Despite a law putting a permanent closed season on sea turtle eggs, several National Assembly deputies were caught late last year in León enjoying platters stacked high with the round leathery-skinned delicacies. A photo of some of them digging into a pile of parboiled eggs made the front page of local newspapers. Once again, lawmakers were caught breaking laws they expect others to obey.
In response to swift criticism, some deputies quickly apologized. Three FSLN Assembly representatives went on a photo op to the La Flor Wildlife Refuge on the Pacific with Environment Ministry officials to witness the spectacle of these reptiles depositing their eggs in the sands of the beach there. Evertz Cárcamo, an aspirant for the FSLN candidacy for the Mayor of Managua in the upcoming elections, said there, “We don’t suck eggs anymore; we must set the example.”
They must also pay a fine reportedly equivalent to paying for 10 signs carrying a message that would raise awareness among the population. He and another deputy on the FSLN side of the Assembly, Agustín Jarquín, acknowledged their guilt and came through with the fine. The other deputies caught with egg on their face are probably waiting for the proposed amnesty bill to be passed.