NicaNotes

August 21, 2025

A quartet of Nicaragua critics sings from Washington’s songbook

By John Perry and Roger D. Harris

(Nicaragua-based John Perry is with the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition and writes for MR Online, the London Review of Books, FAIR and CovertAction, among others. Roger D. Harris is with the Task Force on the Americas, the US Peace Council, and the Venezuela Solidarity Network. This article was first published in Resumen Latinoamericano.)

In recent weeks, a motley crew of writers has found common cause in attacking Nicaragua’s Sandinista government: Jaden Hong, a high-school student from Sammamish, Washington, who has never visited the country; Jared O. Bell, a former USAID Foreign Service Officer; Barb Arland-Fye, editor of a Catholic newspaper in Iowa; and Gioconda Belli, a 76-year-old Nicaraguan novelist in self-exile. Writing in outlets ranging from The Teen Magazine to the New York Times, they have produced a string of biased, ill-informed pieces that repeat the same well-worn falsehoods about Nicaragua’s elected government.

Their attacks on Nicaragua’s revolution reflect Washington’s talking points as it pursues its regime-change agenda. Jaden Hong tells “Gen Z” in The Teen Magazine that Nicaragua’s democracy is fading. Jared O. Bell, who lost his USAID job in Managua when Trump shuttered the agency, complains in Peace Voice about the country’s “stolen democracy.” Barb Arland-Fye, in The Catholic Messenger, writes glowingly about a key organizer of the violent coup attempt in Nicaragua in 2018. Novelist Gioconda Belli is given a guest essay in the New York Times to lament her “country’s dictator.”

Belli, born in Nicaragua but living abroad since the 1980s, has been a critic of the Sandinista government since it first regained power through the ballot box in 2007. Her status as a novelist ensures that the NYT, the Guardian, Spain’s El Pais and other mainstream outlets give her space to vent her anger against a revolution which she supported initially but has since labeled a “farse.”

Many of Nicaragua’s liberal intellectuals opposed the Somoza dictatorship in the 1970s, but their commitment faded as the initial glamour of the revolution turned into the hard work of tackling the needs of the country’s poor and working people. As ordinary Nicaraguans were given greater voice, and taxes were raised to pay for new schools and hospitals (60% of the country’s budget goes to social programs), they maligned people’s power as an emerging “dictatorship.”

The list of privileged critics of the Sandinista government, whose status gives them access to the New York Times and other corporate outlets, include Belli and her brother Humberto, along with Sergio Ramirez (a “novelist betrayed by the revolution”), journalist Carlos Chamorro and many more. Some work directly for mainstream media, such as Wilfredo Miranda (El Pais) and Gabriela Selser (Reuters). Supposedly revolutionary in their youth, they are now part of Washington’s soft power apparatus and help feed its imperialist agenda.

Of the lies in Belli’s recent NYT article, one stands out: that “peaceful protesters were shot” during the coup attempt against Nicaragua’s elected government in 2018. This falsehood is repeated in the other three articles. Bell says that “student-led protests… were met with brutal, deadly repression.” Hong says that “lethal force” led to “355 dead and hundreds injured.” For Arland-Fye, it was a “deadly crackdown.” That the protestors were far from “peaceful” is obvious from the fact that 22 police officers were killed and over 400 injured in attacks launched from the hundreds of roadblocks erected by the coup-mongers throughout the country.

Arland-Fye’s sycophantic piece is about opposition figure Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega. The cleric had called the coup roadblocks “a wonderful idea” and said he hoped to see President Daniel Ortega in front of a firing squad. The Iowa bishopric, for which Arland-Fye writes, has just awarded Baez a “peace prize.”

The suggestion that Trump is following an Ortega “playbook” appears in two of the articles: it could hardly be more absurd. Unlike Ortega, Trump is not building public hospitals, he’s dismantling Medicare. Also unlike Ortega, he isn’t presiding over a country which is championing the shift to renewable energy; nor is he building 7,000 affordable homes each year. Trump, instead, is drastically cutting federal spending for social needs.

Rather than following a Nicaraguan “playbook” of peaceful cooperation with its neighbors, both Trump administrations (and Biden’s, both echoing Reagan in 1985) have incredulously declared Nicaragua an “extraordinary threat to the national security” of the US. But it is Nicaragua’s remarkable battle against poverty, unmentioned in the articles, that is seen by Washington as the real “threat,” because it challenges the neoliberal order.

The article by Jared Bell, the former USAID worker, is perhaps unintentionally the most revealing. Prior to the 2018 coup attempt, USAID spent millions of dollars creating Nicaragua’s anti-Sandinista media apparatus. After the coup attempt failed, the Sandinista government justifiably closed NGOs and media outlets funded by USAID or its auxiliary body, the National Endowment for Democracy. They did so based on legislation patterned after the US’s Foreign Agents Registration Act. Nevertheless this funding continues – going to anti-Sandinista outfits in Costa Rica and in the US itself.

USAID had maintained a Nicaraguan presence by having staffers like Bell in the US embassy in Managua. Their role, as his article makes clear, was not to assist the government in fighting poverty but to engage with “exiled civil society leaders and independent [sic] journalists” opposed to the revolution. The “independence” of US government-funded journalists goes unquestioned.

Meanwhile, the USAID, while formally independent, now operates under the direction of the State Department. But its clandestine work assuredly continues.

The saddest of the four articles is by teenager Jaden Hong. If he were to visit Nicaragua, he would see for himself how young people have free, good quality education right through to university level and beyond. He would see how the government has addressed malnutrition in youngsters by providing all of them with free school meals. He would note that parks, playgrounds and sports facilities have sprung up around the country.

Above all, if he took part in one of the frequent mass demonstrations in support of the government, he might wonder at the fact that most of those around him are other young people. Unlike Gioconda Belli, they are too young to recall the revolutionary years of the 1980s. But they are old enough to recognize the revolution’s achievements and to be determined to protect them from Washington’s attacks.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Nicaragua Builds 4,151 Homes So Far in 2025

The co-director of the Institute for Urban and Rural Housing (INVUR), Gabriela Lorena Palacios, reported that Nicaragua is on track to reach a historic record in 2025 with the construction and improvement of nearly 150,000 homes since 2007. In 2025, INVUR has a strategic goal of completing 7,696 homes nationwide, of which 4,151 have already been built or improved by the end of July. “We have exceeded 50% of the goal in the first half of the year and we expect the total of 7,696 homes to be completed this year.” This achievement is part of an ongoing effort that has built 148,170 homes since 2007. The impact of these projects also functions as an economic engine. The 4,151 homes completed so far in 2025 have generated more than 20,000 jobs and benefited 20,700 families in 98 municipalities, with an approximate investment of US$95 million. An investment of US$160 million is estimated for the 7,696 homes planned. “Housing is becoming a driver of the national economy, not only because of the purchase of materials and the boost to the construction sector, but also because of the jobs it creates,” Palacios said. She highlighted the social focus of the programs, aimed at low-income families, and the institutional support that has enabled these advances. “Thanks to the Sandinista government and institutional efforts, we are combating poverty and improving the quality of life.” (Informe Pastran, 19 August, 2025)

Strengthening Care for People with Mental Disorders

The Sandinista government, within the framework of the family and community health model will provide more training for health workers who provide care to people with mental health disorders. A government press release stated that this training process will strengthen the skills of health personnel, providing them with up-to-date tools for a comprehensive understanding of mental disorders as well as developing skills in effective communication and human relations with patients, their families, and the community. It noted that the main objective is to strengthen the knowledge and skills of health personnel in caring for patients with mental health issues. Another objective is to strengthen the organization of mental health services in accordance with regulations and other care guidelines. The training seeks to reinforce the communication skills of staff in the comprehensive care of patients. It also aims to consolidate the practices of health personnel in approaching mental health patients with a multidisciplinary approach.

The national training team will be made up of specialists from the teaching hospital for psychosocial care who will train 57 mental health workers, three from each SILAIS [Local Systems of Comprehensive Care], who will form 19 facilitation teams, each consisting of a psychiatrist or general practitioner, a nurse, and a psychologist or social worker. The theoretical training of the teams will take place at the Dr. Jacobo Marcos Frech Mental Health Center, and the practical training at the Dr. José Dolores Fletes Teaching Hospital for Psychosocial Care. (La Primerisima, 18 August 2025)

Matagalpa Unveils Sports Center

Basketball, volleyball, boxing, and martial arts will be practiced at the new Matagalpa Sports Center, which was inaugurated by the Sandinista government on August 16 after an investment of more than US$8 million. The inauguration included fireworks and a friendly game between the National Basketball Team and its counterpart from the Bahamas, which ended with a score of 95-77 in favor of the Caribbean team. The sports center was built in the community of Waswali on the outskirts of the city of Matagalpa where the Comandante Carlos Fonseca Amador Sports Center is also located. The new center has 1,344 seats, changing rooms for teams, changing rooms for referees, a fire prevention system and electrical system, an area for entrepreneurs, and a medical care area. “We are celebrating this event, which was a dream that has come true thanks to all the work that our Government of Reconciliation and National Unity has been doing throughout Nicaragua,” said mayor Sadrach Zeledón. The authorities announced that, in a second stage, giant screens, a professional sound system, and a LED cube screen, among other modern systems, will be installed to make attending events more enjoyable and entertaining. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/matagalpa-estrena-majestuoso-polideportivo/ (La Primerisima, 17 August 2025)

Excellent Performance of International Reserves

The Central Bank reported on August 13 that the country’s Gross International Reserves (GIR) rose to US$7.4 billion in July 2025. This amount reflects an increase of $225 million over the previous month, consolidating the country’s financial strength. The increase in GIR was mainly driven by the net accounts of the Non-Financial Public Sector (NFPS), the increase in legal reserves, the inflow of external resources to the NFPS, and the net placement of foreign currency bills. This level of reserves represents 3.8 times the monetary base, which reinforces Nicaragua’s ability to withstand external economic shocks and ensure macroeconomic stability.

The Central Bank note also highlighted that no foreign exchange transactions were carried out at the exchange desk, keeping the exchange gap below the commission for foreign currency sales. In addition, monetary aggregates showed significant growth: cash increased by 17.2% year-on-year, the monetary base grew by 13.6%; public deposits rose by 10.5%, and the broadest monetary aggregate (M3) recorded an increase of 11.5%. However, in month-on-month terms, the monetary base contracted due to the net placement of BCN securities, partially offset by central government operations. (La Primerisima, 13 August 2025)

Agricultural Exports Up

Nicaragua’s agricultural exports have experienced a large increase of 22.3% in the last year, according to data presented by the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Trade (MIFIC). This growth, detailed in a report based on information provided by the General Customs Directorate (DGA), positions the agricultural sector as a key pillar of the national economy, reflecting a significant strengthening of domestic production. January to July 2025 showed a considerable increase compared to the US$1.58 billion recorded in the same period in 2024 (January-July). This 22.3% jump far exceeds the overall growth in total exports, which stood at 15.4%, rising from US$4.55 billion to US$5.2 billion. Agricultural exports led the increase, growing from US$1.5 billion to US$1.92 billion. Likewise, exports from agricultural free trade zones showed an increase of 32.8%, rising from US$57.5 million to US$76.3 million, demonstrating the diversification and dynamism of the sector. This increase in agricultural exports is a clear indicator of the domestic productive momentum, driven by improvements in infrastructure, technology, and support for domestic producers.

The diversification of Nicaragua’s export markets and products has received a significant boost with sales to the European Union (EU) showing remarkable growth in the first seven months of 2025. According to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Trade (MIFIC), total exports to the EU reached US$425.7 million in value and 132,443 metric tons (MT) in volume, representing an increase of 47.2% in value and 28.6% in MT compared to the same period in 2024. (Informe Pastran, 18 August 2025)

License for Momotombo Geothermal Plant Revoked for Corruption

The Attorney General’s Office announced in a press release on August 14^th the cancellation of the concession contract for the exploitation of geothermal resources at the Momotombo Geothermal Plant in La Paz Centro, León, which was operated directly by the Momotombo Power Company (MPC), formerly Ormat Momotombo Power Company.

The Attorney General’s office said that within the framework of policies of transparency, legality, and the fight against corruption, the Office has decided to definitively cancel the concession contract for geothermal resources at the Momotombo Geothermal Plant, with immediate effect. The decision was based, the press release said, on evidence gathered by the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office which demonstrated the direct link between the Momotombo Power Company and a corporate network that involved the use of approximately “20 shell companies” designed by Álvaro Antonio Baltodano Cantarero, Álvaro Antonio Baltodano Monroy, and others who have been charged in the case. The goal, according to the press release, was to launder money from criminal tax evasion activities against the Public Treasury through the Momotombo Power Company and other companies, which the defendants established mainly in foreign jurisdictions classified as tax havens by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The press release continued to explain that the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), after preliminary investigations, confirmed that the Momotombo Power Company failed to comply with its obligation to make investments that would maximize the operation of the geothermal resource allowing it to reach an energy production level of 37-40 megawatts. Investigations also confirmed that the Momotombo Power Company did not carry out the projects agreed upon in its contract. Investigations by the police and the MEM revealed that the company not only betrayed the trust of the people and the State, but also used a strategic national resource as a platform to carry out criminal purposes, a direct affront to the national heritage, the rule of law, and the people of Nicaragua.

The press release emphasized that the Republic of Nicaragua maintains its commitment to defending the national heritage, transparency in public management, and strengthening the rule of law, ensuring that energy services continue to be provided without interruption and under lawful and responsible administration. It added that, corrupt individuals who use national or foreign corporate structures to disguise themselves as investors in order to cover up crimes will not be tolerated and all those responsible will be prosecuted. (La Primerisima, 14 August 2025)