NicaNotes
March 19, 2026
Enjoy Mayo Ya on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast!
From 21 May – 2 June, Casa Benjamin Linder is organizing a cultural tour to the Autonomous Region of the Caribbean Coast to coincide with Mayo Ya celebrations.
The tour will spend two weekends in Bluefields, culminating in the Mayo Ya celebrations which include marching bands, dancing in the streets, parades and a poetry festival. During the week in between, participants will visit Orinoco and the Garifuna community and will also take a trip to the Pearl Keys with their white sand beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The cost is $1600 per person all inclusive (excludes airfare). Further information: casabenlinder@gmail.com. Write now as there are only a couple of spots still available!
Mayo Ya, the celebration of life, fertility and hope for the coming harvest on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua
By the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group of the UK
[This article was first published on NSCAG’s web page on February 16, 2026.]
The population of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua reflects the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual origins of its peoples. Columbus explored that coast on his fourth Voyage in 1502 but the Spanish never effectively colonized the area. It did not officially become part of Nicaragua until 1894. From the 1600’s onwards waves of migration of Africans, (escaped slaves from the Caribbean), the British (who dominated from 1655 to 1860), the Dutch (pirates), the Germans (in the 1800s), and North Americans (beginning with Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1851) gathered on Nicaragua’s South Caribbean Region. This, tragically, led to marginalisation of the region’s Indigenous Peoples.
However, all these groups have contributed to the fusion that has become the Caribbean May Pole celebrations. Is it of Celtic, ancient Egyptian or Germanic origin? ‘The only thing that we can say for certain, according to social historian Donovan Brautigam, ‘is that May Pole has a universal origin.’
Mayo Ya is an intercultural celebration of fertility, life, and the coming rains bringing together all the peoples of the Caribbean: Miskito, Garifuna, Creole, Rama, Mestizo and Afro-descendant peoples. Photo: INTUR
The flora, the weather, and the multiple customs of the Caribbean Coast merged creating a whole new take on an age-old celebration. The original Maypole of the Caribbean carries rhythms based on instruments such as a coconut grater, donkey jawbone, tortoiseshell, washing board, hand drums, maracas, guitar, banjo, accordion and violin.
The traditional genre of Maypole music is calypso and soca, popular in the English-speaking islands of the Caribbean. Some are traditional songs from Nicaragua such as ‘Sing Simon Sing My Love’, ‘Lost His Key’, ‘Launch Turn Over’, and ‘Come Down Breda Willy’. Others are songs of English origin such as ‘London Bridge is falling down’ and ‘Doing the Lambeth walk’.
There always have been many people who speak and announce things without checking the facts. Here, they announced that Judith had drowned but it turned out she was alive in her bed at home. In the song the soloist is questioning the legitimacy of the fake news against a chorus convinced that it’s true.
CHORUS: Somebadi se Judith drownded
SOLOIST: Judith no drownded Judith da bed
CHORUS: Somebadi se Judith drownded
SOLOIST: Ho se Judith drowded?
CHORUS: Somebadi se Judith drownded
SOLOIST: Where were you when Judith drownded
CHORUS: Somebadi se Judith drownded..
Mayo Ya belongs to everyone
Until 1979 Palo de Mayo was mainly celebrated by black Creole communities in Bluefields, Pearl Lagoon, Corn Island and Bragman’s Bluff in Bilwi. But as part of the government’s Caribbean Coast autonomy process after the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution in 1979, the celebrations took the name Mayo Ya (the goddess of rain) and became a celebration for all ethnic groups of the Caribbean. Many of the songs are testimonies and denunciations of injustices that communities of the Caribbean have suffered throughout history.
Mayo Ya is an intercultural celebration of fertility, life, and the coming rains bringing together all the peoples of the Caribbean: Miskito, Garifuna, Creole, Rama, Mestizo and Afro-descendant peoples in events that incorporate music, dance, food, art, and crafts.
Carlos Rigby is an Afro-Caribbean poet from the black Creole community of Pearl Lagoon. Carlos, who died in 2017, wrote in Creole, standard English and Spanish but his poems and writings are also intertwined with invented words and tongue twisters reflecting the sounds and concepts of the Caribbean oral story telling tradition.
This is an excerpt from his poem ‘If I were May’
..in the middle of the May Pole wheel
with my rain dance
and my solitude
a dance for the first rains of spring
and in the end
it is through the new green
that the voice of the people is heard
yelling from high atop the May Pole:
May, oh May, most faithful month.
Briefs
By Nan McCurdy
Nicaragua Sets Record of 83% Renewable Electricity Generation
Since 2007, the Nicaraguan government has demonstrated strategic vision by prioritizing massive investments in electricity generation from renewable sources, achieving significant independence from costly and volatile imported oil. This approach is now making a notable difference in a turbulent world where high oil prices are forcing countries to raise hydrocarbon and energy prices. The Sandinista government’s policy has positioned the country as a leader in Central America in the use of clean energy, with renewable energy contributing a record 83% of electricity generation in January 2026, according to official data from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, far exceeding the regional average and creating a true protective shield against geopolitical instability and high international crude oil prices. From 2007 to 2025, Nicaragua’s electricity sector attracted investments of US$5.54 billion, of which US$2.9 billion went directly to renewable generation, US$1.4 billion to distribution, and US$1.1 billion to transmission and fiber optics. This effort transformed an energy mix that in 2007 relied 75% on fossil fuels—namely, bunker fuel and diesel—with only 25% coming from renewables, into the current mix where clean sources dominate: wind 20.36%, biomass 16.62%, geothermal 10.15%, hydroelectric 6.41%, solar 2.58%, and import renewable 27.75%, as of February 2026. In February 2026, total generation included 139.81 GWh (Gigawatt hour) of wind power, 114. 11 GWh from biomass, 69.71 GWh from geothermal, 44.04 GWh from hydroelectric, 17.70 GWh from solar, and 190.52 GWh from imports/thermal sources, accounting for over 83% renewable energy during peak periods.
This diversification has stabilized the supply and supported national electricity coverage exceeding 99.7%, setting historic records. By 2026, the addition of 200 MW with an investment of US$165–200 million, focused on solar and wind power in areas such as Malpaisillo, San Isidro, and Darío-Terrabona. By 2027–2028, an additional 220 MW will be added with an investment of US$178–278 million, bringing the projected total to over 3,000 MW of renewable energy by 2027. In addition, 60 MW battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being analyzed for substations such as Sandino, Malpaisillo 2, San Benito, and Virgen (15 MW each), to improve the stability and integration of variable renewables. (La Primerisima, 16 March 2026)
Bloomberg: Nicaragua–One of Lowest Inflation Rates in Americas
Nicaragua closed out the first two months of 2026 by strengthening its macroeconomic stability, with year-over-year inflation at 2.86% in February—one of the lowest rates in the Americas, according to a recent Bloomberg report comparing inflation trends across the region. In the year-over-year inflation ranking as of February 2026, Nicaragua ranks 11th out of 19 countries listed, with its 2.86% well below the regional average and far from the extremes. Venezuela suffered the highest inflation with 618%. Argentina recorded 33.1%; Bolivia 17.41%; Colombia 5.29%; the Dominican Republic 4.67%; Honduras 4.23%; Mexico 4.02%; Brazil 3.81%; and Uruguay 3.11%. In Nicaragua, inflation was 2.86%; Ecuador 2.56%; Chile 2.4%; Paraguay 2.3%; Peru 2.21%; Guatemala 1.55%; El Salvador 1.17%; Costa Rica -2.73%. This figure of 2.86% for Nicaragua represents a decrease from the 3.45% year-over-year rate in February 2025, confirming the downward trend of recent years. The Bloomberg report highlights that, while countries such as Argentina and Bolivia show irregular rebounds or slowdowns, and Costa Rica enters deflation due to seasonal and energy factors, economies such as Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay maintain low and stable rates, close to or within their central banks’ target ranges. These levels confirm the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies, which are keeping inflation in low and stable ranges, in line with the Central Bank’s projections for 2026 of between 2.5% and 3.5% annually, which is good news for household economies. (Informe Pastran, 13 March 2026)
Exponential Growth of International Reserves
The most notable economic milestone for Nicaragua is the exponential growth of Gross International Reserves (GIR), which reached US$9.05 billion in February 2026—an increase of $451.8 million from the previous month and a year-over-year rise of 43.9%. This represents a nearly tenfold increase compared to the end of 2006, when reserves stood at US$918.7 million. The surge reflects a profound transformation in the state’s capacity for accumulation and financial resilience, with coverage of 4.1 times the monetary base. (Informe Pastran 13 March 2026)
A Total of 820 “Nuevas Victorias” Homes in Managua
One hundred families in Managua received the keys to their homes on Monday in the “Nuevas Victorias” housing development, located in Managua’s Seventh District, bringing the total number of homes delivered under this program to 820. Transportation Minister Óscar Mojica congratulated the 100 families who were selected from among 4,672 applicants for these homes in the first phase of the “Nuevas Victorias” project. He explained that these families were selected based on very rigorous criteria: first, they must have no housing and will occupy this home in the medium and long term; they are families who have met all the requirements, which has allowed them to qualify in a relatively short period. Mojica noted that the project is a living reflection of the solidarity-based and shared-benefit model we are building and thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China and its leaders for helping Nicaragua emerge from poverty and advance human development. He explained that with this delivery, 820 of the 920 homes in the first phase have now been handed over. The “New Victories” program, promoted by the Sandinista Government, seeks to improve the quality of life for 12,034 families through access to decent and safe housing.
China’s ambassador to Nicaragua, Mr. Qu Yuhui, emphasized that this project has been one of the most significant in the cooperative partnership between China and Nicaragua. “China and Nicaragua are sister nations, and we share a deep friendship and strong bond between our peoples,” he said, adding, “We will continue on this path of mutual benefit.” The Presidential Advisor for the Promotion of Investment, Trade, and International Cooperation, Laureano Ortega Murillo, extended fraternal greetings on behalf of Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to the key figures involved in this new phase and reaffirmed that bilateral relations with China have enabled significant progress in the country’s social transformation. He stated, “Since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between our peoples and governments in 2021, the guidance of our leaders—the Co-Presidents of Nicaragua, Commander Daniel Ortega and Comrade Rosario Murillo—and the President of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping, has been to focus our solidarity-based cooperation specifically on building housing for the Nicaraguan people and, in the same vein, on providing buses for public transportation.” He went on to say, “Restoring rights for our people, ensuring a better life, well-being for families, and peace of mind—so that our children and all Nicaraguans may have the right to housing and decent transportation. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/2026/03/16/suman-820-viviendas-nuevas-victorias-entregadas-en-managua/ (La Primerisima, 16 March 2026)
575 More Affordable Homes in Managua
Managua municipal authorities officially unveiled the new “Las Madres” housing project, an initiative of the Bismarck Martínez Program that provides 575 affordable homes for families in the capital. Municipal Council Secretary Fidel Moreno announced that the complex will be inaugurated on Mother’s Day. “On Mother’s Day, we will be inaugurating this housing project, a new initiative that is part of the Bismarck Martínez Program, which has already delivered thousands of homes to the people,” Moreno stated. The residential complex is located in the Sabana Grande area and will offer two house models, both with 56 square meters of floor space. A complete model with a living-dining room, two bedrooms, and a full bathroom. A basic model of the same size, in which families can later add interior partitions as additional improvements. The homes will feature ceramic flooring, ceilings, and built-in kitchen cabinets. Beneficiary families will be able to purchase them through monthly payments ranging from $140 to $190, thanks to government subsidies that facilitate access to decent housing. (Informe Pastran, 12 March 2026)
Successful Coffee Harvest
The 2025–2026 coffee harvest concluded with more than 3.4 million quintals (100-pound bags), far exceeding projected targets, according to National Assembly Deputy and coffee producer Juan Ramón Obregón. “This was a highly successful harvest in that it met all the most important expectations. The target was met; 3.4 million quintals have already been harvested, and that number will rise slightly,” stated Obregón, predicting that the final figure will be even higher. Harvesting has now been fully completed in the main producing areas of Matagalpa and Jinotega, although there are still small areas being harvested in the highlands of Nueva Segovia, Dipilto, San Fernando, and some elevated parts of Jinotega. Obregón described the season as “very successful” thanks to excellent labor availability and performance, which far exceeded expectations and overcame climatic challenges, as well as “extraordinary” security throughout the process—with no major incidents—and favorable international coffee prices. Obregón announced that the official closing of the harvest will take place on March 21. “It will be the culmination of a productive season with a coffee festival bringing together workers, producers, merchants, and transporters,” he noted. (Informe Pastran, 12 March 2026)
