[GVCP] No to NICA Act!

January 11, 2018

NO TO NICA ACT
 

The Nicaragua Investment Conditionality Act of 2017 (The NICA Act, S.2265) was introduced into the Senate on December 23rd.  This act—which has already passed the House of Representatives—is a senseless act of revenge against Nicaragua.  The NICA Act is no longer being simply promoted by the extreme right of the Republican Party and Cuban-Americans in the United States.  Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Durbin (D-IL) were cosponsors of the NICA Act.
 

Tell your Senators – Don’t pass the NICA Act!

The NICA Act, if passed, would mean that the US would vote against loans from international financial institutions until Nicaragua has, in the US government’s judgment, taken effective measures to “combat corruption and promote democracy, free speech, civil society and rule of law.” However, what exactly the specific instances of corruption, absence of democracy, free speech, etc., are unclear and completely unqualified.
 
The NICA Act in the Senate should not be viewed as a surprising anomaly to US policy.  It joins a larger set of actions to weaken governments on the left in Latin America (such as what is occurring against Venezuela) or prevent progressive ones from coming into power (such as what has just occurred in Honduras).
 
Nicaragua has been able to make massive progress in the past decade.  This is due in large part to a progressive government committed to eradicating poverty.  These programs depend on the ability to access international credit.  Nicaragua has extensive social programs such as free healthcare and education at all levels, the building of rural roads, electrification, new housing, support for small family business and the informal economy, and hunger reduction programs.  This makes Nicaragua the safest country in Central America, with low levels of migration compared to the Northern Triangle countries.  The sanctioning of Nicaragua would put a major roadblock on this progress, and would likely decrease the quality of life for Nicaraguans and increase migration to other countries including the United States.
 
We call upon all of our brothers and sisters to mobilize and stand in solidarity with the Nicaraguan people.  Look for the sample letter below.
 
Senate postal address is Senator Gillibrand or Schumer, U.S. Senate, 20510.  Check their websites to communicate by email.  It’s OK to shorten the letter.  The main message is that the NICA Act is wrong, and you want them to vote against it.
 
Arnie Matlin
 
Note that this information was adapted from the Alliance for Global Justice website.  Here’s the link:
 
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7315/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=25696


Send the following letter to your Senator!  

Dear Sen. ______________
 
I am writing to express my opposition to the NICA Act (S.2265).  If the NICA Act becomes law, the US will vote against multilateral loans to Nicaragua.  The purpose of the Act is based on the false premise that the Nicaraguan government is corrupt and commits human rights violations.
In fact:

  • The World Bank and IMF have praised Nicaragua’s management of aid projects as ranking among the best in the world.
  • Nicaraguan police and military have prevented drug cartels from gaining a foothold in the country, unlike the other countries of Central America.
  • Nicaragua has no political prisoners and no censorship of the press.  All of the print media and most radio stations are owned by the opposition.
  • The Organization of American States noted some deficiencies in Nicaragua’s recent municipal elections but said the flaws would not have changed the outcome.  The Nicaraguan government has pledged to work with the OAS to continue to strengthen the institutionality and transparency of its election processes.


Nicaragua was among the first countries in Latin America to achieve the UN Millennium Goals of reducing poverty.  If Nicaragua were to lose access to multilateral loans, it would impact its ability to fund education, health care, and economic infrastructure, effectively cutting off at the knees the most productive economy in Central America.  A flood of Nicaraguans attempting to cross the US-Mexico border would follow soon after.  The defeat of this Act is important to me as a constituent.  I would like you to make a public statement against the NICA Act.
 
Sincerely,

Join our Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.