Ortega comeback scares U.S. residents of Nicaragua

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1638762006

GRANADA, Nicaragua (Reuters) - Former Marxist guerrilla Daniel Ortega's attempt to return to power in Nicaragua has sent shivers up the spines of American residents who fear their quiet lives in a tropical paradise is under threat.

The left-wing Sandinista leader is leading opinion polls for Sunday's presidential election, and U.S. realtors selling villas and retirement homes in and around the colonial city of Granada foresee a slump in business if he wins. snip

Some 6,000 Americans live in Nicaragua, many of them wealthy retirees who have settled in recent years, attracted by the climate, lush scenery and cheaper real estate than in other retiree destinations like Costa Rica and Mexico. Many have spent their life savings to buy property in Nicaragua. snip

"Next week, this place could belong to Ortega and I'll have to move to Costa Rica," said Simpkins, a retired Green Beret special forces member.

Many of the Americans in Granada are ex-soldiers who are naturally not well disposed towards Ortega. Some helped train the Contras in army camps in neighbouring Honduras. snip

Most Nicaraguans could not earn enough in a lifetime to buy the $200,000 villas Americans snap up here.

Eight out of 10 Nicaraguans live on $2 a day or less, and many say they want to give Ortega another chance at the socialist dream which was frustrated by the civil war.

And, make me pay the maids $3 a day!

Damn, I've seriously considered retiring to Nicaragua-- I didn't know there was already an ugly American community there. I *like and support* Ortega and the Sandinistas!

Real estate might be reasonable in Nicaragua.