AMERICA/NICARAGUA - Still controversy about the transoceanic canal: the Bishops call for clarity

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Managua (Agenzia Fides) - "Improvised" and "without being verified technically": is how the president of the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua, Manuel Ortega Hegg, defined the "change" in the route of the transoceanic canal, to link the Pacific and the Atlantic, announced on 10 January by the spokesman of the Commission of the Grand Canal, Telemaco Talavera. According to the spokesman, the canal in fact will not pass through the area of El Tule, Rio San Juan (see Fides 25/11/2014), whose population had vigorously protested.
For Ortega Hegg "changes must be based on environmental and social studies and engineering. This shows that somehow there is improvisation in the project, and reflects the fact that one is not doing things in all seriousness". According to the note sent to Fides by a local source, Talavera responded by saying that "because there is seriousness and responsibility we inform people of the changes, in order to reduce the environmental and social impact". Even some politicians have expressed concern over the fact that in just two days the route of the canal has been changed, assuming that this will serve only to stop the protests of the population.
His Exc. Mgr. Rolando Alvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa said he is waiting for the official announcement by the government on the final route for the construction of the Grand Canal: "We are waiting to see what will be the final route of the project, so that everyone is aware of what is happening".
The Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua (CEN) listened to the experts’ explanations on the impact that the construction of the Canal would have. His Exc. Mgr. Silvio Baez, Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, on his Twitter account reported the matter: "We are not opposed to the Canal. But if it is done as proposed now, it will be a disaster". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/01/2015)


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