Latin America Collection

Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America, but don't
forget to pack your common sense and street smarts before
moving here.
The same rule goes for dealing with other people, be it
Nicaraguans or foreigners. Nicaraguans are, generally, friendly
and helpful people. But don't let the sunshine go to your head.
Chances are, if you were walking down the street in New York or
any other major city in the world and an unknown person
approached you and tried to strike up a conversation, you would
be suspicious of them. And maybe rightly so. The same goes for
Nicaragua. Although people are generally chattier here than they
are in say New York or Boston, don't be gullibly trustful of
strangers. Be careful of people's motives and always be aware of
your surroundings. And don't wander around unknown cities at
night before first learning where it's safe to go, and where it's
not. You wouldn't do it at home. Don't do it here. Violent-crime


level in Nicaragua is lowest among Central American countries,
and lower than most major countries. The problem of youth
gangs in Nicaragua is almost negligible compared to other
Central American countries. In fact, police statistics show that
only .53% of all violent crimes in Nicaragua correspond to youth
gangs, compared to 50-60% in other Central American
countries.
But that doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. It does, and it's
growing, even in statistically safe cities like Granada.
In 2004, Nationwide, 977 Nicaraguans lost their lives to violent
crime, and another 25,000 were injured ­ up .3% from the year
before.
You are smart to not walk around any city with a flashy camera
or jewelry, which can easily get yanked by people passing by on
bikes or on foot. Be leery of pacts of teenagers traveling together
on foot or on bicycles. Don't make yourself an easy target.
If you are a light-skinned foreigner of European decent, you will
already stick out among other Nicaraguans, who will refer to you
as Chele, or "whitey." You are well advised to not behave in a way
that makes you stick out even more. No one likes a loud or drunk
American. Not even other Americans.
Figure out the exchange rate and how much things cost so you
can budget accordingly before heading out of your house or
hotel. Don't bring all the money you own with you, and don't
pull out a thick wad of cash to pay for a taxi or a newspaper on
the street.
Leave what you don't need at home, or in a hotel safety box. This
includes your passport, wallet, credit cards, ID, or any other
documents/ possessions you don't want to loose. They are safer


Granada to Improve Police
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff
GRANADA ­ One of the safest tourist cities in Central America is
enlisting two new police forces to further improve citizen security and
drive its street-crime rate even closer to zero.
Granada, home to 153,000 people, averages fewer than two robberies and
four violent crimes ­ mostly instances of domestic abuse ­ per day. And
that's for the whole department, which includes the municipalities of
Granada, Diriomo, Diriá and Nandaime.
In Granada proper, the crime rate is even lower, with transgressions against
foreigners barely registering on the charts.
DURING the first four months of this year, only 14 of the 1,041 reported
crimes in Granada were committed against tourists, according to police
statistics.
While the numbers aren't exact, they paint an accurate picture of tourist
security here, says Commissioner Glenda Zavala, Granada's Chief of
Police.
"Some tourists don't report crimes, but even if the number of victims is
double what was reported, it's still less than 30 crimes committed against
the (tens of thousands) of tourists who have come to Granada this year,"
Commissioner Zavala said.
THE city's safety is about to improve still, with the soon-to-be inaugurated
municipal and tourism police forces.
The municipal police, a squad of 25 officers, will be dispatched to patrol
public areas such as parks, markets, and the cemetery, according to
Commissioner Rodolfo Morales, the police's second in command.
The new unit will be the country's first municipal police squad, paid for by
the municipality of Granada. The new officers will be plucked from the 63
security agents who currently guard the mayor's office, trained by the


National Police and given their own municipal uniforms, Morales
explained.
The municipal police force will be inaugurated in the next two months.
GRANADA also hopes to be the first city in Nicaragua to implement a
full-time tourist police unit, which will operate out of a 24-hour police
booth to be built in the Central Park. The plans for the new police booth
have already been approved, and construction is pending the final approval
of its location in the Central Park.
Morales, who recently addressed a group of foreign expats called "Amigos
de la Policia," explained that the 25 future tourist-police officers are
currently studying English to be able to better attend to foreign visitors.
The tourist police will patrol tourism centers throughout the city and be
available at all hours in the park to answer tourist's questions, receive
police reports, and respond to calls for help. Tourist police will also be
present at the large arch ­ modeled after Paris' Arc de Triomphe ­ that the
city plans to build at the entrance to Granada, near the Jockey Club.
AMIGOS de la Policia, a group of 36 expatriates who donate funds and
supplies to the police in Granada, is one of the main driving forces behind
the new tourist police unit.
The group started in 2003 and recently has seen a revival of interest and
membership. Members of Amigos de la Policia pay monthly dues of
__________($), as well as make individual donations of office supplies and
computer equipment.
As a whole, the group is expected to donate anywhere from $3,000 to
$10,000 to the police this year, according to the group's new organizer,
Scott Deitler, the second biggest Red Sox fan in Granada.
In exchange, the new tourist police unit will be ready no later than
September 5, when the National Police celebrates its 26th anniversary, said
Commissioner Zavala.


left back at your hotel than in your pocket on the street,
especially at night. The only time you could potentially be asked
by police for your passport is if you are traveling from one city
or part of the country to another. Rarely, if never, when you are
just walking around the streets of the city or going to a
restaurant.
When traveling to other parts of the country on a bus, it is best
to "buddy up" with a fellow traveler, especially if you are a
women. Have an idea of where you are going before you get
there. Walking around town with an open guidebook map in
front of you is the same as broadcasting to everyone around you
that you don't know where you are and don't know what you're
doing.
When it comes to giving money to people begging on the streets,
it is up to each individual what his or her policy is. For first-time
visitors, foreigners who have lived here for years, or anyone with
a basic human impulse, it is very difficult to witness all the
poverty and desperation around you. But before you start
handing out money to kids on the street, here is some food for
thought: If you start to give out money, you will quickly become
known as the foreigner with deep pockets. Most of the kids you
give money to will remember you the next time they see you,
even if you don't recognize them. If you give money once, they
will expect it the second time. If you give it twice, you have ­
perhaps unknowingly ­ developed a relationship with that kid,
where your role is "the giver." If you break that relationship later
on by not giving to a kid who is expecting you to give, said kid
might react angrily.
There are lots of other ways to help and get involved with
Nicaraguan charities, and groups that are helping street kids. If
you are living in Nicaragua, or planning to, remember that


everything that is not chained down (and some things that are)
can be stolen. This is an extremely poor country, and people are
desperate for things they don't have. Sometimes even garbage
put out for the garbage man will be taken by someone else before
the truck passes.
Bearing that in mind, never leave a bike or anything valuable
sitting in front of a house or in public. When parking your car
somewhere, do it in a well-lit spot where other cars are parked
and a guard or "watchieman" is present. He'll be the guy with a
stick, and will be expected to be tipped $.35-.50 for guarding
your car. Parking lots are always a good bet, when available.
Homes need to be protected like fortresses, with bars on
windows and doors, solid locks, and razor wire or broken glass
on top of fences and walls to prevent cat burglars from climbing
over. It takes some getting used to, but you will soon realize that
the utility of such measures far outweigh the esthetic ugliness of
it.
Find a trusted neighbor or domestic employee who can keep an
eye on your home when you are out of town for an extended
period of time. And don't feel the need to broadcast your travel
plans to other people. Your house is safer if people think you are
in it, rather than if they think it's empty.
Another type of crime to look out for in Nicaragua, and all of
Central America, is real-estate and investment scams, some of
which are only slightly more sophisticated than knife-point
robbery.
As in any promising investment market, Nicaragua has its share
of hucksters. Do your homework before throwing your money at
smooth-talking entrepreneurs. Ask around town. There are
always foreigners who have been living there longer than you


have, and can give you the scoop on what's legit and what's shit.
Also try talking to investment group ProNicaragua or
representatives from the various chambers of commerce to find
out how feasible investment offers are. If it sounds too good to
be true... you know how it goes.