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Rama, Nicaragua

The Border of two Cultures

El Rama is situated in the eastern part of Nicaragua, near the Atlantic coast. The city is important because it lies between the capital Managua and the Atlantic coast. Its small harbor is located at the end of the road to Managua and at three rivers. The rivers are called Síquai, Rama and Escondido. The region has only one major road. It takes more than eight hours to make the 300 kilometer trip. Once in Rama, it is virtually impossible to continue by car. It is possible, however, to continue by boat, horse, or simply walking along one of the many paths.

El Rama is located in an area with a hot and humid climate. During the rain season, floods are often common. This is the reason why many buildings have two floors. The surface of El Rama has about 54.000 inhabitants. Almost a third of the people lives in the city, the rest lives outside the city and grows corn, beans and rice. These cereals are the basis of the Nicaraguan nutrition. Trade and commerce are mostly located in the village.

The Ramas may have been relatively late comers to Nicaragua. Until the eighteenth century the name Rama did not appear in the colonial documents. The Ramas are considered descendants of the Votos, which at the time of the conquest occupied a territory extending from the Rio Escondido north of Bluefields lagoon to the Rio San Juan. Today it forms the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Traditionally the Ramas lived in small isolated settlements, moving about and hiding from intruders in the tropical forest.

El Rama is located on the border of two cultures. In the past, the Atlantic coast has been colonized by the English. The population consists of the Misquitos, the Sumos and the descendants of African slaves. The Pacific coast, which is much more populated, was colonized by the Spanish and the inhabitants of this part of the country have always felt superior to the other, more "primitive" side of the country.

From a socio-economic point of view, the zone of El Rama is less developed when compared to the prosperity of the West coast, where about 80% of the population lives. Infrastructure and services, such as telecommunications, roads, education and healthcare, are less developed in the East. In addition, this part of the country was devastated by the civil war in the eighties. The situation in El Rama is an example for a country on the road to development. 

Few public services are offered to the inhabitants and the local government does not have enough funds to improve the situation. Electricity is available, but not all houses are connected to the grid. From time to time blackouts occur. All houses have a toilet, but many of them only have buckets instead of basins to wash. Most houses are connected to the water system, but it only offers water for about two hours a day. This means that in practice, many people still depend on rainwater, it rains quite often, or a pump for their water supply. In combination with the hot weather, bacteria and infections are a real danger.
 

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