History of gangs in Managua

Gustavo was just telling me a little bit about how gangs really became a problem in Managua. He said it started when Doña Violetta Chamorro took power in 1992, when Daniel Ortega and the revolutionary government were voted out. At this time, many of those who fled Nicaragua during the revolutionary government returned home, bringing the youth culture of the US with them... clothes, music, etc. They also introduced new drugs to youth in Nicaragua, including cocaine and crack. Chamorro changed many things. She reduced the military, putting many people out of work, people with experience with firearms and violence. They sold much of the equipment of the military as well, although the money wasn't kept track of and none of it went to good use. Also, apparently, a tribunal ruled against the US and CIA for their involvement in the war, and the US was to pay millions of dollars to the Nicaraguan government. However, Chamorro refused the money to maintain good foreign relations with their neighbor. In addition, the school system changed. While previously you didn't have to pay, Chamorro decreased the budget for schools, forcing them to charge families monthly for each student enrolled. Many youth stopped going to school for this reason. There was inflation as well. Although many new goods flooded the markets from the United States, people couldn't afford them, as the value of their money decreased more and more every day. Unemployment also grew. So youth, with few prospects for employment and education turned to using and selling drugs, robbery, and other illegal ways to survive. Since then gangs have grown, particularly in many of the poor neighborhoods.

Pictures... One from New Year's Eve in front of Doña Esmeralda's house with a bunch of the grandkids, Ana and Sonia, and the other is from the wedding of Tere's daughter Jania, with her husband Holmer (lots of dancing, good food, and excitement... I helped cook and serve the food all day...)