranquilino Garmendia, Olidia Corea, Leonidas Silva
Next phone call May 20th at 7:00 pm EDT
PERCEPTIONS OF EFFECTS OF NATIONAL CONDITIONS ON LIMAY
Education: Teachers’ strike described as limited in spite of reports from Nicaragua Network Hotline; doesn’t seem to have affected Limay. Also there is now free Saturday high school in Limay, because of support for education from the national government. (The private school still functions as an
alternative.)
Health: More medications are available in the hospital.
Agriculture: Help for cattle ranchers and farmers of basic grains expected (acc. to TV) soon — probably May. For example, co-ops may be able to buy tractors at good rates.
Energy: No more electricity cut-offs; it’s normal now. Main reason given for this was the agreement with Venezuela to provide oil for energy generation.
Also agreed, when asked, that Daniel Ortega’s threat didn’t hurt either, to cut off the contract with Union Fenosa (the Spanish company distributing electricity), if it didn’t shape up.
CONDITIONS IN LIMAY
Weather very hot, a little rain, people preparing ground for planting when real rain begins. This is the hottest time of year, right before the rains start in May.
The Asociacion Padre Cesar Jerez (located in the same office as our Limay
committee) now has Internet access. Leonardo Silva has already used it to send us some email.
WORK OF THE LIMAY COMMITTEE
Homes: They’ve built 3 new homes and repaired 7 others. Leonidas made a tour yesterday and saw the new and repaired homes. The doors are purchased but waiting to be hung on the new houses; he will take pictures as soon as doors are on…hopefully by Thursday, April 26. Will use Berta’s digital camera.
Leonidas’s question: Should they spend on more repairs? Our response: “Yes!”
Tree nurseries: Scholarship students are still working on these.
Solidarity Conference in Managua: We urged them to get involved with the planning within Nicaragua toward this conference to take place in July 2007.
We gave them the contact information for the group coordinating the planning (Kairos)—urged them to call or e-mail. They asked if people not involved in CB/L could help in planning, we said absolutely yes! We also read off the 5 categories of topics for workshops, plenaries, and forums at the conference.
They will choose 5 or 6 people to go to conference—Tranquilino cannot go because of the health of his mother, who’s staying with him.
Delegation: Told them our delegation would probably arrive in Limay around July 6. Said right now we have three people definitely coming, with others considering. After visiting Limay, we can all travel together from Limay to the conference in Managua.
We also told them about our upcoming May 4 event, to try to raise more funds for their projects.