More than a thousand people protested against the project in Managua.
A massive demonstration rocked Nicaragua’s capital of Managua as protestors opposed to the construction of a US$50 billion Nicaragua Canal took to the streets on Wednesday. Some protesters held banners reading “Chinese get out!” and “No canal.” The project, which is to begin construction on Dec. 22 and scheduled to be completed in 2019, will dwarf the neighboring Panama Canal. It will be 278 kilometers in length and pass through Central America’s largest lake.
One protester said he does not want to see the lake being cut in half and the fact that a foreign company will operate the canal for a century means that not even his children will see benefits from the project.
The Hong Kong company’s ability to carry out the project was questioned since its founder, Chinese businessman Wang Jing, has no experience in developing or financing infrastructure projects. The company was only established in August of 2012.