La oficina del Asesor en Cumplimiento/Ombudsman (CAO), del Banco Mundial, destacó recientemente el trabajo que viene realizando la Universidad de Boston sobre la ERC en Nicaragua, planteó extender la investigación a otros países de América Central y ponderó las virtudes del diálogo entre Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL), propietaria del Ingenio San Antonio, y Asochivida, la asociación de enfermos renales más importante de Nicaragua.

En una nota de prensa fechada en Washington el pasado 26 de enero, la oficina de la CAO expresa lo siguiente:

“(…) El trabajo de la Universidad de Boston no tiene precedentes en Nicaragua considerando sus alcances, su rigurosidad y su acceso irrestricto al ingenio San Antonio.(…) El trabajo de la Universidad de Boston y de otros investigadores indica que la forma inusual de ERC observada en ex trabajadores de NSEL es prevalente en toda la zona del Pacífico de Centroamérica, va mas allá de los trabajadores de caña de azúcar impactando a trabajadores de otras industrias y también ha sido identificada en Asia.

(…) Alentada por los avances de la investigación y los acuerdos alcanzados en la mesa de diálogo, la CAO, quien informa directamente al Presidente del Grupo del Banco Mundial, Robert D. Zoellick, está explorando oportunidades de reunir entidades públicas y privadas en Centro América para abordar la enfermedad. Desde Julio de 2011, la CAO ha establecido vínculos con instituciones como la Organización Panamericana de Salud (OPS), el Instituto Nacional de Salud de Estados Unidos (NIH), el Banco de Inversión y Desarrollo Alemán – DEG y la Ministra de Salud en El Salvador, Dra. María Isabel Rodríguez, quien ha sido una líder en aumentar la conciencia pública sobre ERC. Las conversaciones a la fecha están orientadas a organizar una conferencia regional en 2012 para priorizar la investigación, el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la ERC.

(…) Las necesidades médicas para los enfermos son profundas, particularmente a la luz de la falta de opciones de medicación, diálisis y trasplante de riñón. Estas necesidades están siendo abordadas por medio de mejoras propuestas al Centro de Salud Comunitario en Chichigalpa. NSEL y ASOCHIVIDA también están trabajando en conjunto para proveer ayuda alimentaria, desarrollar un programa de micro crédito y proyectos de generación de ingresos para apoyar a los miembros afectados de la comunidad. Por medio del proceso de diálogo, NSEL ha proporcionado alrededor de U$ 4 millones en apoyo a los miembros de la comunidad a través de ASOCHIVIDA.

(…) “Dado el alcance y magnitud de esta enfermedad, soluciones a largo plazo probablemente requerirán un marco de trabajo regional para investigar su causa, inevitablemente vinculado a políticas públicas”. Dijo Meg Taylor, CAO y Vicepresidenta, Grupo del Banco Mundial. “Es la esperanza de la CAO que un compromiso más amplio conllevará a un esfuerzo colaborativo durante el 2012 para hacer frente a la enfermedad renal crónica en Centro América.””

Ver comunicado: http://www.cao-ombudsman.org/documents/SPANISHMediastatement_Nicaraguachronickidneydisease_012612.pdf

Gracias al Convenio de Responsabilidad Social Compartida firmado recientemente entre la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) León y Nicaragua Sugar Estate Limited, unos 25 miembros de ASOCHIVIDA, la asociación de enfermos renales más importante del país, serán atendidos semanalmente en la clínica dental móvil que maneja la Facultad de Odontología de esa Alma Mater.

En el marco del acuerdo establecido entre ambas instituciones, Nicaragua Sugar, propietaria del Ingenio San Antonio, entregó a la UNAN León un vehículo para el funcionamiento de la clínica dental, que además brindará atención a comunidades de Occidente.

Ezequiel Ramírez, vicepresidente de ASOCHIVIDA, manifestó que dicha actividad de salud es de gran valor para esta organización que aglutina a unas dos mil personas.

El doctor Humberto Altamirano, Decano de la Facultad de Odontología, explicó que las jornadas dentales con ASOCHIVIDA tendrán los componentes de promoción y educación en salud dental, además de una valoración caso por caso de cada paciente para una atención especializada considerando la enfermedad que padecen.

Altamirano exhortó a los miembros de ASOCHIVIDA a asistir a estas jornadas ya que los estreptococos que producen las caries dentales pueden deteriorar los riñones de cualquier persona sana o agravar el estado de salud de los enfermos renales.

El doctor Denis Chavarría, coordinador de Salud Ocupacional del Ingenio San Antonio, manifestó que existe total disposición de parte de la empresa a continuar asistiendo de manera integral a ASOCHIVIDA.

Desde 2009, como resultado del diálogo existente entre ASOCHIVIDA y Nicaragua Sugar, los integrantes de esta agrupación se han beneficiado con más de dos millones de dólares en apoyos diversos como ayuda alimentaria, atención médica en el Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio, donaciones de mochilas y útiles escolares a sus hijos y nietos, entre otros.

Asimismo, se han comenzado a implementar proyectos de autosostenibilidad que les van a permitir tener un sustento para ellos y sus familias de manera digna y acorde con sus condiciones de salud y se contrataron los servicios de la prestigiosa Universidad de Boston, que viene realizando una exhaustiva investigación para determinar si existen causalidades específicas en la zona del occidente de Nicaragua para la Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC).

El respaldo a Asochivida, la asociación de enfermos de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC) más representativa de Nicaragua, fue en 2010 para Nicaragua Sugar el rubro de inversión más importante de sus compromisos de Responsabilidad Social en apoyo a la comunidad.

El Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio proporcionó casi 200 mil dólares en concepto de atenciones a pacientes con IRC y en donaciones al Centro de Salud de Chichigalpa.

La ayuda alimenticia para los miembros de Asochivida ascendió a cerca de 480 mil dólares. De enero a diciembre de 2010 se hizo entrega de 21,603 boletas de granos básicos que incluyeron 118,836 Kg. de maíz, 99,030 Kg. de arroz, 99,030 Kg. de frijoles, además de 39,612 Bl de sal, 178,254 Kg. de azúcar, 39,612 litros de aceite y 99,030 piezas de jabón.

Para el inicio del año escolar se hizo entrega de útiles escolares a familiares de los miembros de Asochivida que consistió en 7,124 cuadernos, 1,718 lapiceros, 3,562 lápices y 1,781 mochilas y  se destinaron US$100,000 para proyectos económicos de autosostenibilidad.

 El monto total de la ayuda a Asochivida en 2010 fue de casi 800 mil dólares.

En el marco del diálogo que desde hace más de un año vienen sosteniendo Nicaragua Sugar y ASOCHIVIDA, bajo los auspicios de la Oficina de Cumplimiento, Asesoría y Ombudsman (CAO) del Banco Mundial, el día 1 de septiembre de los corrientes se celebró una reunión entre las partes a la que asistió Don Carlos Pellas, como una muestra fehaciente de la voluntad de apoyo del Grupo Pellas para con los extrabajadores del Ingenio San Antonio que padecen de IRC.

No obstante haber quedado demostrado científicamente que “ninguna de las prácticas laborales o ninguno de los químicos usados por el ISA son causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC”, tal y como concluyó el reciente estudio que sobre este tema realizó la prestigiada Universidad de Boston, Don Carlos les expresó su deseo firme de seguir ayudándolos: “La IRC es una tragedia que los afecta y queremos contribuir a aliviar ese dolor”, dijo durante el encuentro.

A la vez que reiteró el compromiso de continuar apoyándolos como se ha venido haciendo por más de un año, principalmente con ayuda alimenticia, medicinas y atención médica, el Presidente del Grupo Pellas manifestó su disposición de considerar la posibilidad de que los casos de emergencia de los miembros de ASOCHIVIDA sean atendidos en el Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio.

Por otra parte, hizo particular énfasis en el desarrollo de proyectos de autosostenibilidad que permitan a los enfermos obtener ingresos dignos y por ende mejorar sus condiciones de vida y las de sus familias.

En este sentido, se comprometió a destinar una cantidad de dinero aun mayor para fortalecer el fondo de microcréditos que se ha creado para la implementación de estos negocios, de manera que más personas puedan verse beneficiadas.

Actualmente se está en proceso de revisión de las diferentes propuestas de proyectos para determinar la elegibilidad de financiación.

Asimismo Don Carlos ofreció toda la cooperación que sea necesaria para que la Universidad de Boston pueda continuar con las investigaciones científicas que permitan determinar las causas de la IRC en esta zona de Nicaragua.

Los miembros de la Junta Directiva de ASOCHIVIDA, la asociación de enfermos renales más representativa del occidente del país, manifestaron su agradecimiento a Don Carlos Pellas y a Nicaragua Sugar por la ayuda que han venido recibiendo así como por los compromisos futuros.

Boston University Public Health School recently presented its final report on the industrial health study it conducted in Ingenio San Antonio (ISA), in which it concludes that there is no evidence that the labor practices of the company have contributed to its workers developing Chronic Renal Disease (CKD / CRI).

The research study team evaluated ISA’s labor practices during the 2009-2010 harvest, as well as the chemical products used by the company both now and in the past.

“We found no evidence that the current work practices or the chemicals used by ISA currently or in the past are generally accepted causes of CRI”, states the report presented last August 30.

“Based on the research described in this report, we did not find any evidence whatsoever to conclude that the practices and chemicals used by ISA are contributing to its workers developing CRI. To determine whether an association actually exists will require the production of new scientific knowledge,” researchers reiterated.

Boston University also investigated other factors associated to CRI (CKD) without finding anything that links working conditions to the disease.

“We did not find any evidence in our review of the medical literature that heat stroke (volume depletion and muscle damage) and systemic infections (leptospirosis and hantavirus) are generally accepted causes of CRI, and we only found very limited evidence that exposure to these agents is associated to CRI”, they indicated in their conclusions.

The study commissioned to this prestigious university in November 2008 was the result of an agreement between Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) and the Chichigalpa Association for Life (ASOCHIVIDA), the most important association of CRI patients in Nicaragua, within the frame of a dialogue convened by the World Bank’s Office of the Compliance Advisor and Ombudsman (CAO), with the objective of finding evidence that linked ISA’s work practices to CRI (CKD).

The researchers determined that the following phases of their work will be focused on collecting additional information on exposure and health and investigating their potential link to CRI (CKD), both within ISA and in other areas of Nicaragua’s west region.

 La Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Boston presentó recientemente su informe final del estudio que realizó sobre la higiene industrial en el Ingenio San Antonio (ISA) en el que concluye que no hay evidencias de que  las prácticas laborales de la empresa estén causando Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC) en sus trabajadores.

El equipo a cargo del estudio evaluó las prácticas de trabajo realizadas en la zafra 2009-2010 en el ISA, así como los productos químicos utilizados por la empresa tanto en la actualidad como en el pasado.

“No encontramos evidencia alguna de que las prácticas laborales actuales o los químicos usados por ISA actualmente o en el pasado sean causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC”, señala el informe presentado el 30 de agosto de este año.

“Con base en la investigación descrita en este informe, no encontramos evidencia alguna para concluir que las prácticas y los químicos usados por el ISA estén causando IRC en los trabajadores. Establecer si existe de hecho una asociación requerirá la creación de nuevo conocimiento científico”, reiteran los investigadores.

La Universidad de Boston también investigó otros factores asociados a la IRC, sin encontrar nada que vincule las condiciones de trabajo con la enfermedad.

“No encontramos evidencia alguna en nuestra revisión de la literatura médica de que el golpe de calor (depleción de volumen y daño muscular), y las infecciones sistémicas (leptospirosis y hantavirus) sean causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC, y encontramos sólo evidencia muy limitada de que la exposición a estos agentes está asociada con la IRC”, señalan en sus conclusiones.

El estudio encomendado a esa prestigiosa universidad en noviembre de 2008, fue producto de un acuerdo entre Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) y la Asociación Chichigalpa por la Vida (ASOCHIVIDA), la más importante organización de enfermos renales del país, en el marco de un diálogo convocado por la oficina de Cumplimiento, Asesoría y Ombudsman (CAO) del Banco Mundial con el propósito de determinar evidencias que vincularan las prácticas laborales del ISA con la IRC.

Los investigadores determinaron que las siguientes fases de su trabajo se enfocarán en recoger información adicional sobre exposición y salud e investigar su posible conexión con la IRC, tanto dentro del ISA como en otras áreas del Occidente de Nicaragua.

La Asociación Nicaragüense de Afectados por Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (ANAIRC) ha retomado en las últimas semanas su campaña difamatoria en contra de Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL), miembro del Grupo Pellas, con la única finalidad de obtener compensaciones monetarias injustificadas.

La referida campaña descansa en el supuesto que ex trabajadores del Ingenio San Antonio (ISA), propiedad de Nicaragua Sugar, contrajeron la enfermedad de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica debido a las malas prácticas productivas de la empresa.

ANAIRC es una organización muy poco conocida en Nicaragua y sus planteamientos no han tenido eco en nuestro país ya que carecen de fundamento y no guardan ninguna relación con la realidad. Hay que resaltar que quien está siendo objeto de estos ataques es una de las empresas nicaragüenses con mayor prestigio, tanto por su sistema de producción como por sus prácticas de Responsabilidad Social.

Los que están detrás de esto lo saben muy bien y por eso se han dado a la tarea de tratar de desprestigiar a Nicaragua Sugar en el Internet, y últimamente quien dice ser la presidenta de la organización, hizo una gira por algunos países europeos con el apoyo de activistas no nicaragüenses de reconocida trayectoria política. 

A los voceros de ANAIRC puede resultarles fácil buscar en determinados círculos internacionales los apoyos que no obtienen en Nicaragua. Para ello utilizan un discurso dramático donde aparecen como “víctimas de los abusos de una empresa egoísta, insensible y depredadora”. No importa si no presentan pruebas, ni estudios que sustenten lo que dicen, ni datos avalados por instituciones respetadas. Tampoco si su única fuente son ellos mismos. Lo esencial es el toque emocional para conseguir respaldos en base a afinidades ideológicas.

Por ejemplo, es absurdo decir que en el Occidente de Nicaragua se vierten anualmente cantidades abundantes de pesticidas contaminantes en las plantaciones de caña de azúcar, ya que en el Ingenio San Antonio se utiliza el control biológico y mecánico de plagas, lo que le ha permitido eliminar casi en su totalidad el uso de pesticidas. Los agroquímicos que se utilizan en el Ingenio para la producción de caña son los aprobados para su uso a nivel mundial, no causan contaminación, tienen los avales de las instituciones gubernamentales competentes de Nicaragua y a su vez están registrados en la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA).

Tampoco hay bases para señalar que las fuentes de aguas de Chichigalpa están totalmente infectadas por el uso indiscriminado de pesticidas por parte del Ingenio San Antonio, cuando no sólo no existe ningún estudio que sustente esta afirmación si no que, por el contrario, todos los análisis que se vienen realizando desde hace varios años con empresas especializadas nacionales e internacionales, han coincidido en que las aguas analizadas en esa zona son aptas para el consumo humano de conformidad con los estándares establecidos por la Organización Mundial de la Salud.

ANAIRC afirma que del 2002 a la fecha más de 3 mil personas han fallecido a causa de la enfermedad y 8 mil han sido declaradas enfermas.

Realmente causa perplejidad que los voceros de ANAIRC divulguen en el exterior semejante cantidad de personas afectadas y fallecidas en abierta contradicción con los registros que se manejan en Nicaragua.

ANAIRC no basa sus datos en estudios o informaciones oficiales  y sus cifras nunca han sido corroboradas por ninguna institución pública o privada de nuestro país.

En declaraciones recientes, el Secretario General del Ministerio de Salud del gobierno nicaragüense, Enrique Beteta, señaló que en Nicaragua fallecen al mes hasta tres personas por causa de insuficiencia renal crónica (http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2010/04/17/nacionales/22024). Este dato es tanto más relevante si se tiene en cuenta que esta enfermedad es de naturaleza multicausal y constituye un desmentís adicional a las afirmaciones que con el propósito de crear un impacto de opinión favorable, divulga ANAIRC fuera de Nicaragua.

El presidente del Grupo Pellas respondió positivamente a la solicitud de apoyo que para diferentes proyectos de desarrollo de Chichigalpa, le presentara una delegación del gobierno municipal encabezada por el alcalde Víctor Sevilla.

En la reunión celebrada esta semana, Don Carlos les ofreció un monto de un millón de córdobas para el adoquinado de la calle de la antigua estación ferroviaria, área que será convertida en destino turístico para los visitantes de la ciudad.

Otro aspecto importante de la ayuda ofrecida lo constituye la donación de un lote de manzana y media de extensión para la edificación de un hospital para cuya construcción se gestionarán Recursos Externos con la Comunidad Internacional. Asimismo don Carlos les informó del compromiso de Nicaragua Sugar y Compañía Licorera de continuar contribuyendo al mantenimiento de los diferentes caminos rurales del municipio.

Por otra parte, el Presidente del Grupo Pellas manifestó su interés en promover el deporte en la juventud de Chichigalpa, a fin de darle mayor utilidad al parque que donaron APROQUEN y el Ingenio San Antonio, a la vez que se comprometió a dar un aporte económico para las festividades patrias del mes de septiembre así como para  la celebración del 116 aniversario de haber sido elevada Chichigalpa a la categoría de ciudad.

A stone in the shoe

By Jacob Parker

In a recent article, the most conspicuous organizer of ANAIRC´s disinformation campaign against Nicaragua Sugar and the Pellas Group (Grupo Pellas) and the boycott against Flor de Caña finally decided to make an incursion into a new territory, without completely abandoning his repetitive disparaging epithets, in an attempt to give a new appearance to ANAIRC’s claims and make them seem serious.

Let’s carefully examine what this is all about.

The author persists in his old affirmation that the massive use of agro-toxic chemicals by Nicaragua Sugar contaminated the water in the zone and directly affected workers and their families, except that he says for the first time “that it occurred in the past”. Beware of misleading messages!

This could mean that we are witnessing a change of sign in the campaign because the promoters are probably overwhelmed by evidence showing that the San Antonio Sugar Mill, owned by Nicaragua Sugar Estates, does not use pesticides, but biological and mechanical pest control, which, among other things, has made it an international benchmark in the sugar industry. 

There are no grounds for sustaining this reckless affirmation that the San Antonio sugar mill (ISA) has massively applied polluting agro-toxic chemicals in the past. It is a known fact that agrochemicals used by this sugar mill in cane production are approved for use around the world, have not caused pollution, and any interested party can consult this list with the company.

As we continue to read the article, we are surprised that the author states that most of the affected persons “lived in a shantytown… withstanding everything, until they were evicted in 1998 in an effort to hide the alarming increase in CRI mortality rates…”

Is this true?

Keeping in mind the wellbeing of the workers, Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) determined that it was necessary to rebuild the management approach that until then had governed the population that lived in the sugar mill facilities. In that sense, it was deemed that this population needed to be relocated for the following reasons:

To provide heads of household with their own house given that they lived in a house owned by the sugar mill. Their relocation to the Candelaria neighborhood allowed them to become homeowners.

• •    To comply with industrial security standards.
  •    To expand the facilities as required by the factory´s growth.

The relocation site is still very close to ISA’s facilities, which has allowed the relocated population to keep providing services to the Company.

NSEL offered different options to these people, which were agreed with each family. It is well-known that the San Antonio sugar mill has continued to support residents in Candelaria by repairing streets, supporting immunization campaigns of the Ministry of Health, donating land for a children’s playground, transporting personnel, cleaning septic tanks, supplying trucks with potable water as needed, etc.

But let´s continue with the text. The writer talks about “working conditions, lack of hydration… were other elements that contributed to a direct link between CRI and the sugar industry”. 

Let’s see the working conditions of cane cutters.

Adequate practices of hydration and food consumption by ISA workers have been established as a policy by Nicaragua Sugar, which has adjusted its annual operating plans to promote healthy lifestyles.

Each team of field workers is made up of approximately 150 to 300 workers, who arrive in buses to the different plantations in groups of 60 to 70 people. Each worker brings a 4-6 liter container from his home. Each bus carries a 55-gallon plastic barrel filled with water.

On the other hand, the company provides the following benefits to the cane cutters: lunch in the field (contracted with a company and based on a balanced nutritional diet), hydrating fluids and nutritious cookies each day, medical care for each cane cutter and his family, and food supplies. A group of social and health workers supervise that cane cutters receive these benefits.

As we continue to read, we find that the panegyrist affirms that “the manual irrigation of agro-toxic chemicals was another element that contributed to a direct link between CRI and the sugar industry”.

Does this match reality?

The San Antonio sugar mill has mandatory personal protection equipment and safety measures that are strictly enforced in the application and use of agrochemicals. This equipment consists of a work uniform, long sleeve shirt, cap, mask with filters, rubber gloves, boots and raincoat.

Nicaragua Sugar periodically examines agro-chemical applicators to discard any sign of intoxication.

NSEL also provides training in diverse topics, such as use and handling of agrochemicals, biological pollution, environmental management, integral solid waste management and recycling, among others.

Nicaragua Sugar provides adequate facilities so that workers may bathe and change clothes. It has 15 showers that are used by agrochemical applicators before and after each workday. Showers and eye-washers are also available in the factory, laboratories and co-generation areas.

In the next section, the designer of the ANAIRC campaign addresses one of his favorite topics, which is to attack pseudo or white unions in the San Antonio sugar mill and rum distillery, stressing as follows: “… unfortunately one of them is affiliated to a Sandinista union (CST), which in turn is affiliated to international union organizations…”.

But what really exists?

NSEL currently has five unions that are duly certified and registered at the Directorate of Union Associations of the Ministry of Labor. These unions are: Ronald Altamirano Union with 500 members, Union of Democratic Workers with 825 members, Faustino Martínez Union with 1,500 members, Teachers’ Union with 33 members and Employees’ Union with 80 members.

The aforesaid unions represent the most varied political and ideological tendencies and the members of the Sandinista leftist union “Ronald Altamirano” would fall head over heels if they read that the pen-pusher of ANAIRC ranks them as a pseudo or white union.

Ever since NSEL began to operate in 1890, it has never interfered with the right of the workers to form unions, as proven by the fact that unions have existed in the company from the 1960s to date. However, according to the columnist, if the unions do not think like him, they are white, if the workers’ leaders denounce ANAIRC’s absurd campaign, they are in favor of the employer, if the workers demonstrate to defend their jobs and benefits in the San Antonio sugar mill, they are forced to demonstrate, and if the unions are leftist, then he doesn’t know what saint to pray to.

If we keep on reading, we will see that the writer abandons the unions and bursts into the academic world, more specifically the University of Leon, to present a study by Dr. Cecilia Torres that allows him to discourse on “the factors that cause CRI”, saying that “among the major risk factors are environmental nephrotoxins, such as heavy metals, arsenic, cadmium and lead, and agrochemicals like Aldrin, Chlorotalonil, Maneb, copper sulphate, Endrin and even DBCP (Nemagon)”.

It’s okay. However, one wonders what all this has to do with Nicaragua Sugar and the San Antonio sugar mill. None of these products have been used or are being used by the company.

But it doesn’t end there. If we scrutinize a little further, we see that the journalist, not satisfied with his unfortunate encounter with toxicology, goes back to his old ways, always under the protective shield of Dr. Torres, and refers to the “disastrous” working conditions of cane cutters in Nicaragua’s sugar industry.

What a disappointment it must be to find out that the San Antonio sugar mill has established a progressive working system so that workers adapt to environmental conditions and avoid heat stroke during the freshest hours of the day until they are able to work full days. Most workers arrive at the plantation at 6:00 a.m., start working at 7:00 a.m., and stop working between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon when food is delivered at the work sites.

On the other hand, as of 2005 the company set a maximum of seven tons from an average of nine tons cut by each worker, and eliminated the higher pay incentive after the sixth ton. This incentive is now distributed among the first seven tons so as to reduce work effort without affecting the income of workers.

Going back to the article, we discovered a really sad situation in which the author manipulates some statements by Dr. Mario Jiménez, an epidemiologist at the Center for Research on Aquatic Resources (CIRA) of the Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua).

With the clear intention of depicting the sugar industry, in particular the San Antonio sugar mill, as the contaminators that caused CRI, the writer tries to illustrate this with an excerpt from Dr. Jimenez’s statements: “the studies we conducted in the country’s western zone revealed the presence of organochlorinated compounds like lindane, toxaphene, DDT and DDE in the well water for human consumption…”.

To what is Dr. Jimenez referring?

To the study titled “PRESENCE AND CONCENTRATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES AND BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER WELLS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN THE LOCATIONS OF THE FORMER BANANA PLANTATIONS IN THE WEST OF NICARAGUA”, which he carried out in Nicaragua’s western region, together with Dr. Salvador Montenegro Guillén, both members of Nicaragua’s Center for Research on Aquatic Resources (CIRA) at the NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF NICARAGUA (UNAN-Managua).  

The objectives of this study were 1) to identify the presence of pesticide residues and biological contaminants in the water wells for human consumption in the former banana plantations in Nicaragua’s western region and 2) to establish the potential relation between the presence of pesticide residues in the water wells and the effects on the health of the population that lives in those locations.

The manipulation is more than evident because the CIRA report has nothing to do with sugarcane. It is related to findings linked to mass banana production in the zone.

Chinandega was an agricultural emporium for several decades where tons of chemicals were applied to control banana and cotton pests. Years after the boom of these crops ended, many former agricultural workers began reporting serious diseases.

But there’s still more.

In his eagerness to find a scientific endorsement that legitimizes his statement about the alleged causality link between CRI and sugar production, the representative of ANAIRC goes back to interview Dr. Jiménez and attempts to obtain the endorsement that he yearns so much. Nevertheless, the most he could obtain as an answer was: “although CRI is clearly a multifactor disease, we cannot exclude that it is related to work in the sugar mills”. 

As lawyers say, the confession of the parties shifts the burden of proof. Does this have any relationship with the ANAIRC campaign where it is categorically and emphatically stated that it has already been proven so no study is needed, that CRI is unquestionably caused by sugarcane agricultural practices, particularly those of the San Antonio sugar mill, and thus the money demanded by the organization should be granted?

Now then, the man does not give up and persists in going back to the research by Dr. Torres, providing some statistics contained in this study. To quote him: “the results were not homogenous at the community level and revealed a greater incidence of CRI in the mining sector with 37%, as well as agriculture and coffee with 32% and 14%, respectively…”.

On the other hand, CRI has been detected in different occupational groups: cane cutters, miners, banana workers, stevedores and even preschool children. In other words, it does not affect just one specific labor group.

He talks here about miners, coffee growers and agriculture in general. What does this have to do with ANAIRC´s campaign that CRI is caused by the sugarcane of the San Antonio sugar mill?

Let’s look carefully.

As concerns the San Antonio sugar mill, former workers affected by CRI were temporary workers who also performed other types of agricultural activities. Many of them only worked during the harvest season and stopped working for the Company many years ago.

On the other hand, the statement contained in the article that Nicaragua Sugar never mentions the study of Dr. Torres, is not true either.  The physicians who work for this company have mentioned it and have indicated that it is one of the research studies that must be known about this health issue.

These statistics appear in the Dr. Torres’s research associated to this other: “However, the community of Isla in Chichigalpa, where the main work activity is sugarcane, the prevalence of CRI is the highest, reaching 41%…” Bingo! The intrepid publicist finally got what he wanted. Although the first statistics are irrelevant for his purpose, the second statistic is the one “that counts” because it serves him as a screen for what he needed. 

What the busy reporter does not say is that CRI is present in several zones of the country, including territories where sugar production does not exist and, in the west of the country, the disease rate is higher in Leon than in Chinandega. Even though Leon is not a sugar-producing department, the largest number of patients is reported in the municipality of Larreynaga, where cane cultivation does not exist.

Going back to the tireless narrator, we find him leaving the academia in the following paragraph and entering the detective field like Sherlock Holmes. Let´s find out what he tells us:

 “According to a document in the possession of ANAIRC, signed by Marino Castrillo, Director of Human Resources at the San Antonio sugar mill, exhaustive water analyses were made in the San Antonio sugar mill, which showed that the water is heavily contaminated with agro-toxic chemicals and relating this presence to the CRI disease…”

He omits to mention that the referenced document was an outright falsification, for which reason Dr. Castrillo filed a criminal complaint in the Sole Local Court of Chichigalpa in 2008. It is a powerful attention grabber that ANAIRC uses this falsification object of a criminal proceeding in its campaign against Nicaragua Sugar.

But where will this modern version of Caupolican take us now? Surprise! In his obsessive thinking about the Pellas Group and NSEL, he introduces Mrs. Yanirée Alvarez, indicating that she was a member at a given time of the social movement of Leon, and quotes her as saying that Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited tried to purchase 1,500 additional hectares of land to expand cane production “without taking into account that cane cultivation requires the extraction of large amounts of water… which is already seriously affecting water reserves of the population in the rural zones…”

The purchase of land by any company engaged in agricultural production is a normal activity that nobody in his right mind can question. In the case of Nicaragua Sugar, these purchases have been made pursuant to the laws, paying market prices based on supply and demand.

Insofar as that cane production would be detrimental for water availability in the zone,  it is necessary to point out that the San Antonio sugar mill has abundant water sources and manages them in a sustainable manner. Water is obtained from 116 wells, 57 river and channel intakes, and 16 diversion dams along the different rivers that cross the sugar mill. Nicaragua Sugar has the necessary permits for the drilling of wells and intakes from rivers, channels and dams issued by the relevant authorities.

It has been estimated that available volume in the hydrologic water basin that supplies ISA and its surroundings is 309 million cubic meters. According to the irrigation use of this watershed, total annual consumption is estimated at 100 million cubic meters, of which 25% percolates through the soil and eventually returns to the aquifer as recharge and the remaining 75% is easily covered by annual precipitations in the zone between the months of May and November, averaging 70 inches per year.

We have an indicator for this in the standards for well measurements performed for over 40 years at ISA, which indicators, such as static level and dynamic level, remain without great variations.

In 1998[1] and 2000[2], hydrological and hydro-geological studies on water availability, extraction and safe yields were carried out in the area of the sugar mill and Chinandega-Leon-Nagarote watershed. The results of both studies show that the San Antonio sugar mill makes adequate use of water resources.

Since the article seeks to be exhaustive, the audacious conjurer later refers to renewable energy and again quotes Mrs. Alvarez, saying that cane cultivation would affect the environment to benefit “only a privileged group of businessmen”, as opposed to the potentials of geothermal, wind and solar energy.

How far-fetched!

In the San Antonio sugar mill, sugarcane bagasse is used to generate electricity, instead of being discarded. Co-generation capacity is 60 MW per hour, which allows for eliminating the use of bunker and providing 7% of Nicaragua’s power consumption during the harvest. It is a clean and cheap energy source. Since bunker is not consumed, it is estimated that over 95 thousand tons of greenhouse gases are reduced per year.

After the harvest, in the months of May through July, 17 MW of electricity are produced per hour, of which 12 MW are sold to the national interconnection system. This clean energy is generated with eucalyptus chips originating from the nursery of the San Antonio sugar mill, where 800 thousand plants are produced each year and renovated in 7,650 acres. To date, more than 6 million trees have been planted.

In his relentless effort to find faults attributable to Nicaragua Sugar, the columnist in question passes to talk with a painstaking air about deforestation caused by cane production.

Let’s analyze this also.

Nicaragua Sugar promotes the planting of native species each year as a way of contributing to the recovery and protection of water sources, the preservation of biological wildlife corridors, forest fire protection and natural regeneration. This reforestation is carried out along the banks of different rivers in the municipalities of Chichigalpa, Quezalguaque, Posoltega, Leon and Chinandega. Some reforestation activities are carried out with students, municipal governments, civil society and government institutions, with the objective of involving all the population in the protection of the environment.

The nursery at the San Antonio sugar mill produces 50,000 native tree species each year, such as kapok, strawberry tree, cedar, mahogany, guanacaste and oak, which are used for reforestation. In 2006 and 2007, for example, 53,500 different species were planted to reforest more than 356 acres of river banks. In 2008, 45,000 new trees were planted in 365 acres along the banks of diverse rivers in Leon and Chinandega.

But there´s still more. The officious spokesman of ANAIRC goes back to the trite theme of Law 456 that recognizes CRI as a professional disease in Nicaragua.

Any person with some knowledge about Nicaraguan legislation knows that this recognition does not establish a causality link between a specific productive activity and CRI. It is known and has been stated on numerous occasions that a medical assessment committee exists.

If the spokesperson were right, ANAIRC would have solved the problem and would have obtained all the money it has persistently sought for several years.

In relation to the statements of the INSS Director, which are taken out of context, the official position of the Government of Nicaragua is not known. As far as raising the percentage that farmers pay to the INSS on account of occupational risks from 1 to 5%, the idea is so preposterous that it never prospered. 

Unfortunately never satisfied, ANAIRC´s skilled swordsman meddles with ASOCHIVIDA, Nicaragua´s most representative organization of kidney patients, with which NSEL has maintained for more than one year a very positive dialogue on the CRI problem that affects the members of this association.

ASOCHIVIDA is not at all like ANAIRC. While the first tries to find a solution to the problem, the latter, entrenched in its unjustified money demands, has self-excluded itself from being part of the solution. For that reason and that reason only, it is so isolated in Nicaragua. 

ASOCHIVIDA and NSEL agreed that an international, impartial and prestigious organization would conduct a study to determine the causes of CRI in the west of Nicaragua.

After an exhaustive process that involved 9 public agencies, 22 U.S. and European universities and 5 private consulting firms, Boston University was chosen to conduct the study.

The final results of the study will provide important knowledge on the causes of this disease in the west of Nicaragua, define potential liabilities, if any, and articulate prevention and response strategies.

Nicaragua Sugar, faithful to its social responsibility tradition and as an expression of support to the community, has offered its solidarity to the people in the nearby communities who suffer chronic renal insufficiency.

Between 2000 and 2004 it delivered humanitarian and economic aid in the amount of approximately two million dollars to over 1,400 people affected by CRI and currently provides nutritional support to 1,800 families that are members of ASOCHIVIDA and medical assistance to the patients consisting of medicines, equipment and inputs for the Chichigalpa Health Center.

In the limits of disinformation and ready for action, the distinguished essayist moves to the financial terrain and says that Nicaragua Sugar “requested a $25 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to purchase 1,500 hectares of land to expand cane cultivation…”  And he then adds that “to accede to a loan from IDB, no judicial causes of action can be pending. Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited has administrative and judicial causes of action pending…”

It is really sad that he makes no effort to investigate his information. For that reason, among other things, the sponsors of ANAIRC lack credibility.

Even though it is not a crime to apply for a loan, Nicaragua Sugar has never applied or plans to apply for a loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). If ANAIRC´s apologist has doubts, he can easily confirm this information with IDB.

As concerns the judicial causes of action, some persons did file complaints in this regard, but all of them were dismissed by the courts of justice in separate judgments.

Finally, our illustrious character and the brain behind ANAIRC´s campaign, affirms that ISA has 144 thousand manzanas of land, when any minimally informed person knows that the San Antonio sugar mill owns approximately 19,000 manzanas of land. If the detractor of Nicaragua Sugar wants to verify this through independent sources, the only thing he has to do, which is not very complicated, is to visit the respective offices of the State of Nicaragua where this information can be confirmed.

According to Goebbels, the famous Nazi Minister of Propaganda, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Maybe this is the source of inspiration of those developing this campaign.

[2] Hydrologic and hydro-geologic study in the Pacific region of Nicaragua, Chinandega – Leon – Nagarote region, Phase I. INETER, 2000.

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Por tercer año consecutivo, Casa Pellas dona un carro último modelo a la Asociación Los Pipitos, en el Teletón 2010.