Steve Harvey can’t live down his Miss Universe mistake, announcing the wrong winner at the 2015 pageant. So, when Harvey asked Miss Costa Rica, Natalia Carvajal, what advice she could give a fellow television personality, she told him to read envelopes carefully.
You have to be really, really, really, really careful
“If they ever give you a really, really, really important envelope, try to read carefully, OK?” Carvajal told Harvery during Sunday night’s live airing of the Miss Universer 2018 on Fox.
The audience cheered as Harvey stared into the distance.
“So you all thought that was that d— funny?” Harvey joked. “Y’all just won’t let it go, huh?
Steve Harvey: “From one host to another, do you have any advice for me?”
Miss Costa Rica: “If they ever give you a really really REALLY important envelope, read it carefully okay?”
In the 2015 edition of the Miss Universe, Harvey announced Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, as the winner, and she was crowned. But Harvey read the envelope wrong and had to apologize.
Harvey’s mistake at 2015 Miss Universe pageant gave Miss Colombia the crown. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Miss Colombia was the first runner-up. Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, was the official winner. Miss Colombiahad to hand over her crown to Miss Philippines, and Harvey called it a “horrible mistake.”
The 67th Miss Universe pageant, was held on 17 December 2018 at the Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.
The show was hosted by comedian Steve Harvey and supermodel Ashley Graham, a contestants from 94 countries and territories participated in this year’s pageant, surpassing the previous record of 92 contestants in 2017.
We all know who the winner was, Catriona Gray of thePhillipines.
But do you know the runners up? Probably not. They were: the first runner-up was Tamaryn Green (South Africa) and Sthefany Sthefany Gutiérrez (Venezuela) was the second runner-up.
Rounding out the top-ten were: Kiara Ortega (Puerto Rico), H’Hen Niê (Vietnam), Marta Stepien (Canada), Natalia Carvajal (Costa Rica), Akisha Albert (Curaçao), Manita Devkota (Nepal) and Sphida Kanchanarin (Thialand).
Ok, so now you know that much, but, can you name the Latina contestants? Hint, if you have been paying attention, you know of two, who are the others?
Agustina Pivowarchuk (Argentina)
Agustina is 22 years old and her hometown is Buenos Aires. She currently studies Nutrition and her bio explains that, “Agustina has always been interested in learning about healthy food and believes many health problems are highly related to eating habits.” But, in addition to school, Pivowarchuk also enjoys taking acting classes.
Jenelli Fraser (Belize)
Jenelli is 27 years old and her hometown is Belize City. According to the San Pedro Sun, when Fraser participated in the Miss Universe National Costume Competition this past week, she wore a costume depicting the Maya Sun God and the Jade Head, ‘Kinich Ahau.’ The elaborate costume was made by two Belizean designers, named David Matus and Roberto Pasos Dominguez. Leading up to the Miss Universe Belize 2018 Pageant, Fraser said she had some issues and had to make sure she was exercising and eating more healthy.
Joyce Prado (Bolivia)
Joyce is 21 and is from Santa Cruz de la Sierra-Bolivia and she was raised in the Chiquitania. She is a professional model and Tourism ambassador, who has several titles under her belt. Her winning titles thus far include Miss Bolivia 2018, Miss Santa Cruz 2018, Miss Tourism Bolivia 2015 and Miss Litoral 2015. According to Prado’s Miss Universe bio, “Throughout her life, Joyce was helped by good people. Knowing the feeling to need, she now wants to give people hope by encouraging them to continue living a great life. She wants people to believe that they can do anything in life with faith and love.”
Mayra Dias (Brazil)
Mayra is a 27-year-old pageant winner, who is from Itacoatiara. According to The South African, in the National Costume competition for Miss Universe this past week, she wore a costume that represented the Amazon rainforest, which is prominent in Brazilian culture. According to Navva, Dias hopes to raise awareness about the Amazon with her costume, explaining that, “I want to show the world how important it is to keep our Amazon.” The costume is valued at $25,000 and Dias stated on Instagram that, “It is a real jewel, hand-embroidered by one of the greatest designers in Brazil, it guides the body lines and has a splitting splendid.” The designer is Fabiana Milazzo.
Andrea Díaz (Chile)
Andrea Diaz is 27 years old and is from Santiago, but she is actually Venezuelan. When talking about Chile, as she geared up for the Miss Universe 2018 Competition, Diaz told NBC News, “I represent the new Chile. This is an inclusive country where immigrants come in search of opportunities.”
Valeria Morales (Colombia)
Valeria is 20 years old and is originally from Cali. According to El Comercio, Morales has been in the media for having opposing opinions on Spain’s Angela Ponce, the first transgender woman to be a contestant in Miss Universe for the 2018 pageant. Morales said, “I think the beauty reign like the Miss Universe is for women who were born women and for her it would also be a disadvantage, so that’s why we have to respect it, but not share it.” Later on, Morales stated, “If Miss Universe receives her (to Angela Ponce), I will accept her with all the affection and respect she deserves.”
Natalia Carvajal (Costa Rica)
Natalia is 28 and hails from San Jose. Carvajal is a model, TV host, publicist, and student. She is also a former contestant from the Costa Rican version of Dancing with the Stars. In addition to being Miss Costa Rica, Carvajal was also Miss Eco Universe 2016.
Aldy Bernard (Dominican Republic)
Aldby is 23 years old and hails from Laguna Salada. Bernard has been working as a model for years for Ossygeno Models Management and she has walked the runways for designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Naeem Khan and Salvatore Ferragamo, as reported by Estrella Fashion Report. In addition to modeling, The Great Pageant Community has reported that Bernard also has a degree in Mass Communication from Escuela Nacional de Locución Profesor Otto Rivera.
Virginia Limong (Ecuador)
Virginia is a 24-year-old pageant winner from Portoviejo. In addition to being Miss Universe Ecuador 2018, Limongi was also Miss World Ecuador 2014. Limongi comes from a big family and, according to her Miss Universe bio, “As a child, she developed a love for animals, especially for cats, so much that she adopted four cats without telling her parents. Virginia has a spirit of adventure because she is always seeking to learn new cultures, languages and tradition. Her passion to travel began when she was 17 years old, when she lived in Germany for a year. Now, Virginia is studying nutrition.”
Marisela de Montecristo (El Salvador)
Miss El Salvador is 26 years old and is from San Salvador. In addition to pageantry, Montecristo also has her hand in modeling and acting. She also has worked as a TV presenter and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2013, de Montecristo won Nuestra Belleza Latina and she had planned on competing in Nuestra Belleza El Salvador 2015 competition, but she dropped out after Donald Trump made controversial statements against Mexican immigrants. At the time, Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization. Not long after, he sold the Miss Universe Organization, according to Business Insider.
Mariana Garcia (Guatemala)
Mariana is 19 years old and comes from Guatemala City. Garcia is a radio host and a model, who, according to her Miss Universe bio, “Her mother taught her how to be a disciplined and responsible, her father taught her how to be patient and hardworking, and her sister taught her how to be the best version of herself. Mariana is studying business administration so she can own a company that will help the economy in her country. Mariana is looking forward to competing on the Miss Universe stage, and hopes to take home the crown.”
Vanessa Villars (Honduras)
Vanessa is a 20-year-old from Santa Barbara and she has a passion for engineering. She also has a job as a TV personality. When it comes to her competing in pageants, her Miss Universe bio states, “Vanessa has always been active in her pageantry career and dedicates time to work with different charitable causes like feeding Honduras and suicide prevention programs. She would best describe herself as confident, dynamic, humane, compassionate, and unstoppable.”
Andrea Toscano (Mexico)
Miss Mexico is a 20-year-old pageant winner from Manzanillo. According to The Miss Universe Organization, Toscano is currently studying Nutrition at Colimaas University and she is developing an app to help children to live a healthy lifestyle. Toscano has also created a project for inter-state migrant children to provide nutritional education. She hopes to use her platform for a change in global health and nutrition.
Adriana Paniagua (Nicaragua)
Adriana is 23 years old and hails from Chinandega. In addition to winning Miss Universe Nicaragua 2018, Paniagua has won many other titles, including Miss Teen Nicaragua, Miss Teen International, and Miss Mundo Nicaragua. In 2013, she ended up withdrawing from the Miss World 2013 competition in Indonesia, because of “personal reasons”, as reported by The Great Pageant Community. The personal reasons were reported to be “insufficient training”.
Rosa Montezuma (Panama)
Rosa is 25 years old and is from Alto Caballero. The Miss Universe Organization reports that Montezuma is currently studying Science and Food Technology and Educational Computing. She also is a volunteer at ‘Campamento de ni’os Regi’n Muna’ (Muna Region Children’s Camp) and she is an advocate for inclusion and diversity. She is the first indigenous woman to win Miss Panama.
Belen Alderete (Paraguay)
Belen is 24 and hails from Asuncion. She is an engineering student, as well as a model and beauty pageant titleholder. Alderete has won Reinas de Belleza del Paraguay 2018, and she took on Reina Hispanoamericana 2018 as well. Ana Livieres was Reina Hispanoamericana Paraguay 2018 and when she resigned, Alderete stepped in to represent Paraguay in the pageant. She finished as the second runner-up.
Romina Lozano (Peru)
Miss Peru is 21 years old and she is from Bellavista. Lozano has competed in several pageants in addition to Miss Peru, including the Elite Model Look Peru 2016 and Miss Callao 2017. In her Miss Universe bio, it states that Lozano comes from humble beginnings, with her family living in the jungle. Her bio revealed that “because of the lack of resources, opportunities, and vulnerable situation she lived in, she knew she had to move to Lima in order to grow and pursue her dreams. At the age of 18, she became independent and moved on her own to Lima where she worked in four different jobs in order to make a suitable living for herself. Her biggest motivation comes from her mother and all the young girls in her hometown.”
Karla Ortega (Puerto Rico)
Karla is a 25-year-old pageant titleholder from Rincon. Ahead of the competition, Ortego told El Nuevo Dia, “Beyond winning the crown, representing our country is what magnifies us. Whenever we are talking about our respective countries we talk about them with our heads held high, our chests inflated, because we love our homelands. For me it has always been my dream to represent it.”
Sofia Marrero (Uruguay)
Sofia is 18 and she is from Canelones. In her Miss Universe Organization bio, Marrero is described as this, “Sofia Abigail Marrero has always been interested in fashion; hence, she has participated in many fashion modeling events. Sofía has never given up her dreams, her perseverance and dedication helped her to be awarded as Miss Universe Uruguay 2018. Sofia considers that winning or placing in this year’s Miss Universe competition would be an amazing experience. Her country has never been awarded this prize, nor has it classified to the Top 15 positions for more than 20 years.”
Sthefany Gutierrez (Venezuela)
Sthefany is 19 years old and she hails from Barcelona originally. She is a law student at Santa Maria University in Puerto La Cruz and she also has a boyfriend, named Michael Carrera, according to El Nacional. Ahead of the Miss Universe Pageant, Carrera wrote his love a message on Instagram. Carrera wrote, “Gracias mi vida por siempre estar a mi lado en las buenas y en las malas. Eres enserio la mejor. Gracias por tanto. Ahora tráete esa corona, pero ya para mi eres la ganadora.” In English, this translates as “Thank you, my life, for always being by my side in the good and in the bad. You really are the best. Thanks a lot. Now bring that crown, but for me, you’re the winner.”
Natalia Carvajal, Miss Costa Rica 2018, now 28, began her career in television by singing and dancing for children when she was only 15 years old.
She spent the next 10 years of her life in front of the cameras but when they turned off the lights, her love for nature and conservation led her to the most incredible adventures.
Her work in front of the cameras has been on local programs such as Recreo Grande, Destinos TV and Dancing With The Stars as well as his interest in publishing a book about her travels through Central America in her first book to be published early next year.
At the Miss Universe 2018, Natalia Carvajal, gave her first message as a finalist of the most important beauty crown in the world.
“I come from a place where I was taught to find happiness in the simplicity of nature and in the power of love.
“So, I do not dream of a physical or a title, I dream of the opportunity to represent each one of you, those who are there – behind the screen – who still believe that the world can be changed with love and acceptance”.
Her speech was greeted with applause and shouts from the audience.
And she is in now in the top 10 most beautiful women in the world. Who can argue with that?
Highlights of Natalia at the Miss Universe 2018, Sunday, December 17, 2018.
Preventing the taxi drivers guild artificially inflate the cost of using Uber is the goal of several user associations, who demand a seat in the negotiating table.
“The decisions of the government should be focused on favoring the entire population and not just one sector (the taxi drivers),” said Rogelio Fernandez, director of Asociación de Consumidores Libres. Photo Esteban Monge / La Republica
The establishment of new requirements and insurance could affect the collaborative mobility platform and mainly its users, according to the Asociación de Consumidores Libres (Association of Free Consumers) and Consumidores de Costa Rica (Consumers of Costa Rica).
In addition, the proposed requirements to pay income tax, social charges (ie the Caja) and other obligations could increase the cost of fares.
“The decisions of the government should be focused on favoring the entire population and not just one sector,” said Rogelio Fernandez, director of Free Consumers, referring to the government’s bending over to the demands of taxi drivers.
“You do not have to be a genius to understand that a guild, like the taxi drivers, cannot define the parameters of a collaborative mobility law that affects them. In that sense, it would be like putting the wolf in charge of the sheep,” Fernandez added.
Four months ago the government of Carlos Alvarado declared Uber’s operations in the country illegally.
Now, four months later, the taxi drivers want to regulate collaborative mobility.
Silence on the part of the government speaks volumes.
Today, Monday (December 17), is the deadline for the government to present a bill to the Legislative Assembly to regulate applications such as Uber.
Rodolfo Méndez, Minister of Transportation (MOPT)
So far, MOPT minister Rodolfo Méndez has only indicated that collaborative mobility will be allowed in Costa Rica.
To try to make the negotiation process transparent, the consumer associations appealed their case to the Defensoría de los Habitantes (Ombudsman’s Office).
“It is unfortunate that consumers have to go to the Defensoría so that the voice of the consumer is heard by the MOPT. We hope that on this occasion the deadline to give answers will be respected,” added Erick Ulate, president of Consumers of Costa Rica.
Uber has been operating in the country for more than three years; however, its status is still illegality.
The government has even urged the company to leave the country while the Legislative Assembly establishes a regulatory framework on app mobility.
Among the proposals being discussed in the halls of the Legislature are:
A tax of 3% to finance an urban mobility fund, to build new public spaces, more bikeways, and a better road system.
Those drivers who dedicate full time as an Uber driver be required to pay into the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).
Drivers would be required to pay income tax on their earnings.
“We are respectful of the Minister and that is why we are waiting to know his proposal. In case he does not, the (legislative) commission would go to work on the matter as soon as possible,” said Pablo Heriberto Abarca, legislator of the PUSC.
The goal of legislators, according to Abarca, is to have a bill before March 2019.
An x-ray of Uber in Costa Rica:
Uber began operations in the country in August 2015
The company has more than 22,000 drivers
66% of the drivers consider Uber their main source of income
The number of people registered with the Uber app is now more than 738,000
38% of users use the app between two and five times a week
32% of Uber drivers have a university education
The number 1 reason for using Uber is its low cost in relation to taxis
Panama City, Panama – María is a 35-year old Salvadoran woman with three young children. Growing up, María knew her mother but never met her father. When María was six, she started working at the Central Market of San Salvador and at the age of 12 she was raped and became pregnant for the first time.
Later, María was expelled from her home once her mother got married for a second time, “My stepfather did not want to take care of me, even less with a son”, she told the researcher for “Resilient Youth, The Opportunity for Central America”, a study developed by the Regional Project Infosegura, a UN Development Programme-USAID joint initiative.
María lived in many different places until she met the father of her second daughter- who was killed years later. After his passing, María had a third child with a third partner whom she soon separated from, due to domestic violence. Currently, María’s teenage son lives with her father, uncle, and grandmother since she simply could not take care of him while also working full time.
Women all across El Salvador, women just like María have a life expectancy of around 75 years. It is safe to say that about half of María’s life has been deeply marked by the violence that women experience in Northern Countries of Central America, a region that for the past two decades has seen chronic violence despite Central America not having a regional war in decades.
When speaking of violence in the Northern Countries of Central America, it is assumed to be a problem concerning young men, since “only” 11 percent of the victims of violent deaths are women. However, the story of María is more common than is realized.
María is just another example of how women of this region live surrounded by a violence that affects them differently and specifically just because they are women.
This violence is not necessarily lethal, and victims often survive, but these women continue to be subjected to the same cycle of violence throughout their whole lives, impacting families and communities through generations, affecting their economy and sustainability, and distorting their capacities for development.
Data shows that in María’s home country, 93 percent of the victims of sexual crimes are women. Over two in every five the victims are under the age of 18. We also know that domestic violence is present throughout the adulthood of a woman and that a woman between 12 and 50 years old is at high risk of “disappearing”.
Over 3,500 women have been killed between the years 2010-2017, while nearly 2,700 were reported as Enforced Disappearances around the same period (201-2016) with 43 percent of them being minors.
We know this because the Salvadoran State has made progress in the management of information on citizen security with a focus on gender and has oriented public policies to guarantee evidence-based analysis.
Migration is a phenomenon that also characterizes this region, and data indicates that violence against women is an important factor to be considered. Our initiative also analyzed returnees data: migrants detained in transit who were sent back to their place of origin.
We know that 26 percent of these ‘returnees’ are women and 30 percent of all women say they have migrated due to violence, compared to only 18 percent of men who say violence is the main reason for leaving their country.
Every November, national, regional, and global actors campaign to eradicate violence against women. It is crucial to recognize violence against women as an essential element of citizen security: tackling it is a key step to build more cohesive and peaceful societies.
Addressing general societal violence with a special focus on violence against women must be at the foundation of comprehensive public policies on citizen security, that aim to eradicate all types of violence. Understanding everyday violence that women experience in their homes and streets is a security problem for communities and nations.
No nation will be safe unless women can live safely and develop their full potentials.
In this spirit, the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide a holistic model for a comprehensive approach to ensure that women have a life free from all types of violence. All of society thrives with firm steps towards development when no one is left behind.
At UNDP, we are systematizing good practices and success stories of the work in Central America within the framework of the UNDP-USAID Infosegura Regional Project, which is dedicated to the development of capacities for the formulation of public policies based on evidence and with a gender approach. We are, thus, establishing standards, methodologies and scalable processes.
An essential part of the process has been to build trust and coordinate our work with national institutions producing and analyzing data, leveraging new technologies, national experts and innovation.
This coordination has resulted in regional accomplishments in information management with a gender focus, such as specialized surveys and standardized reports on acts of violence against women.
In El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras, understanding the context of María’s story as accurately as possible will allow us to efficiently eradicate violence against women as well as all other types of violence. If countries are to achieve the 2030 Agenda, boosting gains in the economic, social and environmental realms, this can only be done if we ensure that no “Marías” are left behind.
Article by By Richard Barathe, Director at UNDP Regional Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, first appeared at Infosegura.org. Read the original here.
Although the intensity of the ash eruptions has been reduced in comparison with the last five days, the Turrialba volcano remains active.
On Saturday night the colossus stopped all activity, but Sunday morning the volcano emanated ash again. The ash column rose some 300 meters above the height of the crater (3640 meters above sea level).
Though the ash output remains weak and diluted, it does have a potentially important impact in the area of the Irazú Volcano National Park.
According to the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica – OVSICORI-UNA, (Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica,) the volcano has been active without stop since November 22. Low amounts of ash and earthquakes have been reported.
On December 12, the ash column reached some 500 meters above the crater, causing the cancellation of a number of flights out of the Juan Santamaria (San Jose) international airport, a distance of about 90 kilometers.
A Nicaraguan expat living in Costa Rica takes part in the "Caravan for Liberty and Justice" to protest against the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, in La Cruz, Costa Rica border with Nicaragua, December 16, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate
Hundreds of Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica set off in a caravan on Sunday from San Jose en route to La Cruz, Guanacaste, to protest against Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega.
The exiles demand democracy in Nicaragua, the departure of Ortega from power and the cessation of government repression against opponents, according to Francisca Ramírez, one of the protesters.
They carried wooden crosses and posters with photographs of the deceased as a result of the repression of the Ortega government.
They also carried cardboard with the names of political prisoners, the Nicaraguan flag, balloons and wore blue and white, the colors of Nicaragua.
Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica hold pictures of their loved ones at Plaza de la Democracia in San Jose.
The caravan of 16 buses and several cars left the Plaza de la Democracia in San Jose at around 6:00 am, with the air of reaching La Cruz, in Guanacaste (some 270 kilometers – 168 miles), by the afternoon, according to the Articulación de Movimientos Sociales – Capítulo Costa Rica (Articulation of Social Movements – Costa Rica Chapter) – organizers of the protest.
In the morning, Ramírez had informed the group that the caravan was headed for the Peñas Blancas border, with the aim of attracting the attention of the Nicaraguan government and the international community.
However, for safety reasons the caravan ended in La Cruz, Guanacaste, Ramírez reported at noon.
The caravan stopped short of the border (La Cruz is about 19 kilometers from the Peñas Blancas) to avoid problems given reports from Nicaragua that said police were waiting on their side in case the protesters crossed into Nicaragua.
The buses arrived at La Cruz city limits around 1:00 pm. From there, the some 800 Nicaraguans taking part in the event walked to the central park.
The group was composed of movements of peasants, students, civil society organizations and LGBTI originating in Nicaraguan departments (provinces) such as Managua, Carazo, Masaya, Granada, Chontales and Estelí.
“We want to make visible the humanitarian crisis Nicaragua is going through because we have been forcibly displaced to Costa Rica by repression,” Ramírez said. “We’re going to tell the people (of Nicaragua) they’re not alone and tell the government (of Daniel Ortega) we’re still alive and fighting to return to a different Nicaragua”.
Ramirez said she fled Nicaragua in October after being threatened by pro-government forces.
The walk to the border area is symbolic, Ramírez added, because it is the route by which Nicaraguans exiled in the country must return once democracy in Nicaragua is restored. Of course, he explained, before Ortega must leave the government.
The bus caravan began its return from La Cruz to San Jose, at about 2 pm without incidents during the protest.
The crisis in Nicaragua
Demonstrations in Nicaragua that began in mid-April when the Ortega government announced welfare cuts.
The planned cuts were quickly dropped by the government, but the population rose against Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice-president, Rosario Murillo.
Since, more than 300 people have been killed as the Ortega administration (almost 500 according to human rights groups), as Ortega responded, often brutally, to months of anti-government protests and attempted to silence his critics.
The exile to Costa Rica
A Nicaraguan expat living in Costa Rica takes part in the protest against the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, in La Cruz, on December 16, 2018.
According to Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), as of December 40,323 Nicaraguans have requested appointments to request refuge.
Of that amount, 21,885 have obtained an interim document as refugee claimants
According to the DGME, Nicaraguans who request refuge do not have a legal impediment to demonstrate.
However, because their lives are in danger, they are advised to maintain anonymity or prudence in this form of protest, said immigration in a statement.
The violence in Nicaragua continues
Monica Baltodano, head of the foundation PopolNa, one of several non-governmental organizations recently raided by the Nicaraguan government, said the protest hoped to get around 1,000 people to the border with Costa Rica.
Riot police in Managua on orders to attack. Carlos F. Chamorro, director of Confidencial was physically and verbally abused on Saturday. Photo Confidencial
On Saturday, Nicaraguan police beat at least seven journalists, including one of the country’s best-known editors, with batons as part of an escalating crackdown on independent media.
Since November 29 the Nicaraguan National Assembly (legislature) controlled by Ortega, has canceled the legal status and ordered the seizure of the property of nine NGOs. In addition, news outlets like Confidencial have been raided. Journalists from the 100% Noticias channel and the newspaper La Prensa have also suffered physical aggression.
For the latest in the Crisis In Nicaragua, follow Today Nicaragua.
In yet another tragedy a 28-year-old woman and her 7-year-old son died senselessly in a crash to avoid a traffic police checkpoint, on Saturday night in Golfito, in the southern zone.
Four others were injured in the head-on crash. One of theme, a 13-year-old boy was admitted to the Hospital Manuel Mora, in Golfito, in critical condition.
The crash occurred around 8:00 pm on the road to Rio Cloro.
According to Minor Picado, regional chief of the Policía de Tránsito (Traffic Police), one of the drivers tested positive in the breathalyzer test, the other refused and was arrested to be submitted to a blood test to confirm his state of drunkenness.
To boot, the driver of the car with the victims does not have a license. Nor does the vehicle have the 2018 Marchamo (right of circulation), or the Riteve (vehicular inspection).
In addition, none of the children in the vehicles traveled with any child safety device as required by law.
So, what happened, that would lead the tragedy?
Picado explained that on Saturday night officers from the Special Operations unit of the Traffic Police were in the area with spot checks.
In one of them, they observed when a white vehicle made a u-turn after noticing the road control head. A police patrol gave chase, but minutes later the officers were met with a head-on collision of two vehicles, with one the cases having the same characteristics as the car that avoided the control on the road.
With these two deaths, the toll for the year of road accident deaths (at the scene) is 422. The total for this month, in the first 15 days, is 27.
The country was moved on Friday afternoon to hear the news of the multiple crash that left a 13-year-old girl and her stepfather dead on the Autopista General Cañas.
Jose Oreamuno, the first thing he thought was,”One more family in disgrace and at Christmas,” not realizing it was his son who had died in the Friday afternoon crash on the General Cañas
In La Ribera de Belén, in the Alajuela – San Jose direction, a bus traveling in the center lane moved to the right lane, forcing a Honda Civic sedan into the ditch and slamming into one of the two stopped tractor trailers, lining up to the San Antonio de Belen exit.
27 passengers on the bus were injured, mostly with cuts and bruises, several with serious injuries and requiring hospitalization.
In the sedan traveled four people with the young girl and her stepfather, the young girl’s mother, Jenny Gómez Araya, who remains in critical condition at the Hospital Mexico and her 16-year-old son, in stable condition at the San Rafael de Alajuela hospital.
Gómez, 41, had to be pulled from the tangled metal with the jaws of life.
Infograph from La Nacion
When José Oreamuno, father of 34-year-old José Adrián Oreamuno, heard about the crash, the first thing he thought was: “One more family in disgrace and at Christmas.”
“Without even knowing that it was us, our family,” Oreamuno, told La Nacion on Saturday, while the family waited to receive the body of his son, to
The elder Oreamuno said he did not know that his son, a mechanic, had left work to attend his stepdaughter’s sixth-grade graduation.
Given the alleged imprudence of the bus driver that caused the crash, Oreamuno asked drivers for “a little more culture in the driving, a little more respect so that no family touches them, because it is difficult, it is horrible”.
Including Friday’s crash, the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police) report 420 deaths on the road, 25 this month so far. The numbers are only for deaths at the scene.
The family mourning the death of 34-year-old José Adrián Oreamuno and his 12-year-old stepdaugther
Jenny’s sister, Denia Gómez, said that “we have to give it time because everything is very recent. Right now it depends on time, how it evolves, it is very serious.”
Jenny Gómez is a teacher at Quebradas School, in Tambor de Alajuela, the same school her daughter graduated from this Friday, hours before the tragedy.
“She was my niece. I saw her being born, I saw her grow up, ‘la negra’ that’s what we called her,” said Denia Gómez.
Up to four people may be involved in the disappearance and the sexually-motivated murder of Carla Stefaniak, not just the security guard, her family says.
On a Facebook page that was created during the search for 36-year-old tourist had disappeared in Costa Rica, who had failed to return from a trip for her birthday.
The family last heard of Carla on November 27, the evening before she was to have taken a flight to return home. When on the afternoon of November 28, a Wednesday, Carla failed to show at the airport in Florida, the family got concerned and contact authorities in Costa Rica to file a report.
Her partially buried body was found on Monday, December 3, a few hundred meters from the Airbnb she was staying her last night in Costa Rica.
During the investigation into her disappearance, the Airbnb’s security guard told police he had seen the tourist leave early Wednesday morning, getting into a ‘taxi like’ vehicle. One report even has him telling investigators he helped the guest put the luggage in the car.
But investigators weren’t buying his story. They suspected he was not telling them the truth. A search of his living quarters on the property, a room next to Carla’s, following the find of the body, led police to arrest the security guard, a 32-year-old man of Nicaragua origin, identified as Bismark Espinosa Martinez, in Costa Rica illegally, including working illegally the hotel Le Mas that used the Airbnb platform to rent villas.
The hotel had lost its operating license in 2013. It was subsequently shut down by the municipality days after the discovery of the murder that investigators believe occurred in the villa Carla rented, finding trace evidence of blood. The villa had been cleaned before investigators could search it.
The Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ), the judicial authority akin to the FBI in the United States, is keeping quiet on the progress of their investigation, who say the information on the case is “confidential”.
Autopsy results reveal Carla died from injuries to the “neck, head and extremities,” and also indicated she was injured by some type of weapon, said Walter Espinoza, director the OIJ.
The case still remains under investigation.
“In fact, the doubt extends to that there may be up 3 or 4 possible people involved,” the family wrote in a message Thursday night. “We have been saying this since day 1. This was organized by more than one person as soon as Carla booked the place.”
Carla was cremated in Costa Rica and family members brought her ashes back to Tampa, where she lived after moving to the United States in 2000 from her native Venezuela for 12 years before moving to South Florida.
Costa Rica has a reputation internationally of being one of the safest countries to visit. The murder of Carla and two other (female) tourists in August has left a stain.
Authorities are being urged to make changes in the judicial system.
Don’t have coat or abrigo in Spanish? At least a sweater or windbreaker? You might want to get one if you are going to go out in the mornings or evenings in the coming days.
According to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – the national weather service – During this Saturday, the arrival of the cold surge # 9 to the North of Central America, will cause the increase of the atmospheric pressure on the region, in turn the gradual acceleration of the winds in the national territory, especially in the North Pacific, North Zone, Central Valley and the mountain ranges.
In addition, it is anticipated an increase in cloudiness and greater recurrence of rainfall in the Caribbean and the North Zone, as well as occasional drizzle and light rain in the north of Guanacaste and the eastern sector of the Central Valley. In the Central and South Pacific it will be maintained with little to partial cloudiness throughout the day.
This all means that temperatures will be a few degrees below normal. Better put, it will be cold.
For example, the average nighttime temperature in the San Jose greater area is around 19 Celsius at night and mornings, but don’t be surprised 17 Celsius or lower, even as cold as 15 Celsius in the next few days.
In the case of the Chirripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica with an elevation of 3,821 meters (12,536 feet) above sea level, the minimum temperature is forecast at 3.7 Celsius (39 Fahrenheit).
Festival de Luz
Tonight (December 15) is the Festival de Luz (Light Festival) in San Jose. Bundle up. Besides the low temperatures, the cold winds will make it feel even colder.
As we head into the end of year holiday season, the Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General) and the Transit Police (Policía de Tránsito) united their voices to give a clear and forceful message: they will be relentless against drunk drivers.
Don’t be a statistic. Don’t drink and drive.
On Friday, Emilia Navas (Attorney General) and German Marin (head of the Transit Police) held a joint press conference to announce that drivers caught under the influence of alcohol (and drugs) will be arrested and subjected to a criminal process.
They also announced changes that will speed up the process.
Before Friday, drivers caught under the influence were sent to the Fiscalia (Prosecutor’s Office) for identification and summoned to interrogation days later. The interrogation will now be immediate.
Both stated that up to now the system has been ‘easy’ against drunk drivers, but no more.
Key questions about these changes
What changed on Friday? If a driver is allegedly arrested because he or she is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs they will be transferred to the appropriate prosecutor’s office according to the location. They will be detained, booked (a criminal case is opened) and taken to cells of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).
When will they be detained? An administrative fine is levied against a driver blowing higher than 0.38 in a roadside breathalyzer test.
How much is the administrative fine? The administrative fine of some ¢310,000 colones if: a) If the blood alcohol is greater than 0.5 g and up to 0.75 or higher or 0.38 mg on a breathalyzer. This applies to all drivers; Higher than 0.20 g to 0.50 g blood alcohol, or greater than 0.25 mg on a breathalyzer in cases for professional drivers and for novice drivers (drivers with a license under three years).
What happens if a driver refuses a breathalyzer? When the driver refuses the order of a Transito (traffic official) to a breathalyzer, the Public Prosecutor’s Office may order the driver to a medical center to have the blood test done and thus to verify the state of drunkenness.
Will there be preventive detention (remand) for the drunk drivers? According to Emilia Navas, as in any criminal case, the Penal Code establishes that precautionary measures may be requested.So yes, a drunk driver can spend time behind bars while their case makes its way through the courts. Navas explained each case is assessed individually and, if necessary, the driver may face some type of precautionary measures to prevsent them from driving under the effects.
Should the minimum alcohol consumption allowed be reduced? Germán Marín explained that the institutional criterion is that if a person is going to drive, their consumption of liquor should be zero.”What we want is to safeguard the physical integrity of ourselves or of others, the driver must be in optimal conditions,” he said.
The takeaway here is, if you are going to party this holiday season, DON’T DRIVE.
Alternatives to drunk driving
Have a Designated Driver. If one of your friends doesn’t drink, great! … If you don’t have friends that don’t drink, maybe its time to make new ones
Do you travel frequently on the main road to Escazú? Well, it is best to arm yourself with patience during the coming week. In addition to the traditional congestion provoked by the holiday shopping season, users of Route 105 will deal with the demarcation works that are being carried out.
On Friday (December 14) the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi) began the roadwork that will stretch the three kilometers between the intersection of ruta27, near Walmart, and Casa de Piedra, by the Liceo de Escazú, in Escazú center.
The work will be carried out between 8:30 am and 3 pm and is expected to be completed by next Friday, December 21.
A 13-year-old girl and her stepfather were the victims of a multiple vehicle crash involving two tractor trailers, a bus and a small car that occurred this Friday afternoon on the Autopista General Cañas.
The crash was recorded at 4:12 pm in front of the the Nissan, in La Ribera de Belén, in the Alajuela – San José direction. At that time of the crash there was heavy rain in the area, according to witnesses.
Apparently, the girl and her family were on their way home from her sixth grade graduation. She was wearing the band that identified her as a graduate. Four people were traveling in the Honda sedan.
The other vehicles were a bus which covers the route between Atenas-San José, and two tractor trailers (one of with Costa Rican plates and the other from Guatemala).
According to traffic official Yenner Piedra Zúñiga, apprantely the two big rigs were in the right lane waiting to exit to Belen. Witnesses said the Atenas-San Jose bus was traveling in the middle lane when the driver, changing lanes, hits the sedan and the slams into the back one of the big trucks. From the photos of the scene of the crash, the sedan was pushed off the road and became a tangled mess.
According to Carlos Serrano Calderon, who was traveling three cars behind the bus, the bus swerved to the right hitting the sedan. It is not clear if the sedan impacted the big rig was well.
“At the moment of the impact I observed a woman flying through the windshield of the bus and fell into the left lane of the road. I approached the vehicle and found the deceased driver. Two men and two women were inside the car. The teenager answered me and askd me for help. Her mom was breathing a little on my arrival. All three were pressed inside the vehicle. I saw glass flying everywhere,” Serrano told La Nacion.
Paramedics were able to extract the young girl from the sedan alive, but she died moments later in the ambulance. Her stepfather, believed to be driving, died from the impact. The other two passengers, one the young girl’s mother, were taken to hospital.
In the bus, the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) reports attending 18 passengers with cuts and brusies and 11 taken to hospital, seven with significant but not life threatening injuries, and four with serious injuries.
Friday evening, one of the patients continued in critical condition at the Hospital Mexico.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but weather is believed a contributing factor.
One of the passengers on the bus, 73-year-old Rafael Ángel León Víquez, commented that he was very surprised when the driver suddenly pulled to the right and hit the sedan.
Chilean Minister of Environment Carolina Schmidt is seen after Chile was named the host of COP25 conference, during the final day of the COP24 U.N. Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland, December 14, 2018. | Photo: Reuters
Chile will host the 2020 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP25) as decided near the end of this year’s edition in Katowice, after Brazil stepped down citing financial issues.
Chilean Minister of Environment Carolina Schmidt is seen after Chile was named the host of COP25 conference, during the final day of the COP24 U.N. Climate Change Conference 2018 in Katowice, Poland, December 14, 2018. | Photo: Reuters
“We will have the great responsibility of leading and advancing toward a better control of climate change and global warming,” Chilean President Sebastian Piñera told the press after the announcement.
The next summit was expected to take place between November 11 and 22, 2019, but Piñera said it will be in January 2020.
The rumors were first confirmed by Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Costa Rica’s environment and energy minister, speaking to EFE during the summit in Poland, and highlighted the importance for the summit to remain in Latin America after Brazil’s decision.
“Chile, Costa Rica and other countries in the region agreed to support Chile to host the COP25,” said Rodriguez.
Brazil withdrew its candidacy to host the 2019 COP25 conference citing budget limitations, but environmental groups understood the move as a favor to the incoming government led by the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who has promised to pull out the South American giant from the Paris Accord on climate change.
Bolsonaro has also vowed to to remove restrictions on the agribusiness sector accused of causing untold devastation to the environment. In particular, the Amazon rainforest, and by appointing career diplomat Ernesto Araujo as his future foreign minister, a man who says that climate change is a plot by “cultural Marxists” and a “dogma” to promote the growth of China.
Costa Rica was another strong candidate to host the summit, but it declined citing financial issues. However, the Central American country will still host a meeting in October previous to the summit, coordinating with Chile since the first months of 2019.
The summit takes place in a different region every year and Latin America is the next in line after this year’s summit in East Europe.
Rodriguez said that both Chile and Costa Rica have the “moral strength” to take the struggle against climate change “to the next level,” understood as “the full implementation of the 2015 Paris Accord, aiming to limit the increase of temperature clearly below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.”
The election of Chile is important because the host country plays a key role as mediator and organizer in the negotiations – a complex multilateral process in which thousands of people from about 200 national delegations participate.
This year’s summit began on Dec. 3 and is taking longer than expected. According to the Polish Environment Minister Henryk Kolwaczyk, the discussions about the implementation of the Paris Accords will go on until Saturday.
The issues being discussed are current efforts by every country in their fight against climate change, and financial aid for climate policies while setting new objectives for 2020.
A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl, who traveled to the United States with the Central American caravan, died of dehydration while in U.S. custody. She had been detained last week for crossing the U.S. border illegally.
The girl and her father were detained by immigration authorities on Dec. 6 in New Mexico as part of a group of 163 people who approached U.S. agents to turn themselves in, the Washington Post reported.
On Dec. 7, the girl started having seizures and she was taken to a hospital, where she died.
My God.
Shame on our country and shame on Donald Trump.
A 7 year old girl was taken into custody by US Border Patrol and died of “dehydration and shock.”
These aren’t thugs & criminals. They are people desperate for safe harbor.
The names of the girl and her father have not been released.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an official statement saying that U.S. Border Patrol “always takes care of individuals in their custody and does everything in their power to keep them safe.”
However, the Associated Press quotes border officials who claim the girl had not had food or water for several days.
The area through which the girl and her father crossed is one of the most dangerous border zones due to the presence of human traffickers and extreme weather conditions.
It has gotten to the point where you wish the international community would step in and stop the US from human rights abuses on our border…because our government not only won’t, they’re responsible for them. https://t.co/6DFlkZocYh
U.S. President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which resulted in separating children arriving at the border with their parents, has added new dangers for the thousands of migrants who travel north, escaping violence and poverty.
About 400,000 immigrants were arrested between Sep. 2017 and Nov. 2018, according to El Pais.
Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro reacted Thursday asking for a full investigation of the girl’s death. He published a statement stressing that hardening conditions for asylum requests have not deterred people from migrating north.
On the contrary, migratory flows have increased opting for riskier depopulated areas to cross.
How unimaginably awful: A 7-year-old girl from Guatemala taken into Border Patrol custody died of dehydration and shock. Her body temperature was 105.7 degrees and it appeared she hadn’t “eaten or consumed water for several days” https://t.co/smaRnGpPbnpic.twitter.com/3Mw2aa1a80
Tension has been mounting in the U.S. southern border as over 7,000 migrants, primarily from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador have reached the border in the past days. They trekked around 4,000km to request asylum in the U.S., but Trump has chosen to treat the asylum seekers as “criminals” and “invaders,” deploying troops to the southern border.
(Press Release) An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ravi Balakrishnan visited San José from December 4 to 11 to discuss recent economic developments, the fiscal reform, and the overall macro and financial outlook.
The mission held fruitful discussions with Central Bank Governor Rodrigo Cubero, Finance Minister Rocío Aguilar, members of the Legislative Assembly, other senior government officials, and representatives of the financial and private sectors.
At the end of the visit, Mr. Balakrishnan issued the following statement:
“Economic growth has moderated in the second half of the year, with the monthly economic activity index (IMAE) only rising by 2.7 percent in 2018Q3, compared with 3.9 percent in 2018Q2 (yoy). Consumer confidence also declined to its lowest level in November since records began in 2002. The slowdown reflects multiple shocks buffeting the Costa Rican economy, including a three-month public-sector strike against fiscal adjustment efforts, spillovers from the Nicaraguan crisis, rising global interest rates, and the significant uncertainty that surrounded the fiscal reform. Against this backdrop, the mission forecasts growth of 2.6 percent in 2018. Inflation should remain at the lower end of the 2-4 percent target range as 2018 closes, although inflation expectations did breach the upper limit of the band in November given expected pass-through of the recent colón depreciation.
“The mission welcomes the recent passage of the fiscal reform bill, which constitutes a critical step towards restoring confidence and, if fully implemented, re-establishing fiscal sustainability. The reform not only represents efforts on the revenue and expenditure fronts, but more importantly, of expenditures controls in the future. In a context of further expected hikes in U.S. interest rates in 2019, the large fiscal imbalance continues to be the main risk to macroeconomic stability. Indeed, central government debt is expected to reach 53 percent of GDP by end-2018. Given this, to maximize the confidence effects from the fiscal reform, it will be important to ensure its timely implementation and clearly communicate financing plans for 2019 and beyond. Additional front-loaded fiscal adjustment would help reduce funding needs in the short term and further improve debt dynamics. The mission welcomes the broad consensus on using the OECD accession process as a catalyst for boosting competitiveness and employment.
“The mission would like to thank the authorities for their warm hospitality and all stakeholders for the candid discussions. The team looks forward to returning in February 2019 to conduct the Article IV Consultation.”
What’s your most often used means of public transport? Your second? If you said Uber to the latter, a recent study by the Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Población (IDESPO), of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) – Institute of Social Studies in Population of the National University – agrees with your choice.
Users prefer Uber, but ask the service to be regulated. The least used means of transport is the train.
The first choice, the method of public transportation used by the majority of the population in Costa Rica, is the bus.
According to the survey of 1,003 people between August 31 and September 10, 2018, 469 said the use the bus, 240 used Uber, 166 a pirate taxis (gypsy cabs), 116 the red (official) taxis and 14 the train.
They were also asked with which service they are more satisfied, 97% of Uber users said they were satisfied with the service, 72.3% of bus users said they found the service satisfactory, while only 16% of users of pirate taxis were positive on the service,
The researchers also found that 85% of the respondents were aware of the conflict between Uber and the taxis and that 9 out of 10 people share the idea that Uber should continue to operate, but regulated.
What’s your choice of preference in public service? And why? Post your comments below or to our official Facebook page.
Legislator Shirley Díaz of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) proposed that all persons entering Costa Rica on a tourist visa, demonstrate the minimum carrying of US$500 either in cash or by credit or debit card.
The proposal is a preventive measure against any possible new massive migrations. In the past few years large groups of migrants has shown up at Costa Rica’s door, some like the Cuban migrants in 2015 making their way north to the United States, more recently the thousands of Nicaraguans fleeing repression in their home country.
“It is necessary to carry out immigration reforms that guarantee that those who enter the country have a minimum amount to cover basic needs such as lodging and food during their stay in Costa Rica,” said the legislator.
Díaz explained that the measure would be for all people entering the national territory, even in those cases where Costa Rica is used as a transit country.
The only different treatment would have those citizens who apply for refuge, as well as minors, for example, if an adult enters with two children, only have to confirm the carrying of US$500.
The proposal aims to amend Article 42 of the Ley de Migración y Extranjería.
The legislator defended her proposal saying this already occurs in countries like Panama or the United States.
Since August, the image of the country had been hit with the femicide of three tourists, Venezuelan-American Carla Stefaniak in Escazu, Arantxa Lopez from Spain and the Maria Trinidad Mathus from Mexico. In the first two cases, the women died at the hands of foreigners illegally in the country.
Arcos Dorados, that operates the McDonald’s brand in Costa Rica will in 2019 open the doors of a restaurant in the province of Limón.
The latest McDonald’s to open is in the Oxigeno commercial center in Heredia
With the Limon opening, in addition to a new store in Tres Rios and in the Oxigeno commerical center, there will be 65 golden arches throughout the country, with the majority concentrated in the Central Valley.
The first McDonald’s in Costa Rica opened in 1971.
Arcos Dorados is McDonald’s largest franchisee in the world in terms of systemwide sales and number of restaurants and the largest operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The hotel Le Mas, the hotel where the American/Venezuelan tourist Carla Stefaniak was killed, has been again been found hiring another Nicaraguan migrant, illegal in the country, as a security guard.
Photo Prensa Libre
Steven Madden, deputy director of the immigration police, confirmed that during an operation carried out at the hotel’s facilities to identify more people, they found the illegal guarding the entrance to the hotel that was shut down by the municipality of Escazu for operating without a license.
“In this place, the person who is the case of the front gate is a citizen of Nicaraguan nationality with the surname Molina. Once the immigration systems is consulted, it is found he does not register any regular entry to the country. Also, the passport does not have any stamp that proves his legal entry,” said Madden.
The attorneys for Stefaniak’s family, Josep Rivera and David Hernández, were surprised to learn of the recidivism of Le Mas by hiring illegals.
“Arriving here we found out and managed to observe a vehicle of the immigration police and we are informed that the guard who was here at the hotel was arrested.
They tell us that he is detained because he is a person who has problems of immigration status in the country, this draws our attention because he is not the other foreigner who was arrested and who worked here, but he is a different person who is also illegal, it seems that they (illegals) are still used for the care of this property,” said Hernández.
The half-buried body of Carla Stefaniak was found on Monday, December 3, some 200 meters from the Le Mas after reported missing on November 28.
The hotel security guard, Bismark Espinoza Martínez, was arrested the arrested the same Monday night and is currently in preventive detention (remand) while the Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) continues to investigate the case.
Authorities say Martinez, the only suspect in the mirder of tourist, arrived in Costa Rica in June and was illegal at the time of the arrest.
Drivers beware, if you get pulled over and your traffic offense is serious enough to warrant the confiscation of license plates, you may be on foot throughout this holiday season. This applies also to illegal parking.
Photo courtesy Policia de Transito
This because the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) – Road Safety Council – will close its doors at the end of the day on Friday, December 21 and not re-open until Monday, January 7 of the new year.
That is, you will not be able to pay the fine and reclaim your plates until the new year and will not be able to use the vehicle for the 16 days. And if you think of driving without the plates, you run the risk of having the vehicle confiscated, which adds about ¢72,000 colones for storage to the cost of the fine and tow.
According to the Cosevi, one of the most frequent infraction for plate confiscation is illegal parking.
Also, keep in mind that the Cosevi holiday closure affects “impugnaciones” (appealing fines).
A traffic ticket can be appealed within 10 business days. The holiday closure means the appeal time is extended. For example, a ticket received on December 21 can be appealed by January 18.
On outstanding tickets, according to the current Ley de Tránsito (Traffic Law), fines linger for seven years before erased off the books, but, it is necessary to pay them (unless they are under appeal) to renew your drivers license.
BTW, outstanding tickets carry a penalty and interest.
Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería Costa Rica (DGMIE), on Thursday, reported the expulsion a Nicaraguan citizen for the sexual abuse of a minor in Costa Rica.
Photo courtesy of the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería Costa Rica
Immigration said they deported the man identified by his last names Baca Paniagua, permanent resident in the country since 2000, sentenced by the Alajuela Criminal Court.
The man is also banned from returning to Costa Rica for 25 years, due to the crime he committed, as established in article 187 pf the Ley de Migración y Extranjería N° 8764
According to the law, expulsion is executed when a foreign person, who has a legal stay in the country under any immigration category, through his or her actions has compromised the peace, security, tranquility and public order, through the commission of a crime against a minor, or aggression or crimes against the life of women, persons with disabilities or seniors.
“These operational actions are constant by the professional migration police, through which they seek to safeguard National Security. This expulsion in a reflection of institutional commitment to protect not only public order, but the vulnerable populations of the country,” said Stephen Madden, Deputy Director of the immigration police service
“When I see what is going on in the world, I can’t stop thinking if we will not be living again what happened in the thirties”, emphasized president Carlos Alvarado by referring to the complex panorama facing humanity, where many the democratic values, inclusiveness and freedom are being threatened by racism, xenophobia, populism and extreme nationalism.
“The world is talking to us. These are signs we can’t skip. We have one of the strongest and most beautiful democracies. And today, all and all, we have the opportunity and responsibility to build it, to go ahead and not let Costa Rica take that division route that some want,” said President Carlos at the end of the presentation of the National Plan of Development and Public Investment of the Bicentennial, on Tuesday at the National Theater, sending a strong message to all to work together to build an even more exceptional, more inclusive and democratic Costa Rica.
Along with the Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy, Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, Alvarado stressed that the National Plan is the result of extensive inter-institutional work of the Bicentennial Government: A roadmap that will define the 2018-2022 management and that will guide the country towards economic growth, the reduction of poverty and unemployment and the decarbonization of our economy.
“Using science, data and reasoning is vital. That is why it is important that the goals have been built modeling the interventions, to be realistic where we want to go,” said the Minister of Planning.
The goal of the government is for a GDP growth target of at least 3.3%; multidimensional poverty reduction between 2.3 and 2.7 percentage points; open employment opportunities by at least 0.7 and 1.8 percentage points and reduce the rate of dioxide emissions.
Three minors are suspected of killing the Italian businessman, Gianfranco Pescosolido, 56, on Wednesday night, while exercising inside the La Sabana park, shortly after 8:00 pm, attacked during a failed assault.
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) said Thursday afternoon that Pescosolido lived in the environs of the United States embassy, in Pavas.
The OIJ added that, Pescosolido, married to a Costa Rican and with two childen, with more than 15 years in the country, was stabbed twice, in the abdomen and chest, and taken to the San Juan de Dios hospital by paramedics, where he died shortly after arrival.
Pescosolido imported edible products from Italy and sold in various supermarkets in the country.
For now, judicial sources presume that those responsible are minors, from the descriptions provided by witnesses. Larson Alemán, deputy director of the Fuerza Publica (national police) in San Jose, explained that the Pescosolido was found in an area near the lake of La Sabana.
“Unfortunately, an isolated event occurred last night, the victim was located in a desolate and dark part of park, a little further away than usual, from the illuminated areas,” said Alemán.
The police director added that at the time of the attack, the Fuerza Publica had three patrol units in the area and “policletos” units (officials on bicycles).
According to witnesses, Pescosolido who was taking his nightly runs in La Sabana, was approached by three young men who attempted to assault him.
At the moment, the OIJ has not arrested any suspect for this crime.
So far this year, more than 552 homicides have been recorded.
La Sabana, a dangerous park
According to Aleman, crime in La Sabana has been contained in recent months, thanks to the preventive measures by police, that include a permanent station in the park, mounted police (in the day), policletas.
The regional director added that they use plain clothes to counteract the criminals.
After 5 p. m. and despite the fact that the number of officers decreases, the surveillance is “reinforced” with four motorized personnel and one DTA unit (police wagon). The officers on a motorcycle make constant runs in the internal part of the park.
However, Alemán explains, it is necessary that people who visit La Sabana (especially at night) and other parks should stick to well-lit areas and be accompanied.
Costa Rica uses a mix of hydro, wind and geothermal energy to power the homes of its 4.9 million people. Photograph: Ezequiel Becerra/AFP/Getty Images
Costa Rica will be beating its own record again for most consecutive days of using solely renewable energy, with 300 days so far this year.
In 2015, it set a record of 299 days on renewable energy, then hitting 299 in 2017.
Costa Rica uses a mix of hydro (hydroelectric power), wind, biomass and geothermal energy for electrical power
Costa Rica gets its clean energy from a variety of sources. Hydropower makes up 78% of the country’s renewal energy, and wind and geothermal each making up to 10%, followed by biomass and solar each at around 1%.
While the feat of nearly one year using only clean energy is an impressive feat, the figure only applies to electricity. Gasoline and natural gas usage for powering vehicles were not surveyed.
Monica Araya — an economist, clean development adviser for Costa Rica and director of Costa Rica Limpia — called the latest accomplishment “fantastic,” but readily admitted that the country still has a way to go in terms of clean energy.
Araya explained, “It hides a paradox, which is that nearly 70% of all our energy consumption is oil.”
Mónica Araya director of Costa Rica Limpia
Earlier this year, the country became the first to ban fossil fuels. In May, the country’s new president, Carlos Alvarado, during his inauguration made the announcement of their plan to become the first decarbonized country in the world, ending fossil fuel use by 2021, the same year the country marks its 200th anniversary of independence.
“Decarbonization is the great task of our generation, and Costa Rica must be one of the first countries in the world to accomplish it, if not the first,” Alvarado declared. “We have the titanic and beautiful task of abolishing fossil fuels in our economy to make way for the use of clean and renewable energies.”
“When we reach 200 years of independent life, we will take Costa Rica forward and celebrate … that we’ve removed gasoline and diesel from our transportation,” he promised.
Costa Rica, which has no army, now plans to get off fossil fuel entirely in the next few years. This is what leadership looks like. https://t.co/4imkUfIrjm
Yet, the country suffers from the same curse as every other nation in the world — too many automobiles.
As a result, while carbon emissions from electricity generation by the State power and telecom, the Instituto Costarrisence de Electricidad (ICE) are falling, emissions from internal combustion engines are soaring.
Vehicular traffic in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) of San Jose seems to grow worse by the day. A small percentage of the more than 1,4 million vehicular fleet in Costa Rica are electrics and hybrids.
The Italian killed in La Sabana Wednesday night has been identified as Gianfranco Pescolido, 56 years of age, living in Costa Rica.
From Fanpage.it
Ernesto Pescosolido told FrosinoneToday.com that his brother, originally from Arce, near the central Italian city of Frosinone, had been living in Costa Rica for several years, and leaves behind two children in Costa Rica.
The news of Gianfranco’s murder in Costa Rica night quickly made the Italian press, with all major online publications and television news carrying the report.
Gianfranco Pescosolido was a great lover of travel and especially of adventures in Latin America.
That’s how a dear friend remembers him, telling Fanpage.it: “Ciao, Gianfranco, you left for a great journey. Painful. For you, adventurous and curious man, eager to get to know the whole world by bicycle, motorbike, kayak, plane, for you the last trip was on foot and a few hundred meters.
“A few days ago you called me to know about my state of health and to plan a mushroom escapade (an Italian thing). You told me about your latest adventures in South America (your travels were simple and peaceful journeys) and we made the commitment to see each other as soon as we could, but this will not happen. We will miss you Gianfranco, so much.”
Gianfranco Pescosolido was killed Wednesday night, around 8:20 pm while in the La Sabana park on the west side of San Jose.
Witnesses say Gianfranco was running near the lake in the metropolitan park when he was assaulted. He was stabbed while fighting back when they tried to steal his cellular phone worn on his arm.
La Sabana park in San Jose, Costa Rica
According to Cruz Roja (Red Cross) paramedic Francisco Soto Vásquez, the man had two serious knife wounds in his upper torso.
“There were many people, very curious because it was an assault. The wounds were deep, a lot of bleeding. He was moved (transferred to hospital) in a delicate condition,” said Vásquez.
Gianfranco Pescosolido died minutes after arriving at the San Juan de Dios hospital only 2 kilometers away.
The Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) is investigating.
So far this year, more than 552 homicides have been recorded.
A man of Italian nationality died Wednesday night after being wounded with a knife, while he was in the Parque Metropolitano La Sabana. According to the police report, officers found the man with stab wounds to his chest and abdomen.
La Sabana park at night, Image for illustrative purposes.
The man was taken to the San Juan de Dios Hospital where minutes after his entry was declared lifeless, reported the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).
According to the witnesses, the 50-year-old victim (whose identity has not yet been confirmed) was walking in the park when he was attacked, around 8:20 pm Wednesday. The reasons for the attack are unknown.
just need to let it out. we will not know unless we let the words out of our mouth as much as we can.
Understanding the language and not speaking it well is actually a very common problem among expats. And there are many reasons for it.
You just need to let it out. You will not know unless you let the words out of our mouth.
Most expats find that the reason they are having trouble speaking Spanish is that they tend to focus too much on the grammar rules, draw too many parallels with their mother tongue as they speak, or simply feel anxious.
If you feel this way, too, it’s OK and it’s not your fault. The good news is you will definitely improve if you keep practicing.
As a Spanish learner, you’ve spent a great deal of time and effort in order to be able to understand the language – be it practicing grammar, vocabulary, idioms, or colloquialisms. To speak well, you need to practice just as much, if not more.
Think about it this way.
You may theoretically know everything about running – how to breathe correctly, what shoes to wear, how to stretch, pace yourself, etc. But you won’t become a good runner just by knowing all of that – you need to get out there and run regularly so that you can gradually improve. The same goes for speaking another language.
One thing you need to remember that having difficulty communicating in Spanish isn’t because your abilities are somehow inferior to others. You just haven’t spent enough time practicing that skill, speaking.
Speaking time tends to be limited in most Spanish classes, where most of the time is spent on explaining the lesson, taking notes, listening, and exercises. Speaking typically gets the least amount of attention.
By repeating a classroom routine over and over, your brain gets used to a certain type of activities: reading and extracting meaning, listening and getting used to the voice of your instructor, filling in the blanks, etc. In other words, your brain is in a “reading and writing mode.”
During these activities, you accumulate a great deal of passive grammar and vocabulary. The only way to activate all that knowledge is by speaking and practicing a lot so that you start getting used to natural speech patterns. This is why, when choosing a Spanish instructor, choose one that will act more like your speaking partner rather than a traditional teacher.
The takeaway message is this: the only way to improve speaking is by speaking… a lot!
Make sure to dedicate most of your learning time to it if you are looking to improve that skill. Spend most of your practice time on speaking, active listening and writing, and less reading and passive listening.
Speaking is fundamentally different from reading or listening. Speaking requires altogether different skill.
Idiomatic usages are a constant difficulty for many. Although your listener may understand what you are trying to say, though very little of what you say is how a Costa Rican would say it.
Don’t be afraid or shy to speak Spanish whether your pronounciation is correct or not. You just need to let it out. You will not know unless you let the words out of our mouth as much as you can.
Once you make Spanish a part of your normal daily communication, you will see the results.
Our friend Christopher Howard has put together a series of useful one-of-a-kind e-books on Spanish spoken in Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
The government of Carlos Alvarado has expressed concern over the intentions of Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua to declare the Harbor Head lagoon as a wild refuge, a decision that could provoke a new diplomatic conflict because the lagoon is in the middle of the Costa Rican wetlands and that, by land, access is through Costa Rican territory.
This is the lagoon of Harbor Head, Nicaragua, in the middle of Costa Rican territory and facing the Caribbean Sea. Nicaragua had a military camp in the sandbar in 2016. Photo: Foreign Ministry
President Carlos admitted the concern and assured that he instructed specialized teams of the Foreign Ministry to analyze the issue and render a report as soon as possible.
On November 29, Ortega sent to the Nicaragua’s National Assembly (legislature) the bill that seeks to declare Harbor Head as a wild refuge and is already part of the issues that legislators would be approving this week.
The bill entrusts the (Nicaraguan) Army with the protection of the wetland and orders greater control of Nicaragua over its own lagoon, by leaving its management and conservation to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Marena). “The Army of Nicaragua will guarantee, within the fulfillment of its functions, the sovereignty and integrity of the refuge,” says part of article 4 of the bill.
Ortega justified his plan by saying that the lagoon “represents a site of importance for the conservation of biodiversity, as this is a wetland and a highly productive ecosystem where innumerable plant and animal species depend for subsistence”.
In February of this year the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided unanimously that the north of Isla Portillos is of Costa Rican sovereignty, while the Harbor Head lagoon belongs to Nicaragua.
However, in his proposal, Ortega does not mention how they will send personnel from his Ministry of the Environment or the teams of scientists they intend to appoint to care for and preserve the Harbor Head lagoon, without the authorization of the Costa Rican government.
Ortega’s plan for the Harbor Head lagoon, located at the northern end of Costa Rica’s Calero Island, facing the Caribbean Sea, is for the Nicaraguan Army to safeguard the wetland and order greater control over the area, that by land, can only be accessed through Costa Rican territory.
The plan does not mention that the Ortega government should seek to coordinate with Costa Rican authorities.
ICJ Decision
The Nicaraguan lagoon is on the official map of Costa Rica identified as LagunaLos Portillos. Photo: Foreign Ministry
On February 2, 2018, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a decision that resolved the border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, which ratified Nicaraguan sovereignty over the Harbor Head lagoon.
However, the ruling did not clarify how Nicaragua will exercise sovereignty over the lagoon since with the new delimitations the lagoon was placed in the middle of the Costa Rican wetlands that make up Isla Calero.
What the Orteguista proposal focuses on is that “the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Laguna Harbour Head, Nicaragua is contributing to the consolidation of the ecological and biological elements in the Corredor Biológico San Juan-Parque Nacional Tortuguero, on the Caribbean Coast of the two countries.”
“It is something that we have seen with concern and that is under study by the legal specialists of Costa Rica who have been in charge of the defense of the country in that matter (…),” said Alvarado.
Crisis in Nicaragua
The government of Carlos Alvarado has been one of those who has reported the most human and fundamental rights violations in Nicaragua since April.
Alvarado has urged the rest of the world to raise the pressure and supports the application of sanctions against Ortega.
On November 16, after the message from President Alvarado at the summit of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement in which it accused him of being “a puppet of the United States’ interventionist policy” and that it came to the summit “with daring dissonances, ridiculous airs of grandeur, pretentious positions, and voices of pro-imperialist superiority, incompatible with respect for the rights of others, which is peace,” the statement said.
In the last weeks, as a product of this altercation, the Costa Rica government doubts to send the request of approval for a new ambassador in that country.
Alternatives to drunk driving
The other vehicles were a bus which covers the route between Atenas-San José, and two tractor trailers (one of with Costa Rican plates and the other from Guatemala).
The researchers also found that 85% of the respondents were aware of the conflict between Uber and the taxis and that 9 out of 10 people share the idea that Uber should continue to operate, but regulated.
One thing you need to remember that having difficulty communicating in Spanish isn’t because your abilities are somehow inferior to others. You just haven’t spent enough time practicing that skill, speaking.
