The regime of Daniel Ortega announced with “boom and cymbals” in the first fortnight of November the payment of the thirteenth month for state workers with the idea of boosting the economy during the Christmas season and the end of the year with the “Nights shopping”, generating expectations of hope for micro, small and medium-sized companies, since traditionally this is the season with the greatest commercial movement thanks to the festivities.
Festivities that the municipal government carried out in this city, with the inauguration of the shopping nights, on November 18, however, these seem to start without the Christmas spirit with which it has been characterized in previous years, due to the current crisis that is breathed in the country.
The university commune closed the main avenue of the Esquina de los Bancos to carry out its political act of inauguration. The activity began at 6:00 in the afternoon, one hour later than expected, with the participation of state workers, members of the Sandinista Youth and some merchants from the sector that offer products alluding to Christmas, on the sidewalk .
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“We are inaugurating the shopping nights in the university city, where the merchants are ready to receive the families,” said Guissela Lacayo Medrano, the mayoress imposed by the regime.
sales are bad
“We are looking for strategic solutions, innovation such as Shopping Nights with promotions and discounts, but sales are bad despite the fact that they have already paid the fortnightly and Christmas bonus,” lamented Doña Guadalupe, a merchant who locates her sales position in the historic center of Lion.
Another small trader, Carlos Amador, expressed concern because he sees little circulation of currency, just one month before Christmas. He indicated that he invested up to five thousand dollars in merchandise; clothing, footwear, toys, and Christmas decorations, but purchases have not turned out as in previous years.
“Life is expensive, everything is expensive and you have to save and know how to invest the little money they paid us in the bonus to buy provisions, pay debts, schools, promotions and even tuition. This year there is no premiere, ”said the citizen Olga Hernández Martínez by her side.
a difficult year
2022 has been a year of challenges for hundreds of Nicaraguan families who have seen their loved ones leave for other places in search of a better life, due to the high number of unemployment, the high cost of living, the high costs of basic services and the frequent increases in the products of the basic basket.
In the center of the “Plaza de la Independencia”, or Juan José Quezada park, several merchants set up their craft stalls to take advantage of the concentration of visitors, but the situation is even for the commercial sector. Many businesses and few buyers.
Máximo is a seller of handicrafts and toys. He tells that he moved from Managua to León to sell his hats, toys and laminated garments, but expectations failed in a week where he has had more losses than gains. “I have sold about 2,000 córdobas, but I have had to pay for lodging and food (lunch and dinner). Today I have only sold 300 córdobas and with that, who is going to survive?” the street vendor wondered.
On the roadway, a group of children from the Providencia neighborhood dance La Gigantona and El Enano Cabezón and sing coplas. Every weekend the group made up of four children between the ages of 10 and 14, meet to rent the doll they call “Berlinda” for 130 córdobas, and take advantage of the movement to offer their dance service for 30 córdobas. From the proceeds they pay the rent and the little they have left is distributed to help at home, shared one of the children who claimed to be in charge of his grandmother, after his mother emigrated to the United States in search of work.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the park, Guissela Lacayo can be seen, with a red and black scarf around her neck, next to the political leadership, taking a selfie in the middle of the launch of Christmas arrangements and shows. She looks happy in the company of Ariel Delgado, her deputy mayor, the police chief of this city, and Eber Delgadillo, the party’s political secretary. The absentee is Róger Guardian, outgoing mayor and whom the locals call “the deposed king”.
By: United Voices
