This photo posted on the social networks is of the special vehicle used by the tactical unit of the national police.
The unit is parked out of sight in the area of the Legislative Assembly, we can imagine ready to action is necessary.
During the night Thursday and early morning of this Friday, 12 shelters were set up for around 700 people affected by the rains and floods.
Alexander Solis, president of the National Commission of Emergencies (CNE) said that in the last hours there have been heavy rains in Paquera, Parrita, Lepanto, Cóbano, Garabito, Nosara, Nicoya, Bejuco, Cabo Blanco, Puerto Carrillo, Tempate, and Santa Cruz, among others.
“This has generated the overflow of rivers and affects multiple sectors due to landslides, falling trees, and the interruption of Route 160 at several points, that has prevented a second mobilization of assistance to reach the area of Paquera,” he said.
According to the official, some people did not manage to leave in time for the shelters.
“A landslide at the exit of the route that goes to Jicaral, in El Atracadero, has prevented three buses, two minivans and some vehicles that were traveling on the penultimate ferry trip. On that same trip, was a Red Cross vehicle transporting supplies from the CNE and this allowed us to help 163 people who spent the night at the Paquera dock, “he added.
Residents of Nosara, Nicoya, Bejuco, Cabo Blanco have also been affected by heavy rains.
The sustained rains of the last couple of days and expected to continue into the weekend, forced the CNE to issue a “yellow alert” for the Pacific coast.
Emergency authorities recommendations that residents of areas of greater vulnerability to landslides and floods maintain vigilant of conditions to prevent a tragedy.
Among the recommendations:
This Friday morning, some 700 people are being houses in 12 shelters in the Pacific coast
What do the colors of the alerts indicate?
The authorities classify the emergency situations by colors, all of them contain characteristics that allow determining the actions to follow in case of natural disasters or bad weather.
This is the meaning of each:
Photos from social networks.
The Paquera and Playa Naranjo ferry services between Puntarenas and the Nicoya Peninsula has been temporarily suspended due to inclement weather and flooding in the Peninsula due to the heavy rains in the last 24 hours
The Maritime Division of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) said the suspension will continue waiting on weather conditions to improve.
Thursday night, more than 30 persons slept on the Paquera ferry. The road into the Peninsula was blocked due to flooding and landslides.
After 39 hours of discussion and voting on the last motions on the Plan Fiscal (Tax Reform), legislators are expected to start their final discussion and ‘first debate’ vote this Friday afternoon.
Legislators on Thursday completed processing the 368 outstanding motions and to work a double shift Friday, to move forward the controversial bill 20,580 promoted by the government of Carlos Alvarado, and opposed by the public sector trade labor unions that today are on their 26th of a national strike.
The Ministerio de Seguridad Publica (MSP) – ministry of security – is not taking chances, expecting fierce protests. For this, from the early hours of Friday morning, the Fuerza Publica (national police) have cordoned off the area of the Legislative Assembly in downtown San Jose, increase a police presence and early morning television footage showed a riot police response preparation outside the public eye.
The bill reaches this culminating point after a long road that, practically, that began the day in which the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the procedure of the Tax Solidarity Law bill promoted by the administration of Laura Chinchilla (2010 – 2012).
That (court) decision meant that, during the 2014 presidential campaign, the need for a tax reform was a matter of intense debate and that the then president, Luis Guillermo Solís (2014 – 2018), argued that he would not promote a tax project during the first two years of his administration.
However, in August 2015 two bills were presented to the Legislative Assembly, one to transform the general sales tax on goods into a value added tax (VAT) on goods and services and another to make a series of reforms to the tax on income.
The opposition of several political parties prevented these bills from advancing and the Government, after several attempts to consolidate a single text, delivered to Congress, at
the end of October 2017, the bill 20,580.
The circumstances of the 2018 electoral campaign prevented any progress of the bill, until after the first round voting, in February, and the legislators of the 2014-2018 constitutional period agreed to approve a fast-track procedure, which ultimately did not turn out to be so expeditious.
The legislators (2018-2022), not wanting the initiative to get stalled in procedure, modified the fast track in June, opening the bill to present motions, allowing the Government to introduce a series of proposals from the Finance Minister, Rocio Aguilar, to toughen the reform and, with that, try to collect more tax and from new sources.
Although the legislators originally asked the Government for greater actions on public spending, with the fiscal initiative in their hands, they approved a series of motions to modify the text and, little by little eroded the original plan of Finance Minister Aguilar.
The Government argues that though ‘not absolutely popular, it is absolutely necessary’.
For the bill to be approved it requires 38 of the 55 votes.
The Government is confident it has sufficient votes of its party, the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and the Partido Liberacion Nacional (PLN) and independents to move the bill to the second and final vote.
In celebration of Columbus Day in the United State, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica will be closed on October 8, 2018.
The diplomatic center will attend the public again on Tuesday, October 9, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (normal embassy hours).
Columbus Day celebrates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Columbus, who was financed by the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, was attempting to find a western route to Asia—to China, India, and Asian islands with gold and spices.
Instead he landed in the Bahamas, and became the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings landed in Greenland and Newfoundland about 500 years earlier.
Not only does the United States celebrate the day, but many Latin American countries observe it.
Also, on Monday, October 8, the Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica (Honduras and Nicargua) will also be closed, in celebration of the Canadian Thanksgiving.
Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, a celebration of the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most of Canada, with the exceptions being the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, where it is an optional holiday. Companies that are regulated by the federal government (such as those in the telecommunications and banking sectors) recognize the holiday regardless of its provincial status.
If you build it they will come. In the 1989 film Field of Dreams an Iowa corn farmer hears a voice telling him “If you build it, he will come.” He interprets this as an instruction to build a baseball diamond in his fields; after he does, Shoeless Joe Jackson and other dead baseball players emerge from the cornfields to play ball.
The quote applies to the Costa Rica Convention Center (CRCC), an idea that started more than a decade ago that became a reality, opening its doors for business in April of this year.
It was built, now they will come.
The World Veterinary Association chose the Costa Rica Convention Center to hold its 35th World Veterinary Association Congress (WVAC2019) from April 27 to 30 next year.
The WVAC2019 is a great opportunity to visit Costa Rica. The WVA congress will bring together veterinarians interested in excellence from around the globe and will offer a world-class program on continuing education in veterinary medicine. Some 1,300 people and some 330 companies are expected to participate in the WVAC2019.
The organization and logistics of the WVAC2019 will be in charge COMEXP Organizador Profesional de Congresos y Afines, a Costa Rican company, which has a 22-year track record, and to date with more than 500 successful events throughout Latin America.
“The designation of Costa Rica as the venue for the world appointment of veterinary professionals that, for the first time, takes place in Latin America, represents a “sign of confidence in the talent and capacity of Costa Rica’s human resource,” said Nuvia Ramírez , General Manager of COMEXP.
For Gustavo Alvarado, Director of Tourism Management of the ICT, the signing of the WVAC2019 shows the first fruits of the promotional efforts made in the Congresses and Conventions segment to attract major international events.
“The possibility of capturing a world congress of this kind contributes to reinforce Costa Rica’s positioning in this segment by proving that we have the ideal conditions to receive this type of event, a committed private sector with a high level of quality in the provision of services and we have a country with enviable geographic conditions and proximity to the varied tourist attractions that will complement the experience of tourists in this segment,” said Gustavo Alvarado.
The CRCC is strategically located 8 km from International Airport Juan Santamaría (SJO) and 10 km from San José downtown, with an access from the General Cañas highway, surrounded by a wide range of hotels. The CRCC has a capacity for 4,600 people, with an area of more than 600 square meters, and more than 20 conference rooms.
Union representatives of the workers of the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) and the Dirección de CEN-CINAI del Ministerio de Salud, agreed to lift the strike movement in these public institutions, reported the Minister of Labor Thursday afternoon.
Steven Nuñez said the agreement was signed by Xiomara Rojas Sanches, representative of the Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores Estatales Costarricense (Siteco) and Renato Alvarado, minister of Agriculture (MAG). Labor Minister Nuñez signed as witness.
The ministra de Salud, Guiselle Amador, and the director of the Cen-Cinái, Lidia Conejo, signed a similar agreement.
In the agreement, the workers of the Cen-Cinái and the MAG, undertake to lift the strike movement and immediately return to work. The workers retain the right to participate in any lawful national demonstration with respect to the tax reform bill.
For their part, the public institutions agreed not to take any retaliatory action against workers who participated in the strike.
Precisely this Thursday, the courts declared the strike of the workers of the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) illegal, thus reaching 13 the number of illegal strikes of the 32 petitions filed.
The strike by the workers of the Institute of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA), was declared legal.
This Friday, the national strike enters its 27th day.
A long-time employee of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and another from the Imprenta Nacional (National Printer), are suspected of committing an attack against president Carlos Alvarado, on his departure from the National Theater on Wednesday.
Michael Soto, the Minister of Security, identified the ICE worker a 59-year-old with the last name Sanabria, who has worked for the state power and telecom since 1985; the other, identified by his last name Fernadez.
According to Soto, Sanabria was the person to give the president a push and Fernandez who threw at the president something that appeared to be a blunt object. It did not connect. “I don’t know if it was an egg or a stone,” said Soto.
Soto added that the two men, in addition to facing possible criminal charges, maybe face suspension or firing from their respective employers.
This video posted by Raul Gonzalez on Facebook is how a U.S. family visiting Costa Rica will remember their vacation in the land of “pura vida”, my ass!
In Puntarenas, in the area of Caldera, a minivan with a group of visitors, made up of 3 adults and a baby, was attacked while traveling in a minivan, which suffered damage to the rear windshield, hit by a stone thrown by the protesters, according to witness reports.
Apparently, the stone was intended for police, but the tourists, trapped in the blockade, got caught in the crossfire.
With the video camera running from the back seat, the family and guides take in the protests unfolding in front of them, when, at minute 1:39 we hear a pop, the screen goes black, we heard screams, baby crying.
WTF?… Everybody lay down… as we hear the motor revving as the rest of the video is dark, the recording is still active. See for yourself.
What as the pop we heard? Gonzalex posted follow up photos, where we can see that the rear glass of the minivan had been shattered.
Gonzalez posted, “Sad to see how there are people who are in our country, this happened today (Wednesday) to a family of Americans, who came to the country to visit and see the beautiful and memory that they will take away from our beautiful CR, what a shame it gives me! People who come to leave their money, which feeds many families in the area and there are animals that behave in this way”.
Among the more than 300 comments, Arturo Campos, writes, “They (the protesters) are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, if they had a little bit of intelligence they woulld allow the tourists to pass with pats on the back and not with stones … what level of savagery and stupidity!!!”.
Michael Navarro, “What a pity that the people take these measures not very peaceful and that these foreigners who come with their children and come to contribute to the country that they will get in the crossfire, the stone was for the police not for them, but the action from the beginning is very but very bad. It’s unfortunate, foreigners we apologize not all CR is like that.”
Teresita Fernandez, “Pity a lot of pity with that family, and anger for that riffraff that is leaving the country so bad”.
During the protests on Wednesday, police had to resort to tear gas to disperce the mob and open passage on the Ruta 27.
Have your say. Post your comments to Raul Gonzalez post or below to our comments section or our official Facebook page.
Want to know what the weather is like today? Just look out your window. Good chances it is raining where you are. If not, it most likely will be raining soon. For certain it is raining somewhere over Costa Rica at this very moment.
Today, Thursday, will be worst of the rain for this week, at least this week so far, says the national weather service, the Instituto Metereologico Nacional (IMN).
In a tweet minutes ago, the IMN says, “Continues the storm conditions, particularly strong, in Guanacaste and the Central Pacific. The Central Valley will continue cloudy, with intermittent rains, and cool temperatures”.
Continúa la condición de temporal, particularmente fuerte, en Guanacaste y el Pacífico Central. El Valle Central continuará nublado con lluvias intermitentes y temperaturas frescas.
— IMN, Costa Rica (@IMNCR) October 4, 2018
The forecast for today and tomorrow (Friday):
And, despite the cloudy skies and rain, there is always concern for UV () exposure. The IMN posts the following UV index for today, October 4.
#IMN_IUV Índice de radiación ultravioleta estimado para este 04 de octubre pic.twitter.com/Lm1yGVZ9QH
— IMN, Costa Rica (@IMNCR) October 4, 2018
Update: The original post did not reflect the fuel price increase that went into effect at 12:01am this Thursday. The current fuel prices at all pumps across the country is ¢680 (down ¢1) a liter for super, ¢663 (no change) for regular or plus, and ¢586 (up from ¢565) for diesel.
If you think you haven’t been affected (greatly) by the national strike, think again. Even if you don’t drive, the price of fuel affects all aspects of daily life in Costa Rica, as the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) – the state refinery that refines nothing – is readying a request the regulating authority for an increase in fuel prices, to raise some of the ¢4.6 billion colones in losses during the more than three weeks strike by public sector workers.
The ¢4.6 billion colones is reported as losses due to “damages for acts of sabotage, additional expenses for contingency plans and other inconveniencesand other inconveniences” suffered by the Recope at its four distribution facilities.
In Moin, Limon, Recope reported damage to natural gas sphere tanks and the shutdown of asphalt boilers.
Recope finances operations through fuel prices, every second Friday of each month, making requests to the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) for price adjustments that, within days of the Arese decision, will then go in effect at every gasoline station across the country.
The next request for an extraordinary increase in the prices of fuels in Costa Rica is October 12.
Currently, fuel prices at the pumps are: ¢663 colones for a liter of regular or “plus”, ¢681 for super, and ¢565 for diesel.
For a complete table of fuel prices, such as aviation fuel, natural gas, kerosene, etc, visit the Recope website here.
For primary public school children, every day in school means a proper meal. For some, it may be the only decent or even the only meal of the day. Thus the strike by the public workers, now in its 25th day, that includes thousands of public school teachers has meant school closings. And with the closings, no meals for the children.
According to the last report of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) to Tuesday, October 2, of the 1,978 of 4,571 the public schools reporting, 1,798 were reported closed.
That figure means some 79,000 public school children are not in school.
According to the MEP report, the greatest impact is in the province of Guanacaste and the northern zone, where cantons such as Cañas and Ciudad Quesada report the highest numbers of school lunchrooms without service.
For example, in Cañas 99 school lunchrooms were reported closed and in San Carlos 65, while in San José there were 24 schools without meal service. In the educational areas Grande de Térraba in Buenos Aires of Puntarenas and Coto (which covers Corredores and Golfito), 13 were closed.
The figures worry MEP authorities since many of the lunchrooms not open are located in areas of extreme poverty.
Leonardo Sanchez, in charge of equity programs at the MEP, said the Ministry invests some ¢450 million colones per day in school food services.
Since the strike began on September 10 it estimated that daily losses for suspending these services could amount to ¢200 million per day due to wasted food, since in many cases school had placed orders before the strike began.
The MEP had announced that it would send instructions to the Education Boards so that they could take the necessary actions to guarantee at least basic meal for the children during the strike, however, La Nacion confirms that as of Tuesday last the order had not been carried out.
For local American football fans in Costa Rica the long-awaited women’s league, Asociacion Deportiva de Mujeres de Football Americano (ADMFA) will finally host its official debut game.
The inauguration game is on Sunday, October 7, at 9:00 am, at Coyella Fonseca Stadium in Guadalupe, San Jose, between the newest team, Bulldogs F.A. Costa Rica and the longest established women’s team in San Jose, Goddesses CR.
Both teams regularly practice in La Sabana Park.
The other teams currently in the women’s league are Valkirias Football Team that represent Perez Zeledon and Codea Falcons Football for Alajuela. Although the latter team is not participating in this calendar.
The Valkirias will have their debut game when they host the Goddesses in Perez Zeledon the following week on Saturday, October 13th.
Playoffs will be on Saturday, December 8th and the Championship on Sunday, December 16th.
Entrance is 2,000 Colones and children under 12 years of age are free. For weekly league updates visit Facebook.com/AmericanFootballCR.
There is no similar event in the recent history of Costa Rica, a President attacked by a riotous crowd of people, a crowd that appeared bent on violence.
That was the scene this Wednesday morning, outside the Teatro Nacional, in downtown San Jose, when President Carlos Alvarado was leaving the IV Congreso de Movilidad Urbana, a crowd of demonstrators attacked him with insults, shoves and even throwing something at him.
A few managed to get close enough to insult him with foul language, another, wearing a yellow shirt similar to that worn by the workers of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), shoved him in the back, and a man in a white union cap bent down to pick up something on the ground and throw it against the vehicle waiting for the president, parked on the boulevard of Central Avenue, in front of McDonald’s.
The shameful incident with demonstrators, strikers who oppose the tax reforms that is currently discussed in the Legislature lasted only a few minutes.
But the repudiation of the acts from different economic and social groups and on social networks continued well into the late afternoon.
Business Chambers, the Ombudsman’s Office and even the ICE itself condemned the disrespect for the president and demanded immediate and exemplary actions.
Meanwhile, the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (MSP) – Ministry of Public Security – confirmed on Wednesday night that it is already investigating two of the demonstrators, one of them fully identified, for the attacks recorded on video. There are still no detainees.
The Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica in a statement said, “We reiterate that these acts go beyond legality, good intentions and are very far from the right to demonstrate that the working population of the public and private sector has.”
Wednesday evening, President Alvarado visited the same spot where he was attacked in the morning, using his cell phone posted a live video to Twitter, laughing, interacting with people in the street, demonstrating the peacefulness of the country and reiterating the message, “No one will take away our peace!”
Que nadie nos quite La Paz! pic.twitter.com/kxVF3O8Pm4
— Carlos Alvarado Q. (@CarlosAlvQ) October 4, 2018
A group of protesters chased President Carlos Alvarado this morning, around 11 am, when he was leaving an urban mobility event at the National Theater in downtown San José.
The president crossed the Plaza de la Cultura surrounded by bodyguards and police, while dozens of protesters insulted him. Police officers had to push away people who shouted insults at the President, while he was rushed by his bodyguards to a vehicle parked in front of McDonald’s on the boulevard (Avenida Central).
Previously, a group of protesters held hands and formed a human cordon to prevent the departure of Alvarado, however, police officers asked them to clear the entrances and exits of the theater.
“It became necessary the intervention of the Police to ensure the safe exit and while these incidents were developing, some of the people who participated in this movement took the opportunity to cause damage to some police vehicles that were in the vicinity and even found some artifacts called miguelitos that are used to punch the tires of vehicles,” said Daniel Calderón, director of the Fuerza Publica.
In the confrontation it was clear that the president’s security detail failed. For several minutes, both Alvarado and the First Lady, Claudia Dobles, ministers and representatives of international organizations were cornered, surrounded by demonstrators. In one of the photos circulating the social networks, a demonsrator is seen putting his hands of Alvarado.
Eduardo Trejos, Head of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and responsible for the safety of the President evaded answering why there were flaws in the security this morning.
After the attacks, in a video, Carlos Alvarado confirmed that he is in good condition and indicated that the fight to “avoid enormous risks” for the country will continue.
Que nadie nos quite la paz de transitar libremente por nuestro país, que nadie nos quite la oportunidad como democracia de discutir en paz y respeto. No vamos a aflojar, vamos a seguir adelante. pic.twitter.com/dLYiYwqWm9
— Carlos Alvarado Q. (@CarlosAlvQ) October 3, 2018
“Whoever has had any doubts, no, we are not going to let up and we are going to continue for the good of Costa Rica,” Alvarado says in a video posted on Twitter.
“Let no one take away our peace, let no one take away the peace of moving freely in our country and let no one take away the opportunity as a democracy to discuss politically but in peace and with respect and for that there are democratic institutions that this country has, the strongest in the region, to have these democratic discussions,” added Alvarado.
A follow up video posted this evening, in the same area he was attacked in the morning, President Alvarado demonstrates the “peace and tranquil” that is Costa Rica. In the self-made video, the President is seen smiling, responding to passersby, people walking in the background as he pans the camera to show there are demonstrations, hugging people and repeating the message that “No one will take away our peace!”.
Que nadie nos quite La Paz! pic.twitter.com/kxVF3O8Pm4
— Carlos Alvarado Q. (@CarlosAlvQ) October 4, 2018
Former television host Jale Berahimi has well-accustomed followers on social networks with hot and revealing photos.
But this Tuesday night, Jale accelerated the heart of more than one to share a photo uncovering more than usual, leaving little to the imagination.
No, not the photo above.
Click here for more of Jale Berahimi hot and revealing photos at Costa Rica Confidential.
Two Romanian politicians with pending cases in their country were detained Wednesday by agents of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) working with the International Police (Interpol).
Detained was the Romanians former Minister of Tourism, Elena Udrea, and her friend, former prosecutor of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Corruption (Diicot), Alina Bica, who arrived in Costa Rica a few months ago leaving behind a wake of judicial problems and convictions in her native country.
See more: Former Minister Self-Exiled In Costa Rica Sentenced By Romania Court; Former Romanian Minister Sentenced For Bribery Takes Refuge in Costa Rica
The OIJ reported that, after investigations, surveillance and monitoring, both women were arrested on Wednesday, explaining that Udrea had a red notification in the Interpol database, for the crimes of bribery and abuse of power. She was arrested around 10 am in the area of Sabana Oeste. While Bica is wanted in her home country for bribery and corruption. She was arrested at about 2 pm in the area of Sabana Este.
The two had submitted applications for refuge in Costa Rica, processes that are pending resolution of the immigration, therefore, the women cannot be extradited immediately, but were brought before the Criminal Court of San José, which could issue a precautionary measure while the immigration authorities decide whether to grant or reject refugee status.
In June, Romanian authorities released an investigation into the movements of Udrea and Bica. The investigation revealed that friends and relatives of the two women, who face their own legal battles in their home country, had also arrived in Costa Rica.
In addition, in Costa Rica, Udrea and Bica had the help of a Romanian businessman named Radulescu (who was nationalized Costa Rican after marrying a young woman), and who also has a criminal record in his country of origin.
This is no joke. Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) – objetos voladores no identificados (ovnis) in Spanish – apparently have a flight route established in Costa Rica and use it often, this according to Alejandro Sáenz, an amateur ufologist who has often seen objects in the sky and his wife, Cindy Picado, who regularly observe and photograph the flying objects from their home located in San Isidro de Heredia.
Sáenz, an architect by profession, says he records his sightings in photos and videos of the peaks of some mountains used by the aliens ships as orientation guides, routes, which according to him, intensify in the month of September, the month with more sightings of the usual.
“They emerge from the Barva volcano, from there they head to the Zurquí, then to the Turrialba volcano and Irazú. Then they pass through La Carpintera and descend on Pico Blanco in Escazú and the wind turbines of Santa Ana,” Sáenz said.
The architect commented that he has pictures of UFOs in each of those places, taken with a Nikon Coolpix 900 camera with a 125x digital zoom. He explained that in his house he has a room with a balcony facing east, to be able to take the opportunity to be aware of the movements of the flying objects.
“From there we look towards the Turrialba and the Irazú volcanoes. We always get up at dawn to take pictures,” he said.
Another room in the house has a view to the south, so from there he locates the other sites he mentioned. He, along with his wife, Cindy Picado, have taken many pictures of UFOs and have a website where they usually share those images.
“In pure observation, we have been able to determine that they use the peaks of the mountains as highways, they pass over the mountain ranges, these points serving as guides. We have already seen them several times bordering the entire perimeter to reach a certain altitude, very close to the mountain, we calculate at about eighty meters,” he explained.
UFO phenomenon investigator, Max Cordero, said that there is a high probability that what Saenz says is true.
“We do not know it with certainty because it is only a theory, but there are many possibilities that these flying objects follow previously traced routes and recharge energy on the road. The mountains, the volcanoes and the hills are known as energetic places, where it is assumed that their ships can be supplied with energy,” he said.
The architect points out that September is characterized by the large number of flying objects that are observed. In fact, he pointed out that between September 14 and 15 “it was very moving”.
Sáenz said that they saw one on September 7 and that it caught his attention because it was very striking, so much so that it registered very well in two fixed shots where the object’s advancement can be seen between the Turrialba and Irazú volcanoes.
“It is very outstanding because the image is in high resolution and perhaps stands out for the landscape and reflection that the unit (UFO) has,” he said.
In summary, the couple (Sáenz who is more into videos and Cindy, who is an expert in photography) saw UFOs on September 7, 13, 14 and on the 15th they grabbed it again with a spectacular video, which according to him, is one of the best he has seen in Costa Rica.
The architect said that on those days they saw multiple objects.
Saenz explained how on the day his “chiquitín” (little kid) was in the (September 14) parades and then dropped him off at school, he took the opportunity to take some shots fo the San Isidro church.
“I took a picture of Cindy and at that moment I did not see anything, but when I saw the pictures later, I noticed that there was an object behind, where the church clock can be seen,” said Saenz.
Cordero, for his part, commented that the months of most sightings are those of summer, because there are fewer obstacles in the sky, but he does not contradict what Saenz and his wife have seen, especially in September.
“I think when we see more UFOs (which are not necessarily spaceships) when the sky is clearer and in September it does not get that much. Maybe it’s luck they have,” he said.
Source (in Spanish): La Teja
Legislators are expected to vote, in first debate, the Plan Fiscal (Tax Reform) on October 15, after Carolina Hidalgo, president of the Legislative Assembly, decided last Friday to put the accelerator to the discussion.
Legislators this past Monday began work on the 368 motions and each would have up to 5 minutes to discuss any requested changes, after which the motion is voted on and if approved, it will be incorporated into the final text of the Fortalecimiento de las Finanzas Públicas bill.
Some issues that still do not have a consensus before the full vote.
All this while unions continue to oppose the tax reform bill that aims to curb a number of benefits. The public sector union is today in its 25th day of a national strike after a rejection of union members of the agreement negotiated last week between the government and union leaders.
If the vote on the tax reform is approved in the first debate there is a risk of even larger demonstrations than in the past three weeks, and the unions declare war on the initiative.
For a bill to turn into law, it must be discussed and approved in second and final debate.
Source (in Spanish): La Republica
Pessimism reigns among entrepreneurs, in terms of how the Costa Rica economy could close the year.
It is expected that the government will reach an agreement to have the 38 votes that would legitimize the tax reform bill, which would give businessmen clarity, otherwise, there is fear that both investment and consumption will slow down even more than what has already this year.
Household consumption from July to September this year grew by 2.2%, the lowest figure since the beginning of 2017, the Central Bank said in its most recent commentary on the economy.
In terms of growth, it could be less than the 3.2% estimated by the Banco Central (Central Bank), taking into account factors such as uncertainty about the tax reform, the increase in interest rates, and the impact of the Nicaraguan conflict on trade.
The colon, on the other hand, has devalued little in the year, largely due to the intervention by the Central Bank of US$140 million since July. Even so, the colon devalued in the Monex wholesale market from an average of ¢572 in July to ¢580 last month.
However, in that period there were two movements of volatility that make economic agents even more uneasy.
There is more pessimism than optimism while waiting to see if the tax reform will or will not be approved, leading to uncertainty among consumers.
Source (in Spanish): La Republica
On Monday, the recruiting of drivers began and in 15 days Bee Go will be the new player in the market of “collaborative mobility and public transport”, challenging Uber. And of course the informal (piratas) and formal (red) taxi drivers.
The company, of French capital, aims to recruit some 10,000 drivers during its first year.
To challenge Uber in user preference, Bee Go will not only provide service in all seven provinces – unlike Uber that is only available in the greater metropolitan area (GAM) of San Jose – but will also be offering better conditions to its drivers.
César Blasco, general manager for Latin America of Bee Go, said the decision to invest in the country is due to the fact that Costa Rica has, per capita, one of the highest collaborative mobility users in the region.
As of Tuesday, the company reported some that 4,800 drivers or “collaborating partners” signed up on the platform, of which 1,520 met the requirements.
Blasco added that the app is only available (for now) only at the Google Play Store for Android users. No word when the app will be available to iOS (Apple) users.
Bee Go accepts older vehicles, from 2000 to 2018, current with the Riteve (vehicular inspection), Marchamo (circulating permit), with a strict process of review and verification for vehicles between 2000 and 2005; Drivers must hold a valid B1 license and have a clean police record.
Drivers working for Bee Go will pay 15% for the use of the platform (compared to 25% charged by Uber), will receive aguinaldo* (year end bonus), medical coverage and a bonus of ¢25,000 colones for each driver referred.
According to Blasco users of the application would pay a similar rate to the one already set by Uber, with a difference, Bee Go has a static rate, that is, unlike Uber that triggers a change in the fare when it rains or there is a lot of demand, for exampl, the new app will not do so.
Like Uber, Bee Go will start operations being an illegal transport service, since the government of Carlos Alvarado determined a month ago, that the use of technological platforms does not comply with legal requirements. However, Blasco minimizes the opposition of the government, since the Free Trade Agreement with Europe (FTA) does not prohibit the development and operation of collaborative mobility applications.
“The FTA (Tratado Libre de Comercio “TLC” in Spanish) with Europe does not include any prohibition on collaborative mobility and what is not prohibited is allowed (…) trade agreements are above any law of the Republic,” Blasco added.
The company will, however, most likely face opposition from the (formal) taxi drivers’ association, who are calling on the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) to intensify the operations against the Uber and other platforms.
While the companies, Bee Go and Uber continue to operate normally despite the Government’s bowing to pressure by the taxi driver’s demands of declaring ride apps illegal, the Legislative Assembly began last week, to debate three bills aimed at modifying the law of public transport and thus validate “collaborative mobility”.
On the side of Bee Go, Uber and consumers is Asociación de Víctimas del Estado (AVES) – Association of Victims of the State.
Given that lawmakers in Costa Rica average 18 months to pass a law, AVES asked the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – Supreme Electoral Tribunal – to hold a referendum to validate the use of technological platforms to public transport.
“The popular consultation aims to reform the public transport law, so that the use of technological platforms is allowed. This would open up the opportunity for Uber and other companies that operate in a similar way to do it legally in Costa Rica,” said Carlos Porras, president of AVES.
This report was prepared with reports from La Republica and Crhoy.com
*The aguinaldo is based on the driver contributing 3% of his/her earnings and the company matching the amount at the end of the year.
BlockchainCR is excited to announce the launch of Costa Rica’s Crypto Cantina, a recurring after office happy hour event happening every Thursday from 6–7pm at the Central Pub in Paseo Colón, starting on September 27th, 2018.
It aims to bring together the people excited about blockchain, cryptography and cryptocurrency in Costa Rica, connecting people of all backgrounds and foster a forward-thinking community around blockchain and distributed consensus technologies.
It’s open to everyone are there’s no need to make a reservation or let anyone know you are attending.
There are no slides or talks, just people.
Don’t waste time in traffic jams on Thursdays and step by to say hi!
Source: Medium.com
A new website allows students to virtually follow a monkey through a jungle more than 3,000 miles from UCLA in an effort to engage the public with science through technology.
Susan Perry, a professor in the department of anthropology , led the project and has been studying capuchin monkeys in the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve in Costa Rica since 1990.
HowToBeAMonkey.org offers insight into the daily routine of a baby capuchin called Winslow Homer, as well as the team of researchers who track the monkeys’ behavior.
The website was created by Matt Ziegler, a doctoral candidate in computer science at the University of Washington and a former field researcher on Perry’s project. Ziegler said about 7,000 people have visited the website since its launch in 2015.
Perry said the website has two main goals: to encourage people to connect with nature and to demonstrate the methods of observation and data synthesis scientists practice in their research. She said she thinks technology has both negative and positive effects on science communication.
“The internet has been both great and awful at dispersing information: It disperses good information, but also completely unreliable information,” Perry said. “So another of my jobs as an educator is to help people think about how to evaluate the information that crosses their screens.”
This is why the website emphasizes the actions of the researchers and not just the monkeys: to help readers think critically about scientific information they encounter online.
“When I say a statement about what primates do, is this just something I made up because it has good face validity to me based on my personal experiences of humans,” Perry said. “… or is it something that is coming from very meticulous observations which are then quantified and analysed carefully?”
The website is one of many instances of UCLA professors using technology to draw students in to scientific research. Neil Garg, a chemistry professor, has used many forms of technology to teach and communicate research and class material. His lab has created games, video tutorials and 3D modeling software to this end.
Garg said the internet has, on balance, led to higher scientific literacy. However, he added the information reported through news outlets and shared on social media is not always scientifically rigorous or objective.
“Especially for chemicals, the majority of the stories you would see on a news channel are typically things that get people’s attention about chemicals having a negative impact in some way,” Garg said. “So I think it’s not always perfectly well-portrayed.”
Perry and Garg said they think it is important that scientists themselves make an effort to reach readers in this landscape of information saturation. Garg added information conveyed over the internet has the advantage of being more up-to-date than published textbooks, pointing to his QR Chem project as an example.
Perry said offering a better understanding of the researchers’ processes also helps students better understand the scope of research in the field.
“(The goal is) helping people think through what is behind the scenes when someone like me makes a statement,” Perry said. “What is the process by which I generate my facts, and how could they use my methods to generate more reliable methods themselves.”
Perry said she thinks it is important to engage the general public with primatology research because it helps them connect to the natural world in a way they normally don’t, especially in cities.
“This is getting to be true even in Costa Rica, where kids … have some of the most endangered and interesting habitats in the world in their backyard,” she said. “But they never go in their backyard because they’re looking at the TV or their laptop or their phone.”
Though she said she thinks this disengagement from nature is partially a consequence of technology, it can conversely be redressed using tools like the website.
“Part of my job as an educator is to try to lure people in to nature,” Perry said. “And also get them to understand that even if they don’t want to be bothered to walk outside … that they should at least be able to appreciate what’s out there enough to be the kind of citizen that promotes the conservation of those areas.”
Ziegler said researchers still have progress to make in how they present their information to readers and integrate technology. He said he would try to add to the website in the future, incorporating more data and adding educational tools.
“When I started making this I didn’t really think much about how I wanted people to react to this or what I wanted them to get out of it,” Ziegler said. “I thought I would build this thing and it would take off … but I didn’t really think about it from the perspective of what people actually wanted from it, what benefit they would get.”
Garg also said scientific literacy had consequences to the preservation of ecosystems and other public policy.
“There are huge implications to this,” Garg said. “It comes down to voting and what politicians think about science and how much money goes back into it. … The public perception of medicines, space exploration and climate change … decides how the assets of the country are spent.”
Source: Daily Bruin, UCLA’s premier source of campus news for students and members of the university.
It is October, the worst month of the rainy season. The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) calls to be alert for the passage of tropical wave #39 that is currently over Costa Rica, that is expected to dump lots of rain in the coming days.
Already some 24 incidents have been reported since Monday. Floods have been reported in Coto Brus, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia and in San José.
This Wednesday morning, most of the Central Valley woke up under cloud and light rain.
A low-pressure system in the southwest Caribbean Sea is the cause heavy rain activity expected throughout the country today, Wednesday and continue to Friday, according to the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN).
Besides flooding, the danger is landslides.
The continued rains mean very saturated soils that could turn to landslides in high-risk areas.
“The Municipal Emergency Committees were activated to monitor active landslides and flood zones and the operational structure is being reinforced, in order to guarantee an effective response to the possible impact of vulnerable communities,” explained the CNE.
Informe meteorológico No. 4
Sistema de baja presión en el Mar Caribe genera temporal en el Pacífico
3 de octubre de 2018
7:45 a.m. #IMN_Aviso pic.twitter.com/G9Gg2hj095— IMN, Costa Rica (@IMNCR) October 3, 2018
In the Central Valley, high-risk areas include the Alto San Juan in Mora, Tapezco and Chitaría in Santa Ana, Burío in Aserrí, and Tablazo in Desamparados.
The CNE asks people who live in areas prone to flooding or landslides to remain vigilant; Also, stay tuned to official reports, abide by the recommendations of the first response authorities to move to a temporary shelter if necessary.
First came the Immigration officers. Then the National Police officers. At about eleven o’clock on Monday morning, the Austrian-US documentary filmmaker, Carl David Goette-Luciak, was taken from his home in the Colonia Centroamerica neighborhood of Managua.
They put him in a patrol car and took him to the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport. Later that afternoon Goette-Luciak, from Blacksburg in Virginia, was escorted on to flight TA397 to El Salvador.
“I talked to him last night. He is fine,” Ilja Luciak, the freelance journalist’s father, told The Guardian. “There wasn’t the chance to talk about his time being interrogated but he was not hurt and he said he was fine … He was absolutely OK.”
Goette-Luciak is a young anthropologist and reporter who arrived in Nicaragua a couple of years ago to document as an anthropologist the opposition of indigenous communities to the construction of an Interoceanic Canal. During the sociopolitical crisis in the country since April, he began to report for the British newspaper The Guardian, and for The Washington Post. He also contributed in Nicaragua with Radio La Ciudadana, a project recently founded by journalist Azucena Castillo, former director of Radio Universidad.
Luciak said he believed his son had been targeted for daring to cover “the state of repression” that president, Daniel Ortega, has installed since the outbreak in April of a deadly period of unrest that has claimed hundreds of lives and crippled the country’s economy.
Nicaraguan journalist Wilfredo Miranda tweeted a photograph of Goette-Luciak he said the journalist had sent him after landing in the Salvadoran capital on Monday. Goette-Luciak told Miranda he had been handcuffed and driven, semi-clothed, to Managua’s international airport, where he was questioned for about five hours until he was escorted on to his flight.
One police officer told the journalist he was being deported for allegedly attending illegal protests and disseminating false information. “I explained to them that my work was impartial,” Goette-Luciak said.
“They asked me if I was a CIA agent,” Goette-Luciak added.
For the past two months, a government promoted campaign began on social networks against Goette-Luciak pointing him out as a “CIA agent”. In fact, the controversial journalist Max Blumenthal published an article intensifying the campaign against Goette-Luciak. He accused the documentary maker of forging “intimate links with the opposition” in Nicaragua, specifically with members of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS). In addition, Blumenthal, who has links with Vladimir Putin, said Goette-Luciak is linked to US organizations that supposedly fund the MRS to destabilize the government of Daniel Ortega.
The documentary maker suffered harassment and death threats, so he decided to move from home as a security measure. However, this week he decided to return to his home in Colonia Centroamerica to “resume his work”. It was Monday that the immigration officials knocked on his door.
“The immigration officials said they wanted to talk to me about my visa. I told them I was legal, and they claimed it was a routine control,” Goette-Luciak told Confidencial after being deported.
“Then the National Police officers arrived, they grabbed me hard, but they didn’t hit me. They put on handcuffs and took me in a patrol vehicle along a very strange route.”
During the trip to the airport, the police patrol stopped. The officers changed their claim that they were going to review his visa, and they started making jokes about torturing him. According to Goette-Luciak, he was taken to the airport where he was interrogated from noon until five o’clock in the afternoon in a “white room”.
Carl David had been taken from his house basically naked, just wearing shorts. He was arrested and transported without shoes or shirt. “I do not know what happened in my house, because I did not bring anything at the time of my arrest, but an officer came in [to the interrogation] with my cell phone,” said Goette-Luciak. “He told me that if I did not give him the cell phone password they would torture me and take me to El Chipote [the infamous interrogation prison].”
The questioning was made by officers of the National Police. Goette-Luciak does not doubt that his deportation and subsequent interrogation has to do with the smear campaign on social networks.
“They asked me if I was an agent of the CIA and they showed me the publications and memes from social networks,” said Goette-Luciak. “They never hid their motivation to have me there: A policeman told me that they were going to deport me because in my articles I wrote false things, and also for being present in the illegal marches… they asked me if I didn’t know the new laws,” he explained.
The officers insisted on his relationship with Dora María Tellez and other members of the MRS. The policeman asked him where Tellez is hiding. “I explained to them that my work was impartial, that if they read my articles they would see that I cite several sources. As I did not say anything else, they wanted to force me to sign a document but I was not allowed to read it, “said Goette-Luciak.
Ilja Luciak, father of Goette-Luciak, was the first to warn about the arrest of his son. The renowned US academic warned journalist Sofia Montenegro about the detention and she made it public on her social networks. However, from that moment on, the whereabouts of Goette-Luciak were not known, so the detention was classified as a “kidnapping”.
However, around two o’clock in the afternoon, Confidential learned that Goette-Luciak was going to be deported. An airport source said that a copy of his passport had circulated over the weekend among the staff. On Monday morning, the Immigration authorities scheduled his deportation to Washington on flight TA397, which landed in San Salvador on Monday night to connect with the United States on Tuesday.
At the end of the interrogation in Managua, Goette-Luciak was placed directly at the door of the plane and was given a suitcase that he recognized. “They gave me one of the suitcases from my house with some clothes and full of garbage. I didn’t get it. In the middle of the garbage, there were some shirts and two pants, which was what I put on to travel to El Salvador,” Carl David told Confidencial. “I don’t know what was stolen in my house, if they took my computer and my hard drives,” he lamented.
The director for the Americas of Amnesty International, Erika Guevara-Rosas, pointed out that the documentary maker “was subject to a defamation campaign as a result of his work” in Nicaragua.
Guevara-Rosas recalled that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently asked the Nicaraguan authorities to investigate the “campaign of digital harassment” against Goette-Luciak and ensure his personal safety.
Neither the Government of the United States, Austria nor the European Union have commented on the deportation of Goette-Luciak at the time of publishing this article.
“It is clear that my deportation is for political reasons. It’s hard for me to understand, but this illegal deportation is one more way to intimidate independent journalists and impose reprisals on their work,” said Goette-Luciak.
Sources: Confidencial, The Guardian, Twitter
Article originally appeared on Today Nicaragua and is republished here with permission.
There are so many career paths that you could take in the world, so narrowing it down to find one that is perfect you can seem like a difficult thing to do. The reality is, however, that it isn’t something that you’re always able to figure out instantly, and sometimes, it takes time and an openness to exploring.
You may feel as though you have an interest in caring for people and as a result, be thinking about becoming a nurse.
You should know that it is both a fulfilling job to many nurses around the world as well as one that requires dedication. In case you wanted to know the pros of being a nurse, you’re going to find some below.
It’s a Fulfilling Job
If you’re driven by fulfilling your purpose or by passion, then becoming a nurse may be a good job for you. It can be a great feeling knowing that you’re able to care for others as well as nursing them back to health. In case you’re wondering what exactly nurses do, they tend to be responsible for treatments, diagnostics, medications, and therapies – just to mention a few. They also evaluate the patient’s lab results in addition to the mentioned. Knowing that you can make somebody’s life better as a result of the work that you’ve chosen, can be satisfying for the most part.
There’s Flexible Learning
Sometimes, people may be put off of becoming a nurse because of the level of education needed. This may especially be true if you’re transitioning from one career to another or have a busy schedule. One of the benefits of the internet, however, is that there are online nursing programs Houston Texas for you to take advantage of.
This eliminates the need for you to attend physical classes saving you a lot of time. Additionally, it means that you have the option of flexible learning if you need to work and study simultaneously and it can be cheaper in some cases.
There are Prospects for Growth
Another reason to think about becoming a nurse is the prospects for growth in the industry. Apparently, the employment of registered nurses is expected to jump by 15% between 2016 and 2026 which reflects exponential growth. This means that you’re likely to find a job easily which is always a great incentive. You should also remember that as the population ages, people are more likely to need healthcare provisions. Seeing as most people want to know that the career they choose can lead to greater prospects and greater heights, this can also be appealing.
Nurses are professionals that often touch the lives of the people that they meet due to their skills, knowledge, and ability to connect with others. For this reason, they play an important role in society and often have a high demand all over the world. If you’ve been considering becoming a nurse, you should know that as with every profession it has it rewards and challenges.
Hopefully, the above article has convinced you that it could potentially be one of the best career moves that you make.
In the caricature by Crhoy.com, we see Albino Vargas, the leader of one of the most powerful public sector unions, the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos (ANEP), heading for retirement now that the end of the strike is around the corner
Vargas was pretty peeved when on Monday Crhoy broke the story that he had taken his retirement from his job with the Ministerio de Justicia, a job he has been ‘on leave’ for the last 28 years and 8 months, on August 1, before the commencement of the national strike which he leads.
This is despite the fact that the information published by CRHoy consists of public information, corroborated and granted by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) given his status as a public official.
Vargas retired with a monthly pension of ¢1,210 808.13.
Doña Violeta Chamorro is the antonym to Rosario Murillo. Doña Violeta worked to reconcile the country, worked for the peace of her people; Rosario, however, encourages war between the people.
One was president. Chamorro fought along side Daniel Ortega to oust the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. The other is considered the as the power behind the presidency of her husband, Daniel Ortega.
Both women are Sandinistas.But that is where the similarity ends.
La Honorable Violeta Chamorro, born on October 18, 1929, is known for ending the Contra War, the final chapter of the Nicaraguan Revolution, and bringing peace to the country. She was the first and, to date, the only woman to hold the position of president (1990-1997) in Nicaragua.
After leaving office on January 10, 1997, Chamorro worked on several international peace initiatives until poor health forced her to retire from public life.
The assassination of Chamorro’s husband sparked the Sandinista Revolution. His image became a symbol of their cause and when Daniel Ortega led the Sandinista guerrillas triumphantly into Managua in July 1979, Chamorro was with them.
Today, the former president is in “delicate state” in intensive care after “a stroke or cerebral embolism,” reported her relatives.
Rosario Murillo Zambrana, born June 22,, 1951, is currently vice president and first lady of Nicaragua. She is married to the current president Daniel Ortega. She was also first lady when, in 1985, her husband became president six years after the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) overthrew the Somoza dynasty.
Murillo has served as the Nicaraguan government’s lead spokesperson, government minister, head of the Sandinista Association of Cultural Workers, and Communications Coordinator of the Council on Communication and Citizenry. She was sworn in as vice president on January 10, 2017.
According to Nicaraguan historian Roberto Sánchez, Murillo is maternally related to Nicaragua’s national hero, Augusto Sandino.
Murillo started to gain power politically in 1998 after defending Ortega after he was accused by his stepdaughter, Murillo’s daughter, of sexually abusing her for many years. Murillo helped re-brand Ortega after three unsuccessful election bids in 1990, 1996, and 2001 as a less extreme candidate. Ortega was elected President in 2006 and re-elected in 2011. In the 2016 general election, Murillo ran as Ortega’s vice-presidential candidate.
“La Chayo” as she is commonly referred to is “widely seen as the power behind the presidency”, appointing herself as “communications chief”, a position which she used to address the public regularly before her vice-presidency and with her husband control the country with a tight grip.
As the extravagant wife, Murillo has been the unconditional companion of Daniel Ortega and a fundamental element in decision-making in Nicaragua. Always, the thin woman with lush curly hair and brightly colored clothes is by Ortega’s side. in his speeches, in his official visits, even when voting in the elections, he does not separate from her.
In contrast to Chamorro, Rosario is a rejected extravagant lady, unbelievably even less liked than her husband. Both are described as being alone, in a country divided, to which they do little to unite.
Nicaraguan write Juan Almendárez, founder of the Ministerio del Interior, wrote in an open letter in April 2018: Read the complete letter, in Spanish, here.
To pave the way to the presidency, you cast yourself as a candidate because you knew that Daniel is sick. You were one step away from being president. You were close.
But it ended. Your time is up. You, Rosario, you destroyed the Sandinista Front. You played with the blood of the martyrs.
Sandinismo will never forgive you for all the damage you caused. Your cynical model of “love and reconciliation” will be a sad memory for future generations, ” a reference to the old story,” as the song says.
I do not know how much guilt your husband has in all this. It’s a pity that the commander, who gave us so much pride in the years of aggression, will retire a man who allowed you, his wife, to use him like a paper doll. Sad for the commander.
I know you will not read this letter, but surely the thousands of Sandinistas will read it and they will never forgive you.
Everything is paid in life.
Our wishes go out for Chamorro for a speedy recovery.
In the words of Andres Oppenheimer, who in July interviewed Daniel Ortega (Daniel Ortega Doesn’t Mind Being Called A “Dictator”), while La Chayo was in the shadows, controlling the interview, “She (Chamorro) is a historical figure that is very necessary to emulate today”.
Article originally appeared on Today Nicaragua and is republished here with permission.
The Ministerio de Seguridad Publica (MSP) posted on Twitter photos and videos of their work in eradicating marijuana growing and distribution in the southern zone (zona sur) and Talamanca regions of Costa Rica.
Erradicación de marihuana en #zonasur y #Talamanca. #PCDCR #SVACR #FronterasCR #UIP #JuntosPodemos 5/5 pic.twitter.com/uZjPOrUSOQ
— Seguridad Pública (@seguridadcrc) October 2, 2018
Trekking through mountains, in helicopters and with the help of police dogs in public places is part of the work of the officers of the Fuerza Publica (National Police)
Erradicación de marihuana en #zonasur y #Talamanca. #PCDCR #SVACR #FronterasCR #UIP #JuntosPodemos 3/4 pic.twitter.com/FIN56pwQpp
— Seguridad Pública (@seguridadcrc) October 2, 2018
Erradicación de marihuana en #zonasur y #Talamanca. #PCDCR #SVACR #FronterasCR #UIP #JuntosPodemos 2/4 pic.twitter.com/K7O3aFaJvB
— Seguridad Pública (@seguridadcrc) October 2, 2018
Erradicación de marihuana en #zonasur y #Talamanca. #PCDCR #SVACR #FronterasCR #UIP #JuntosPodemos 1/6 pic.twitter.com/lXAUS8WCGQ
— Seguridad Pública (@seguridadcrc) October 2, 2018
When traveling to Costa Rica with more than US$10,000 in cash or its equivalent in colones or euros, nothing happens as long as you declare it on your customs form upon landing. The same applies to land and maritime borders.
Customs officials may, however, want to know the reason. Kinda depends on how much more than US$10,000 and even where you are coming from.
What do you do? What are you planning to do with the money? could be among the questions. But if you enter the country (any country) with an exuberant amount of cash, officials will dig further.
Not declaring the cash has it consequences. Such as the case of a foreigner surnamed Suárez Vargas, arrested last Thursday (September 28), at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), with US$27,100 dollars when he entered the country on a flight from Mexico
Suárez Vargas did not declare the cash and will now be spending the next three months as guests of the country (preventive detention), while the Deputy Prosecutor of Alajuela investigates the case of alleged money laundering.
Cuando ingresaba por la principal terminal aérea del país: PCD captura sujeto con 27.100 dólares que ocultaba en maletín y no fueron registrados. @MichaelSoto_CR pic.twitter.com/36nH2M0u0s
— Seguridad Pública (@seguridadcrc) September 28, 2018
The man was detained by the Policia Control de Drogas (PCD) – Drug Control Police, with the use of a police dog that detected the cash in his luggage. Apparently, the money had traces of non-illicit substances.
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica opened its doors on Monday, marking the opening of the first ever all-inclusive resort by the iconic lifestyle brand.
Located at the base of the Papagayo Peninsula, in Guanacaste, one of the most extraordinary coastal landscapes in the world, the all-inclusive resort brings unique and memorable experiences that translate into lifelong memories for their guests.
“It’s been an amazing journey leading my all-star cast of employees to prepare for the grand opening of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort in Costa Rica,” said General Manager Jonathan Iriarte, adding “With the perfect line-up of features, we can confidently say that our guests will receive the full Vacation Like A Star experience.”
The press release and website describes the property as “situated amid a lush and vibrant hillside, the property allows guests to experience what it’s like to Vacation Like A Star™, featuring 294 luxury suites, each complete with Phabulous Beds™, a hand-crafted custom mattress with bedding developed exclusively for Planet Hollywood guests, seven globally-infused restaurants and six bars, state of the art PUMPED Fitness Center, PH Spa, two serene swimming pools and splash zone.”
Rooms at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica start at US$325 a night for the JUNIOR SUITE to US$451 for the STAR CLASS DIRECTOR’S SUITE. The rate is from the hotel website for October 3, 2018. Quite sure rates will be higher in December with the start of the “high” tourist season.
The Costa Rica property is keeping with the Planet Hollywood lifestyle, offering guests a fashionable all-inclusive vacation, with a locally influenced experience, surrounded by natural wonders, cultural richness and only-here experiences to explore. The property is also home to the exclusive PH Shop™, which provides guests the opportunity to purchase branded merchandise, souvenirs and travel essentials.
Source: Planet Hollywood Hotels
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