Q COSTA RICA – For almost three decades, divorce has grown in Costa Rica. The O’Connor Family Law in Worcester says the same. How many legal break ups are there per 100 marriages ? How much has that ratio changed between 1990 and 2016? How long do couples stay married?
These are some of the questions an investigative report by La Nacion attempted to answer. An interactive infograph shows that between 1990 and 2016, the number of divorces has tripled. Click here to go there.
The data reveals that in 1990, for every 100 Catholic and civil marriages entered into there were 15 divorces, while in 2016, the number is 45. And while the number of divorces per every 100 marriages saw steady rise, it reached a high of 53 in 2009, then began a drop, with a blip up in 2015.
According to demographer Gilbert Brenes, three theories have influenced the climb in the number of couples choosing divorce over staying married: greater secularism (not paying attention to religion), not following the traditions of the grandparents, and finally, a higher level of education, where individual goals are more valued.
“These three factors are not only associated with more divorces but also the postponement of the age for marriage and the growth of common-law relationships. The latter are no longer linked, as in the past, to low levels of schooling. An unexplored hypothesis is the great economic investment that involves a wedding,” says Brenes.
How long do marriages last in Costa Rica?
The data reveals that 43% of marriages end in less than ten years; 31% between 10 and 20 years; 16% between 20 and 30; 8% between 30 and 40; and only 3% last between 40 and 60 years.
According to the data, the marriage fastest to end in divorce was in 2016, the marriage was registered in March, the divorce in September. In contrast, that year a 62 marriage ended in divorce. Records show that marriage took place in 1954, in June 2016 the couple registered the separation.
Yolanda María Mora, specialist in Family Law, explains that several reforms could have influenced the rise in divorces.
In 1974, a change in the Codigo de Familia (Family Law) allowed a divorce for adultery committed by either spouse. Prior to that, divorce could only occur if the woman committed adultery; the man would have to have been publicly keeping a concubine. Notwithstanding, the couple had to be married at least five years. In addition, the judge would oblige the couple to reflect their decision for six months before pronouncing a divorce.
Mora explained in 1977 those requirements for divorce were eliminated, though the couple still had to be married for three years before contemplating divorce.
“That ended in 2008. The Courts declared it illegal to force someone to maintain an undesirable relationship,” said Mora.
Today, Irreconcilable differences is enough cause for divorce. Gone is also the rule that did not permit the woman to remarry before 300 days of her divorce, while the man could enter into a new marriage almost on the same day.
For more indepth information on divorce and marriage in Costa Rica, best is to consult a lawyer.
What has been your experience with a marriage and/or divorce in Costa Rica? Use the comments section below or post to our official Facebook page.
Q COSTA RICA – In Costa Rica, touching, without consent (Acariciar sin consentimiento in Spanish), the waist and back and any other body part of a person for the purpose of ‘satisfying a pleasure’ constitutes a crime of sexual abuse.
Image for illustrative purposes
That is the determination of the Sala Tercera de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (Supreme Court), in judgement 2016-01107, of October 21, 2016, confirming the conviction against a manager of a restaurant, accused of sexual harassment to the detriment of a cashier.
For the high court, Costa Rica legislation does not limit touching without consent only to areas of sexual arousal (erogenous zones), but could also include legs, arms, stomach, waist, back or neck, provided that “it is determined there is libidinous (sexual pleasure for the accused)”.
The ruling also noted that caresses can be punished, even if they are no accompanied by “insinuating phrases of carnal desires”.
The punishment is imprisonment of between two and four years, according to Article 162 of the Penal Code (Codigo Penal in Spanish).
The case in question goes back to events occurring between September 2010 and January 2011, the accused, a 65 year-old man who was manager of the restaurant, is attributed to three counts of sexual abuse against a woman, whose identity was protected, a cashier with three children and worked at the restaurant for five months.
In the complaint, the woman described the three events: one time when he took advantage to approach her from the back…touching her buttocks (over her clothing) with his hands; the other when he approached from the back, told her how nice she smelled and kissed her neck; and the third time, again approaching her from the back, caressed her waist and back.
In the first trial, on October 9, 2015, the Tribunal de Goicoechea sentenced José Antonio Robles Mora to a six-year sin prison. However, on appeal, on March 18, 2016, the sentenced was reduced to four years.
In the appeal, the appellate judges concluded that touching the waist and back is not a crime because there was no lustful intent, the accused did not make any sexual comments, so that it could not, in itself, be considered an abusive act of sexual connotation.
However, prosecutor Jéssica Hernández Elizondo objected to the criterion and took the matter to a higher court.
For the prosecutor the touching of the waist and back was made with “obvious overtones of sexual harassment”.
The prosecutor, in her appeal, pointed out that many parts of the body are also areas of sexual pleasure.
The prosecutor’s interpretation was accepted by the judges of the higher court, turning down the appeal court reduction of sentence and reinstated the original six-year prison term.
Mora entered prison on October 29, 2016 and is eligible for release in September 2020, confirmed the Ministry of Justice.
Struggling to know when it is appropriate to give someone a hug or even simply pat them on the arm? Oxford University scientists have created a series of body maps that show just where we are comfortable to be touched.
Oxford University scientists have created a series of body maps that show just where we are comfortable to be touched
The ‘touchability index’ provides colour-coded information for everyone from our nearest and dearest to extended family, casual acquaintances and complete strangers.
The touchability index shows how comfortable males and females are with being touched on various parts of the body, with yellow being the most comfortable and black the least. It shows the variation by different people ranging from partners, relatives and complete strangers
The above are only results of the Oxford study and does not take into account Costa Rica laws on the subject.
According to the Oxford study, males are seemingly perfectly happy for strangers to touch them all over – as long as they are female
Costa Rica president Luis Guillermo Solis serenading Oscar nominated Emma Stone to come celebrate in Costa Rica. Image screencapture from Solis video recorded in English
Costa Rica president Luis Guillermo Solis serenading Oscar nominated Emma Stone to come celebrate in Costa Rica. Image screencapture from Solis video recorded in English
COSTA RICA EXTRA – In October 2016, oscar winning actress said Emma Stone told Vogue magazine she would like to visit Costa Rica. This week, Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis used his Facebook profile to personally invite the La La Land actress to vacation in his homeland.
In the video, recorded in English, speaking directly to Emma, “I take your word for it, you and your team are more than welcome…”, says the President.
“Here, you can learn by step by step how the delicious coffee you have probably had at filming locations is produced… or simply delight in a magical night full of stars,” he says. “Come to Costa Rica, Emma. Perhaps, in a few weeks, it would be a good place to celebrate.”
The reference is to film being Nominated for 14 Oscars. The Oscars takes place Sunday in Los Angeles.
The President continues with his message, sitting at the piano, rolling out the red carpet playing the notes from the “City of Stars”, the main song from La La Land’s soundtrack, also nominated for Best Original Song.
Don’t miss to watch the video.
Article originally appeared on Costaricaextra.com and is republished here with permission.
TODAY NICARAGUA (PL) The authorities of Nicaragua intended to deepen research on earthquakes, based on a comparative study on the incidence of these phenomena in recent years, official sources reported.
According to Nicaraguan Vice President, Rosario Murillo, the Institute Nicaraguan of Territorial Studies (Ineter) undertook this initiative to understand better the behavior of the telluric movements in the country.
‘ We are preparing a comparative study of the number of earthquakes present, month to month, let’s say in the last five or six years, to study these periods in which there are few quakes much better’, Murillo said through a local TV network.
She added that there are greater and lesser activity cycles, so she can not speak of seismic silence, but a decrease in the number of tremors.
For this reason, the Ineter specialists expect data that help measure those cycles of low incidence, said Murillo.
Nicaragua is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area that concentrates the majority of the active volcanoes of the planet and where earthquakes with more assiduity and magnitude are occuring.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) services center in Costa Rica. Photo CINDE
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) services center in Costa Rica. Photo CINDE
Q COSTA RICA – GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will be moving from Costa Rica its manufacturing plant and 150 jobs to other plants in Latin America, confirmed the company Thursday afternoon.
In a press release, the multinational indicated the relocation of its Costa Rica operations will take place within three years, completed by the end of 2019.
According to the company, the decision was made after reviewing its global manufacturing network and identifying production capacity available at other plants in its Latin American network, without specifying which ones.
In the statement, the company clarified that its pharmaceutical and consumer division as well as the business services center, employing some 500 people, will continue in the country. The statement said the company expects at its service center “solid growth in the next months”.
GSK said the 150 employees will, during the transition, receive support from the company to facilitate their reintegration into the local labor market, including helping with placement with other companies in the country.
The company emphasized that the decision will not impact the supply of GSK products in Costa Rica in any way.
GlaxoSmithKline Costa Rica S.A. manufactures pharmaceutical products. Based in San Jose, GlaxoSmithKline Costa Rica S.A. operates as a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc headquartered in Brentford, London.
Thursday morning a group of taxi drivers corralled an alleged Uber driver on Paseo Colon. Photo Telenoticias
Traffic Police can seize the vehicle and/or license plate for operating as illegal public transport. Photo La Nacion
Q COSTA RICA – On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court or Sala IV as it is popularly known, declared law 8955 that regulates the Servicio Especial Estable de Taxi (Seetaxi) – the from door to door private transport service,constitutional and reactivated the fines to those who provide public transportation illegally, that is without counting State permits, as is the case with Uber drivers.
The Sala IV process began in October 2015 when legislators Otto Guevara and Natalia Diaz of the Movimiento Libertario filed a challenge to the law approved in 2011 regulating “porteo” or informal taxi services.
On February 11, 2016, the Constitutional Court said it was analyzing the constitutional aspects of Ley 8955 and suspended any fines issued by the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police) for illegal taxi services. During this period, Transitos (traffic officials) could issue fines, they would be noted on the driver’s record, but the offender was not obliged to pay until a final judgement.
That ended Wednesday, when the Sala IV declared without merit the challenge by the legislators.
What this means is that Seetaxis can operate legally as do the official taxis, but, everyone else will be subject to a fine and or seizure of the vehicle if found to be providing a public service without a permit.
The Sala IV, in its decision of Wednesday was clear that the resolution did not include if the Uber company was a legal or illegal service.
But what of the drivers?
Starting yesterday (Thursday) drivers affiliated with Uber could face sanctions by traffic officials, as it was before the constitutional challenge.
A Traffic Official witnessing a passenger getting into a Uber affiliated vehicle or any other vehicle offering public transport service, for that matter, can fine the driver and/or seize the vehicle and/or license plates.
Why are taxis acting violently against Uber drivers? With the Sala IV decision Wednesday everything goes back to the way it was more than a year ago, taxi drivers angry at Uber drivers for taking away theri business have returned to taking matters into their own hands and waging a war on Uber drivers.
“The taxi (drivers) are celebrating,” were the words of Victor (last name omitted), an airport taxi driver who spoke to the Q on Wednesday night.
According to Victor, the taxi (drivers) see the Court decision as the end of Uber that began operating in Costa Rica in August 2015.
Thursday morning, the morning after the Sala IV ruling on illegal public transport services, a group of taxi drivers corralled an alleged Uber driver on Paseo Colon. Photo Telenoticias
On Thursday morning, a group of taxi drivers corralled a Uber driver while picking up an alleged personal family member with two minors.
The aggression by the taxi drivers was reported to authorities, who immediately came to the aid of the driver and the occupants of the vehicle.
“On Paseo Colon a guy with a private vehicle was waiting for a woman with two children, when she was getting in the vehicle, which we do not know if it was a Uber or not, some taxi drivers swarmed the vehicle and the guy calls police who came to his aid. There was no confrontation,” said Carlos Hidalgo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Security.
However, the television cameras told a different tale. On Telenoticias, the driver, with his identity protected, speaking to the television cameras said the taxis pounded on the hood of his vehicle and terrorized him and his passengers.
In the end, this time, the stand-off ended peacefully. No one was hurt. N one was arrested or fined.
Back to the Sala IV ruling. Magistrates Ernesto Jinesta, Fernando Cruz, Fernando Castillo and José Paulino Hernández said Ley 8955 (approved by majority vote in 2011) did not create a monopoly and that “the existence of a managed public service, directly or indirectly, does not infringe the freedom of commerce,” the basis of the constitutional challenge by the two legislators.
The magistrates were clear that their decision did not involve in any way the presence of Uber in Costa Rica.
What is the future of Uber in Costa Rica?
Legislator Guevara told La Nacion, “The ruling will not stop the use of the Uber platform in the country, when there are more than 500,000 people who have downloaded the application and more than 13,000 affiliates (drivers) of the company providing a service”.
At Uber Costa Rica, they are not concerned.
Last week, ahead of the Sala IV ruling, Humberto Pacehco, general manager of Uber operations in Central America, said the eventual ruling would have no effect on its operations in Costa Rica. “Uber will continue to work normally,” he said.
Following the Court decision Wednesday, Pacheco said the resolution is an opportunity to improve the regulatory framework of transportation services in the country.
“This resolution represents an opportunity for the Legislative and Executive branches to act to provide an adequate legal framework so that citizens of Costa Rica can benefit from technology and innovation in the service of mobility. At Uber we reaffirm our willingness to be part of this important dialogue,” Pacheco said.
However, Gilbert Ureña, of the National Forum of Taxi Drivers, there is contentment among the public transport guild (taxis) because the Sala IV decision ratifies that no one can provide public transport without the permission of the State.
According to Ureña, the government must watch over the legal system, in other words, apply the rule of law.
What of drivers (and owners of vehicles) of illegal public transport?
As of yesterday (Thursday) morning, drivers affiliated with Uber, as any other driver who provides the illegal service of public transport are exposed to a fine of ¢104,600 colones (plus costs). The fine can also be extended to owners of vehicles (when not the driver) who lend their vehicles for the illegal service.
That fine is if issued by the Traffic Police un the the Traffic Law.
In addition, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) – regulator of public services – can, under the Ley General de Administración Pública, levy a fine of between five and 20 base salaries of an official of the Poder Judicial (currently between ¢2 and ¢8 million colones).
The Aresep can also cam order the immediate closure of any company offering an illegal public service.
In either or both cases, authorities also have the power to seize the vehicle and/or license plates.
Some important notes on all of this.
If a Transito (Traffic Official) issues a fine and/or seizes the vehicle and/or license plates, all that is required is payment of the fine and costs.
However, if the seizure is under the Aresep ruling (applied by the Transito), the process becomes a legal battle.
What about passengers of an illegal public transport service?
According to the director of the Traffic Police, Mario Calderon, the Traffic Law gives officials the same powers as of the country’s police force (Fuerza Publica), so if a driver or passenger does not heed to a Traffic Official’s request they can be held in contempt of authority.
That is to say, as a passenger you may have legal problems if you do not get out of the car or you refuse to answer questions.
Calderon added that it is all at the discretion of the official, depending on the situation he/she faces at the time he/she stops the vehicle/driver allegedly committing an offence.
Sources: La Nacion; Telenoticias; Policia de Transito
This is what the bridge will look like, if it ever gets finished.
TICO BULL by Rico – It’s been a while since I have posted anything here, February 8 to be exact. You see I have been busy, busy sitting in traffic all caused by the damn ‘platina’ bridge.
Before the closure of this all important bridge traffic around the San Jose area was no picnic. But since, the yahoos at the ministry that doesn’t do anything closed half the bridge and then split the two remaining lanes to one in each direction, “calvario” the Spanish word for ‘siege’ is the only way to describe conditions.
I have spent an additional two hours or more in my daily routine just sitting in traffic. For those who know me or have followed me here, know I live in Santa Ana. A trip to Pricesmart in Escazu, for example, is less than 7 minutes, normally.
Over the last couple of week the same trip took more than 20 minutes. Getting to Lagunilla in Heredia, a 15 minute drive at 2:00am, took more than one hour in the mornings and more than 90 minutes in the afternoons.
The ‘platina’ bridge re-construction from the bottom up
Fortunately, the gig getting me on the roads in the morning and afternoons ended. I am back to normal. But I feel for the drivers who have to do it every single morning to get to and from work.
What is the point of my drivel? The insult to injury that was yesterday, the fricking minister that can’t get anything moving, promised, yes, promised, the platina would be ready by April 30.
This is the same minister that promised the bridge would be ready by the end of February or he would quit.
His boss, the President, you know the guy who spends more time travelling abroad that taking care of things at home, called him on it, at the beginning of last year, pointing his finger to his minister before the television camers, said firmly, “this is on you”. See the video from February 2016.
Everyone except all those at the ministry of non-transport knew that no way the bridge would be ready on February 28. Or March 8. Or March 15, the last assured date before the last one yesterday.
It didn’t take an engineering degree or even completing grade school to know that the work was not far enough advance to even come close to the March 15 date. I still doubt April 30 is a realistic date.
Back to the minister quitting.
Last November, the first hurricane ever touched land. Hurricane Otto caused destruction. It was said machinery and manpower was diverted from the work at the bridge to meet the emergency. Understandable.
This also gave the President a way out from firing his minister, his third during his almost three-year term. Blame it on the hurricane to cause delays at the platina. Minister gets a hall pass.
But, wait, is the work at the platina being carried out by a private contractor? So, I ask, what is the private contract machinery and manpower doing in Upala? And if that was the case, wouldn’t work have stopped completely at the platina? It didn’t.
As far as I can tell there was no public explanation of that, no list of what machinery and equipment was derailed from the platina project. Or what manpower was missing and for how long.
This is the land of Pura Vida.This is how things are done here. Politicians promise. We believe them even though we know they are giving up the ‘alternative facts’. Life goes. We adapt.
Q COSTA RICA – Blaming Hurricane Otto as the main reason for the delays, the Minister of Transport, Carlos Villalta, promised the “platina’ bridge will be complete by April 30.
The original delivery date was February 28, 2017, later postponed to March 15.
The minister, during a press conference Thursday, assured the six lane bridge over the Virilla river on the autopista General Cañas will be completed and open to all traffic by the end of April, even though some ‘small’ work will continue, work that is not expected to affect traffic.
At the beginning of last year, in an impromptu news conference, wearing a hard hat, Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis assured the country that the bridge work would be completed by his administration, something that the two previous administrations had failed to do, and within a year. The President, in a very emotional talk, pointed his finger at his minister, saying “it is your responsibility to get it done and on time”.
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Late last year, Miniter Villalta reassured everyone that the bridge would be ready on time, by the end of February, or he would quit.
For most, though no one was surprised at the Thursday afternoon announcement, it means more than two months of the “calvario”, the Spanish term which can be interpreted as a “siege”. Two more months of tremendous traffic congestion in most areas of the greater metropolitan area.
It was December when the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) announced the complete closure of the Alajuela – San Jose lanes, keeping open only the two lanes for San Jose – Alajuela bound traffic.
That quickly changed. The two open lanes were reduced to one in each direction and a restriction was placed on what vehicles could cross the bridge during peak hours: 6:00am and 9:00am and 4:00pm and 7:00pm, from Monday to Friday.
During the restricted times only public transport (buses, taxi and tourism) and emergency vehicles were allowed to cross the bridge.
All other vehicles were detoured onto alternate routes. During the restricted hours, traffic from Alajuela was detoured at the EPA store at Cariari, from San Jose at the Juan Pablo II bridge in La Uruca.
A few weeks ago, Transport offiicals allowed motorcycles to cross the bridge during the restrictions. As of today, Friday, restrictions have been loosened further and for the first time, light trucks can now cross the bridge during the restricted hours.
In addition, passenger vehicles according to the last number of their license plate – will be allowed to circulate during the restricted hours. The plan is permit passenger vehicles only on the day after their vehicular restriction day.
For clarity, passenger vehicles with license plates ending in 7 & 8 (that have vehicular restrictions on Thursdays) can cross the bridge on Fridays; vehicles with plates ending in 9 & 0 on Mondays; 1 & 2 on Tuesdays; 3 & 4 on Wednesdays; and 5 & 6 on Thursdays.
Seems complicated, but I am sure by April 30 everyone will have gotten the hang of it.
Spend the day hiking through lush rainforest, soaking in geothermal hot springs and cooling off under a beautiful waterfall. There are many options to choose from depending on your personal preferences. The Arenal area offers adventures to suit different skill levels as well as different interests. There are caves to be explored, bike and hiking trails of varying difficulty, you can even take a helicopter tour to get the best view of the volcano. Nearby is the town of Sarchi, where there are local craftsman eager to share their creations.
2. Doka Coffee Estate
This estate has been producing award-winning coffee for decades. Take the tour and see the entire coffee making process from seed to bean. You’ll learn about growing and about how different roasts are developed. You can, of course, taste the offerings. Also at the estate, you’ll find a bonsai tree and orchid garden, where you can see the painstaking attention given to these two plant breeds. When you get hungry, the estate has a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. Lastly, you can view every stage of a butterfly’s life cycle in the estate’s butterfly garden, where 15 species are housed.
Pacuare River Rafting
3. Pacuare River Rafting
Class III and IV rapids await you. Luckily, no experience is required. A guide will get you safely down the river and along the way you’ll get to see the lush fauna and diverse flora that the forest has to offer. Monkeys, birds, various reptile species and maybe even some big cats will be checking you out from the shore as you travel 19 miles along the river. Tours can include transport from your hotel as well as offering breakfast and lunch. Safety equipment will be provided.
4. San Jose City
Experience Costa Rican culture by visiting its capital city. Join a tour or just wing it. See architecture dating back over 100 years. The National Theater was completed in 1897. Take a tour to see the intricate interior touches. San Jose also offers several museums including a children’s museum, a jade museum and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Gold. The city has several open parks, pavilions and the Simon Bolivar Zoo, where you can see plants and animals that are local to the area. The La Sabana Metropolitan Park has a few unique buildings and houses a museum in the old airport.
5. Tortuga Island
Experience the peace of the turquoise water and the white sand beach. Just offshore you’ll find excellent snorkeling and SCUBA sites. Kayaks are available for rental, so you can explore the island from the water. Due to the island’s location in the gulf, the water tends to be calm, which is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. When you get hungry, the island has a few popup style BBQ restaurants right on the sand. The island is famous for its family of peccary (pigs) who make their home in the forest. Spot them and various tropical birds on a relaxing hike. Remember when visiting any location to wear a good sunscreen.
In Costa Rica, Waze allows drivers to learn about traffic congestion, but a slow mobile Internet connection
The use of Waze app to learn about traffic problems is one of the experiences where we feel the most the slow mobile Internet connection in Costa Rica, ranked at the bottom of the list of 87 countries on the planet. Photo Rafael Pacheco, La Nacion
Q COSTA RICA – Your mobile Internet connection in Costa Rica too slow and too costly? Feel that accessing Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, Waze, Instagram, Twitter and in even Google on the go is too slow? And the cost to high? Take our word and the results of a survey by the British company, Open Signal, you, we, are paying for one of the slowest mobile Internet connections on the planet.
According to OpenSignal (February 2017 report) measuring mobile Internet connection speeds in 87 countries, Costa Rica has the slowest connection of them all.
Open Signal defines overall speed as the average mobile data connection a user experiences based on both the speeds and availability of a country’s 3G and 4G networks.
Our country recorded an average connection speed of 2.69 megabits per second (Mbps) – at the bottom of the list – almost as high as the Philippines (3.3 Mbps), Venezuela (3.45 Mbps), Sri Lanka (3.96 Mbps) or Pakistan (3.98) Mbps), the bottom five.
In South Korea, on the other hand, the indicator points to 37.54 Mbps, followed by Norway (34.77 Mbps), Hungary (31.04 Mbps), Singapore (30.05 Mbps), and Australia (26.25 Mbps), the top five.
The backwardness of Costa Rica. What is disturbing is that Costa Rica is ranked pretty high in terms of mobile Internet penetration. According to the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel) – Costa Rica’s telecom regulator – in Costa Rica there are 4.8 million smartphones with Internet access, that is like 101 connections for every 100 inhabitants (based on 2015 population survey).
These subscribers are literally glued to their networks. In 2014 they consumed 38,000 Terabytes (TB) and, a year later, almost doubled that at 75,000 TB according to the Sutel, which justifies the slow speeds with “as the connections become saturated, the speed drops”.
“Costa Rica has a high penetration of mobile Internet but little of fixed Internet (as in hardwire connection by cable or telephone land line). With this disparity, the mobile Internet is saturated and offers poor connections,” explained Rosalía Morales, executive director of NIC Costa Rica, the country’s domain registrar, top level “.cr” and part of the National Academy of Sciences.
Luis Amón, spokesman for telecommunications issues at the Cámara de Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (Camtic) – Chamber of Information and Communication Technologies, blames the government in that, since the opening of the telecom market six years ago, the Sutel has not released more radio spectrum and assign it to mobile operators and improve connections speeds.
The government admits to the lags but claims to be dealing with the problem.
“Yes, we are clear about the challenges of increasing (connection) speeds. In Costa Rica, we have achieved a greater penetration of the service. Now is the challenge of speed,” said Edwin Estrada, Vice Minister of Telecommunications, who added that the government is currently in the process of auctioning the 70 Megahertz band among mobile operators to accelerate access to the web and to fuel competition.
The vice minister accepted that “there is much to improve” and stressed the government is progressing in improving infrastructure.
By the numbers. The Open Signal report does not analyze the number of services per inhabitant, but the performance of the network.
In North America:
Canada 20.26 Mbps
United States 12.48 Mbps
Mexico 9.91 Mbps
In Central America:
Panama 7.03 Mbps
Honduras 6.77 Mbps
Nicaragua 5.80 Mbps
Guatemala 6.60 Mbps
Costa Rica 2.69 Mbps
Belize is not ranked
In South America:
Peru 9.99 Mbps
Uruguay 9.85 Mbps
Chile 9.70 Mbps, and
Brazil 8.82 Mbps
Colombia 7.59 Mbps
Argentina 6.78 Mbps
Bolivia 5.51 Mbps
For its February report, Open Signals says to have collected 19,257 million data points among 1,095,000 users in 87 countries from 1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017.
All data, says the company, were taken from Users who had installed the OpenSignal mobile app for Android or iOS (Apple devices).
Click here to go to the Open Signal website for the interactive graph, global picture and much more data on global mobile internet connections.
The "mad dash" across busy highways like the autopista General Cañas (pictured) continues to claims lives each year.
The “mad dash” across busy highways like the autopista General Cañas (pictured) continues to claims lives each year.
Q COSTA RICA – The lack of sidewalks, bad drivers, lack of enough police presence, negligence, recklessness and irresponsible actions by some have resulted in an increase in pedestrian deaths and traffic fatalities in general across the country.
In the first month of 2017, eleven pedestrians lost their lives, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOPT).
The number worries transport authorities because it is double the number of pedestrians killed in January 2016. Six pedestrians lost their lives in that month.
In addition, January 2017 is the month with more pedestrians killed in the last three years. October 2016 had set the record, with nine deaths.
“The January numbers caught us by surprise. We had expected a maximum of seven deaths, the same in December 2016. Unfortunately, people are negligent, they are in a rush and do not heed to basic road safety recommendations. It is impossible for us, with about 250 officers per shift, to monitor five million people. It should be up to each and every individual, for the love of oneself, to take care when crossing a road,” said Mario Calderon, director of the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police).
In 2016, the Traffic Police only issued eight ‘traffic tickets’ to pedestrians, for things such as not using pedestrian overpasses and jay-walking.
Last year, according to the Traffic Police data, there were a total of 448 traffic fatalities, 60 more than in 2015, 93 more than 2015 and 184 more than 2013.
By the numbers. Almost half (197) of the traffic fatalities in 2016 were motorcyclists. Collisions between vehicles claimed the lives of 213. Other causes (including pedestrians) resulted in 84 deaths, the number includes 14 pedestrians casualties of a hit and run; vehicles that ran off the road accounted for 101 deaths; rollovers, 32; hitting fixed objects, 31; and drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel, 4.
The above charts prepared by La Nacion from data of the Policia de Transito, reveals more men than women die on Costa Rica’s roads (87% men compared to 13% women); those between the ages of 21 and 30 are the single highest group with fatalities, followed by 31 to 40 and 41 and 50.
Last July, Costa Rica agreed to receive up to 200 refugees a time for up to six months as part of former U.S President Barack Obama's program
Last July, Costa Rica agreed to receive up to 200 refugees a time for up to six months as part of former U.S President Barack Obama’s program. In September, Australia agreed to take them in. But now…
Q COSTA RICA – The 200 Central American refugees offered temporary protection in Costa Rica and to be taken in by Australia, are getting caught up in a political row between Australia and the United States.
Last July Costa Rica agreed with the U.S. to temporarily host up to six months 200 refugees of the
Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton on Wednesday said the U.S. must honor a deal over the taking of refugees from Australia if the Australian government is expected to honor a deal it would take Central American refugees held in Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of Peter Dutton.
Northern Triangle of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) fleeing violence, rape and kidnappings.
In September, at former U.S. President Barack Obama’s global migration summit in New York, Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcom Turnbull, said his country would take in the refugees.
However, Costa Rica may end up getting stuck with the refugees if Turnbull and President Donald Trump cannot iron out their political differences.
On Wednesday, Australian Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton, said his government expects the United States to accept refugees from Manus Island and Nauru or else it would not accept the Central American refugees in Costa Rica.
Following Trump’s inauguration last month, Turnbull said Trump agreed during a phone conversation he planned to honor the deal Australia struck with former President Obama — a deal Trump lambasted as a “bad deal” – to accept a number of Indonesian refugees held at camps in Naura and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
In exchange, Australia would take in Central American refugees from Costa Rica.
Under Trump’s policies of “extreme vetting” of refugees, the deal could come apart, which could lead to the United States refusing to accept any refugees from Australia.
“We wouldn’t take anyone until we had assurances that people would get off Nauru and Manus,” Dutton told Sky News Australia. “One of the lessons that we’ve learned from past arrangements, say the Malaysia deal for example … we accept all the people from Malaysia, not one person went from Australia. So we’re not going to be sucked into that sort of silly outcome.”
“We are seeking to resettle a number of people who came via the people-smuggling trade and have been in Nauru, in particular, with the United States but we will continue to take refugees from across the world, as we’ve always done,” Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said after meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
For the second year in a row the port city of Puntarenas will not have its carnaval (festival).
For the second year in a row the port city of Puntarenas will not have its carnaval (festival).
Q COSTA RICA – For the second year in a row, Puntarenas will not have its “Carnaval” (festival). Danilo Chavarria, president of the Puntarenas city municipal council confirmed the news on Tuesday.
For years, on the heels of the two biggies, Zapote (San Jose) in December and Palmares in January, the Puntarenas festival was the place to be.
February was synonymous with sun, sand, beer, music, beauty (bikini) queen and street dancing in Puntarenas.
However, in the last several years, the attraction began losing its appeal according to local merchants of the “Paseo de los Turistas” (tourist alley). Despite the lower appeal, local merchants saw the festival as a seasonal boom for sales.
So, why was this year cancelled?
According to Chavarria the problem was an error in the appointment of one of the members of the commission organizing the event. Chavarria explained that the regulation calls the person names should be from the canton, but a resident of Esparza had been named.
Although the error has since been corrected, it is still not official, leading to the cancellation for February. Chavarria added that the commission could organize a ‘mid-year’ event.
The deputy minister of Security, Juan José Andrade, exposed in a press conference the audios of the threats and defended the new role in the police. (MSP.)
The deputy minister of Security and head of the Fuerza Publica (police force), Juan José Andrade (centre, bald) played during a press conference the audio of the threats against police administration and defended the newly implemented work schedule of police officials. (MSP.)
Q COSTA RICA – The Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (MSP) is investigation the origin of an alleged coup threatening the police force, arising from a disagreement of some unionized police officials with the change in work schedule.
“A coup is possible…we are the police…we can do everything…”, says the audio the MSP released on Tuesday during a press conference.
According to Juan Jose Andrade, deputy minister of security and head of the Fuerza Publica (police force), the higher-ups at the police body are attempting to verify the veracity of the audio, as well as another series of messages posted in social networks.
“This situation affects us as an institution. Apparently there is a group that is generating these kind of threats, which have gotten out of hand, because this group does not agree with the change in the work schedule of a police official,” said Andrade.
On Monday (February 20), the MSP ordered the implementation of a 4×2 work schedule, which consists of a police official working 12 hours a day for four days and have two days off. One month the official would work the day shift, the next month the night.
Previously, the schedule – called 2x2x2 – was to work a 12 hour shift for two days, then two nights and two days off. The schedule was scrapped on the recommendation of the health commission of the MSP, considering the effect on the health of the officials.
A year ago, the MSP implemented a pilot project called 6×6, that entailed an official working six continuous days (of 12 hours shifts) and six continuous days off. The schedule was tried out in the Heredia, Upala and Guatuso stations and is still in use, but only in special cases. Andrade said he sees the 6×6 schedule applicable to cases where a police official works, for example, in Guanacaste and lives in the southern zone.
Andrade said the 6×6 increased complaints from citizens of the lack of police presence.
“The schedules must respond to the criminal reality. They (the unions) are proposing that the 6×6 apply to all officials, which would mean we would have police officials home for six days, placing the force in a difficult situation, because we would be working at 25% capacity of human resources,” said the deputy minister.
Meanwhile, Minor Anchia, representative of the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos (ANEP), said the union is against the new work schedule, but distances itself from the threatening audio.
The ANEP says that the new schedule would mean police officials would spend less time with their families when they have to work the night shift for an entire month.
“A night shift for an entire month is a lot of wear and tear on a police official, and whoever does not understand police dynamics, fatigue increases, affecting biological changes. Our female officials who are heads of families will see an increase in their household cost of finding babysitters for their children increase,” said Anchia.
“Our police (officials) are not robots, it is the State that must solve the lack of police, not the police,” emphasized Anchía.
Venezuela may have given passports to people with ties to terrorism – CNN.com
TODAY VENEZUELA – Over the past two weeks, a familiar narrative has been resuscitated: the threat of “Islamic terrorism” emanating from Latin America, through the revival of one of its most important sub-narratives: the threat posed by Venezuelan authorities illegitimately granting passports to presumed terrorists in the Middle East. T
he allegations were included in the justification of a bipartisan letter calling on the Trump administration to expand the list of Venezuelan officials targeted for sanctions under the 2014 Venezuela Defense of Human Rights Act. But they were scaled up in importance by a prime time, two-part CNN report last week.
The renewed attention comes in the first month of a new presidential administration that has included securing U.S. borders and preventing terrorism in its platform, and many in Washington’s policy circles are hoping these allegations will become a priority. In the CNN investigation, for example, Roger Noriega dramatically argues: “I absolutely believe, and I state it so publicly, that if we do not get our arms around this problem, people are going to die.”
In this post we look at the evidence that has been marshalled in support of these claims. By any standards it is thin.
Bipartisan Letter from 34 Legislators Calling for Sanctions
The theme was revived as part of a recent bi-partisan congressional letter to the Trump administration. On February 8, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) authored a letter, also signed by 32 other members of Congress, calling on the Trump administration to use its authority to impose further sanctions against corrupt authorities in the Venezuelan government. Much of the letter focused on Venezuelan military officials linked to appalling corruption in food distribution, and on evidence of Vice President Tareck El Aissami’s participation in drug trafficking. In addition, the letter raised allegations that El Aissami has ties to Hezbollah and Hamas and has been involved in providing passports to them and others in the Middle East.
To back up the latter assertions, the letter cites “media reports” from the American Interest and the Wall Street Journal. Upon closer inspection, however, these are not journalistic investigations that present actual evidence. The first is actually a transcript of verbal comments given by former New York District Attorney Robert Morgenthau in 2009. The second is actually a 2014 op-ed by commentator Mary Anastasia O’Grady.
The source of the Morgenthau piece is unclear, but in it he simply states that El Aissami is “suspected of having issued passports to members of Hamas and Hezbollah.” O’Grady’s op-ed cites a paper published in June 2014 by the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS). According to O’Grady, the SFS paper asserts that, in the course of his duties in the Ministry of the Interior, “El Aissami’s office used information technology developed by Cuban state security to give some 173 individuals from the Middle East new Venezuelan identities that are extremely difficult to trace.”
However, when we look at the actual SFS paper cited by O’Grady, “Canada on Guard: Assessing the Immigration Security Threat of Iran, Venezuela and Cuba,” the only actual evidence it cites is an “estimate” from unnamed “regional intelligence officials” that 173 “individuals from the Middle East were provided passports and national ID cards in Venezuela from the period of April 2008 to November 2012, overlapping the tenure of Tareck El Aissami” as Minister of the Interior.
CNN’s “Passports in the Shadows”
On February 8, CNN began broadcasting a two-part investigation called “Passports in the Shadows” on AC360° and CNN en Español that further explored allegations that diplomatic authorities sold Venezuelan passports to individuals who may have had links to terrorist organizations in the Middle East. In apparent retaliation, the Venezuelan government took CNN en Españoloff the airwaves in Venezuela, a clear act of censorship.
The primary source for part one of the investigation is Misael Lopez, a former employee of the Venezuelan Embassy in Iraq from July 2013 to July 2015, who has since sought political asylum in Spain. Lopez claimed and showed evidence that Venezuelan visas and passports were irregularly sold out of the embassy to citizens of Iraq, Syria, and other Middle Eastern countries. He appears to have first made these allegations to Venezuelan journalist Andreina Flores in November 2015, and they subsequently gained steam in English on Breitbart News.
Lopez’s claims seem plausible and are a cause for concern. But they should also be understood in context.
First, passport fraud is a long standing security issue and not in any way limited to Venezuela. There have been reports of similar schemes being run by corrupted officials in Guatemala, Belize, and elsewhere. Some have even spoken of an “epidemic” of false European Union passports.
Second, to enter the United States, Venezuelan citizens need not only a valid passport but a valid visa. Hence, entry of an individual with a false Venezuelan passport would require a serious lapse of the U.S. government’s own immigration system.
The second part of the CNN investigation interviews Marco Ferreira, a retired Venezuelan brigadier general who sought exile in the United States after participating in the 2002 coup attempt against President Hugo Chávez. Ferreira, who headed Venezuela’s Department of Identification and Immigration between 2001 and 2002, found evidence of irregularities in the system, including “suspected drug traffickers and terrorist groups” with Venezuelan passports. Even setting aside the likely biases of a military officer who tried to overthrow the Chávez government, it is unclear how relevant 15-year old allegations are. If such passports were being used by terrorists, we would presumably have known about it by now. What is more, any passports given out in 2002 or before would have expired years ago.
Finally, the CNN investigation cites what it calls a “confidential intelligence document” said to link El Aissami to “173 Venezuelan passports and ID’s that were issued to individuals from the Middle East, including people connected to the terrorist group Hezbollah.” If that number seems familiar, that is because it is the same figure in the 2014 Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS) paper mentioned above. CNN does not cite the source of this “confidential” document, but the CNN en Español version of the story claims that the information was “presented to Congress in 2015” and displays an image of SFS Executive Director Joseph Humire testifying before lawmakers (see below).
Summary of the Evidence
The evidence being presented in this new effort to argue that Venezuelan passports are being provided to terrorists is the following:
Statements from Robert Morgenthau from a verbal presentation, themselves citing no publicly available evidence.
A much recycled SFS paper citing unspecified “regional intelligence officers.”
The statements of a former Venezuelan military officer involved in an attempted coup against the Chavez government 15 years ago about passports that have long-since expired.
Evidence presented by a former Venezuelan Embassy official in Iraq.
Of the four sources, the last seems the most credible. Yet looked at in context, it does not justify the dramatic claims it has been used for. Passport falsification is not unique to Venezuela and in any case the difficulty of obtaining a U.S. visa means the potential for any implicit security threat to the United States is extremely low.
None of this undermines claims that El Aissami has ties to drug trafficking or to Hezbollah and Hamas—claims that should be investigated and weighed with evidence. But the idea that there are Venezuelan passports floating around the globe providing terrorists with an opportunity appears to be a tempest in a teapot.
As Chris Sabatini has suggested, the recent uptick of salacious claims regarding a terror threat emanating from the region is in part due to officials seeking the attention of the Trump Administration as it settles in. Linking Venezuela to a supposed terror threat emanating from the region has long been a key goal of sectors seeking U.S. intervention and given Washington’s new “normal,” it is perhaps not surprising that the story has gained legs again. By linking Venezuela to terror, stakeholders seek to make a nuisance and human rights crisis into a national security threat, and thereby generate the action they seek.
*This article was originally published by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and is reposted with permission. It does not necessarily represent the views of Today Venezuela. See the original here. Geoff Ramsey is WOLA’s Research and Communications Associate. David Smilde is a senior fellow at WOLA specializing in Venezuela.
Q COSTA RICA – The arrival of large numbers of tourists in Guanacaste is one of the factors supermarket chains have been increasing their presence in the province.
It was not long ago that supermarkets like Automercado, Supercrompro and Megasuper were not found in Guanacaste. However, the constant flow of tourists to the Pacific north province has changed that.
With the expansion of the Cañas-Liberia route, Walmart announced the building of a new store in Liberia, in addition to the chain’s 13 Palí and 4 Maxi Palí stores. The store will be added to a list of more than 50 supermarkets that Walmart maintain operations in different areas of the country.
“For the company,” said Mariela Pacheco, corporate affairs coordinator, “it is important to value all the communities, which can benefit the national consumer with our commercial proposal.”
The Liberia site will be located 100 meters north of the El Sitio hotel, which would comprise about 5,000 square meters and generate 90 direct jobs, Liberia’s mayor Julio Viales told La Nacion in January.
Megasuper, with seven stores, has been expanding rapidly in the province, since April 2015 opening five stores in the province. The surpermarket chain had been concentrating mainly in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM).
Kenneth Arrieta., vice president of Corporacion Megasuper said the company is responding to the needs of residents with the building of new houses bording big hotel developments.
Automercado pales in comparison to the others, with only 2 stores in Guanacaste in addition to the ten in San Jose, four in Heredia, two in Alajuela and one in Puntarenas (Herradura).
The chain opened its first store the province in 2007, in Playas del Coco, followed up a year later with the Tamarindo store. Since then the chain has not expanded, though the company says it does not close the possibility of opening a third supermarket in the province.
“We still believe there is room with enough concentration to open but we have prioritized Greater Metropolitan Aarea (GAM). At some point I think we are going to change that and open another (store) over there,” said Diego Alonso, vice president of business for the Automercado business group.
The company has detected that in the province there are a significant number of people who match its profile of target audience, among them, foreigners who live in the country by seasons.
Gessa, however, is the king of the land with a total of 24 supermarkets: 23 Supercompro and 1 Peri(mercado) in Guanacaste.
Walter Wesphal, general manager of Gessa, “… explained that the steady stream of tourists captured the attention of chain stores, but he stressed that tourist areas are already showing signs of saturation. The business group is also operating a supermarket with the Peri format in Liberia and now plans to expand its number of branches but in areas with low concentration of competitors.”
How do they choose location?
Population growth, socioeconomic characteristics of the population and access to basic services such as water and electricity are aspects considered by the firms when choosing a site.
The general manager of Gessa indicated that they are looking for locations with high vehicular traffic, with high visibility, high population density and little competition.
In the case Megasuper, it mainly takes into account the size of the local population, the competition in the area, access roads and the supply logistics.
As visa restrictions eased for Americans, many US tourists visited the island nation for the first time. For decades, Americans have had very little access to Cuba — journalists included.
Reporter Deepa Fernandes, however, lived in Cuba two decades ago. Life was hard. She chronicled the lives of women living through that tumultuous time; last year she went back to find some of them to see how their lives, and Cuba, have changed over 20 years.
When Norma Guillard turned 50, she celebrated with a month-long tea party in her terrace apartment in Centro Havana. Back then she was working as a psychologist, had started her own feminist publicity firm, and was an early fan of Cuban hip-hop.
Guests to her tea-drinking celebrations were dear friends, a rich cross-section of Havana’s cultural, intellectual and marginalized communities.
She recently turned 70, still lives in the same terrace apartment, and still takes in music and culture from across Havana on a daily basis.
At a time when most people would be thinking about retirement, Guillard is even more active. She founded an LGBT rights group; organized against racism with a coalition of Afro-Cuban groups; runs sexual health workshops for women in low-income neighborhoods; and talks to tour groups about Cuba.
Guillard has also traveled extensively in the last decade to represent Cuba at psychology conferences in the Caribbean, and to speak about her work as a teenage literacy worker in the years after the Cuban revolution. In 2011, Guillard was featured in a documentary, “Maestra,” about her youthful role in Cuba’s project to end illiteracy. She has used the fame to talk about many issues Cuba grapples with today.
Recently, though, Guillard has faced some health challenges, forcing her to slow down.
Tatiana Rodriguez, tour guide
Tatiana Rodriguez and her son Ivan Daniel. Credit: Matt Rogers
In her 20s, Tatiana Rodriguez held down three jobs and was the breadwinner for her family. Between work and running errands for her family, she still managed to frequent Havana’s top music spots. Rodriguez loved to dance.
Two decades ago she thought Cuban men were mostly all chauvinists who had antiquated expectations of women. She wondered if she would ever find a boyfriend who respected her for who she was.
Now in her mid-40s, Rodriguez is a single mother to a vivacious 9-year-old, Ivan Daniel, who plays a mean violin. Things with his father didn’t work out, but Rodriguez is a devoted mother seeking to create opportunities for her son.
She has a good job as a tour leader for groups that come from overseas to do volunteer work in Cuba. But often her work takes her outside of Havana for weeks at a time. Her mother does much of the child-rearing.
Daily life is busy for Rodriguez, but she still finds moments to dream. She wants to write a book about Cuban women, travel and see the world — but mostly, she wants to be there for her son.
Hilda Torres, retired English professor
Hilda Torres
Hilda Torres wasn’t bitter when Cuba was deep in its economic crisis during the 1990s and daily life was a struggle. Her creative spirit had an outlet: How to put a decent dinner on the table when meat was non-existent and her family members were not fans of vegetables?
“Plantains in temptation” became a signature dish, while eggs, rice and yucca appeared in creative concoctions on dinner plates each evening. Torres started planning her meals from the moment she awoke, and was determined to get her family through the scarcity.
She taught English at the University of Havana, and spent many hours on her balcony, chatting with her mother and sister who lived right next door. Life was hard, but Torres made the best of it.
Today she has retired, and she provides a free English course to her neighbors. As part of the lessons, she teaches how to cater to tourists by renting out rooms. Torres has done this for years, and it has helped supplement her state income.
She wants her neighbors to share in the same bounty, because she worries that income inequality is creeping into Cuban society now that some people are running small businesses.
Barbara Cruz Marin, international salesperson of industrial machinery
Barbara Cruz Marin
When I met Barbara Cruz Marin almost two decades ago, she had the smiliest button-nosed toddler attached to her leg. Cesarito adored his mother. His father had left Cuba and Cruz Marin was navigating life as a single mother.
Cuba was climbing out of the economic crisis of the nineties. Cruz Marin had a good job for the state, but without access to the dollar economy, she had to scramble toward the end of each month as her paycheck ran out.
“My biggest daily worry at home every day is, well, what are we going to eat?” she said at the time. Life was stressful. “As a single mum I am searching for some economic stability to be able to raise my son,” Cruz Marin said.
Her toddler is now a college student, studying psychology at the University of Havana. As the Cuban economy opened up, and it became legal for Cubans to run their own small businesses, many people’s lives improved. But not Cruz Marin’s. She said she feels like her family never made it out of crisis mode. Life is still paycheck to paycheck.
To help her through the stress of daily life, Cruz Marin has leaned on her Afro-Cuban religion, Santeria. It’s what gets her from one day to the next, she said.
Lilia Cruz Marin, insurance manager
Lili Cruz Marin
Lilia Cruz Marin is Barbara’s older sister, and like her sibling, she raised her son on her own. She too is a professional, and was recently promoted to a managerial role at a state-run insurance company.
Her life is busy, but she likes it that way. Less time to miss her only son, who made it big on the underground rap scene, and now lives in Spain.
Cruz Marin had many struggles raising her son, Randy. Two decades ago, when Cuba was still in the economic crisis, she despaired that she could not provide the kinds of activities and things that a teenage boy craved. She’d had it good in her younger years — she reminisced about the seaside vacations she took, the cabaret clubs she frequented, and the restaurants where she would go out to eat.
With the economic crisis, all those opportunities disappeared.
Randy was always a good kid, she said. He turned his boredom, his angst, into rap lyrics. And Cruz Marin fought to get him noticed by Cuba’s early hip-hop producers. He was good, and soon enough recognition came. Fame even. And he left Cuba to pursue music abroad.
That left Cruz Marin with the pride of having raised one of Cuba’s successful sons, and with a deep hole in her life, and in her heart. She didn’t see Randy for seven years.
So Cruz Marin keeps busy. Between work and chores, and extended family, she is hard to pin down. Unless she’s at home, where she blares Randy’s music, and inhales it, inhales him.
The Krump family is shown here in Granada, Nicaragua, in 2016. Photo Credit: Krump family
(TODAY NICARAGUA) Since Kristina Krump and her husband, Nicholas, started dating, they’ve dreamed about leaving Phoenix to live abroad, maybe after sending their last child to college, or in retirement. In the meantime, they and their three boys spend a month every summer in Latin America.
Last year, the family went to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It was a welcome break, Kristina Krump said, from US politics and bad news.
“We didn’t worry about CNN,” Krump said. “We didn’t worry about terrorist attacks. We didn’t worry about mass acts of violence. And we didn’t feel the need to check in on any of that because we were in the moment, in life, and there, everything was good.”
Back home in the US, Krump, a former teacher, worries about the divisiveness the election has stirred up. In Arizona, politics are focused more on the Mexican border and illegal immigration, and less on the black-white divide she grew up with on the East Coast, said Krump, who is African American. Still, with so many shootings in recent years of young, black men by police officers, she fears her biracial sons, aged 7, 9 and 11, could one day be a target.
“I don’t want to have teenage boys in this country, given all that’s happening,” she said. “It just terrifies me.”
So, when Donald Trump was elected president, that was the final straw: His derogatory remarks about women and minorities were too much for her, she said. For the couple, his victory also felt like déjà vu. See, when George W. Bush became the Republican candidate for president in 2000, Krump and her husband said they’d move to Canada if he won. But they never made an escape plan, and when Bush won, they realized they had been kidding themselves.
“This time,” Krump said, “I just looked at him, and I was like, ‘I am for real. We have to get out of here.’”
So, unlike the many people who said they’d leave America under Trump and haven’t, the Krumps are keeping their word. The family is moving in June to Granada, Nicaragua. It’s a tourist town in a country that’s Central America’s poorest, yet second safest. The kids will go to an international school, while Krump, a stay-at-home mom, will volunteer. Her husband, a workplace safety consultant, will fly back to the US when he needs to. They’ll all study Spanish.
“My husband doesn’t speak any outside of just the general: hello, goodbye, thank you, bathroom and beer,” she said.
To get ready for the move, Krump is finding homes for their three dogs and packing up their house, room by room.
“It’s a big task,” she said. “Looking at everything that’s in here and trying to decide what we really want to keep, what we want to let go of, what we really think we need — and are we moving forever, or are we just moving for a year, or two, or four?”
What she is certain of is that President Trump can’t relate to her family’s slow rise into the middle class and their struggle to stay in it.
“I would appreciate him a lot more probably,” Krump said, “if he would just say, ‘Hey, I started with a huge leg up in life; I get it. And I did work hard, and I used my leg up to become even more successful, and I want to figure out how to run this country [so] that everyone, whether you have a leg up or not, can succeed.’ And I really don’t feel like that’s where he’s coming from.”
When Krump talks to her kids — even her oldest, Jackson — about why they’re going to Nicaragua, she focuses on the adventure there instead of her fears for them here.
“They haven’t got to that point where they’re exposed to all of — everything,” she said. “Not that Jackson hasn’t heard about some of the things that happen; we’ve talked about them. But I don’t think he knows the depth and the breadth of it. And I certainly don’t think he is quite able to connect the dots.”
With tourist visas, they’ll need to exit the country every 90 days to legally stay long term. Krump said she’ll put up with inconveniences like that for quiet nights outside in rocking chairs, chatting and sipping rum with neighbors — not to mention more free time with her family.
“I know that for me,” Krump said, “I need to just hit the reset button in a big way and then kind of navigate and adjust and see what’s best for us moving forward.”
TODAY NICARAGUA – Climate change has forced governments around the world to make tough decisions to guarantee their long-term survival. In Nicaragua’s case, this means swapping their prestigious Arabica beans out for hardier, more bitter Robusta beans.
While coffee lovers will rejoice at the higher caffeine content of the disease-resistant Robusta beans, their bitter taste won’t please everyone.
Desperate times call for desperate measures though and, as the Robusta beans are faster and easier to grow, Nicaragua’s Ministry of Agriculture approved increased cultivation of the strain at the end of 2016, as reported by El Nuevo Diario.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, as of 2014, coffee beans accounted for US$438 million or 8.1% of Nicaragua’s total exports, second only to insulated wire (US$728 million, 13%).
Major growers in Nicaragua such as the Mercon Group are increasing their production of Robusta coffee beans to maintain overall output levels no matter what the weather may bring.
“Robusta coffee production has proven its profitability through its high productivity, low production costs and high potential,” Luis Chamorro, an executive with Mercon Group, said. Chamorro estimates the current season’s production of Robusta at 1,800 tons, or two percent of overall Nicaraguan production.
While there are concerns from local growers that the prestige value of one of Nicaragua’s key exports will be damaged, the government has enforced a 30 km (20 miles) separation between Arabica and Robusta plantations to limit the spread of disease.
Peter Scouras, the well-known co-owner of the iconic Red Top Drive-Inn in Winnipeg, died in a tragic drowning accident in Costa Rica. Photo Winnipeg Free Press
Peter Scouras, the well-known co-owner of the iconic Red Top Drive-Inn in Winnipeg, died in a tragic drowning accident in Costa Rica. Photo Winnipeg Free Press
Q COSTA RICA – Canadian Peter Scouras died tragically in a tragic drowning accident in Costa Rica over the weekend. Scouras, 33, was the co-owner of the iconic Red Top Drive Inn Restaurant in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
“He was my best friend,” Scouras’ brother Demitris told the Winnipegfreepress.com on Tuesday. “I’m going to miss him immeasurably.”
Marlon Duarte, Costa Rica Red Cross worker (Cruzrojista in Spanish), explained that on arriving at the scene the man was out of the water and according to witnesses he been submerged for at least 5 minutes.
Duarte added that the advanced support unit worked on the man for 40 minutes, but it was not possible to save him. The accident occurred on Monday in Playa Hermosa, south of Playa Jaco, in the province of Puntarenas.
Demitris described his brother, like their dad before them, ‘a real people person’. Demetris explained that their dad, John, who with his brother Gus and other partners had founded the Red Top, died suddenly at 67 while on vacation in Greece in 2007.
Demitris said his brother took over the restaurant with their mother following the death of their father and going to buy out her stake in the operation when he returned from Costa Rica. “The X’s and the I’s were in order — he was going to buy the restaurant and become the sole owner,” he said.
“Obviously, plans are going to change now. It’s way too early to say what will happen to the restaurant.”
Scouras was in Costa Rica with members of the rugby team he played for and coached: the University of Manitoba Wombats.
Q COSTA RICA (Insightcrime.org) Authorities in Costa Rica are worried that the dismantling of Colombia’s main guerrilla group could threaten the country’s stability, as a new generation of criminal networks are likely to take over the drug routes formerly held by the insurgents.
Speaking before the congressional Security and Drug Trafficking Commission, Security Minister Gustavo Mata said the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) will allow new and smaller organized crime groups to expand into Costa Rica, reported Diario Extra.
Mata said that he expects a large number of the weapons that are supposed to be surrendered by the FARC will fall into the hands of Costa Rican gangs.
“I hope they turn them in,” Mata said, referring to the FARC’s weapons. “But I know that is not going to happen.”
The weapons “are going to come [to Costa Rica], along with coca, for one simple reason,” the security minister continued. “These organizations are going to want to position themselves in the region, they are going to give arms to the small groups in order for them to engage in internal fights that we are seeing in Costa Rica.”
As evidence of this, Mata pointed to the arrest of 11 individuals and the seizure of seven firearms — including AK-47 and M16 rifles — on February 14, while calling for a more heavy handed approach to fighting drug trafficking. (There do not appear to be any indications that those weapons were linked to the FARC.)
Amid a trend of rising violence linked to criminal activities, Costa Rica has recently stepped up the fight against drug trafficking. The country has purchased new radars to patrol its shores and has hired and trained new police officers, Mata remarked. The United States also recently donated two anti-narcotics ships that will begin patrolling Costa Rica’s coastlines by the end of 2017.
InSight Crime Analysis
While Costa Rica has long been a crucial transit spot for traffickers wishing to smuggle Colombian cocaine to the United States, the dismantling of the FARC could change the dynamics of the Central American country’s security situation.
Originally used as a meeting point for Mexican and Colombian crime groups to seal deals on cocaine shipments heading to the United States, since the mid-2000s Costa Rica has turned into a major transhipment hub for Colombian drugs and now serves as a point of operations for some transnational criminal groups.
Costa Rica’s Attorney General Jorge Chavarría recently said Mexican drug cartels are recruiting Costa Rican criminals and taking them to Mexico, where they are taught cartel strategies and ways to adopt them back home. The relationship between Jamaican and Costa Rican trafficking networks has also reportedly grown stronger as Costa Rican gangs are allegedly swapping cocaine for Jamaican marijuana, which authorities believe is now both sold in Costa Rica and exported abroad in large amounts. Additionally, police operations in 2015 uncovered the presence of the infamous Italian crime syndicate known as the ‘Ndrangheta in the Central American country.
For their part, the FARC have long been a key player in Costa Rica, and have reportedly used the country to evade capture, hide their assets and set up drug and arms trafficking networks. The guerrilla group’s demobilization could give FARC splinter groups and other criminal networks a chance to increase their operations in the country. Not only could this lead to an increase in the quantity of drugs smuggled into Costa Rica, it could also lead to a surge in the number of weapons handled by local gangs if foreign crime groups are to arm them as Mata predicted.
Article originally appeared on Insightcrime.org and is republished here with permission
I do not want to fight with Donald Trump, Venezuela wants respectful relations,” Maduro said, “but if they attack us, we are not going to remain silent.”(ACN)
TODAY VENEZUELA – Nicolás Maduro advised US President Donald Trump to “open his eyes” about the policies he is “imposing” against Venezuela.
In a television broadcast, Maduro referred to sanctions the United States issued against Vice President Tareck El Aissami, calling them “revenge” from North American soil.
“President Donald Trump, open your eyes,” Maduro said. “Do not let yourself be manipulated and … change policies against Venezuela and Latin America from the old George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.”
Maduro, who has kept a “low profile” in his discussions about US presidents, and insisted he does not want to “have problems” with Trump, decided to issue a threat this time around.
“I do not want to fight with Donald Trump, Venezuela wants respectful relations,” he said, “but if they attack us, we are not going to remain silent.”
On Sunday, February 19th, Maduro defended his Vice President against now “infamous” economic sanctions imposed by the US government, which accused him of “playing a significant role in the international trafficking in narcotics.”
He also claimed that millions of dollar are being paid to and by the White House, the State Department and Treasury Department to allegedly harm Chavismo.
He said he hoped the message would reach Trump before he got carried away “by the failed right that fully supported Hillary Clinton.”
In referencing the Spanish Government and Mariano Rajoy, as well as Presidents of Argentina and Brazil Mauricio Macri and Michel Temer, Maduro heralded himself as a figure of peace.
“I am currently this continent’s guarantee of peace, we are the guarantee of peace, do not mess with us,” he warned.
Q COSTA RICA – The order to start a major road project has been temporarily suspended because of “a change of offices and misplacement of a document” which delayed delivery of a piece of paper required in the contract.
The project to expand the road from San Jose to San Ramon, essential for the development of the northern part of the greater metropolitan area, which has been delayed for years after setbacks with successive concessionaire construction companies, has been delayed once again due to the excessive bureaucracy that affects all road infrastructure projects in Costa Rica.
From a statement issued by the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transports (MOPT) – Ministry of Public Works and Transport
Changing offices and misplacement of a document caused Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) to fall behind in delivering a document which is a requirement by the Office of the Comptroller General of Colombia in the endorsement of the contract for the San Jose-San Ramon project and has forced the MOPT / COVAVI in their capacity as trustees, to declare a temporary suspension of the order to start which was given in recent days to the bank in its capacity as trustee.
Yesterday, on February 16, the BCR provided the information requested by the Implementation Unit of the San José-Ramón Project operating at the CONAVI. This information has already been incorporated into the file. This was stated by the Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Carlos Villalta Villegas, who said that this does not mean that the MOPT / CONAVI are delaying or paralyzing the project but are ensuring compliance with the conditions established by the Comptroller for the granting an endorsement of the trust agreement.
“We are clear that prior starting to execute the contract, there must be incorporated into the administrative record the full details of each item or element that makes up the management pack and tasks to be undertaken by the Central Bank as trustee, information which was requested from the BCR in the order to start itself reported by the MOPT / CONAVI on February 7,” explained the head of the MOPT.
(Q24N) Dan Buettner was born in Minnesota and spent time enjoying the outdoor adventures that Minnesota has to offer. As he grew up, he trekked all over the world. He received support from National Geographic and the National Institute of Aging to research places in the world where people were living healthy lives well into their 100s.
In 2004, along with a team of scientists including dietitians, he began researching these “longevity hot spots” or “Blue Zones.”
“The Blue Zones,” a New York Times best-seller was published in 2008.
The Blue Zones are identified as five regions of the world with the highest life expectancy or the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. They are:
Then, the team of scientists looked at an evidence-based common denominator among the locations and came up with nine.
1. Move naturally. These populations do not have specific workout regimens. Instead they maintain a physically active lifestyle; many walk as their main mode of transportation.
2. Purpose. They all identify a reason for getting up in the morning.
3. Down shift. Take time to relax: pray, nap, meditate.
4. 80-percent rule. Eat until you feel 80 percent full.
5. Plant slant. Meat is consumed about five times per month and is limited to 3-4 ounces per serving.
6. Wine at 5. People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly: 1-2 glasses of wine per day.
7. Belong. Research shows that being part of a faith-based community can extend your life expectancy.
8. Loved ones first. Families are a central focus for these regions, often multiple generations live in the same home.
9. Right tribe. The Framingham Studies show that obesity, happiness, loneliness and smoking are contagious, so surround yourself with people who lead healthy lifestyles.
Here are the common dietary trends from the locations.
The 80 percent rule comes from a Confucian-inspired saying “hara, hachi bu” a reminder to stop eating when your stomach feels 80 percent full.
An important point in The Blue Zones is that this way of eating is a lifestyle; the populations studied did not go on diets. These populations eat less every day, and that continues throughout their lifetime. I like the distinction the book makes between saying “I’m full.”
The next rule is Plant Slant. Most centenarians that were studied consumed very little or no meat. All Blue Zone diets incorporated at least two vegetables at every meal. Aim to consume at least six servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Keep servings of meat to a size less than a deck of cards. Find ways to incorporate plant-based proteins such as beans and nuts.
The third and final dietary rule is named Wine at 5. The Blue Zones show that having a daily drink of beer (12 ounces), wine (5 ounces), or alcohol (1.5 ounces) may be beneficial to your health and longevity. But if you go over the daily 1 drink per day recommendation, it will negate any health benefits. Another key to the puzzle is that many of The Blue Zones had a daily happy hour of sorts, where friends would gather to talk about their day. This sense of community may be just as beneficial as the wine.
The Wine at 5 rule demonstrates why nutrition can be a difficult and imprecise science. Food nourishes our bodies, but there are many cultural and emotional reasons that influence our diet and our overall health. My opinion is the most beneficial component from what we’ve learned from the Blue Zones is to be mindful. Take time to savor your meals and let this extend to being mindful with your relationships and your daily activities.
Born to a poor family in Costa Rica, Sandra Cauffman nurtured her impossible dream of space travel and is now a NASA project manager
Born to a poor family in Costa Rica, Sandra Cauffman nurtured her impossible dream of space travel and is now a NASA project manager
Q COSTA RICA – A great video first published on March 2015 and updated on September 2016, the Sandra Cauffman TEDx PuraVidaJoven talk she gave in 2014, in San Jose, Costa Rica, the city of her birth.
Her story is how a Costa Rican girl from a poor family nurtured an improbable dream about space travel, and despite the obstacles, realized that dream, to become a NASA project manager, working on the MAVEN mission to Mars and the Earth-observing GOES-R.
The video title is “Reach, Strive, Achieve: Sandra Cauffman’s TEDx Talk.”
Credits: NASA Goddard/Nasreen Alkhateeb; TEDx PuraVidaJoven
Best place to retire: Florida, Costa Rica or Mars? I’ve never been to Mars, so Mars it is.
(RICO’S JOURNAL) Ok, the title is a bit misleading, my way of grabbing your attention to what most of us are thinking, retirement. The article by Peter J. McDonnell published on modernmedicine.com hit a note with my thinking on the subject.
I have often said ‘retirement’ is when you decide to are done and now wait for end (like in die). Like captain Kirk on the Enterprise, who between all the women, worked at cheating death, my goal is to cheat retirement.
But maybe I have been thinking about this all wrong. Maybe there is another way to retire without retiring. Read on.
Elon Musk — the billionaire tech entrepreneur — asserts “the future of humanity is going to bifurcate. Either it’s going to become multiplanetary, or it’s going to remain confined to one planet and eventually there’s going to be an extinction event.”
Possible catalysts for causing our extinction, he thinks, includes Iranian nukes, engineered viruses, or a wayward asteroid.1 Probably some would add food from Chipotle to this list. But whatever the exact precipitating event, Musk has planned a solution. He will retire on Mars.
Mars differs from Florida in many ways, though it is known the indigenous inhabitants of our neighbor planet have the same unearthly green hue as the golf pants of many Florida retirees.
Musk is considered a charismatic visionary by many, who think he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to, including building internet companies, electric vehicles, and space rockets that land on barges in the ocean.
But there are some major hurdles for Musk’s Mars project. One of particular interest to ophthalmologists is the risk to the vision of those who are exposed to the weightlessness of space for prolonged periods. A recent study seemed to confirm the problem relates to intracranial pressure.
Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center enlisted patients who had been cured of cancers with the aid of permanently implanted Ommaya reservoirs—devices that facilitate the introduction of medicines into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or the removal of excess CSF. This device allowed the measurement of intracranial pressure in real time while subjects were in 20-second periods of weightlessness aboard the NASA parabolic aircraft (aka “the vomit comet”).
CSF pressure is higher in low gravity than when patients are standing or sitting on earth, although it is somewhat lower than when subjects were sleeping on earth. In the weightlessness of space, the investigators believe, the diurnal changes of CSF pressure seen on earth no longer occur, because human physiology responds as though we are constantly lying down.
All people floating in space don’t seem to suffer ill effects from this but some do, and according to NASA, the changes can be permanent. In 2005, after 6 months on the International Space Station, astronaut John Phillips landed on earth with an acuity of 20/100. After 6 months back on mother earth, his vision had only improved “a little” and he now wears glasses. Scott Kelly spent a full year in space, and he went from having uncorrected acuity exceeding 20/20 to being spectacle-dependent (details are not given).
Phillips—we are told in an article in The Atlantic with the disturbing (to me) title of “Would You Give Up Perfect Vision for a Trip to Space?”—says the opportunity to be in space was worth the permanent decrease in vision. I suppose some might be tempted to say the trade is a reasonable one: Accept a significant likelihood of permanent loss of vision in return for the opportunity to be a pioneer in space travel.
To me, however, the ethics of a space agency—governmental (like NASA) or private (like Musk’s SpaceX)—allowing young astronauts to knowingly put themselves in that situation is not acceptable. What happened to the gravity simulation from centripetal forces generated by rotating-space vehicles or other strategies to provide the environment our physiologies apparently require?
Expats are drawn to Costa Rica’s beaches where they can surf and swim (Credit: Andria Patino/Getty Images)
Q TRAVEL (By Lindsey Galloway, BBC.com) Costa Rica is among five spots, according to BBC.com, expats will likely be greeted with a warm welcome, a helping hand and a friendly smile.
The BBC.com reports says that for many expats, finding new friends can ease the often overwhelming task of adjusting to a new life abroad. But with huge variances in local culture and language capabilities, some places can definitely feel more welcoming than others.
To help expats possibly find success fast in the move abroad, the global community network InterNations recently conducted their annual Expat Insider 2016 survey – the ‘World Through Expat Eyes’ – of more than 14,000 expats from 191 countries, asking residents to rate a number of aspects about life abroad, including how easy it was to settle in, a country’s friendliness and ease of making friends.
“We talked to residents in the countries ranked high for friendliness to find out what makes these places so hospitable to newcomers,” says InterNations in its report.
This East African country received the highest marks for friendliness. According to the InterNations report, 57% of expats in Uganda gave ‘general friendliness’ the best possible rating (the global average was 26%). Not only that, not a single respondent ranked this factor negatively.
Shop assistants in downtown Kampala,Uganda. Uganda received the highest marks for friendliness (Credit: Tom Cockrem/Getty Images)
Charlotte Beauvoisin, a British expat who writes about living in the capital Kampala at Diary of a Muzungu, said that welcoming all nationalities is an intrinsic part of the culture, and residents are quick to offer smiles to newcomers.
InterNations Ambassador Nadya Mileva, originally from Bulgaria and now living in Kampala, agrees, saying that the people are ‘amazingly friendly’.
“The country has a lot to offer, from breathtaking landscapes to high-end restaurants and bars to year-round summer,” she added.
Kyagwe road scene, downtown Kampala, Tganda. Many expats live in Kampala, where English is widely spoken (Credit: Tom Cockrem/Getty Images)
Uganda isn’t without its problems, however, including the occasional power outage, pollution from old cars and infrastructure growing pains that can make traffic come to a complete standstill. But “the overwhelming majority of visitors to Uganda love the place. Many of us extend our contracts; many of us decide to settle here,” Beauvoisin said.
The majority of expats live in Kampala, where English is common and international restaurants abound.
“It has a high-energy core with a relaxed periphery well suited for families and others who prefer to stay at home,” Mileva said. While the southern half of the city is culturally diverse and less expensive, with easy access to Lake Victoria and the airport, the northern half is home to more affluent neighbourhoods. But expats live everywhere.
“There are not neighbourhoods predominated by mazungus [foreigners] and others only for Ugandans,” Mileva explained.
The country is also very affordable for food and labour – meaning that expats are usually able to maintain a high standard of living.
Costa Rica
The Central American country ranks high across all factors when it comes to how easily expats fit in. Almost nine out of 10 expats (89%) are pleased with the general friendliness of the population, and eight out of 10 (79%) feel at home, according to the survey.
Expats are drawn to Costa Rica’s beaches where they can surf and swim (Credit: Andria Patino/Getty Images)
Foreign – or native-born, the community is connected by the ‘pura vida’ sensibility, said Diana Stobo, owner of The Retreat Costa Rica. “The idea of living a ‘pure life’ is the promise here, and those who are tired of the hustle and bustle want to live that way.”
She believes the socialist government plays a part in maintaining this equality and openness. “People all live within the same means; it is difficult to get ahead financially, and therefore most find peace and harmony in what they have. No sweat, no worries, no problems, just ‘pura vida’.”
While English is widely spoken, learning Spanish will get you far with the locals, said David Black, an InterNations Ambassador who lives in Santa Ana, 15km west of the capital San Jose, and is originally from the UK.
The village of Montezuma, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Costa Ricans are connected to the ‘pura vida’, or ‘pure life’ (Credit: Jean-Pierre Lescourret/Getty Images)
“If you make an effort to understand and embrace the Costa Rican culture, you are very much welcomed with open arms and considered a friend.”
While expat retirees flock to beach locations like Guanacaste in the northwest and Jaco and Manuel Antonio, both in the central west, many professional expats live in the Central Valley near San Jose.
“Santa Ana and Escazu (8km west of San Jose) are very popular with North Americans and Europeans in particular,” Jones said.
The cost of living in Costa Rica has increased in the past 10 years, with Jones noting that a cup of coffee and a cake can cost just as much as in central London in some places. “However, like most other places, if you know where to look and wish to survive on a modest budget, there are still plenty of local places where you can eat and shop at a reasonable cost,” he said.
Colombia
This South American hotspot feels like home fast, according to many expats.
Colombia, Bolivar, Cartagena De Indias, Plaza de Santa Domingo, People sitting in outdoor restaurant. According to expats, Colombia ‘feels like home fast’ (Credit: Jane Sweeney/Getty Images)
“The Colombian people are eager to show their country in a positive light and are very receptive and hospitable towards newcomers,” said Anne Marie Zwerg-Villegas, an InterNations Medellín Ambassador living in Chia (a suburb north of Bogotá) and originally from the US.
“Colombia is one of the countries in the world with the lowest percentage of foreign-born residents, so we are a novelty. Locals tend to think of us as tourists and treat us as tourists.”
William Duran, who lives in Medellín, Colombia’s second largest city, where he hosts a digital nomad bootcamp, says this gives expats a unique opportunity to feel immediately welcomed, without the shine wearing off. “Out of the 40-plus countries I have been to, there is no other place where I’ve seen foreigners feel such a great balance of familiarity and novelty,” he said. “Colombians are very helpful and cheerful. The country is warm in every sense of the word.”
Guatape, Colombia, Tourist Destination Outside Of Medellin, Small Town Known For Its ‘Zocalos’ Which Are Handmade Painted Panels Of Three Dimensional Art That Adorns The Town’s Colorful Walls. Colombians are ‘very receptive and hospitable towards newcomers’ (Credit: John Coletti/Getty Images)
Most expats live in Bogotá, the metropolitan capital with nearly 8 million residents. Since traffic in the city is ‘horrendous’, according to Zwerg-Villegas, it pays to live close to your office. Most professional expats live in the northeast quadrant of the city, in neighbourhoods such as Chicó, Rosales, Usaquén and Cedritos.
“These neighbourhoods have modern commercial centres with international brands, restaurants with a variety of ethnic cuisine, and social and athletic clubs. Exclusive nightlife spots like Parque 93, Zona T and Zona G are also in these neighbourhoods,” Zwerg-Villegas said.
Younger and more adventurous expats might consider parts of the city further south like Teusaquillo or Soledad, where craft beer bars and inexpensive nightclubs are everywhere.
Since Colombia is an agricultural economy, fresh fruit and vegetables are available year round at affordable prices, and services are cheap too.
“Most expats will easily afford a maid, a driver and a nanny,” Zwerg-Villegas said. That said, expat incomes usually qualify as upper-middle class, which means a surcharge on utilities is levied to support the lower income earners.
Oman
As one of the sunniest countries in the world, Oman also has friendly residents who reflect the warm climate. A welcoming culture rooted in faith also leads to an openness with newcomers.
“Traditionally speaking, Omanis are very hospitable to strangers. With their strong Islamic background and belief, they love to help their neighbours or those in need, and will easily bring a stranger or new person into their home for coffee or dates or fruit,” said Nicole Brewer, who lives in Nizwa (160 km south of the capital of Muscat) and blogs about her experience at I Love to Globetrot.
The country is known for outdoor living and adventures, with great weather, camping and adventure spots.
Omani men playing cards at the beach, Salalah, Oman. Thanks to its great weather, Oman is known for outdoor living (Credit: Franz Aberham/Getty Images)
“Don’t consider moving to Oman for the city life,” warned Rebecca Mayston, an InterNations Ambassador originally from New Zealand who lives in Muscat. “Move here with an open mind for outdoor experiences. For me, the life is endless adventures, amazing weather and landscapes, diverse nationalities and friendships.”
Muscat has more bars and restaurants than any other city in Oman, and Mayston says many of her expat friends enjoy clubbing here on the weekends. Nizwa has more of a small-town feel, even though it used to be the capital of the country, but has plenty of history, including the Nizwa Fort and its famous souq, a shopping district filled with gems and pottery.
While the cost of living in Oman is growing more expensive, it was recently ranked by Mercer as one of the more affordable places to live in the Middle East.
“For me, I can live a better life here than I do back home, and still get ahead with financial benefits,” Mayston said.
The Philippines
This island nation has become an outsourcing capital with many multinational companies opening offices here and attracting expats from across the world. Currently, residents of 159 countries do not need even need a visa to enter the Philippines.
El Nido (officially the Municipality of El Nido) is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. The main industries of El Nido are fishing, agriculture and tourism, being a popular diving location. Expats are drawn to the Philippines’ tropical lifestyle (Credit: Credit: Danita Delimonte/Getty Images)
English is a primary language and residents are eager to welcome newcomers.
“Locals are very outgoing and helpful, which makes foreigners feels accommodated,” said Eleanor Webley, a Manila native and InterNations Ambassador.
There’s also a strong culture of going out – to festivals and parties, or even just getting outdoors – which means newcomers can easily find opportunities to meet new friends.
“The people here are very friendly and are always smiling,” said Wendell Yuson, an InterNations Ambassador who was born and raised in Manila, adding that the slogan of the Philippine Department of Tourism also reflects this vibe: ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines!’”
Tricycle taxi in downtown Butuan, Agusan del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. The Philippines’ going-out culture gives expats plenty of opportunities to make friends (Credit: Credit: Tom Cockrem/Getty Images)
While most expats work in Manila, many choose to make their home near the country’s beautiful beaches. Tagatay, 74km south of Manila, is a popular island for expats who want to be out of the fray, but still within reach via public transportation (buses connect the cities).
“The Philippines has 7,100 islands, and expats love the tropical lifestyle here,” Yuson said. Those who prefer city living usually stay in the Central Business Districts (including Makati, the primary and largest CBD; the newest district Bonifacio Global City; and centrally located Ortigas Center in Manila) or live in Cebu, the second city of the country located in the central islands.
The cost of living here is generally not high, and budget-minded expats can easily make ends meet, with costs in Manila about 60% less expensive than London in housing, transportation and food, according to Expatistan.com. Still, living in high-end districts or using serviced apartments, where residents enjoy hotel-level amenities and services, can push costs up substantially.
Article originally appeared on BBC.com. If you liked this story, share it, like the Q on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Please note some items were corrected by the Q from the original BBC report.
Welcome (or not) to the United States. Photo U.S. Customs and Border Protection from Zdnet.com
Welcome (or not) to the United States. Photo U.S. Customs and Border Protection from Zdnet.com
Q COSTA RICA – Although the news of ‘denials’ and ‘deportations’ of Costa Ricans from the United States went viral on the social networks following the inauguration of President Donald Trump and his signing of the ‘travel ban’, authorities in Costa Rica, however, in fact say the U.S. had been turning away Costa Ricans on a regular basis, on average almost one a day for the past year.
According to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry) statistics, a total of 352 Costa Ricans were deported or denied access to the United States between January 2016 and January 2017.
The Foreign Ministry explained that “for some reason they were rejected in their attempt to enter the U.S. and that each country has the right to choose who enters and who does not”.
Many believe that obtaining a visa to travel to another country is akin to an automatic entry. The Foreign Ministry reminds that, and was backed up by a statement by the U.S. Embassy in San Jose a couple of weeks ago, a visa is not a guarantee of entry (to the U.S. or any other country).
A visa, if you will, can be best described as a request for permission to enter a country.
The final determination whether a visitor (with visa or no visa), is up to the official at the immigration post, whose job is to make the final determination if a person is allowed to enter or not.
Many countries require a visa to gain entry.
Americans and Canadians, for example, do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica, only a passport. However, Costa Ricans require a visa to visit those and many other countries.
Visas are designed to allow people access into other countries. Unlike a passport, a visa specifies certain reasons why that person will be staying in the country, ie, tourism, work or attending school. It also specifies a certain time frame.
The true reason behind visas and passports are to protect the people living in their native countries from foreigners who may be terrorists or illegal immigrants. They have been in use for decades, and have proven to be an effective way to help keep unwanted visitors out.
In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time.
The Irazu volcano covered in frost. Photo from Facebook
Q COSTA RICA – It may sound strange to hear of frost in Costa Rica, but it is a fact, the low temperatures last week (and altitude) resulted in the landscape atop the Irazu volcano to be covered in frost (Escarcha in Spanish).
This is not the first time (nor the last).
María Lourdes Gómez, a worker ar the Irazú Volcano National Park, which spreads across 2,300 hectares (5,705 acres), said on entering the park last Tuesday morning, she found the vegetation covered in frost. She didn’t hesitate to take pictures and upload to the social media.
The park worker explained, arriving at the park around 7:30am, “the ground was white, covered by frost because I suppose of the temperature drop,” explained Gomez.
The Central Valley was hit bit a cold spell and strong winds for most of the week. Eladio Solano, of the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – the national weather service – said that days ago temperatures of around 2 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit) were reported.
In January the weather service also reported frost in some high altitude areas.
The elevation of the Irazu volcano is 3,432 metres (11,260 feet) above sea level. The active volcano is situated in the Cordillera Central close to the city of Cartago, east of San Jose.
How high is the Irazu volcano? High enough that from the top it is possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on a clear day. However, such clear days are rare, and the volcano’s summit is usually cloud-covered.
The Irazu volcano last erupted in 1994, is located within a stone throw (in volcanic terms) from the Turrialba volcano that has been for the last couple of years spewing ash and gas and in the last weeks ‘Juvenile rocks’ and other material.
The current weather
Although in the last several days the cold front left, the Central Valley on Saturday afternoon was hit by heavy rain; on Sunday afternoon many areas reported a light drizzle to rainy conditions.
The IMN is forecasting cooler temperatures (not as cold as last week) with a 90% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms for today (Monday), that could continue with a 40% chance over the coming days.
You have to wonder, has the rainy season already started?
There are clues that alert you if your child is being abused, says the PANI, Costa Rica's child welfare agency
There are clues that alert you if your child is being abused, says the PANI, Costa Rica’s child welfare agency
Q COSTA RICA – On average, every day in 2016, five children in the country; authorities received more than 2,000 calls of alert.
Of the 109 that were received directly by thePatronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI) – Costa Rica’s child welfare agency – to its 1147 hotline, only 13 ended up in the courts for sexual crimes..
Can a child victim of sexual abuse be recognized?
“Unfortunately an ordinary person cannot detect sexual abuse at first, and we cannot go through life with the paranoia that any uncle or any friend can be an abuser, because there are also women abusers,” said Laura Chinchilla, a psychologist at the PANI.
The psychologist further explains that the situation is worsened if, unfortunately, there is a sexual abuser in the extended family or the group of friends, as it is almost impossible for an unprepared person to detect it.
However, there are signs that a parent can consider”
Fear. A child who has been a victim of abuse may be scared of some particular location, person, or physical appearance. For example, men with beards or women with long hair.
They may cry when they are dropped off at daycare or are uncomfortable and evasive with adults and caregivers.
For the expert, any drastic behavior change needs to be examined. For example, a little boy who starts wetting the bed (or restarts again) needs to be looked at. A teenager who used to be lively and suddenly changed his/her attitude and starts locking themselves in their room indicates that something is happening.
“You have to be alert and see if there is any use of drugs, sexual abuse or a family problem,” said Chinchilla.
Parents need to encourage and strengthen communication and dialogue with children from a young age:
Teach them that no one can touch them without their consent.
They need to develop relationships based on trust and affection: If the child is afraid of his/her parents, he/she will be scared of telling them what is happening.
Q COSTA RICA (Vozdeguanacaste.com) President Luis Guillermo Solís inaugurated the Interinstitutional Surveillance Station in Puerto Níspero de Cañas on July 19, 2016. That’s where the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the coast guard and the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA) were supposed to work together, for the first time in the country.
It was happy news for the 11 communities in the region, whose livelihoods depend largely on fishing in the gulf. But that happiness was short-lived.
In an interview by The Voice of Guanacaste on location at the end of January, we verified that the only agency currently working there is SINAC, with three park rangers. While the offices are ready and the buildings already were inaugurated, not a single coast guard officer or INCOPESCA official was to be found.
The effort shown by these three officers is worthy of praise. With few resources – one boat with one captain – they work practically nonstop to protect marine resources from illegal fishing throughout the Gulf of Nicoya’s interior. But their efforts are hampered by the lack of coordination with other agencies.
Six months have passed since the president arrived to inaugurate the facilities, but authorities claim an agreement to allow the agencies to form a union isn’t ready, and until it is, they can’t move in and start working.
How is it possible that a document, a simple signature, drives us from efficiency. There are no excuses to justify this absurdity.
To be clear, having the three agencies located there would help solve problems involving illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other crimes that are committed every day in the Gulf of Nicoya, in a matter of minutes. Currently, officials must travel one hour from Caldera (where the closest station is located) to respond to problems in the gulf’s interior.
According to the foundation Marviva, tasked with overseeing the station with Inter-American Development Bank funds, each of these trips costs the government ¢500,000.
Meanwhile, fishermen committed to responsible fishing grow tired of filling out complaint forms denouncing illegal acts in the gulf, because they know it will take months for their complaints to reach the right desk. Inefficiency is expensive. It’s costing us a fortune.
Article originally appeared on Vozdeguancaste.com and is republished here with permission
(Q24N) Insightcrime.org – The temporary closing of a private school in Honduras may have been due to the imposition of what administrators are calling a “war tax,” an illustration of how extortion negatively affects the daily life of so many in this Central American nation.
Instituto Modelo, a private institute in the city of Comayagüela, says it has closed down for a week because of repairs, but extortion is also believed to have forced the school to shut its doors, reported La Tribuna.
“This problem of extortion in schools is old, because we have known about this situation for about eight to ten years,” said Carlos Sabillón, president of the Association of Private Institutes of Honduras.
Sabillón explained that he had met with then-Security Minister Jorge Rodas Gamero several years ago, when extortionists were targeting the busses of private institutions. Although that problem eventually dissipated, the extortion networks started to call the schools demanding they pay a “war tax,” Sabillón said.
The association president added that the government should be using the funds from a security tax to help protect against extortionists.
“The government established the security rate, a tax that all Hondurans pay, so the least we expect is that they provide us security,” he said.
InSight Crime Analysis
The Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have long been known as a hot spot for extortion in Latin America, and criminal networks extorting schools and students is nothing new.
In El Salvador, extortion and gang threats reportedly affected 60 percent of the nation’s schools last year, causing an estimated 39,000 children to drop out of school.
The region’s street gangs have consistently been involved in extortion due to the substantial amount of revenue it creates. In 2015, La Prensa reported that Honduran street gangs collected nearly $54 million through charging a “war tax.” Small businesses and public transportation drivers are among the most frequent targets for extortion.
Last year, Honduran authorities attempted to confront the economic and social toll extortion continues to have on society. A series of operations were carried out targeting extortion networks. For the first time ever, one of these operations seized assets allegedly obtained from extortion revenues.
It will be difficult to eradicate extortion completely given how embedded it is in Honduran society. Nonetheless, the government’s approach of following the money will likely yield better results than its “Mano Dura” (Iron Fist) strategy of crushing the gangs by using brute force.
Article originally appeared on Insightcrime.org and is republished here with permission
The data reveals that in 1990, for every 100 Catholic and civil marriages entered into there were 15 divorces, while in 2016, the number is 45. And while the number of divorces per every 100 marriages saw steady rise, it reached a high of 53 in 2009, then began a drop, with a blip up in 2015.
