The population of Bluefields, South Caribbean Region, lacks job opportunities, mainly for women, who mostly have the need to support their families, because they are the heads of the household and live alone with their children.
Even some single young professionals, without children, have been forced to start small businesses to survive, just like housewives. Every day, these women “manage” to earn income for their household expenses. Many of them sell street vendors, others have set up their stalls in crowded areas on the streets, under inclement sun and rain.
«Since 2014 I lost my little house. I lost everything in a fire where many years of sacrifice were left in ashes, until today, I can’t build my house. I have knocked on doors, but they are still closed. For now, I’m concentrating on bringing some money for food,” said Lidia Ríos, a street vendor.
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He also explained that he previously had a formal job and lost it. «I only had to go out into the streets to sell my coal, I go around seven neighborhoods a day, there are regular days and others that it is difficult for me to sell something. The saddest thing is that there are no conditions or opportunities for us. “There are no jobs, one has to rummage to survive,” he complained.
another critical year
The sources of employment in the South Caribbean region have been “scarce” for months. “There is no government support for this, they don’t seem to care,” criticized other vendors. In the case of Caribbean women, dozens are forced to live informally to bring a little cash home.
«The conditions of survival here are deplorable, there is no support entity or refuge. We are alone,” they lamented. The lack of jobs is compounded by insecurity on the streets of this city. «It is not only about going to sell, the problem is that they assault you. It’s like if you run I shoot you and if you don’t run I shoot you. We are wrong,” said another street vendor.
In the North Caribbean, indigenous women living in remote communities are also affected by this same problem. «Here there is total oblivion, there is no economic life, there are no jobs, nor social assistance. Forgetting is complete”, criticized an indigenous woman.
violence rules
From January to December 2022, more than 14 women have been murdered in this area of the country, many of these cases have been registered due to the negligence of State institutions due to the lack of attention to cases of complaints and calls, when there is domestic violence in a home.
The women of the Nicaraguan Caribbean are victims of extreme poverty, drug trafficking, illiteracy and lack of access to their ancestral lands, they do not have timely medical attention and violence prevails in the private and public sphere.
“Caribbean women have a hard time, without job opportunities and those who cannot migrate are trapped in a cycle of deprivation, of violence in other cases. The State lacks policies to assist indigenous and urban women. This should end,” demanded an activist who asked to comment on the situation under anonymity to avoid state repression, which is another problem.
By United Voices
