Week of January 31 to February 6, 2015
1/ The union of restaurants in the country argues that tipping does not count as part of their profits and are asking for them to be exempt from the 2% retained on card payments by way of advance payment of income.
2/ The law reform which reduces the deadlines for the State to take possession of the goods necessary for the execution of public works has been published in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
3/ The long, bitter International Court dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is winding down with the presentation Monday of Costa Rica’s side of the dispute
4/ Prices of food and soft drinks reported last month, had the biggest price increase in the last four years.
5/ Some 80% of corporations did not pay the “corporations tax” (Impuesto a Sociedades, in Spanish), resulting in a shortfall of ¢14.9 billion colones for the government.
6/ While RadioShack in the United States is preparing to shut down the almost-century-old retail chain in a bankruptcy, in Costa Rica the franchisee of the brand assures the continuity of operations in the country.
7/ he Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) arrested the mother and stepfather of a toddler, who died in Los Chiles, Alajuela, apparently from being beaten.
8/ The new US$34 million dollar “granelero” (bulk) dock at the Caldera port, in Puntarenas (Pacific coast) was ready in November, and was to have been operational by mid december, but due to red tape the dock sits idle.
9/ The president of the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) – Central Bank, Olivier Castro announced the elimination of “bandas cambiarias” – exchange rate band system – and the move to a managed float system.
10/ Very few expats living in Costa Rica have ever heard of or ventured into La Carpio, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Costa Rica. There is a good reason why.
11/ The Legislative Assembly this week approved in first debate a bill that renames the canton (county) of Aguirre to Quepos.
12/ Karina Timmel and Josh Antenucci’s relationship is all about making the most out of life. It’s no surprise, then, that they headed back to Costa Rica, where “pura vida” and living life to the fullest are national mottos, to get hitched
13/ From the lighter side of Costa Rica we give you The Borgias and “Melvin”
