May 2008 Report from Council of Protestant Churches of Nicaragua (CEPAD)

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

From May 5th -16th there was a strike on public transportation, including taxis, in all municipalities of Nicaragua, except Managua. Transportation owners demanded the government fix the price of gas at US$2 per gallon. After 12 days, the President agreed to fix the price in US$3 per gallon for passenger transportation vehicles, provided at certain gas stations, plus reduced prices in tires and batteries for that sector. The strike cost the country some US$15 million

The National Assembly has not yet reached an agreement about postponing municipal elections in the North Atlantic Coast, as proposed by the Frente Sandinista party and the Supreme Electoral Council. They are also negotiating the appointment of eight Magistrates to the Supreme Court of Justice (four Sandinistas and four from the Liberal Party). The Supreme Electoral Council has threatened the Sandinista Renovation Movement coalition and the Conservative Party to remove their legal status claiming that they have not fulfilled all the requirements. The parties strongly deny this.

In spite of the transportation strike, meetings with target groups of CEPAD’s programs in all regions were held during the last two weeks. The purpose of the meetings was to evaluate CEPAD’s 2004-08 strategic plan and to make recommendations for work in new communities. We hope to have impact evaluation results ready by the end of July.

The staff and Board of Directors held their annual retreat on May 8-9. The retreat gave us an opportunity to reflect on how to take care of our inner selves in order to serve others better, pointed out some of the challenges we’ll face during the next five years, and gave us the chance to enjoy fellowship with one another. This retreat is the only time when all Board members and staff meet altogether at once.

The increase in fuel prices is already impacting CEPAD’s budget. Projections are being made for the rest of the year’s expenses. We are taking further measures to save on energy and fuel. The energy price is in US dollars but CEPAD’s budget is in Córdobas, the Nicaraguan currency which is devaluated daily against the dollar. Meanwhile, energy prices increase constantly.

CEPAD greeted four delegations in May while one CEPAD congregation sent leaders to visit the First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Indianapolis, USA.

Edited by: Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel: (317) 713-2555
Fax: (317) 635-4323
Email: gifts@dom.disciples.org
June 2008