In Costa Rica, where tourism and technology increasingly shape daily life, the issue of loose cables often slips under the radar. But ignoring these seemingly minor hazards can lead to serious consequences, from safety risks to costly repairs and service interruptions.
Whether tangled wires in busy urban centers or neglected cables in remote areas, overlooking this problem not only threatens infrastructure but also impacts public welfare and economic stability.
Understanding the true cost of neglecting loose cables reveals why attention and action are overdue in this vibrant country.
Neglected infrastructure doesn’t just mar the look of our towns and neighborhoods; it also poses real risks to both animals and people.
As demand for TV and internet services keeps climbing, our poles have become overloaded with a mess of cables. This tangle isn’t just an eyesore—it’s a hazard waiting to happen.
Trucks, strong winds, and other everyday events can damage these crowded lines, leaving broken or hanging cables behind. These abandoned wires aren’t just annoying; they often dangle dangerously close to the ground, putting pedestrians at risk. On a single pole, you’ll find everything from low-voltage cables to those carrying thousands of volts.
Loose cables might look harmless, but they can be deadly traps.
Most cables, even fiber optics, have metal wires inside so they can be strung up on poles. If these metal parts touch live electrical lines, anyone—or any animal—who comes into contact could be seriously hurt. On top of that, the clutter of wires has led to accidents involving wildlife, harming creatures like monkeys and sloths in rural areas and squirrels and birds in the city.
We’re already taking steps near natural parks to reduce these dangers, but it’s just as urgent to do the same in urban neighborhoods.
Fixing this won’t be cheap or easy, but it’s necessary. Clearing out unused cables, pushing forward with underground wiring projects despite their cost, and adding protective covers to keep animals off poles are all important moves.
It’ll take teamwork between utility companies and local governments to make sure our electrical system grows without putting people and wildlife in harm’s way.
Q COSTARICA — From Casa Presidencial, President Rodrigo Chaves has taken charge of the Central Bank’s policy on the dollar exchange rate, according to Claudio Alpízar, the presidential candidate for the Esperanza Nacional Party (National Hope).
Alpízar claims the president’s main goal has been to reduce the state’s debt payments on loans, no matter the fallout.
“The Central Bank has been very hesitant to step in and manage the dollar’s decline, even though this has hurt key parts of the economy like tourism,” Alpízar said.
He argues that this political pressure has caused the colon to be artificially strong, despite the economy not showing growth to back it up.
“The large volume of dollars in the country comes from Costa Rica’s loans, Eurobonds, and even money from organized crime flowing through the local market,” he added.
Alpízar was clear that if elected, he would ensure the Central Bank’s full independence and push for stricter control over the exchange rate in the Monex market, so that policies help the whole economy—not just a few sectors.
He also announced he wouldn’t keep the current Central Bank president, accusing them of “disinterested participation” as the dollar’s value dropped.
This week, it was reported that the Central Bank holds the highest level of international (US dollar) reserves ever. As of August 28, 2025, reserves stood at US$15.03 billion, up US$424.7 million from the previous month.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica has been a key drug transit point for over 30 years because of its location, so it’s no surprise that the U.S. government included the country on its list of nations facing this issue, said Mario Zamora, the Minister of Security.
Zamora responded to reactions following the release of the official White House list, signed by President Donald Trump, which names 20 countries identified as major transit routes or significant producers of illegal drugs for fiscal year 2026.
He clarified, “It’s misleading to say Costa Rica was newly added to the list of drug transit countries for the U.S. The entire Central American region has held this status for more than three decades. That’s the cost of being stuck between drug-producing and drug-consuming nations.”
The minister pointed out Central America’s strategic location makes it an unavoidable corridor for illegal shipments moving from South America toward North America.
“Drugs aren’t typically routed through Europe or Asia; they move through the Central American isthmus by air, sea, and land. This geographic reality drives the flow of drugs through the region,” he explained.
Zamora emphasized that this listing isn’t a new development but rather a confirmation of a long-standing issue that affects the whole region.
The list also includes Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The report highlights the need for better border security, stronger international cooperation, and improved information sharing to fight drug trafficking together.
Q COSTARICA — In July 2025, the United States passed the “Keep Call Centers in America Act.”
The law is designed to curb the offshoring of call center jobs and boost consumer protections. It requires companies to notify customers in advance if they outsource, reveal where their call center agents are located, and disclose any use of AI in customer interactions.
Additionally, businesses that move these jobs overseas won’t qualify for federal grants or loans.
This applies to companies with 50 or more call center workers.
So, what impact will this have on Costa Rica? And what challenges might workers there face?
If this passes, the companies with the tightest budgets or smallest profits might be the first to pull out of Costa Rica. Meanwhile, many firms will likely run cost-benefit analyses to decide if they should stay, which could boost remote work and coworking setups worldwide.
The law is still being reviewed in the Senate—it still has to be voted on and signed—so there’s no immediate threat. But it’s smart to start looking at options for investing or partnering with countries like France or Switzerland to be ready if things change.
Why does the U.S. need the Keep Call Centers in America Act?
The Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 is being proposed by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Senator Jim Justice (R-WV).
Senator Gallego highlights on his webpage that call centers are a significant part of the American economy, employing about 3 million customer service representatives nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Lately, many call centers have moved their operations overseas or shrunk their presence in the U.S. The BLS predicts this trend could lead to the loss of 150,000 call center jobs in America by 2033.
At the same time, companies are cutting costs by replacing human workers with automated phone systems and chatbots, which often means customers get lower-quality service. A survey from Data for Progress found that 70% of Americans get frustrated when they have to deal with automated systems instead of live agents.
Q COSTARICA — Every time you tap your phone, start up an electric car, or get online, you’re relying on something tiny: a semiconductor, smaller than your fingernail.
Costa Rica was all set to join the booming semiconductor industry. It looked promising when the Biden administration named Costa Rica a strategic partner and promised funding to help build out the country’s role in the global chip supply chain.
The plan—at least under Biden—was all about nearshoring and friendshoring, moving production closer to the U.S. and away from heavy dependence on places like China. Chips aren’t just another product; they’re a big deal for global power.
Everything changed when Donald Trump took office. His “America First” approach, new tariffs, and focus on bringing investment directly to the U.S. hit pause on Costa Rica’s semiconductor dreams. That’s the consensus from experts, professors, and former trade ministers.
It’s not that the U.S. wants out of the chip race. It’s just that Trump wants the whole industry anchored on American soil.
“Rather than saying the opportunities have vanished, it’s more accurate to say they’re on hold. There’s an immediate effect—any big shock like this makes investors take a breath and wait. That’s where we are now,” said Marco Vinicio Ruiz, a former foreign trade minister.
No one really knows how long this uncertainty will last. It might be a year, or it could stretch all the way through Trump’s term until 2029.
“Lots of companies are feeling squeezed right now,” Ruiz added. “They’ll push lawmakers to find some middle ground and clear things up. That’s in everyone’s best interest. I’d guess we’re looking at about 12 months.”
Demand for microchips isn’t slowing down. Cars, medical devices, manufacturing, IT—almost every major industry needs them. That means the semiconductor field offers great job prospects and good pay, everywhere.
It’s a field hungry for skilled people: electricians, electronics experts, electromechanics, mechatronics specialists, industrial engineers, IT workers, and computer scientists. If Costa Rica wants in, it needs to build a workforce ready for the challenge.
Costa Rica is not competing in the fabrication of chips, but rather in the assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) of semiconductors, which is a critical phase in the global supply chain.
Costa Rica has a strong track record and boasts a highly educated workforce with expertise in STEM fields, which is crucial for the complex processes involved in semiconductor assembly and testing.
Costa Rica also has a strong record of hosting multinational companies like Intel, Qorvo, Teradyne, and National Instruments in its semiconductor sector, which has been growing since the 1990s
Don’t Count Costa Rica Out
The current picture isn’t great, but experts quoted by La República say Costa Rica shouldn’t give up.
“The semiconductor sector is part of the broader, modern manufacturing world—it’s closely related to medical devices, which are still strong here,” said Eduardo Escalante, director of the Electrical Engineering Cluster at Fidélitas University. “We need to keep building up a skilled workforce for these industries.”
Economic analyst Daniel Suchar stressed that Costa Rica has to keep improving its business climate, both to protect the investment already here and attract more in the future.
“Costa Rica needs to keep making itself more competitive globally. That means approving flexible work schedules, lowering electricity costs, streamlining social security contributions, cutting out non-tariff barriers on raw materials, and making low-cost financing easier to get. The exchange rate and interest rates are key here,” Suchar explained.
Former minister Ruiz, for his part, is hopeful that international pressure on tariffs and moves by other world powers will eventually help change the situation.
RICO’S Q — In a message for Nicaragua’s Independence Day (September 15), United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that the U.S. will continue to support the Nicaraguan people’s struggle to end repression and restore democracy.
Rubio stated that both those who remain in Nicaragua and those forced into exile “deserve to live without fear of persecution or reprisals,” and that Washington will continue to support the demands for a free, just, and democratic Nicaragua.
This statement comes amid strong international criticism of the Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo regime, accused of repressing opponents, religious leaders, civil organizations, and the media.
Since the 2018 protests, more than 300 people have died, and arbitrary arrests, exiles, and the closure of hundreds of NGOs and universities have been reported.
On this national anniversary, the international community once again emphasizes that freedom and democracy in Nicaragua are a right, not a privilege.
Maybe you mean well, Mr. Rubio. But honestly, being Secretary of State seems more about appearances than real influence.
The big calls get made way above your head, and you don’t get much of a vote.
Nicaraguans don’t need foreign politicians like Marco Rubio spreading lies or trying to manipulate them.
Nicaragua celebrates their Independence Day on September 15th each year, marking the anniversary of the country’s liberation from Spanish rule in 1821.
Alongside other Central American nations—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—Nicaragua gained its independence through a formal declaration signed in Guatemala City.
The day is celebrated with parades, traditional music and dance, and patriotic ceremonies throughout the country. But compared to other countries in the isthmus, Nicaragua’s Independence Day tends to be more subdued and less carefree.
Students often participate in marching bands and colorful processions, and the national flag is displayed proudly in homes and public spaces.
Independence Day is a major holiday in Nicaragua, symbolizing national pride and the country’s long-standing quest for self-determination.
RICO’s Q — A video from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) puts it this way: if you took all three million cars on Costa Rican roads and lined them up, the line of traffic would stretch for 8,000 kilometers—enough to reach from San José all the way to Alaska.
Transportation officials urge us to drive less: “For short trips, try walking, cycling, or taking public transport.”
But let’s flip that around for a second.
If we actually had a reliable public transportation system—which is MOPT’s job in the first place—most of us wouldn’t need to rely on our cars.
Imagine a metro. Buses and trains running 24/7. Real connections across the country.
Here’s a wild thought: what if the MOPT started by asking what people in Costa Rica actually need from their transportation system, and then built out solutions from there?
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica is the country with the largest increase in foreign millionaires in Latin America over the last decade, according to a ranking of high-net-worth individuals.
According to the “Private Wealth Migration 2025” report, prepared by the consulting firm Henley & Partners, the growth rate has been 76% over the last 10 years, placing the country sixth in the world ranking.
The London-based consulting firm, which markets passport and residence permit programs in more than 40 countries, estimates that some 8,400 wealthy foreigners have emigrated to the Central American country and projects that approximately 350 more will arrive this year.
The analysis defines a millionaire as someone with assets exceeding US$1 million in “liquid assets” (assets and securities that can be easily converted into cash, such as stocks, funds in bank accounts, certificates of deposit, or bonds), excluding other assets such as property.
While the report considers the increase in these expatriates over the last decade, the great migratory surge in Costa Rica occurred after the pandemic, a milestone that marked a before and after in the flow of millionaires to the country, says Andrés Riggioni, managing partner of The Agency Costa Rica, a real estate firm focused on the luxury market.
This has been reflected in a boom in the construction or purchase of luxury properties and rapidly rising real estate prices, especially in coastal areas, with properties doubling in value in just a year or two.
Known as the “pandemic effect” on wealth flows, Riggioni points out, there has been a global shift in mentality for those with the freedom and funds to live in the country of their choice.
In that sense, he explains, it is currently more difficult to define the concept of residency, when people have multiple passports and move from one place to another.
Although there are wealthy foreigners who have come to live more permanently in Costa Rica, those who fall into the “millionaire” category, according to the Henley & Partners study, are individuals who “do not reside in one place,” Riggioni tells BBC Mundo.
These are people who can live half the year in their Costa Rican residence and the rest of the time in other countries.
Given the difficulty in accessing information about an individual’s net worth and the difficulties in determining a person’s tax residency (as opposed to their place of work or temporary residence), the report has been criticized for its methodology and the use of some data obtained from sources such as LinkedIn to track individuals’ locations.
Some experts believe the study should also include the properties owned by these millionaires to estimate their fortunes, as it has done in previous editions.
Regardless, the growing number of millionaires who obtain residency visas and investor visas in Costa Rica is a widely debated topic in the country, as are the consequences this trend has had on the real estate market and the rest of Costa Rican society.
Citizen movements have even emerged to oppose what they describe as an “invasion” of wealthy foreigners in the country’s coastal areas.
What is the profile of these foreign millionaires residing in Costa Rica?
Those who have been moving to Costa Rica are mainly from the United States and Canada, although Europeans and, increasingly, Latin Americans from countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela are also arriving.
Among the expats with large fortunes, there are not only retirees. There are also the “semi-retired,” individuals who are not involved in the day-to-day operations of their companies, but who oversee them remotely and can live off their income.
The semi-retired group includes people over 40 who do not need to work and who dedicate themselves to managing their investments.
Some of them are part of the new wave of crypto-millionaires whose investments in cryptocurrencies have allowed them to create gigantic fortunes in just a few years.
An example of the arrival of affluent young people is the case of a coastal town called Santa Teresa, known to some as “Silicon Beach,” where there are no more beachfront properties for sale, after it became a magnet for millionaires and investors, Riggioni tells BBC Mundo.
The Tax System and the Golden Visa
Andrew Amoils, head of research at New World Wealth, which collaborated on the study published by Henley & Partners, says that one of Costa Rica’s advantages for millionaires is its tax system.
The country does not tax capital gains earned abroad. For example, profits earned from stocks on Wall Street are not taxed in Costa Rica.
Furthermore, the top income tax rate of 25% “is relatively low,” the analyst tells BBC Mundo, and the country does not charge inheritance tax.
Costa Rica has been on and off the list of tax havens compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Consulting firms such as Offshore Protection point out that while Costa Rica is not considered a pure tax haven, the country offers attractive financial incentives that have been compared to Switzerland, for both individuals and corporations, making it “a favorable destination for those seeking to optimize their tax situation.”
The tax system and “the country’s strong banking privacy laws” make Costa Rica an attractive country for investors and high-net-worth individuals.
Along with financial privacy, the country is in the top 10 for golden visas for foreigners with residency rights. One of the ways to obtain one is to invest at least US$150,000 in real estate, a very easy condition to meet for those with large fortunes.
The country is also considered safe, has well-established luxury neighborhoods, and a high standard of living compared to other Latin American countries. Added to this, says Amoils, are the lifestyle, beaches, landscapes, birds, and tropical forests.
“We expect organic farms to take off over the next decade,” something that could further attract high-income individuals, he adds.
However, the security situation has changed in recent years.
A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published in June warned that insecurity in the country has increased.
“The increase in violence and crime could negatively affect tourism and foreign direct investment,” the publication notes.
And a few weeks ago, the Center for Tourism Studies (CET) reported that citizen insecurity has become the main risk to tourism development, reflecting that Costa Rica is facing a deterioration in its image as a safe destination, a characteristic that for decades has been one of the country’s main attractions.
Guanacaste: Icon of Boom and Local Population Displacement
There are many areas of the country that have served as magnets for wealth.
On the western side of the Central Valley are the cantons of Escazú and Santa Ana, while on the coastal areas are towns that have experienced explosive growth, such as Nosara, in the province of Guanacaste.
And Guanacaste itself has become the icon of this millionaire boom. In 2024, for the first time, the province, which has its own international airport, was the area with the greatest growth in construction projects in the country.
Data from the Observatory of Tourism, Migration, and Sustainable Development of the Chorotega Region of the National University of Costa Rica showed that between 2017 and 2023, property prices rose by up to 400%, a period that includes the “pandemic effect” on the real estate sector.
According to Esteban Barboza Núñez, coordinator of the study, the increase in property values in the province “has increased the price of food and rent, which, evidently, primarily affects lower-income people.”
Bubbles of sorts have emerged within local economies, says Daniela Córdoba, researcher and professor at the School of Economics at the University of Costa Rica, in an interview with BBC Mundo.
Guanacaste is part of the Chorotega Region, where 24.5% of the population lives in poverty. The emergence of these luxury housing bubbles in poor areas often leads to the displacement of the local population, explains Córdoba, who is affected by a process of gentrification.
Community organizations have held peaceful street protests against gentrification, demanding greater regulation of land access and property acquisition to protect local communities.
“Guanacaste has the highest proportion of vacant homes in the entire country. However, one in ten Guanacastecans has been forced to live in informal settlements,” wrote Isabel Muñoz Beaulieu, an expert in public health and development policy, in an opinion piece.
Many Guanacaste residents complain that luxury construction has not improved local infrastructure or generated quality, sustainable jobs. Furthermore, it has had negative effects on the province’s scarce water resources.
Regional Overview
According to the report, the Latin American and Caribbean countries where the arrival of millionaires has grown the most in the last decade are Costa Rica, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.
Costa Rica 72%
Panama 69%
Cayman Islands 62%
Bermuda 51%
Mexico 16%
On the other hand, countries such as Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina have seen a decline in the migration of high-net-worth individuals to their countries.
In the rest of the world, the ranking of increases in the arrival of millionaires in the last decade is led by Montenegro, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, the United States, China, and Costa Rica.
Q COSTARICA — Such a beautiful country had to have banknotes that represent it.
The ₡1000 bill features the Tropical Dry Forest
In Costa Rica, the tropical dry forest covers the lowlands, 0–700 meters above sea level (masl), of the province of Guanacaste and the northern part of Puntarenas. To the south, around the Tárcoles River, it gradually changes as climatic conditions favor the establishment of the tropical rainforest.
The fauna of this forest is as rich as its flora. It is home to howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced monkeys, deer, coatis, peccaries, raccoons, semi-spiny mice, agoutis, pumas, armadillos, magpies, trogons, parrots, parakeets, and a wide variety of insects and spiders, among other groups.
The ₡2000 bill depicts the coral reef
Costa Rica has living and fossil coral reefs of varying ages in various locations throughout its territory. In the Caribbean, they are found in Moín, Limón, Uvita Island, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, and Punta Mona. In the Pacific, they are found mainly in Culebra Bay, the Pelonas Islands, Sámara, Dominical, Punta Mala, Golfo Dulce, Caño Island, Marino Ballena National Park—the first marine park created in Costa Rica and Central America—and Cocos Island.
These ecosystems are found in coastal areas, with clear waters that allow light to pass through, warm (23-28°C), and shallow waters (less than 45 meters below sea level). They also require a stable surface, such as rocks, to adhere to. They can be found from near the beach to 2 or 3 kilometers offshore. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse, productive, and beautiful ecosystems in the world.
The ₡5,000 bill depicts the Mangrove
In the Costa Rican Pacific, mangroves are found mainly at the mouths of the Tempisque, Bebedero, Tárcoles, Parrita, Térraba, and Sierpe rivers, in the Gulfs of Papagayo, Nicoya, and Dulce, and in the bays of Santa Elena, Salinas, Tamarindo, and Herradura. On the Caribbean coast, they are located in Moín and the Gandoca Lagoon.
Mangroves occupy approximately 1% of the national territory. During high tide, these forests are flooded by saltwater; in the mangroves at river mouths, salinity decreases as it mixes with freshwater.
In Costa Rica, there are several species of mangrove, with common names such as red mangrove, pineapple mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove, and buttonwood mangrove. Shells, crabs, snails, and shrimp and fish larvae live among their roots, forming a very complex community. The canopy of these forests is home to countless birds, including herons, kingfishers, and mangrove hummingbirds. Iguanas, snakes, white-faced monkeys, raccoons, lizards, and bats can be found in their branches.
The ₡10,000 banknote shows the Tropical Rainforest
The tropical rainforest is one of the most diverse and exuberant ecosystems in the world. In Costa Rica, it used to be the largest, found in the lowlands, up to 700 meters above sea level, and in very rainy areas such as the Central and South Pacific, the Northern Zone, and the Caribbean. Due to severe deforestation at the end of the last century, this forest is now highly fragmented, and its largest remnants are protected as national parks or biological reserves.
This ecosystem is a complex and dense forest, where trees reach heights of 40-55 meters. The trees are generally umbrella-shaped, with broad canopies and long trunks, often with tall, smooth, and slender branches.
This forest has a greater diversity of plants and animals per unit area than any other type of forest. More animal species can be found in a single tree in a tropical rainforest than in an entire forest at higher latitudes. The diverse forms of animal and plant life occupy a wide variety of specialized environments in the different forest strata.
The ₡20,000 banknote depicts the Páramo
The páramo is an ecosystem with varied mountain herbaceous vegetation, generally treeless—and if there are any, they are small, dense, and isolated—in cold, inhospitable, and humid environments.
The páramo is found mainly on the country’s highest peaks, above 2,800 meters above sea level, in the Cerro de la Muerte (Buenavista and Vueltas), Chirripó, and Kámuk mountains of the Talamanca Mountain Range. It is also found on the summits of the Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes in the Central Volcanic Range.
Páramo vegetation consists primarily of low-growing, small-leaved herbs and shrubs. Dwarf bamboos, such as chusquea, are abundant, as are grasses and ferns. In areas with poor drainage, small swamps called peat bogs form, made up of partially decomposed plant matter.
The páramos are home to various species of insects and spiders, some mammals such as rabbits and coyotes, two species of lizards, a salamander, and very common birds such as the volcano vulture, the junco, the scoter, the blackbird, and the corn eater. There are no fish, despite the abundance of lakes and streams.
Some animals reduce their metabolism to the point of not moving unless the sun is shining. At night, mammals from the nearby forests, such as mountain goats, pumas, and manigordos, frequently visit.
Q COSTARICA — The Costa Rican economy is advancing at two speeds. While the special regime and free trade zones are driving growth, local production—which represents 85% of GDP—is showing worrying stagnation, according to the Second Macroeconomic Projections Report 2025 from the International Center for Economic Policy for Sustainable Development at the National University (UNA).
The study, presented last week, projects GDP growth of 3.1% for 2025, driven by advanced manufacturing and high-tech services.
However, it warns that the traditional economy, which includes agriculture, construction, and trade, continues to lag. Therefore, it could widen the gap with the special regime in the coming years if measures are not taken.
This lag occurs in a context of inflation below the Central Bank’s target range (2%-4%), which keeps interest rates low and favors private consumption and investment.
However, the institution warns that tax revenues are growing more slowly than GDP and that tax collection has lost momentum, especially in income and VAT.
This situation puts pressure on the primary surplus, limiting the State’s ability to invest in infrastructure or programs that stimulate the domestic economy and close the gap between the special and definitive regimes.
The report is clear: Costa Rica’s growth increasingly depends on free trade zones, while the economy that generates most of the jobs for the national population is weakening.
For researchers, the great challenge is to reactivate the engine of local production and ensure that growth is more balanced and inclusive, generating greater employment opportunities for all sectors of the population.
Q COSTARICA — Former wunderkind and former Minister of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), Luis Amador, delivered a pointed critique of President Rodrigo Chaves and his chosen successor, Laura Fernández. At the same time, he revealed that he plans to officially launch his own presidential campaign in two weeks.
In a video, the former minister (who served from May 2022 to March 2024) claimed he’s the real opposition to the current government. He argued that the criticism he faces comes from being seen as a threat to the administration’s plans to stay in power.
“Don Rodrigo, it’s me, Luis Amador, your former minister. Thanks to my efforts at the Ministry of Public Works (MOPT), I became the best known and best-reviewed, even more so than you at the time. That’s why you made up all these lies, but the truth is that the one who’s being smeared by your arguments is you,” Amador stated.
Chaves fired Amador for an alleged corruption case related to the Daniel Oduber Airport runway, which is still under investigation.
The former MOPT leader called Fernández a “puppet” and accused the ruling party of not being prepared to govern:
“Yes, Don Rodrigo, I, your worst nightmare, will be a candidate, because I know you well, and don’t even mention your apprentice and candidate Laura Fernández, your “yes man,” your puppet, who only wants to be like you, but how complicated. Laura Fernández is nothing like Rodrigo Chaves. You are not prepared to govern. Look at the mess you have Costa Rica in. Never again,” Amador concluded.
Amador, who unsuccessfully tried to be a candidate for the Partido Progreso Social Democrático (PPSD) and the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), asserted that he has the support of the public to challenge the ruling party for the presidency.
Last week, Amador had tough words for the president, publicly telling Chaves, “Be a man and waive your immunity.”
In a video, the former MOPT minister said: “Don Rodrigo, no one is above the law. Stop hiding behind your protective immunity. Culture Minister Jorge Rodríguez was more of a man when he waived his immunity. He who owes nothing, fears nothing. What are you worried about?”
President Chaves is under investigation for possible bribery tied to a US$405,800 contract between CABEI and RMC La Productora S.A. Authorities allege that presidential advisor Federico “Choreco” Cruz received a US$32,000 payment in connection with the deal. If found guilty, Chaves could face up to eight years in prison.
The legislative committee is set to decide on September 22 whether to remove Chaves’ presidential immunity.
Rodrigo Arias, President of the Legislative Assembly, has announced that he—and likely the whole Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) bloc—intend to vote in favor of lifting immunity.
Q COSTARICA — Heavy rains on Saturday afternoon hit much of the greater metropolitan area (GAM), flooding streets to car level in some neighborhoods and forcing people from their homes in others.
In Guadalupe, Goicoechea, the damage was specifically reported on 19th Avenue and 25th Street. Incidents were also reported in Tibás and Moravia. All on the east side of the GAM.
“The main impacts are in Moravia due to sewage system saturation and landslides caused by ground saturation. All Municipal Emergency Committees are conducting assessments,” the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) – National Emergency Commission stated.
Emergencies were also addressed in Escazú, as residents reported flooding after the Chiquero river burst its banks in the center of the canton.
The Costa Rican Red Cross deployed a specialized first-response unit, along with a basic ambulance and an advanced ambulance, to respond to the emergency.
Q COSTARICA — A new measure has been taken to increase control over imports from outlet stores, aduanas (customs) detaining all containers to verify compliance with regulations.
Business closures, product seizures, and criminal charges will be part of the measures against those who break the law in the trade of imported goods.
The Treasury confirmed that more than 480 outlet importers, both formal and informal, will be impacted by the announced controls and sanctions.
Weak customs oversight allows containers packed with products considered “garbage” elsewhere to enter Costa Rica and end up for sale in outlet stores.
Government officials have admitted this. When 23 outlets were inspected last May, only one had all the required permits and provided proper user protections, such as accurate product labeling and warranties. Meanwhile, two outlets were shut down, and their unregistered goods were seized.
“Customs must fulfill its duty, and whoever brings in the container has to wait. Those bringing it should be concerned; there will likely be criminal charges and legal protection appeals,” stated Juan Carlos Gómez Sánchez, Director General of Aduanas, who warned that the process will be rigorously enforced.
The director clarified, “The objective is clear: to combat smuggling, protect the formal economy, and guarantee fair conditions for all merchants. It’s about enforcing the law, but also defending those who do comply. Unfair competition affects the entire commercial chain and the end consumer.”
The Treasury’s offensive is not limited to customs controls.
A new sanction went into effect on August 15th, establishing the temporary closure of establishments for 15 calendar days when non-compliance with regulations is detected.
This includes confiscation of merchandise and administrative sanctions for resistance.
In addition to Customs and Taxation, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce (MEIC) are participating in the operations in a coordinated effort to ensure compliance with the regulations.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Foreign Trade and Representatives of Foreign Trade Companies (CRECEX) backs the Ministry of Finance and the General Directorate of Customs application of tighter controls on imports by outlet stores.
CRECEX sees these steps as necessary to make sure customs rules are properly followed, to crack down on issues like under-invoicing, and to guarantee that goods are accurately classified and declared.
For CRECEX, open and fair trade means everyone plays by the same rules. This keeps the market level and protects importers who meet their legal responsibilities from unfair competition.
The Chamber also emphasizes the need for traceability and thorough documentation throughout the import process. This approach helps build legal certainty, improves tax collection, and strengthens consumer trust.
Costa Rican imports reached a volume of US$23.7 billion in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX). Import trade represents 32% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making customs operations a critical component of the economy.
Q COSTARICA — In Costa Rica, most people have just one cell phone line, but it’s not unusual for some to have two or three. While many Costa Ricans stick with a single line for personal use, some—especially those who travel for work or want to take advantage of different carrier deals—carry two or more lines.
So, how can you tell if cellphone lines have been taken out in your name without your consent?
This week, El Observador shared the story of a woman living in Vásquez de Coronado who discovered that 18 prepaid cell phone lines had been set up under her name without her knowledge.
It started on July 23, when she visited the Kölbi (a division of State telecom ICE) office in her area to switch her personal prepaid line to a postpaid plan. But the employee helping her found something odd: just that day, 16 lines had been registered in her name—on top of the one she actually used.
She immediately asked for those extra lines to be canceled.
A couple of weeks later, on September 5, she went back to the same state-run phone company. That’s when she learned that two more lines had been added using her identity.
Altogether, 18 lines had been fraudulently registered in her name.
The woman filed a complaint with ICE, though, as the State agency hasn’t responded yet, she plans to file a complaint with the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ).
How do you know if cell phone lines have been taken out in your name, without your consent?
According to the Regulation on the End-User Protection of the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), operators are required to provide this information.
However, the consultation must be done in person at one of the end-use service centers, and with proper identification. That is, the person must visit each company in person, confirm their identity, and thus find out if lines have been issued in their name.
Sutel insists that “users of telecommunications services have the right to consult their operators about the number of active services they have with their provider.” What Sutel doesn’t mention, though, is how you’re supposed to deal with the long lines that are almost always waiting at customer service centers.
In the case of ICE Kölbi, the state operator says a rigorous process is followed for granting a line.
“Before granting a prepaid line or chip, strict information verification controls are applied. This allows us to remain virtually free from identity theft fraud, as well as the corresponding sanctions,” ICE told El Observador, emphasizing that thanks to these controls, they say identity theft fraud is almost nonexistent—and so are the penalties that come with it.
As to the Sutel, they say the regulations are clear regarding the obligations that operators have when registering users.
“SUTEL’s powers include analyzing compliance with the obligations of telecommunications service operators, whose potential noncompliance could lead to the commission of fraud,” the institution stated.
The OIJ, in response to the growing trend of fraud using cell phone lines (Criminals steal cell phones and withdraw money via Sinpe), has recently questioned the ease with which a cell phone line is obtained in Costa Rica and the limited follow-up they provide to the data of those who have removed these chips.
How to Protect Yourself Against Cell Phone Fraud in Costa Rica?
Cell phone fraud isn’t just a big-city problem—it happens everywhere, and Costa Rica is no exception. Whether you’re a tourist soaking up the beaches or a local going about your day, scammers know how to find their targets.
The good news? A bit of common sense and a few practical steps can go a long way.
First, always keep your phone locked with a strong password or biometric security. Don’t rely on a simple four-digit code—make it something that can’t be guessed. If your phone supports fingerprint or facial recognition, use it.
Watch out for calls or texts from unknown numbers, especially those claiming to be from banks, government agencies, or delivery services.
In Costa Rica, it’s common for scammers to pose as the police (“OIJ”) or as representatives of local banks like Banco Nacional or Banco de Costa Rica. They might say there’s a “problem with your account” or that you’ve “won a prize.”
Don’t take the bait—legitimate institutions will never ask for your personal information over the phone or by text.
Never share your passwords, PINs, or verification codes with anyone. If someone asks, even if they sound convincing, hang up and call the official number of the institution to double-check.
If you use mobile banking, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Most Costa Rican banks now offer this feature, and it’s a solid extra layer of protection. Also, avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions—wait until you’re on a secure, private connection.
Keep your phone’s software up to date. Security patches are there for a reason, and outdated apps or operating systems are easy targets for hackers.
Finally, if your phone is stolen, contact your carrier immediately to block your SIM card and report the theft to the police.
In Costa Rica, you can also register your phone’s IMEI number with the regulator (SUTEL), which can help prevent it from being used on local networks. You will need your phone’s EMEI. You can find your phone’s unique IMEI number by dialing #06# on your phone’s keypad.
Stay smart, stay skeptical, and don’t let your guard down just because you’re in paradise. Scammers never take a vacation.
Q24N (Reuters) – Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced on Thursday to 27 years and three months in prison hours after being convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, dealing a powerful rebuke to one of the world’s most prominent far-right populist leaders.
The conviction ruling by a panel of five justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court, who also agreed on the sentence, made the 70-year-old Bolsonaro the first former president in the country’s history to be convicted for attacking democracy, and drew disapproval from the Trump administration.
“This criminal case is almost a meeting between Brazil and its past, its present and its future,” Justice Carmen Lucia said before her vote to convict Bolsonaro, referring to a history checkered with military coups and attempts to overthrow democracy.
There was ample evidence that Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions,” she added.
Four of the five judges voted to convict the former president of five crimes: taking part in an armed criminal organization; attempting to violently abolish democracy; organizing a coup; and damaging government property and protected cultural assets.
The conviction of Bolsonaro, a former army captain who never hid his admiration for the military dictatorship that killed hundreds of Brazilians between 1964 and 1985, follows legal condemnations for other far-right leaders this year, including France’s Marine Le Pen and the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte.
It may further enrage Bolsonaro’s close ally U.S. President Donald Trump, who had called the case a “witch hunt” and in retaliation hit Brazil with tariff hikes, sanctions against the presiding judge, and the revocation of visas for most of the high court justices.
Asked about the conviction on Thursday, Trump again praised Bolsonaro, calling the verdict “a terrible thing. I think it’s very bad for Brazil,” he added.
As he watched his father’s conviction from the U.S., Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro told Reuters he expected Trump to consider imposing further sanctions on Brazil and its high court justices.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X the court had “unjustly ruled,” adding: “The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.”
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling Rubio’s comment a threat that “attacks Brazilian authority and ignores the facts and the compelling evidence in the records.” The ministry said that Brazilian democracy would not be intimidated by the U.S.”
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also said he does not fear new sanctions from the U.S. in an interview to local TV channel Band hours before Bolsonaro’s conviction was confirmed.
The verdict was not unanimous, with Justice Luiz Fux on Wednesday breaking with his peers by acquitting the former president of all charges and questioning the court’s jurisdiction.
That single vote could open a path to challenges to the ruling, which could push the trial’s conclusion closer to the October 2026 presidential election. Bolsonaro has repeatedly said he will be a candidate in that election despite being barred from running for office.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement that the sentencing “was absurdly excessive” and that it would file the appropriate appeals.
The conviction of Bolsonaro marks the nadir in his trajectory from the back benches of Congress to his forging of a powerful conservative coalition that tested the limits of the country’s young democratic institutions.
His political journey began in the 1980s on the Rio de Janeiro city council after a brief career as an army paratrooper. He went on to serve nearly three decades as a congressman in Brasilia, where he quickly became known for his defense of authoritarian-era policies.
In one interview, he argued that Brazil would only change “on the day that we break out in civil war here and do the job that the military regime didn’t do: killing 30,000.”
Long dismissed as a fringe player, he later refined his message to play up anti-corruption and pro-family values themes. He found fertile ground as mass protests erupted across Brazil in 2014 and 2015 amid the sprawling “Car Wash” graft scandal that implicated hundreds of politicians – including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose own conviction was later annulled.
Anti-establishment anger opened the path for his successful 2018 presidential run, with dozens of far-right and conservative lawmakers elected on his coattails. They have reshaped Congress into an enduring obstacle to Lula’s progressive agenda.
Bolsonaro’s presidency was marked by intense skepticism of vaccines during the pandemic and an embrace of illegal mining and cattle ranching in the Amazon rainforest, where deforestation climbed.
As he faced a tough reelection campaign against Lula in 2022 – which Lula went on to win – Bolsonaro’s comments took on an increasingly messianic quality, raising concerns about his willingness to accept the results.
“I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed, or victory,” he said, in remarks to a meeting of evangelical leaders in 2021. “No man on Earth will threaten me.”
In 2023, Brazil’s electoral court barred him from public office until 2030 for venting unfounded claims about Brazil’s electronic voting system.
Lula’s Institutional Relations Minister, Gleisi Hoffmann, said that Bolsonaro’s conviction “ensures that no one dares again to attack the rule of law or the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box.”
PROTECTING DEMOCRACY
Bolsonaro’s conviction and its durability will be a powerful test for the strategy that Brazil’s highest-ranking judges have adopted to protect the country’s democracy against what they describe as dangerous attacks by the far-right.
Their targets have included social media platforms they accused of spreading disinformation about the electoral system, as well as politicians and activists who have attacked the court. Sending the former president and his allies to jail for planning a coup reflects a culmination of that polarizing strategy.
The cases have largely been led by the commanding figure of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, appointed to the court by a conservative president in 2017, whose hardball approach to Bolsonaro and his allies has been celebrated by the left and denounced by the right as political persecution.
“They want to get me out of the political game next year,” Bolsonaro told Reuters in a recent interview, referring to the 2026 election in which Lula is likely to seek a fourth term. “Without me in the race, Lula could beat anyone.”
The historic significance of the case goes beyond the former president and his movement, said Carlos Fico, a historian who studies Brazil’s military at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
The Supreme Court also ruled to convict seven of Bolsonaro’s allies, including five military officers.
The verdict marks the first time since Brazil became a republic almost 140 years ago that military officials have been punished for attempting to overthrow democracy.
“The trial is a wake-up call for the armed forces,” Fico said. “They must be realizing that something has changed, given that there was never any punishment before, and now there is.”
Reporting for Reuters by Ricardo Brito, Luciana Magalhaes and Manuela Andreoni; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Editing by Gabriel Araujo, Brad Haynes, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O’Brien and Shri Navaratnam
Q COSTARICA — In 2024, Costa Rica recorded an infant mortality rate of 10.3 deaths per 1,000 live births—the highest the country has seen in two decades.
This uptick has sparked concern within the health community, especially since most of these deaths—about 75 percent—happen during the first 28 days of a newborn’s life.
According to Dr. Felipe Segreda, neonatologist and coordinator of Neonatal Resuscitation at the University of Medical Sciences (UCIMED), there is no single cause to explain the increase.
“This is the first time in the last 20 years that we have exceeded 10 per 1,000 live births. There is no single cause for the increase in infant mortality. It is multifactorial,” he noted.
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The data comes from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), which compiles and publishes monthly birth and death indicators in the country.
Extreme Prematurity
According to Segreda, extreme prematurity is currently the leading cause of mortality in the country. These include babies born before 28 weeks of gestation and weighing close to or less than 1 kilogram.
“75% of all deaths in the first year occur in the first 28 days of life. The most common cause is extreme prematurity,” he explained.
Other causes during this period include perinatal asphyxia (lack of oxygen during birth) and respiratory complications, which primarily affect premature infants.
In addition, deaths after the neonatal stage include congenital malformations and infections, although in smaller numbers.
Lack of specialists
The expert also stated that one of the factors influencing this increase is the decrease in the availability of neonatologists in public hospitals, especially during on-call shifts.
“There are fewer and fewer neonatologists caring for extremely premature babies. On-call shifts are often left to pediatricians or general practitioners, and this greatly limits the management of these babies,” he warned.
“During the pandemic, staff training was halted, and there was a lot of turnover. Training, primarily in neonatal resuscitation, was diminished, and this affected the training of those who care for this very delicate population,” the doctor emphasized.
High hospital-acquired infections
Meanwhile, another factor of concern is the high rate of nosocomial infections, that is, those acquired within hospitals.
“We have a very high rate of nosocomial infections in the country, and we have not implemented the appropriate interventions to reduce them in all neonatal intensive care units,” Segreda stated.
These infections are usually bacterial or fungal, affecting babies with weakened immune systems, especially those who are intubated or have vascular accesses.
“Good handwashing can prevent many of these infections,” he emphasized.
Prenatal Checkups
On the other hand, the doctor also emphasized the importance of prenatal and preconception checkups as part of prevention.
“A woman who enters pregnancy with good blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight control has a lower risk of premature birth or complications,” he recommended.
In addition, having adequate ultrasounds and specialists who identify risk factors is key to reducing prematurity.
Vaccination
The link between prematurity and respiratory complications means many babies remain vulnerable even after hospital discharge.
“Many premature babies who survive are predisposed to serious complications if they contract respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, or COVID-19,” the specialist warned.
For this reason, the doctor highlighted the importance of measures such as:
RSV vaccination in pregnant women
Administration of the monoclonal antibody palivizumab in premature babies under 32 weeks of age or with heart problems
Reinforcement of influenza and COVID-19 campaigns
Vaccination is extremely important and plays a fundamental role, but unfortunately, rates have decreased, and we are seeing this reflected in hospital admissions at the National Children’s Hospital,” he stated.
Q REPORTS (La Prensa) Despite authoritarianism, the Nicaraguan economy continues to grow. How long will remittances sustain this model? Various studies determine that when rulers become authoritarian, the economy suffers, but reality shows that this is not always the case.
After seven years of sociopolitical crisis, an unprecedented escalation of repression, and the consolidation of a new dictatorship that keeps Nicaragua isolated from the democratic world, the economy continues to grow.
Growth is supported by the increasing flow of remittances and exports, while external threats, which jeopardize this model, are compounded by a poor investment climate and structural deficiencies that affect productivity.
“For various reasons, authoritarianism, democracy, and the economy do not necessarily go hand in hand. Empirically, it is not a proven fact that democracies grow more than autocracies; or that autocracies grow more than democracies. There is a whole debate on the subject,” notes economist and exiled former political prisoner Juan Sebastián Chamorro.
What has happened in some democracies is that they succumb when the population’s discontent over economic problems spills over into the political sphere. Furthermore, authoritarianism isn’t always consolidated in weak economies. In some cases, when the economy isn’t growing, according to Chamorro, people look for a “strong hand” to pull the country out of the crisis; but in other cases, it’s the opposite, as Hugo Chávez (RIP) consolidated his dictatorship during a period of economic prosperity in Venezuela.
Authoritarianism isn’t always bad
“Even of the three major episodes of militarism in Nicaragua, those of Zelaya and Somoza had significant economic growth, despite human rights violations and authoritarianism. Only the Sandinista regime of the 1980s was accompanied by an economic collapse because its terrible policies destroyed the economy,” Chamorro maintains.
Another example that authoritarianism isn’t always bad for the economy are China and Singapore, which are examples of success. Although many argue that in this case, it should be taken into account that both countries were not created to be democracies.
For Chamorro, proof of the correlation between repression and the economy is the exodus generated by the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship. The departure of more than 12 percent of the population (around one million people) was a deliberate economic policy that guaranteed the astonishing growth in remittances.
Mass migration boosts remittances
According to data from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN), in 2017, before the outbreak of the sociopolitical crisis, Nicaragua received US$1.39 billion in family remittances, and last year the amount rose to US$5.243 billion.
“The increase is immense… So we see how a deliberate authoritarian measure, which Cubans also promoted many years ago, is fundamental for the economy,” says Chamorro.
For his part, Enrique Sáenz, also an economist and exiled former opposition congressman, explains that remittances represent nearly 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are liquid, growing flows that stimulate consumption.
“Private consumption as a macroeconomic variable is registering an increasing weight, but not as a result of more jobs or better wages, but rather due to remittances, as families use a good portion of these resources to purchase essential goods and services; and with their purchases, they boost food production, wholesale and retail trade, small-scale industry, and other activities,” explains Sáenz.
Exports remain stagnant
For Sáenz, this is an aberrant phenomenon. He believes that the main evidence of the economic and social failure of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, expressed in underemployment, low wages, and poverty, led to mass migrations that transformed into a growing flow of remittances.
“More than 5 billion (dollars) in 2024, and the trend indicates that they will approach 6 billion (dollars) in 2025. In addition to boosting private consumption, this will also refresh international reserves, bank liquidity, and tax revenues, among other things,” explains Sáenz.
For specialists, another engine driving growth is exports. However, in recent years they have grown little, not due to increases in production volumes or improvements in productivity, but rather due to the rise in the international price of gold, coffee, meat, and other products that Nicaragua sends abroad.
“That is to say, at least at present, the increase in export revenue is the result of an external factor, and not a product of the economic management of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship,” Sáenz asserts.
FDI at Record Levels
According to Chamorro, the stagnation of exports is due to the fact that the social uprising of 2018, which led to the breakdown of the model of dialogue and consensus between the private sector and Daniel Ortega, led to the abandonment of efforts to direct investment toward high-value-added activities.
In addition to remittances and exports, a third engine driving economic growth is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). According to official reports, these have reached record levels in recent years, although primarily driven by capital reinvestment.
Currently, the Central Bank only publishes semiannual FDI reports and issues them with a significant delay. The FDI report for the first half of this year is not yet known. In 2024, the largest bank issuer reported $3,039.9 billion in gross FDI and $1,352.3 billion in net FDI. Before the start of the crisis, in 2017 the country received $1.67 billion in gross FDI inflows and $1.032 billion in net FDI.
Doubts about FDI growth
Sáenz doubts the record growth of FDI. “I must point out something murky, for the record while the following mysteries are unraveled: among the main destinations for FDI are the financial, mining, and electricity sectors, where the ruling mafia has significant interests. If we add to the above that Panama, Curaçao, and Barbados are now among the main countries of origin for FDI, the suspicion increases, since it is recognized that these three countries operate as ‘tax havens,’ home to shell companies and the circulation of capital of dubious origin,” says the former congressman.
One of Saénz’s hypotheses is that “the mafia in power” is recycling the profits obtained from its businesses and bringing them back to the country as FDI. “But in short, the statistical growth recorded in official figures is not due to endogenous dynamism, nor to the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship being attractive to domestic or foreign investors, but rather to factors external to economic management,” says the former opposition congressman.
Despite the fact that, according to specialists, the engines driving economic growth are at their lowest levels, the economy continues to grow. The sociopolitical crisis, compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused GDP to decline for three consecutive years, between 2018 and 2020. But since 2021, growth has been maintained, with GDP growing 4.4 percent in 2023 and 3.6 percent in 2024.
“In short, remittances and consumption have saved the economy. Despite the political underworld, the rest of the country lives its own survival or business life. Therefore, it continues its quasi-normal life,” says a financial analyst.
What will happen to migrants and remittances?
The analyst acknowledges that authoritarianism and uncertainty pushed people to migrate en masse, and this, in turn, multiplied remittances, which boost consumption, drive growth, keep the economy afloat, and offset the decline in other growth drivers such as tourism. But he questions how sustainable this model is.
“We have no precedent, and we won’t know exactly what will happen with migrants and remittances, but the future doesn’t seem to indicate that this momentum can be sustained. In fact, this uncertainty is making us behave conservatively, and the truth is that the economy is slowing down,” he warns.
Specialists agree that freedom and democracy contribute to societies generating wealth; therefore, this is necessary to achieve higher and more sustained growth. “From that perspective, Nicaragua will be much better off, as it restores freedoms and its democracy,” the financial analyst asserts.
Reduce dependence on remittances
For his part, Chamorro is convinced that if democracy existed in Nicaragua, the economy would have greater production, higher levels of FDI, and tourism would continue to grow as it did before 2018.
Furthermore, with the restoration of democracy, experts believe that to ensure greater and sustainable growth, Nicaragua needs to diversify its growth drivers.
Among the efforts that experts believe should be promoted, it is essential to reduce excessive dependence on remittances; advance the diversification and improvement of productive sectors; attract FDI by guaranteeing legal security, property rights, and investment protection.
Also, boost climate resilience; invest in disaster-resistant infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture; modernize education and training to align workforce skills with the needs of productive sectors; and finally, rebuild trust with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other partners.
Q COSTARICA — The United States on Wednesday denounced the disappearance in Nicaragua of a doctor with dual Nicaraguan and Costa Rican nationality, for which it held co-presidents and husband and wife Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo responsible.
The “forced disappearance” of 30-year-old doctor, Yerri Estrada, had been reported to the Plenary of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly last week by Priscilla Vindas, a legislator of the Frente Amplio Party (PFA).
“Three weeks ago, the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship arrested, brutally tortured, and ultimately disappeared Dr. Yerri Estrada, a dedicated doctor, after a morning spent providing medical services to a local community,” the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs reported on X.
“His ‘crime’? Defending freedom during peaceful civic demonstrations. Is Murillo so unsure of herself that she can’t provide evidence that he’s alive?” the legislator added.
Hace tres semanas la dictadura Murillo-Ortega arrestó, torturó brutalmente y finalmente hizo desaparecer al Dr. Yerri Estrada, un médico entregado, después de una mañana dedicada a proporcionar servicios médicos a una comunidad local. ¿Su “delito”? Defender la libertad durante… pic.twitter.com/sz136QOH6K
— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) September 10, 2025
This case comes after the deaths of two imprisoned opposition figures in Nicaragua, which exiles and human rights defenders attributed to a new “repressive era” due to the early transition of power from an ailing Ortega to his wife.
In Nicaragua, the repression not only affects “the Nicaraguan people, but also citizens with Costa Rican nationality,” Vindas stated.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that its consulate in Managua is in contact with the doctor’s mother and with Nicaraguan authorities, but did not disclose details, citing confidentiality reasons.
Ortega and Murillo are accused of maintaining a fierce persecution of the opposition following the 2018 protests, which Managua described as a US-sponsored coup attempt. The repression left more than 300 dead, according to the United Nations (UN).
Ortega, a 79-year-old former guerrilla who has been in power since 2007 and also governed Nicaragua in the 1980s, is accused by critics and humanitarian organizations of establishing a “family dictatorship” alongside Murillo, 74.
In recent months, Ortega has been seen at public events with difficulty walking and a pale complexion (he suffers from lupus and kidney failure).
Costa Rican-born Estrada was taken, as a child, by his family to Nicaragua to live, according to Nicaragua’s La Prensa, a newspaper founded in Managua in 1926, now operating in exile because of media crackdowns in Nicaragua.
During the sociopolitical crisis in 2018, the dictatorship detained at least two Costa Rican nationals, including journalist Lucía Pineda Ubau of the 100% Noticias channel.
Editor’s note: Many other Costa Rican nationals, myself included, aren’t allowed entry into Nicaragua. I’m still not sure exactly why I’m banned, but when I was questioned at the border in 2022, the conversation with the border immigration official focused on my connections to QCostarica.com and TodayNicaragua.com.
Q COSTARICA — Expectations for the dollar exchange for the second half of the year point to an increase, as two factors are pushing it upward: the implementation of tariffs by the United States and fewer tourist arrivals, said Federico Quesada, director of the School of Administrative Sciences at the State Distance Education University (UNED).
What would be the direct impact on the dollar?
Costa Rica faces strong pressures. On the one hand, its main trading partner has raised tariff barriers, which will push up the prices of Costa Rican goods and services sold in that market. On the other hand, because fewer products are being exported, the dollar exchange rate is likely to rise as well.
Similarly, as companies leave or restructure their roles in the microprocessor market, demand for foreign currency could rise, pushing the exchange rate higher. Added to this, is a projected drop in international visitors over the next few months.
What would be the impact on the exchange rate if the government issues the Eurobonds?
A decline in the exchange rate is not foreseeable; however, with the inflow of dollar financing into the international market, greater stability in this macroprice could be achieved in the short term.
If intervention by Costa Rica’s Central Bank (BCCR) were necessary, it would only occur if the psychological limits of the exchange market were breached (for example, if the exchange rate falls below ¢500 for purchases); however, due to the complex context facing the country, this situation is considered unlikely.
Should the BCCR be forced to intervene, it has room for maneuver thanks to the international reserve balances at its disposal.
An increase in liquidity would be possible if the placement of the aforementioned instruments takes place during the November-December period of this year.
A longer period of time will be necessary to determine the new international conditions, the new macroeconomic equilibrium, and foreign direct investment (fDI) flows, in order to establish how the exchange rate will behave.
Q COSTARICA — Negotiations between Costa Rica and the United States to reduce tariffs will remain active, assured Indiana Trejos, Costa Rica’s Vice Minister of Foreign Trade.
However, they are optimistic that the United States Supreme Court will analyze the legality of these measures imposed by President Donald Trump in November.
“Meanwhile, the tariffs will continue to be implemented, but we will not stop until they are eliminated,” Trejos said.
The United States’ highest court agreed to hear arguments on the legality of the tariffs promoted by Trump in the first week of November. Trump’s administration requested an “expeditious decision” from the high court on the issue.
Fear of exorbitant tariffs has prompted many of the United States’ trading partners, including Costa Rica and the European Union (EU), to refrain from retaliating and further open their markets to U.S. products.
The request follows a ruling in late August by a federal circuit court of appeals, which found that Trump exceeded his authority by using emergency economic powers to impose the tariffs.
Costa Rica’s cumulative exports to the United States totaled US$6.316 billion as of last July, equivalent to 47% of the total goods traded abroad.
Q COSTARICA — 43 of 57 legislators voted this Wednesday to reseal the bill by Monserrat Ruiz, a legislator from the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), which would allow the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) to conduct raids 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including statutory holidays.
Currently, raids by the OIJ are carried out only from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm weekdays, except in exceptional cases (Article 193 of the Criminal Procedure Code).
The president froze the initiative during the three months of extraordinary sessions that ran from May to July, during which the Executive branch (Presidency) controlled the Congressional agenda.
Ruiz denounced that President Chaves failed to invoke the veto during 79 days of extraordinary sessions.
The legislator also asserted that the president “was not interested” in seeing the bill through to the legislators.
“We’re finally facing this veto. We wasted a lot of time due to the intransigence of a government that wasn’t interested in calling for the bill for 79 days,” Ruiz lashed out in the plenary session.
“What’s happening with security must be stopped now. It’s not about signing a law or not, depending on whether I like the director of the OIJ or the attorney general. It’s about supporting all the measures, but we’ve wasted a lot of time due to the government’s intransigence,” the legislator asserted.
PLN legislator Monserrat Ruiz
For her part, legislator Pilar Cisneros, who heads the ruling party’s legislative faction and a staunch supporter of Rodrigo Chaves, stated in the Plenary that she “was never against the case,” despite the presidential veto.
Behind Chaves’ Veto
On May 14, on his weekly television program, President Chaves stated that he would not give the OIJ more tools to carry out raids 24 hours a day, as he believes that giving it the power to extend raid hours is “continued intimidation.”
“The video is crystal clear, I’ll return it to you, ladies and gentlemen. The Costa Rican public has realized that the officials in the Prosecutor’s Office and the OIJ Directorate, at best, are incompetent and arbitrary. As President of the Republic, I will not sign another law that gives these men and their bosses in the Third Chamber, and their boss, the “capo di tutti,” who is in another building, more tools to continue intimidating,” Chaves stated.
Bill 24.495 will now become a Law of the Land after its publication in the government newsletter, La Gaceta.
Q COSTARICA — San Carlos authorities report a massive influx of Nicaraguan gold miners known as “coligalleros” to the Crucitas area, following Daniel Ortega’s government’s decision to grant mining concessions to China near the San Juan River.
The Municipality of San Carlos has warned of an increase in the irregular entry of gold miners into Costa Rican territory, especially following the recent transfer of several mines in the border area.
According to the newspaper La Prensa, Nicaragua has transferred three mining properties within the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, located on the border with Costa Rica. The latest concession was reportedly granted in August.
The proximity of this reserve to Crucitas may be facilitating the illegal entry of illegal miners via the San Juan River, according to reports from residents in the northern area.
Local authorities express their concern about the environmental, social, and security impact of the increase in illegal mining in Crucitas. Therefore, they are requesting the approval of a bill to regulate mining activity in the area.
Last week, the Municipality of San Carlos and legislator Gilberto Campos of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) asked the government to declare a state of emergency in the districts of Cutris and Pocosol. However, President Rodrigo Chaves called the request “absurd.”
For now, local authorities are trying to contain the situation with the support of the Fuera Publica (national police), although they acknowledge that the available resources are insufficient to address the increase in illegal miners in the area.
Gold mining in makeshift tunnels, a high-risk activity, driven by the lack of economic opportunities in Costa Rica’s border communities, has become a stubborn problem. Driven by the lure of quick cash, coligalleros have carved out makeshift camps, using mercury and other toxic methods to extract gold.
The environmental toll is brutal. Despite government crackdowns, the miners keep coming.
Last Wednesday, rescue crews from the Bomberos and Cruz Roja pulled the bodies of two young Nicaraguans from an illegal mine in Crucitas.
With this incident, the number of miners killed in Crucitas and Abangares has reached five in less than 18 months. In March of this year, another collapse in Crucitas claimed the life of a young man, while in Guanacaste, three deaths were recorded in incidents linked to makeshift mining.
Q24N (DW) Tens of thousands of supporters of the former conservative president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, rallied across the country on Sunday.
The mass gatherings occurred just days before a Supreme Court ruling in Bolsonaro’s trial over an alleged coup attempt.
At a rally on Sao Paulo’s Avenida Paulista amid Brazil’s Independence Day festivities, demonstrators demanded amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023, storming of government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, a Bolsonaro ally, criticized Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a common target of the right wing in Brazil.
“No one can endure the tyranny of a judge like Moraes any longer. No one can bear what is happening in this country anymore,” he told those gathered in Brazil’s largest city.
Where else did support of Bolsonaro rallies take place?
Similar rallies took place in Rio de Janeiro and in Brasilia, while Bolsonaro opponents also staged counter-protests in several cities.
The Supreme Court trial against 70-year-old Bolsonaro will enter a decisive stage in the coming days.
Bolsonaro and seven co-defendants, including former ministers and senior military officers, are accused of plotting to overturn the October 2022 election result. During the October 2022 election, Bolsonaro lost the presidency to left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
If he is found guilty, Bolsonaro would become the first former president in Brazil’s history convicted of attempting a coup.
Bolsonaro could face over 40 years in prison if convicted.
Q24N – In a caricature by PX Molina published by CONFIDENCIAL, is how we find Nicaragua’s commander Daniel Ortega facing what might be the final chapter of his life.
The caption reads: “You see, so much stealing, lying, and killing to not let go of the teat, and those who are sucking it are their own family.”
Q24N — The worsening military tensions in the Caribbean between the Donald Trump administration and Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship in Venezuela will not lead to an invasion, which would require at least a two-year occupation to produce “regime change.”
However, it could lead to bombings and military incidents, which “could spiral out of control,” according to Dr. David Smilde, a professor of sociology at Tulane University and an expert on Venezuela and its bilateral relations with the United States.
During an interview on “Esta Semana”—a program now streamed on CONFIDENCIAL’s YouTube channel because of TV censorship in Nicaragua—Smilde discussed the rising tensions between the US and Venezuela.
The situation ramped up after the US destroyed a speedboat in the Caribbean that was reportedly crewed by Venezuelan drug traffickers, while at the same time, two Venezuelan F-16s flew over US warships.
Smilde believes that the military operation deployed by the United States has elements of “political theater” to weave a narrative of war with Venezuela, justifying the mass deportation of Venezuelan migrants, invoking the status of “external enemies” with a country at war.
The researcher at the Center for Hemispheric Studies at Tulane University, author of five books on Venezuela, explained that Trump’s strategy aims to create rifts around Nicolas Maduro, but warned that it also poses risks for the Venezuelan opposition: “Most likely, Maduro will put more pressure on the opposition, and the only thing that could benefit him is if there is a regime change. But the only way the opposition would occupy Miraflores Palace would be with an invasion and an occupation force for one or two years, and Trump isn’t going to do that.”
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rican associates of Johnny Angulo Fernández, alias “John Cadenas”, in the alleged cocaine shipment to Italy have become the new targets of Italy’s Central Anti-Narcotics Division.
Members of that Italian agency met in Nashville, Tennessee, with representatives of Costa Rica’s Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), who traveled to the United States to finalize future extradition cases with several countries.
Both delegations participated in the 39th International Drug Control Conference (IDEC XXXIX) in Nashville, where CRHoy.com covered the case. The Italians clarified that, for now, they are only prosecuting Angulo; however, they are keeping open other possibilities arising from the Costa Rican’s mentions in Livorno drug files.
“So far, the only established link is with John Cadenas. However, we are offering them the possibility of collaboration in case they have other ties or need to exchange information with us to link other Costa Ricans. However, for now, only the case against John Cadenas is underway, which we hope will be completed soon,” explained Michael Soto, deputy director of the OIJ, after the meetings with the Italians.
Soto assured that the exchange of information generated interest in identifying “some other links to this individual.” It is also expected that, with the information revealed, new cases of interest to both countries will emerge in the medium term.
“We are offering this possibility of obtaining information, because much of the cocaine that arrives in Italy passes through Costa Rica. We are talking about a partnership in case they have any links, and we are providing them with information so that, if they require it, they can go to Costa Rica and provide details. But for now, we are not talking about names, but rather about the possibility of new cases in the near future,” Soto added.
“John Cadenas” Low-Profile Drug Trafficker
John Cadenas kept a low profile. According to sources close to the case, he was not reported in the media and presented himself only as a businessman with business activities in the Southern Zone.
The 54-year-old man was arrested in July in Costa Rica’s Laurel de Corredores, in the pr Puntarenas, following an extradition request from the Italian government for international drug trafficking.
The Italian justice system is seeking him for two shipments of cocaine hidden in agricultural export products that departed from Moín, Limón, bound for the port of Livorno, in the Tuscany region. One of the shipments, weighing 50 kilos, was seized on June 29, 2015. The second, weighing 98 kilos, was intercepted in December of the same year. Both were destined for Venice, in the Veneto region.
Police sources detail that “John Cadenas” owned a property in Punta Burica, on the border with Panama, which allegedly served as a logistics point for receiving cocaine shipments from Colombia. They then transported the drugs to Limón to reship them to other countries hidden in export cargo.
He also operated businesses in Laurel de Corredores, including vehicle parts and liquor stores. He is listed in the National Registry as a partner in several companies and as a landowner; however, it is suspected that he used front men to avoid alerts due to the growth of his assets.
Most of these properties are reportedly located in the “Osa Triangle,” a remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, a highly biodiverse region known for Corcovado National Park, lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife like scarlet macaws and humpback whales. An area highly susceptible to drug trafficking in the South Pacific.
“This is part of the investigation, because most people involved in drug trafficking typically do not register assets in their own names and use front men to launder or conceal criminal activities,” explained Costa Rica’s Attorney General Carlo Díaz.
Michael Soto pointed out that “John Cadenas” was a subject “so established over time that he had little involvement and only gave instructions, because he had been in the business for many years.”
The Organized Crime Section (Seccro) of the OIJ kept him under surveillance and successfully captured him. He is believed to have led his own group in Punta Burica, where he controlled a strategic site for refueling and other logistical operations.
After his arrest, he was transferred to San José to face legal proceedings that could result in his extradition to Italy.
According to authorities, the cocaine shipments were allegedly managed by the Calabrian mafia, the ‘Ndrangheta. In Italy, he is accused of final association with international drug trafficking.
A very iconic individual
“John Cadenas,” is described by the OIJ as “a very iconic individual in the criminal and drug trafficking sector in the country because he has been investigated at various times and so far we are obtaining positive results,” explained the deputy director of the OIJ.
Q COSTARICA — Former magistrate Celso Gamboa, ex-convict Edwin López “Pecho de Rata,” and businessman Jonathan Álvarez, alias “Profe,” could keep part of the assets they acquired with drug trafficking profits, depending on their negotiations with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Recently, Wesley Wynne, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, who is prosecuting these three extraditables facing for illicit conspiracy and international cocaine distribution charges in the United States, with the Ministerio Publico, Costa Rica’s Public Prosecutor’s Office,0 to coordinate the possible seizure of the suspects’ assets, properties, and accounts.
Carlo Díaz, Costa Rica’s Attorney General, confirmed that there is a possibility that the first three Costa Ricans subject to extradition could reach an agreement with U.S. judicial authorities to retain part of the fortune they have accumulated.
“In the meeting we had with the Texas District Attorney and DEA investigators, that very topic was discussed: the pursuit of these individuals’ assets. They even spoke or mentioned that there was a possibility of sharing these assets or that they could even be the subject of negotiation,” said Diaz.
The extradition request file includes a notice of asset forfeiture: if the extradition is granted, the U.S. could go after Gamboa, López, and Álvarez’s finances, and not just impose prison sentences.
An affidavit from the U.S. Attorney warns of the intention to impose financial sanctions on the defendants. However, for the time being, no new investigations will be opened until it is known for sure whether the DEA, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and the three extraditable individuals reach some kind of agreement.
“We will first be monitoring the extraditions. If that doesn’t happen, our country also has the option of opening the appropriate money laundering cases and seizing, forfeiting, or confiscating these assets.
“We will be monitoring the progress of the investigation, first until the extraditions are issued, and then we will continue to coordinate with the DEA authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Texas to determine how we will proceed,” Díaz explained.
“The opening of money laundering investigations to pursue the funds of those subject to extradition could also include family members, associates, partners, or other individuals who have lent their names or companies to bring in drug trafficking proceeds and launder them.
“That is part of the investigation. Generally, individuals investigated for drug trafficking crimes personally have very few or no assets, and therefore use front men to launder or simulate the various criminal activities and the assets derived from them,” Díaz concluded.
Celso Gamboa
Celso Manuel Gamboa Sánchez, a former high-ranking public servant, recently admitted during a recent trial for influence peddling (of which he was acquitted) that he once made big money as a lawyer—up to US$15,000 a month, not counting the US$600,000 in illicit gains the U.S. links to him.
Despite these earnings, official records don’t show Gamboa owning cars, businesses, or extra properties.
The U.S. Treasury has now blacklisted him for alleged ties to drug trafficking, freezing the assets of both his law firm and a Limon soccer club. In Costa Rica, his real estate holdings are surprisingly modest: just a single apartment in Jacó and a piece of land in Cartago that’s tied up in family legal arrangements.
Pecho de Rata
Edwin Danney López Vega, better known as Pecho de Rata or Diosito, stands out for holding most of his wealth in his own name—a rarity in the underworld. Dubbed the “King of Cahuita,” he owns a patchwork of properties in Talamanca, including mountain estates, construction lots, and farmland, some tied to ongoing money laundering investigations.
His urban home in Quepos is mortgaged for a hefty sum, and he claims assets like boats, a new motorcycle, and a Nissan Sentra. But U.S. authorities say that’s just the surface. They suspect López Vega also controls two vast farms in Sixaola, leased through family companies, with prime access to the Caribbean and Sixaola River—ideal for trafficking operations.
These properties, some officially registered for cattle farming, were purchased via relatives and have links to the Limón Black Star club, another node in a sprawling money laundering probe.
Alias “Profe”
Jonathan Guillermo Álvarez Alfaro, better known as “Profe” or “Gato,” is one of three Costa Ricans facing extradition for allegedly leading a major money laundering ring, according to authorities.
Investigators say he owns multiple properties across Costa Rica—spanning everything from city lots and a commercial building to a rural grave site—and has ties to businesses in real estate, auto sales, and even a sports club.
Álvarez and his brother are accused of living large, with luxury cars and lavish homes, all while allegedly funneling dirty money through livestock auctions and other ventures. When police raided the operation, they found millions (of colones) in cash, piles of jewelry, luxury vehicles, cattle, and even weapons, painting a picture of a crime ring straight out of a movie.
Q COSTARICA — Frente Amplio (FA) presidential candidate Ariel Robles harshly criticizes President Rodrigo Chaves for downplaying the country’s security crisis.
According to Robles, the situation is alarming and affects the daily lives of Costa Ricans.
“The security issue is serious enough to have everyone’s eyes on it,” the FA candidate stated.
Robles rejected the president’s recent statements, arguing that the so-called “public security disaster” isn’t nearly as severe as some suggest. In his view, this stance overlooks the real challenges most people face every day.
“The public security disaster is very serious. Most people in Costa Rica take to the streets in fear, without knowing what reality they’re going to face. That’s the climate we live in in Costa Rica. Only someone riding in a car with a presidential escort, dodging every red light and having all the security necessary, could say something like what he said,” Robles questioned.
The presidential candidate emphasized that violence cannot be downplayed and that addressing the issue must begin with a recognition of the magnitude of the problem.
“The security disaster does concern us and is serious, and that’s where it should be addressed,” he maintained.
Robles’ statements come at a critical moment for the country’s security.
Costa Rica has recorded 583 homicides so far this year, with San José (195), Limón (121), and Puntarenas (108) being the most dangerous provinces. If the trend continues, 2025 would close with nearly 900 murders, marking the third consecutive year of record homicidal violence.
Q COSTARICA — Starting next school year, students in Costa Rica will not be allowed to use cell phones in the classroom, except for educational purposes previously authorized by teachers.
Leonardo Sánchez, the Minister of Public Education (MEP), confirmed this last Wednesday while outlining the new guidelines that will shape upcoming regulations for evaluating both learning and behavior.
“This is not a whimsical measure; it is an exhaustive review of what more than 30 developed countries are doing. We came to the conclusion that cell phone use is prohibited in the classroom,” Sánchez explained.
The Minister emphasized that, although technology is a useful tool, devices become a source of distraction when there is no teacher guidance. “It affects pedagogical mediation, that is, how the student learns and how the teacher teaches,” he emphasized.
The document that the MEP will present in the coming days to the Higher Education Council also includes changes to the evaluation of behavior, which will once again be a requirement for passing the school year. The discipline grade will be from 0 to 100 and the student must complete it to move up a level.
Bill under discussion
The announcement coincides with the presentation of a bill by independent legislator Cynthia Córdoba, seeking to ban the use of personal cell phones and tablets in all educational centers.
“International experience shows that removing devices improves students’ academic performance and mental health, as they socialize and play again,” the legislator stated.
Córdoba also cited the PISA 2022 report, which revealed that 65% of students admitted to being distracted by digital devices during math classes.
International trend
According to UNESCO, 79 countries maintain restrictions on cell phone use in the classroom. France was a pioneer in implementing this measure in 2018 in primary and secondary schools, and more recently, Brazil adopted a law banning devices for students ages 4 to 17. China, Finland, New Zealand, Canada, and the Netherlands also apply similar restrictions.
The MEP stated that the measure in Costa Rica seeks to improve concentration and achievement in the classroom, as well as promote responsible use of technology outside of schools, with the support of parents and guardians.
Exceptions and Permitted Use During Recesses
Although the measure will be strict in the classroom, cell phone use will be permitted during recess. In addition, there will be specific exceptions for when teachers or schools require them as a support tool in learning methodologies that involve the use of technology.
Some schools have already put the rule into practice and are seeing positive changes. Take the Juan Rafael Mora School in San José, for example. They banned cell phones in class ahead of schedule, and teachers there say students are now more focused and performing better as a result.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica and Central America are already grappling with the effects of fentanyl — from its growing market and rising death tolls to the labs producing it and the violence tied to its trade.
Regional authorities warn that the next stage could see these countries become a new corridor for organized crime groups to smuggle the chemical precursors needed to produce fentanyl pills and other synthetic drugs into the United States and Mexico.
Last week in Nashville, Tennessee, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) met with police chiefs from the area to discuss this very threat. They examined the different routes criminal groups use to move these supplies.
Representatives from Costa Rica’s Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) and the Policía Control de Drogas (PCD) – Drug Control Police – attended the meeting, sharing the country’s current situation. They highlighted how the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartels are working with local partners to control the North American drug market.
Michael Soto, OIJ’s deputy director, told CR Hoy in Nashville, Tennessee, that there’s “widespread concern” about the issue. That’s why the DEA is pushing hard to stop fentanyl’s spread into Central America and to block the chemicals used in the labs set up by traffickers.
“As we look ahead, what happens in Mexico and the U.S. usually makes its way to Latin America. They want us to share information because they expect fentanyl or its precursors will eventually pass through Latin America or Central America on their way into the U.S. We have to be ready.”
Clash between the Chapitos and Mayito in Costa Rica
Even though the Sinaloa cartel still dominates the drug trade, the downfall of its key leaders—Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera—has triggered a fierce power struggle within the organization.
El Chapo’s sons, known as “Los Chapitos,” hold most of the power, but “Mayito Flaco,” son of El Mayo, is pushing hard to carve out his own space.
The DEA reports that “Los Chapitos and their supporters carried out violent attacks against Mexican military and police forces, using military-grade weapons, setting fires, and blocking roads and highways. In September 2023, Ovidio Guzmán López was extradited to the U.S.
Los Chapitos are caught in an internal war against Ismael Zambada García, a longtime drug trafficker and El Mayo’s former partner, who has been running the Sinaloa Cartel alongside him for over 30 years.”
Mike Vigil, former DEA director of operations, told CR Hoy that this violence could spill into Costa Rica.
These groups want to control every step of the cocaine trade—from growing the crops and processing the paste to turning it into crystal.
“They’re heavily involved in Ecuador and Costa Rica because of transportation routes, so that’s where we need to watch closely,” he said.Vigil also explained why cartels are so interested in fentanyl.
Unlike marijuana or cocaine, which rely on crops and carry risks of loss, synthetic drugs like fentanyl need only chemicals and secret labs to produce. That means lower costs and less risk, making it a very attractive business.
Fernando Ramírez, who once led the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs (ICD) and served as a criminal judge, confirmed that at the most recent meeting he attended on behalf of Costa Rica—part of the Global Coalition Against Synthetic Drugs led by the United States in December 2024—there was already discussion about labs operating in Guatemala, given its closeness to Mexico.
Ramírez argues that Costa Rica faces a much lower risk than many other countries in the region. This is thanks to the strict enforcement of chemical precursor controls by the ICD’s Precursor Control and Oversight Unit, a fact acknowledged by the INCB.
He explained, “Our country’s risk isn’t as high as in places where controls are weaker or where legislation relies on the INCB’s resolutions from the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to regulate these substances.”
Q COSTARICA — Costa Ricans who have worked for the Chinese Communist Party or who are intentionally acting on behalf of that group could have their visas to the United States restricted, canceled, or denied, the U.S. State Department stated.
The US government announced that it will begin implementing stricter measures in obtaining visas to enter the United States.
In addition to restricting access to those currently collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, U.S. authorities are also seeking to extend this measure to those who have done so in the past, and it would also affect their family members.
“The United States is committed to countering China’s corrupt influence in Central America and stop its attempts to subvert rule of law … These measures reaffirm President Trump’s commitment to protecting the economic prosperity and national security interests of the United States in our region … We continue to promote accountability for Central American citizens who intentionally collaborate with the Chinese Communist Party in Central America and destabilize our hemisphere,” the statement dated September 4, 2025, said.
According to the State Department, the policy authorises restrictions on individuals in Central America, usually defined as consisting of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
So far this year, several Costa Rican high-ranking government officials and politicians have lost their visas to the United States.
Among them:
Johana Obando, independent legislator
Cynthia Córdoba, independent legislator
Óscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica (1986-1990 and 2006-2010)
Rodrigo Arias, current president of Congress and brother of Oscar
Francisco Nicolás, PLN legislator
Vanessa Castro, PUSC legislator
Sofía Machuca, general auditor of the ICE
Paúl Rueda, magistrate of Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court.
The case in point for the Arias brothers is 2007, during Oscar Arias’s second term as president, Costa Rica broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan to establish them with China.
Chinese ambassador denounced “pressure mechanism”
In May, during an interview with La Nación, the Chinese ambassador to Costa Rica, Wang Xiaoyao, accused the United States government of using visa cancellations as a means of political pressure.
The diplomat stated that the measure is part of the strategic arsenal the U.S. uses to influence the sovereign decisions of other countries.
Q COSTARICA — With the presidential elections coming up, President Rodrigo Chaves proposed adding a question to opinion polls to find out who people think is responsible for the country’s current insecurity.
“I suggest asking: who’s to blame for the homicide problem — the police, the courts, the government, or the Legislative Assembly? Wait until you see the responses,” the president said.
Both Chaves and Security Minister Mario Zamora emphasized that they’re doing everything possible to keep people safe, noting that homicides have actually dropped compared to the forecasts from the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ).
The president didn’t hold back in criticizing the Judiciary, calling the Third Chamber, Judicial Inspection, Full Court, and Prosecutor’s Office “dysfunctional” and in “free fall.”
“During this administration, we have reduced property crimes and robberies have decreased, which demonstrates progress despite the climate of insecurity perceived by the population,” Chaves asserted.
Costa Rica’s next general elections, to elect the president and 57 legislators to the Legislative Assembly are held on the first Sunday in February every four years. The 2026 elections will be held on February 1,
President Chaves can’t run for a second term right away. The Constitution says a president must sit out for two full terms—eight years—before becoming eligible to run for office again.
For the 2026 elections, Chaves aims for the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) to secure at least 40 “chavista” seats in the legislature, thereby maintaining his influence in national politics.
