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Why Bitcoin Matters More Than The President

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Q24N
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The structure of technology in our time has flipped the traditional model of what makes societies tick. (blockchaintech)
The structure of technology in our time has flipped the traditional model of what makes societies tick. (blockchaintech)

(Q24N) By Jeffrey Tucker. It’s like clockwork. When the price of Bitcoin (the dollar exchange rate) goes up, my inbox lights up.

“What is Bitcoin and how can I buy it?”

Then the price goes down, and it’s radio silence again, but for people who complain that their investment hasn’t panned out.

Every new technology must enter our lives through real-time market experience.

What’s going on here is the classic pattern. Non-specialists buy high (because of rising public attention) and sell, and then fail to buy low (because low prices don’t make the news). It’s no different with cryptocurrency than it is with any other stock.

What’s difficult for people to understand is that far more is at stake with Bitcoin than your investment portfolio. Anyone who thinks of this innovation merely as a chance for riches has completely misconstrued the significance of what we are dealing with here.

[su_pullquote class=”H2″]

Bitcoin is a market-based money and payment system that operates on its own, without the need for regulators, central banks, or even financial intermediaries.

[/su_pullquote]Still, every new technology, even revolutionary ones like railroads or flight, must enter our lives through real-time market experience, with all its trials and errors, failures and success, legit companies and frauds, along with investors who get burned and those who make it big.

That’s what captures the headlines. What doesn’t grab attention is the deeper implications of the technology driving Bitcoin: in time, it could fundamentally alter the relationship between the citizen and the State, not just at home but all over the world.

Blockchain > Politics

The structure of technology in our time has flipped the traditional model of what makes societies tick.

After a wildly contentious election season, you might get the impression that the future of the country, if not the world, hinges on the quality and ideology of top-down leadership. That’s actually wrong. Very little was said during the entire election about digital technology; nothing ever came up concerning distributed ledgers and the remarkable invention of a fully private currency that lives on the Internet and works without third-party intermediaries.

It’s a paradigmatic case of how the structure of technology in our time has flipped the traditional model of what makes societies tick and what drives history forward. As we are learning, presidents and parties come and go; what persists and what keeps advancing regardless of political trends are the tools we use to improve our lives. Here is where the real action is.

Bitcoin Miami

This blessed reminder was granted unto me in the last few days.

I addressed and attended sessions at an industry-backed conference on Bitcoin in Miami, Florida (nice write up here). No political party or cause was represented at this event. I don’t think I heard a word from the podium concerning platforms or voting or needed legislation. Instead, the presentations were about new ways to use cryptocurrency and distribution ledger technology to bring ever-better services to people all over the world.

Bitcoin has matured beautifully since its release in 2009.

The discussions were technical and detailed, with some of the best minds in the Bitcoin space conferring, sharing, and sometimes arguing. I found the whole environment invigorating to say the least.

Bitcoin has matured beautifully since its release in 2009. It has long since moved past the incredulity stage, though apparently skeptics will always be with us. What we see now is the drive toward mass adoption and industry application in every area, from payment processing to enterprise-building to security titling and contracting.

To people who live and breathe in the Bitcoin space, the progress might appear slow. But by any historical standard, the passage of time between invention and public availability has actually been remarkably fast. After all, we are only now celebrating its 8th birthday! And as time has marched forward, awareness of the sheer awesomeness of this technology has dawned on more and more people.

What Is It and Why It Matters

Bitcoin is a market-based money and payment system that operates on its own, without the need for regulators, central banks, or even financial intermediaries.
To those who own Bitcoin, develop within Blockchain applications, and read about this topic all the time, all of this is old news. And yet this knowledge is far from having gained popular recognition. Every time I’m interviewed, the questions come up: what is Bitcoin and why does it matter?
My best attempt: Bitcoin is a market-based money and payment system that operates on its own, without the need for regulators, central banks, or even financial intermediaries. It is not only a money and payment system, however; it is also a system for bundling, documenting, and trading immutable packets of any kind of information that can include contracts, property titles, or any other form of human agreement, regardless of geographic proximity. This means that the resulting currency and/or information system operates completely outside borders and outside the domain of the nation-state.

And it does all of this at an extremely low cost.

Where did it come from? This is the interesting part. The first explanation was posted on a free email list, followed by the release of the “genesis block” in public but very few people paid any attention at all. Fully 10 months went by before Bitcoin obtained any kind of posted price.

The people behind the technology were brilliant, to be sure, but unconnected from power. The blueprint didn’t appear in an academic journal. The currency was not created by the Fed or the Treasury. No policy maker was consulted. The geeks behind this innovation asked no one for permission; they trusted the market, which is to say people, to determine its success or failure.

And why does it matter? Everyone has his or her own opinion on this. My angle is monetary. If there can be a parallel currency to nationalized monies, developing in tandem, the world economy is granted a future beyond the current miasma. So many modern problems and horrors trace to government money: economic depressions, declining incomes, wars, government growth and debt, cultural destabilization, and so much more. Finding a solution to this problem, and a path for reform, is a priority for anyone who loves liberty.

In 1976, F.A. Hayek wrote as follows:

What we now need is a free-money movement comparable to the free trade movement of the nineteenth century, demonstrating not merely the harm caused by acute inflation, which could justifiably be argued to be avoidable even with present institutions, but the deeper effects of producing periods of stagnation that are indeed inherent in the present monetary arrangements …

It will be necessary that the problem and the urgent need of reform come to be widely understood. The issue is not one that, as may at first appear to the layman, concerns a minor technicality of the financial system that he has never quite understood. It refers to the one way in which we may still hope to stop the continuous progress of all government towards totalitarianism that already appears to many acute observers as inevitable. I wish I could advise that we proceed slowly. But the time may be short. What is now urgently required is not the construction of a new system but the prompt removal of all the legal obstacles that have for two thousand years blocked the way for an evolution that is bound to throw up beneficial results that we cannot now foresee.

Certainly no one, not even Hayek, could foresee the brilliance of the Blockchain in its operation and possible effects on the world. But we are fortunate to be living in the midst of its emergence and development.

The Block Size Debate

The Bitcoin system is being developed in the context of consensus from actual stakeholders and tested by market results.

At the conference I attended, there were fierce debates about the correct size of blocks on the chain. It is currently limited to 1 megabyte, and many people complain that this is not enough to permit the system to be scaled for universal use. Other people believe that a fundamental change in the core code is too dangerous, and that issues of scaling should be handled by add-ons and external layers to the current protocol.

I’ve heard all sides and I’m not in a position to say which is best. What I find remarkable is the method by which a solution is going to be found. It is not about experts with resources and power imposing a solution from above. We’ve been there and done that and the results have been terrible (consider Bretton Woods or Nixon’s monetary reform).

The Bitcoin system is being developed in the context of consensus from actual stakeholders and tested by market results. This is the right path forward. Whatever the results, they stand a much stronger chance of putting the world economy on a forward path than any legislation or executive order coming from any government or political party.

Jeffrey Tucker is Director of Content for the Foundation for Economic Education. He is also Chief Liberty Officer and founder of Liberty.me, Distinguished Honorary Member of Mises Brazil, research fellow at the Acton Institute, policy adviser of the Heartland Institute, founder of the CryptoCurrency Conference, member of the editorial board of the Molinari Review, an advisor to the blockchain application builder Factom, and author of five books. He has written 150 introductions to books and many thousands of articles appearing in the scholarly and popular press.

This article was originally published on FEE.org and is republished here with permission. Read the original article.

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Nieto Promises Defending Mexico

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Q24N
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Enrique Peña Nieto

(Q24N) Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto reaffirmed he will defend the interests of his country and a constructive agenda with the United States.

The Mexican president said that his government will punctually set Mexico’s position in the negotiation process that will define the bilateral relationship with the United States, which will include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and many issues between the two countries that share a long border and common interests.

My main interest is to watch over Mexico’s interests in the different spheres of bilateral relations, Peña Nieto said.

Nieto expressed his point of view in this regard in statements to the press.

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Tigo Prepares To Enter Costa Rica Mobile Market

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Rico
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The government plans to expand mobile services in the country
The government plans to expand mobile services in the country

Q COSTA RICA / Costa Rica may soon have a fourth Mobile Services Provider, as Tigo (Millicom) is preparing to enter the Costa Rican mobile market by bidding for the 70 MHz spectrum in the country’s forthcoming tender, reports El Financiero.

Tigo, which already provides pay television and Internet services, after the acquisition of Amnet in 2008, under the Tigo Star brand in Costa Rica, expressed an interest in the tender by providing comments on the tender process announced by the country’s regulator, the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel).

Tigo asked for an extension on the bid deadline and requested clarification on the price-setting mechanism, with Claro (Mexico’s America Movil) and Movistar (Spain’s Telefonica), also providing feedback, said the report.

The tender is conducted under the public bidding modality to grant seven blocks in the 1,800 MHz and 1,900 / 2100 MHz bands for telephony and mobile Internet services.

These frequencies were pending to be granted since 2010.

At that time only  Claro and Movistar presented offers and obtained the respective concessions, emtering into competition with the State agency, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), up to that time the sole provider of mobile cellular services in the country. With the break of the monopoly, ICE crreated the Kölbi brand to compete with the foreign operators.

Millicom is a Luxembourg-based operator with operations in Africa, Europe and Latin America (Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua).

Interested bidders required to submit their proposals by 13 February 2017.

Source Elfinancierocr.com

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Up Close: Miss Universe Costa Rica Carolina Rodriguez

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Rico
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Get to know Miss Universe Costa Rica Carolina Rodriguez Duran before she competes at the MISS UNIVERSE Competition happening January 29th 7/6c LIVE on FOX from the Philippines.

More of Carolina on:

– – – – –
Stay Connected!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissUniverse
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissUniverse
Instagram: @MissUniverse
SnapChat: MissUniverseOrg

Article originally appeared on Costa Rica Extra and is republished here with permission.

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‘Killing Reagan’ Airs in Costa Rica On NatGeo On Monday

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Rico
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Tim Matheson (as Ronald Reagan) and Cynthia Nixon (as Nancy Reagan) in Killing Reagan.
(Photo Credit: National Geographic Channels/ Hopper Stone, SMPSP)

 The President wore a blue jacket, a white handkerchief peered out of his front pocket. With both hands he greeted those who shouted out his name for his attention. His characteristic smile tilted to one side, he did not disappoint as he left a conference at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC, on March 30, 1981,  at 2:27 pm local time.

“President Reagan!” One of his followers was heard to say. A couple of seconds later, the scene turned into chaos.

Six bullets rang out within three seconds from John Hinckley Jr.s’ revolver.

“What the hell was that?” Said the 40th President of the United States.

The sixth and final bullet ricocheted and hit the President in the left armpit, broke one of his ribs and lodged in his lung. It stopped about 2.5 centimeters from his heart.

The head of the Secret Service Unit jumped on him and pushed him into the vehicle. Reagan, stunned, realized almost 10 minutes later, when he was admitted to the George Washington University Medical Center, that one of the bullets was lodged in his chest.

Nancy and Ronald Reagan

The 70 year old Reagan had been in office only 69 days where that bullet almost ended his life and wounded police officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, and critically wounded Press Secretary James Brady. All of the shooting victims survived, although Brady’s 2014 death was later ruled a homicide 33 years after he was shot.

This is the first time an incumbent president of the U.S. survived after being hit by an attacker’s bullet. His predecessors didn’t have the same fate: Abraham Lincoln, James Abram Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy.

John Hinckley Jr.

Reagan’s shooter did not act out of hatred. He had nothing against the incoming government. John Hinckley, Jr. had been driven by an obsessive fixation on Jodie Foster and obsessed with the 1976 film Taxi Driver,  in which disturbed protagonist Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) plots to assassinate a presidential candidate. Found not guilty by reason of insanity, Hinckley remained under institutional psychiatric care until September 2016.

On September 26, 2015, about a week after the release of the book “Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency”, written by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, National Geographic announced that a television film adaptation is in the works.

In May 2016, it was announced that Tim Matheson and Cynthia Nixon would play Ronald and Nancy Reagan respectively in the upcoming television film.

Filming on ‘Killing Reagan’ began in late May,  premiering in the U.S. on Sunday, October 16.

The film can now be seen in Costa Rica, to be broadcast on the NatGeo channel on Monday, January 23, at 10:00pm.

Article originally appeared on Costa Rica Extra and is republished here with permission.

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OIJ Publish Sketch Of Main Suspect in Liberia Massacre

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Rico
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artist-sktech-of-liberia-murder-suspect
Artist sktech of Liberia murder suspect provided by the OIJ

Q COSTA RICA NEWS / The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) is circulating a sketch of the suspect in the murder of five university students in Liberia and is urging citizens to call their local OIJ delegation, the Fuerza Publica (police) at 911 or 800-8000-645 if they know or have seen him.

A 14 year-old who survived the attack is still in hospital, in serious condition, but expected to recover.

The man is described to be about 40 years old, white and with a tattoo on his back right shoulder, resembling letters of the Chinese alphabet.

Artist sktech of Liberia murder suspect provided by the OIJ

“Through various investigative activities, we managed to produce a sketch of the main suspect. We ask the public that if they have information to call it in,” said OIJ director Wálter Espinoza.

Artist sktech of Liberia murder suspect provided by the OIJ

The judicial police chief added that they have a large contingent of officials, dedicated to the location and identification of the suspect; Nevertheless the efforts of the (people)entire country are required for his immediate apprehension.

The OIJ has yet to determine the motive behind the multiple murder that shocked Liberia and the entire country. Investigators are not openly discussing if their main suspect acted alone, if he was someone known to his victims.

Photo Alonso Tenorio / La Nacion

In Liberia, on Saturday morning, three coffins with flags of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) were together in front of the altar of the Catholic Church of San José de Upala, where the funeral of Stephanie Hernandez, her boyfriend Joseph Briones and his friend Of both, Dayana Martínez took place.

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Do You Cover Your Webcam On Your Laptop? I Do.

By
Rico
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Cover your laptop webcam. I do.

From RICO’S JOURNAL / Some think I am crazy (that’s besides the point) for covering my the webcam on my laptop. I do, and although I have not not been a victim of an attack (at least not to my knowledge) there are several reasons for doing so.

Hackers. A third party, a hacker, can active your camera app. A hacker can be anyone. The term hacker is used in popular media to describe someone who attempts to break into computer systems.

What is one of the favourites of hackers? your webcam.

Now, you can go out and buy a nice webcam cover online. Me, I use black electrical tape that works just fine.

My low-tech solution. Black electrical tape works best and cheapest.

Here’s why you should.

Blackmail should be at the top of your list of reasons for covering your webcam. Some hackers collect compromising photos of users with the aim of or threat of exposing the pictures to emails and the social media. Can be very surprising seeing your ‘private’ photo(s) on Facebook or Instagram. We all have them.

Perverts. You have heard of the deep or dark web. If not, click here. It’s much easier than you think to access the deep or dark web, where anything goes. There, in the dark corners of the internet, men’s cameras can go for as much as 25 cents, but women’s cams can go for $25 or more, depending on the content.

Other uses for your hacked webcam can include industrial espionage to spying on relationships (including your own partner may be looking on you) to confirm any doubts of infidelity.

The nay-sayers tells us that built-in laptop webcams can only be compromised if your computer is first compromised. Maybe true, but why take the chance? A hacker can break into your computer and you would never know it. Others argue that you have to be a pretty attractive target for someone to want to break into your computer, but then from everything I have read, so many hackers do so because they can or prove they can and your computer/webcam is one at random.

In my case, my laptop is almost never off, it rarely gets closed down. Even when I am not there. Although the screen is blank and my laptop is on sleep mode, a simple touch of the mouse or keyboard it wakes up. If you are like me, how many times have you come back to your laptop and the screen was on, even though no one touched it? Call me paranoid.

Although I do not have, rather keep, compromising videos and photos on my laptop (all is kept in a separate drive not permanently connected to the laptop), I like my privacy.

Never mind the hackers. Here is another point for covering your webcam. On multiple occasions, I myself have accidentally hit the video chat option when I didn’t even intend to call anyone, let alone use video. Imagine the surprise of your callee (the one receiving your call) of you while in bed or on the sofa or at your desk and not exactly fully dressed? Depending on who you just video called, it can be pretty bad or exceptionally good.

Having said all that, you don’t have to cover you webcam, if you NEVER EVER connect your laptop to the internet. If your are not connected to the internet your laptop cannot be hacked.

After reading scary stories on Quora about webcam hacks also confirmed me it was a good idea. And so should you.

What about your cell phone or tablet? That’s for another day.

Article originally appeard on Ricosjournal.com, published here with permission.

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Casa Blanca On Financial Downslide

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Rico
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Casa Blanca, with 58 stores across the country and 550 employees, recently filed for receivership.
Casa Blanca, one of Costa Rica major retailer with 58 stores across the country and 550 employees, recently filed a “convenio preventivo” (similar character to Chapter 11 in the United States )

Q COSTA RICA  BUSINESS / Costa Rica’s retail industry is highly competitive, retailers must monitor daily the needs of customers as well as their competitors, constantly innovating to offer consumers a variety of goods according to the latest trends, and differentiate themselves from the competition.

The market is so complex and volatile it is hitting even the big names, names like Casa Blanca, that recently filed a “convenio preventivo” (similar character to Chapter 11 in the United States ) allowing the debtor who is not yet in bankruptcy, protection from creditors for a limited period to allow it to reorganize.

According to ElFinanciero’s latest Consumer Profile (Perfil del Consumido in Spanish), Casa Blanca is third on the list of consumers, behind Gollo and Monge, when they think about buying an appliance.

Despite the financial downslide, the retailer continues adding services. For example, earlier this month it began selling unemployment and serious illness insurance at all its stores. To this is last year’s addition of orthodontics plans.

Buying on Credit
Over the past few years, the retailer added the much-needed consumer credit, calling it Flexipago, allowing customers to make purchases not only at Casa Blanca but also at Colono, El Lagar and Las Gravillas (hardware and construction material retailers).

But the competition is fierce. For example Gollo offers easy consumer credit at any of its stores, credit given regardless of income or length of time on the job,  for purchases on home improvements, school supplies and so on. In addition, with only a signature Costa Ricans can purchase on credit vacation plans for travel in and out of Costa Rica.

What led the fall of Casa Blanca?
Minor Alfaro, marketing manager for the retailer, on speaking to El Financiero chose not to comment on that point, saying it is prudent to wait the come of the judicial process first, a process that began on January 12 when the “convenio preventivo” was filed.

The official, however, recognizes that the retailer is going through a period of economic hardship. However, he emphasizes that their outlets (stores) are operating normally and have plans in place to attract more consumers.

Seeing the ‘writing on the wall’, last year Casa Blanca began closing its smaller stores, arguing that their size did not permit their full line of products and services, concentrating on stores over 500 square metres (5.300 square feet).

The retailer currently employs more than 550 and operated 58 stores across the country.

“Casa Blanca is a company that is operating smoohtly. We have a commercial strategy that aims at being profitable and sustainable growth in sales of product adapted to demands of customers,” said Alfaro.

Source Elfinancierocr.com

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Why Are Costa Ricans Not Willing To Pay Taxes?

By
Rico
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File photo of taxpayer submitting a tax return

Q COSTA RICA / Why are Costa Ricans reluctant to pay taxes? What are the consequences of such behavior?  “So much paid in taxes and see the roads”, or “I did not file a tax return and nothing has happened to me!” are expressions heard from Costa Ricans.

File photo of taxpayer submitting a tax return

A report by El Financiero says the unwillingness to pay taxes has a name: “fiscal morality”.

According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda) for 2013, tax noncompliance in the country was 8.22% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

There are several causes that discourage the voluntary payment of taxes and that affect the decision of the taxpayer.

Between them, and beyond the tangible, are the failings in the collection systems, corruption, the lack of knowledge of Costa Ricans in how the public treasury is financed and even what the taxes are used for.

Parallelly, the consequences are felt. The country’s tax revenues are tiny compared to the region and other parts of the world.

By 2015, the country’s tax income was 13.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a percentage below tax figures reported in places like Nicaragua (15.4%) or Honduras (16.3%).

The national reality is that while it is urgent to approve a tax reform, the lack of motivation to pay taxes by Costa Ricans ends up complicating the scenario.

“The current (tax) reform is not to use additional money. But is the citizenry willing to have less? That is the question that should be passed on to people,” said Fernando Rodríguez, Vice Minister of Revenue.

Changing the attitude is not easy, however, a change of action and shuffling of tools could lead to new trends.

However, while that happens, experts emphasize that while Costa Rica’s tax burden is high – about 20% above other Central American countries – it also enjoys a health system that in not comparable with the rest of the region.

“The Tico (taxpayer) can perceive that he already pays enough, but the standard of living he has is also considerably higher than the rest of his Central American counterparts. We all want standards like Finland or Norway, but we do not want to pay (taxes) like them,” said Abelardo Medina, an economist at the Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies (Icefi).

The chart with data from the OCDE and CEPAL compares tax evasion in Costa Rica to Central American and European countries

Last November, the Directorate General of Taxation hired an external service that cross matches taxpayer data in public databases to identify suspicious patterns that might suggest misconduct or evasion. The project called Predictive Model aims to analyze the behavior of firms and individuals in order to identify suspicious or unusual patterns in the process of declaration of income and tax payments.

The Predictive Model, for example, cross matches information contained in the taxpayers declarations with data from public sites, for example, the Civil Registry (Registro Civil), the National Property Registry (Registro Nacional) and listings of employers and insured persons in the Caja, among other things.

Source: Elfinancierocr.com

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Digital Television (TDV) Will Free Up Bands For Mobile Broadband Services

By
Rico
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0
The Ministry of telecommunications moving forward to switch from analogue to digital television by the end of the year
The Ministry of telecommunications moving forward to switch from analogue to digital television by the end of the year

Q COSTA RICA / The government says it will allocate the 100MHz of 700MHz-band spectrum freed up from the introduction of TVD – Television Digital (digital television)  for mobile broadband services.

However, the tender for the the so-called ‘digital dividend’ will not occur until mid-2018 at the earliest, past the end of 2017 completion date for the migration of analogue to TVD, explained the deputy minister of Telecommunications, Edwin Estrada, in an interview with El Financiero.

“It’s a technological breakthrough in the field of television,” said Estrada. “Just as in the 60s and 70s the shift to color television was made, this is another breakthrough that makes technology available to users.”

TDV has many advantages and benefits such as a clearer image, better sound, better coverage in the national territory and greater efficiency in the radio spectrum. “Today the user makes greater use of the Internet and we require more spectrum availability,” Estrada said.

The deadline set for Costa Rica’s switch to digital television is 15 December 2017, although a mid-year assessment could see a postponement.

In the interview, Estrada added that while frequencies may be freed up by the end of the year, the process of allocating them to operators would not occur until after the presidential election and new government in 2018.

The process, after the new government instructs the regulating agency to distribute the spectrum, the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Sutel)  must conduct a market analysis, which could see the action occur in early 2019.

Source ElFinancierocr.com

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Things You Should or Want Know About Cuba

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Q24N
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El Capitolio peeks through a gap in the winding streets of Havana. Flickr

TODAY CUBA / Cuba is the Caribbean island nation under communist rule. It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country’s legendary cigars. The capital, Havana (La Habana), is lined with pastel houses, 1950s era cars and Spanish-colonial architecture in the 16th-century core, Old Havana (Habana Vieja).

Colorful colonial buildings in Habana Vieja. Photo: Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images

Culturally, Cuba is considered part of Latin America. It is a multiethnic country whose people, culture and customs derive from diverse origins, including the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples, the long period of Spanish colonialism, the introduction of African slaves, and a close relationship with the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

The malecón is a popular spot for fishing Photo Sarah Morgan / Getty Images

Salsa music plays in the dance clubs and cabaret shows are performed at the famed Tropicana.

  • Cuba is the largest island in the area with 11 million inhabitants.
  • Cuba has been living under a communist dictatorship for 58 years
  • Cuba went from the third developed country of the Americas (beating countries like Spain, France, Belgium in indicators) to a third world country with a destroyed economy and agriculture.
  • Cuba is a “food deficient country” that has to import 80% of the food it consumes and that lives with rationing for over 50 years.
  • Cuba has an “apartheid” medical and tourist system (tourist part now relaxed) with separate facilities for tourist (and the elite) and the Cuban people.
  • Cuba has a “two currency” system with one the CUP for the Cuban people’s daily transactions which is “non convertible” (can’t be exchanged for other currencies) and the CUC (convertible). 1 CUC is worth 25 CUP at current exchange rates.
  • Average monthly pensions is Cuba are (in US dollar) $10 – $12 and average salary is about $25.
  • Rationed goods are cheap but last only 10 days to feed people and lots of other goods have to be bought at high prices (relative compared to income) with CUP or at exorbitant prices in CUC. This results in widespread food problems.
  • 62% of Cubans depend on remittances (money sent from abroad) to make ends meet.
  • Education and health in Cuba, once praised, have declined now facing crumbling infrastructure, teacher shortages and a lack of medical personnel and equipment in the Cuban system.
  • The Cuban people are friendly and like foreigners.
  • It has beautiful beaches, mountains and recreational places.
  • It possess beautiful colonial buildings and forts to visit.
  • People like to party more than work. The youth is very outgoing and gather at nights in parks.
  • Crime has gone up but still relative safe.
  • Internet is really bad, expensive, and less than 20% have access to it.
  • Public transportation is also bad.
  • Don’t expect people to be punctual or talk about politics.
  • Cubans love to make jokes, play dominoes and drink coffee.

Compiled from answers on Quora.com

While being in Cuba you should try and feel all the atmosphere of this country through its cigars. Partagas Lusitanias are one of the best ones that you can try.

It has sugar-white beaches and is dotted with tobacco fields, which play a part in the production of the country’s legendary cigars.

Article originally appeared on Today Cuba and is republished here with permission.

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How The Trump Era Will Affect Life in Costa Rica

By
Richard Philps
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From Cartoonists around the world illustrate their feelings on the Trump administration
From ‘Cartoonists around the world illustrate their feelings on the Trump administration’ by usuncut.com

QBLOGS / Donald Trump has and continues to make bold statements regarding “Making America First”, with the primary tenets of both “Buying and Hiring American”. If this philosophy were to be adopted verbatim in the manner in which Mr. Trump espouses, life in Costa Rica could be severely negatively impacted.

Without the well paid employment opportunities currently available to Costa Ricans in Free Trade Zones (Zona Francas), which revolve primarily around U.S. market oriented high-tech and pharmaceutical manufacturing and call centers for the Multinationals in the various office developments, primary Private Sector employment opportunities would be relegated to tourism, the service sector, and agriculture. Most certainly, if this were the case, the standard of living for many Costa Ricans would plummet to a low unseen for decades.

However, what are the chances of such a negative impact on Costa Rica Society occurring?

A statement made by President Obama as he was leaving office, and with which I entirely agree, is that in-coming Presidents are always making bold statements about how they will change ‘History’, only to find that during the course of their Presidency, it is History that changes them.

In my opinion, Mr. Trump will also find this to be the case during his Presidency.

While I don’t disagree with Mr. Trump’s philosophy of “Making America First”, a slogan which obviously appealed to a large segment of the electorate, there is and will continue to be a requirement which has evolved through Globalization, for the U.S. in its world leadership role, to provide economic opportunity in foreign lands in return for continued world peace and stability.

Obviously, if millions of people around the world that currently depend on U.S. Multinationals in their respective countries to provide employment opportunities, are suddenly without work and are thrown into impoverished circumstances, there will be a real and present threat of the order of world peace and stability current enjoyed, being interrupted, at great cost to the U.S. in the form of military expenditures.

Mexico, as a prime example of a Country which could suffer such consequences of reduced employment, and which is located right on the southern border of the U.S., could pose an immediate threat to such stability in the U.S.

In the end, the affect of Mr. Trump’s stated economic reforms on life in Costa Rica will come down to an accounting exercise by the various U.S. Multinationals currently operating in Costa Rica.

If tax concessions in the U.S. and reduced transportation costs obtained for the manufacture of goods in the U.S., out-weigh the lower employment costs of employing Costa Rican workers rather than U.S. workers, Costa Rica will suffer.

In my opinion, I don’t believe that this will be the case in-fact, as Globalization has become such an inherent part of the natural evolution of Human Society going forward, it will temper the movement toward the extreme protectionist position for the U.S., currently being promoted by Mr. Trump.

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Ruta 27 To Be Expanded: Six Lanes From La Sabana To Cuiadad Colon and Four Lanes To Caldera

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The congestion on the Ruta 27 is now at any time of the day. In the photo, the six lane section from the tolls to Multiuplaza in Escazu
The congestion on the Ruta 27 is now at any time of the day. In the photo taken from Twitter the six lane section from the tolls to Multiuplaza in Escazu.

Q COSTA RICA NEWS / There was a time in the not so long distant past the new Ruta 27 between La Sabana (San Jose) and Caldera (Puntarenas) was a welcome relief for drivers.

Today, circulating the Ruta 27 means an almost sure bet of congestion at any time of the day. A trip that is to take not more than 55 minutes, in each direction, can at times be up to 90 minutes, and even more during certain times of the day.

Finally, the Consejo Nacional de Concesiones (CNC) – National Concessions Council – had taken note, realizing, what most drivers have already known for some time, that the road has reached its saturation point. The road today has more than double the volume of traffic it was designed and built for.

Through the most recent study the CNC has determined that the road is at 70% saturation. The result obliges the concessionaire, the Globalvia (Autopistas del Sol) consortium, to expand the Ruta 27.

“The contract establishes the obligation to expand the road when it reaches saturation levels of 70% and that is the case today. We did a study in terms of traffic, where we divided the route into 7 sections, measurements were taken and we concluded that in many of them (sections) the capacity was surpassed and that it is already time to expand the route. The users already feel it, but now we have the formal documents that support it,” said Silvia Jiménez, Technical Secretary of the CNC.

The CNC is now waiting on the concessionaire to present a formal proposal for the expansion, that is expected to see the Ruta 27 expand from the current four to six lanes the section between La Sabana and Cuidad Colon (Santa Ana) and to two two lanes in each direction between Cuidad Colon (Santa Ana) and Pozon (west of Orotina, at the Jaco cutoff).

Currently, the Ruta 27 is six lanes (three in each direction) only between the Escazu tolls and Multiplaza and four lanes (two each direction) between La Sabana and Escazu and Multiplaza and Cuidad Colon, with some sections, not more than a few hundred metres each, between Cuidad Colon and Caldera.

The project would mean an expansion of bridges (all two lanes between Cuidad Colon and Caldera).

At what cost?

According to Jimenez, the cost of the expansion is unknown, nor is it know what effect it will have whether the tolls will increase.

Under the terms of the contract, Globalvia must bear the cost of the expansion work, that if it the expansion project moves forward with due diligence, could start as early as 2019 and finished within two years (2021).

The Ruta 27 opened to the public in 2010 after some 30 years of planning that included the start and stop of several contracts by different contractors until the Oscar Arias Sanchez administration (2006-2010) decided on the concession model, originally signing a 25 year contract with Globalvia to build, maintain and operate the route from La Sabana to the Caldera port.

Under the terms of the contract, the Ruta 27 became a toll road, with main toll stations in Escazu, La Guacima, Grecia and Pozon (Orotina), charged based on the type of vehicle.

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The Closure Of The ‘Platina’ Commences Today

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Starting this morning and for the next five to six weeks, the two lanes of the Alajuela - San Jose direction of the 'platina' are closed.
Starting this morning and for the next five to six weeks, the two lanes of the Alajuela – San Jose direction of the ‘platina’ are closed.

Q COSTA RICA NEWS / Today is Saturday. The Saturday that the “platina” bridge mostly shuts down until the first week in March, giving crews the space and freedom to complete the ‘construction of the new six lane bridge’ over the Virilla river on the autopista General Cañas.

What does this mean to you and every other driver on the roads starting this morning? Simply, if you do haven’t mapped out an alternate(s) route and add time to your travel, allowing for more than usual congestion, you will be late.

The shut down is of the two lanes in Alajuela – San Jose direction. The two lanes of the San Jose – Alajuela will be open, however, will be reduced to one lane in each direction during certain times, and only to a certain of traffic.

Applications like Waze can be very useful during this stressful period.

From Waze

We have prepared a list of questions and answers based on the statements by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MOPT).

Who will be able to transit the bridge?

From 6:00am to 9:00m and 4:00pm to 7:00pm daily, public transport (buses and taxis), school buses (transporte de estudiantes), ‘tourism’ vehicles duly authorized by the Consejo de Transporte Público (CTP).

To be clear, for example, the duly authorized vehicles to carry tourists are those clearly marked (based on CTP guidelines) with “TURISMO”.

Emergency vehicles such as ambulance, fire, police and any other ‘official’ vehicles providing an essential service have no restrictions.

What happens outside of the ‘flow’ hours?

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., all drivers will be able to travel freely in 2 lanes.

Where does the closure apply?

Traffic in the Alajuela – San Jose direction will be detoured at the EPA store exit at Cariari on the west and the Pablo II bridge on the east.

How will compliance be guaranteed?

The Transit Police (Policia de Transito) will have 27 officers in areas such as La Pozuelo, La Valencia, Castella, Los Arcos and EPA, in order to regulate the measures.

Is there a fine for non-compliance?

Drivers who disrespect of the restrictions will face a fine of ¢51.300 for each time they are caught.

“The Deputy Minister of Transport, Liza Castillo, asks the drivers to respect the closures.

“We will have a physical control to channel the flows. We will fine drivers who fail to comply with the measures, but we call on citizens to understand that this is a project for the better of the country and that needs commitment not only from us as an institution, but from citizens in general,” said Castillo.

Is Train Service Available?

The commuter train is an alternative to driving altogether. The Incofer – national railway – has added more runs and extended operating times on the San Antonio de Belen and Alajuea and San Jose, a total of 79 during daily from 5:30am to 8:30pm and 38 on Saturdays from 5:30am to 3:00pm. The latter is for the many who work half-day Saturdays. More details are available at www.incofer.go.cr.

The ‘Park and Ride’ at the Centrol de Eventos Pedregal, in San Antonio de Belen, allows drivers to leave their vehicles and take public transport (train or bus). The ‘Park and Ride” will have security, food service and access to the internet.

Work From Home

Working from home or staggered hours is another option to avoid the traffic nightmare that is expected. The Ministry of Labour has issued a decree to allow public sector workers in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) during the closure to apply the ‘teletrabajo’.

Private sector companies are also encouraged to promote the ‘teletrabajo’ for their employees wherever possible.

Stay Informed

The Ministry of Transport is committed to providing timely updates. Tune in to your local television and radio or stay tuned to the Q for the latest. Knowing ahead of time any major changes can save you time and reduce stress.

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Forget the iPhone 7, The next iPhone Will Blow Everyone Away!

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Apple’s next iPhone could include “some form of facial/gesture recognition,” according to a research note distributed to clients by Cowen and Company on Wednesday.

Concept rendering of next-gen iPhone with edge-to-edge display.

The note includes several new details about Apple’s upcoming iPhone, which is expected to launch in September.

“Other features appear to include some form of facial/gesture recognition supported by a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera and, as expected, should also finally include wireless charging,” Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri wrote.

“iPhone 8” OLED concept via iMore.

A new kind of depth sensor has not yet been seriously rumored to be in the upcoming iPhone, but it makes sense. Apple bought Primesense, an infrared sensor company, in 2013 — and a new kind of sensor would be critical for Apple to add augmented reality features to upcoming versions of the iPhone.

Related: Costa Rica Is One Of The 10 Countries Where the iPhone Is More Expensive

Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly talked about his company’s interest in augmented reality technology several times in the past year. Apple is integrating this technology into the iPhone’s camera, and faces are one of the first things it should be able to recognize, Business Insider previously reported.

Arcuri and his team cite “field work” from Apple’s supply chain in its findings. Most of what they’ve uncovered line up with the current rumors about the upcoming iPhone.

He also expects:

  • “A feature-rich launch with three models” — a new 5.8-inch iPhone in addition to existing 4.7- and 5.5-inch models.
  • The 5.8-inch iPhone will have an OLED screen, which uses less power and produces deeper blacks.
  • The 5.8-inch model will have a “wraparound” design and will integrate the Touch ID fingerprint sensor “under the glass and in the active display area.”

Ultimately, Arcuri said he believes the newly redesigned iPhone, which he is calling the “iPhone 10” or “iPhone X,” will be “yuge” and could trigger a “supercycle” of upgraders.

It’s also heavily rumored that key components —such as the earpiece, FaceTime camera and Touch ID fingerprint sensor —will be embedded into the OLED display, allowing for a seamless edge-to-edge front panel. Arcuri reiterated those claims, and predicted that Apple may switch to Synaptec’s optical-based fingerprint reader for the new Touch ID sensor, citing it as “currently the only workable solution” for detecting a fingerprint through a smartphone screen.

It has also been suggested that Apple could turn to stainless steel for casings for the “iPhone 8,” with the durable metal holding together a “glass sandwich” front and back, akin to the iconic iPhone 4 design.
Sources: BusinessInsider.com; Appleinsider.com

Article originally appeared on Costa Rica Extra and is republished here with permission.

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Costa Rica’s Courts Don’t Tolerate Offensive Language On Facebook

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A Turrialba businessman was sentenced to a 20 days fine or one day in jail for repeatedly calling a local reporter a “clown” on Facebook.

Q COSTA RICA / In the stranger than fake news, a Turrialba businessman was sentenced to a 20 days fine for using offensive words on Facebook against a local news correspondent.

Josué Hernandez published on Turrialbadigital.com a photograph of a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a minor.

The businessman, onh is company’s Facebook page, repeatedly called Hernandez “payaso” (clown) for the report and said that turrialbadigital.com and another news source known for its graphic content, should not be supported as “they profit off other people’s grief”.

The Turrialba trial court considered the Facebook content offensive, sentencing the entrepreneur to a 20 days fine or one day in jail. But being a first offence, the sentence was dropped to time served.

However, the businessman must pay ¢80,000 to the victim, Josué Hernández who is also a correspondent for Telenoticias and La Nacion.

The moral here, watch what you say (post, write, etc) on Facebook and other social media. As in the case of the Turrialba businessmen, Costa Rica’s courts don’t tolerate offensive language on social media.

Source Telenoticias

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Mexico Extradites ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán

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Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman sits inside a federal police helicopter at a navy hanger in Mexico City, after being captured in Matazlan, Sinaloa state, February 22, 2014. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman (white shirt) sits inside a federal police helicopter at a navy hanger in Mexico City, after being captured in Matazlan, Sinaloa state, February 22, 2014.  AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo

(Q24N) This morning, Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, long considered one of the most powerful cartel bosses in Mexico and in the world, is waking up in the U.S., after the Mexican government extradited him.

Earlier on Thursday, the Mexican Supreme Court dismissed appeals filed by Guzmán’s lawyers in an attempt to halt the extradition.

More: “Tequila Honor”, The Link Between Kate del Castillo and “El Chapo”

“The judges decided not to hear the (appeal for) protection” from extradition, a source in the court told AFP.

That source said the court had passed the appeals to a different “collegiate” panel of judges for a ruling, and one of Guzmán’s lawyers said that the kingpin’s legal team would look at the court’s decision and decide whether to appeal to a regional human-rights court.

However, in a statement released hours after that decision was announced, the Mexican government said Guzmán had been turned over to the US. “The government of the republic today delivered Mr. Guzmán to the authorities of the United States of America,” the Mexican foreign ministry said in its statement.

Mexico’s interior minister tweeted this image purporting to show “El Chapo” Guzmán in jail. Twitter/@osoriochong

“Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases including ‘El Chapo,’ has been extradited and is en route to the United States to face criminal charges in connection with his leadership of the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the ‘Sinaloa Cartel,'” the US Justice Department said in a statement issued on Thursday evening.

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is escorted by soldiers during a presentation in Mexico City after his capture in January 2016. Thomson Reuters

After a July 2015 jailbreak, Guzmán was recaptured not far from his birthplace in Sinaloa state in January 2016. He was at first rejailed in the prison from which he escaped, but in early May 2016 he was transferred to a prison outside Ciudad Juarez in northern Mexico.

Security around the prison, Cefereso No. 9, was heightened upon Guzmán’s arrival, with nearly 700 soldiers and guards in and around the prison. Many viewed the transfer as a prelude to extradition.

Guzmán — whose ill-gotten wealth earned him a place on Forbes’ billionaires list and whose cartel once supplied “80% of the heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine — with a street value of $3 billion — that floods the Chicago region each year” —  spent his time in solitude, reading “Don Quixote” and “The Purpose Driven Life.”

The Mexican government has received several extradition requests for Guzmán from several US District Courts.

In May 2016, the administration of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto accepted two of those bids, from the Southern District of California and the Western District of Texas, to try Guzmán on charges including homicide, money laundering, and criminal association.

Guzmán’s lawyers have waged a months-long legal battle to thwart the extradition, citing purported violations of the kingpin’s rights as reasons to quash the transfer.

While it has not yet been confirmed where Guzmán will face trial in the US — should his case not be concluded with a plea or deal beforehand — the kingpin is reportedly headed to New York City. According to AFP’s Laurent Thomet, the kingpin is slated to arrive at 10 p.m. ET.

The Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn, is one of the seven US District Courts with indictments pending against the Sinaloa cartel chief.

Guzmán is headed to New York because the city’s federal courts have “a history of trying very complex conspiracy cases,” Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, told Business Insider on Thursday evening.

 

Source Business Insider

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Newest Hard Rock Hotel Heads To Costa Rica

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Image for illustrative purposes

UPDATE: Jan 26, 2017:  The Hard Rock Hotels informed us that opening date has changed from 2019 to early 2018.

Q TRAVEL / Hard Rock International makes waves today, announcing plans for Hard Rock Hotels experience in Costa Rica. The location for the all-inclusive hotel is Papagayo, Guanacaste.

Hard Rock, in collaboration with Sunwing Travel Group, says it open Costa Rica’s first Hard Rock Hotel by early 2019. The brand’s strategic partnership with Sunwing Travel Group, the largest tour operator in North America, provides the perfect opportunity for future growth within the region.

“Costa Rica has seen a steady rise in international arrivals and the country’s worldwide appeal aligns with our development strategy deeply rooted in expanding into desirable locations,” says Marco Roca, global head of hotel development at Hard Rock International. “We look forward to electrifying the destination with a musically-charged differentiated product never before seen in the area.”

Image for illustrative purposes

The 294-room Hard Rock Hotel Papagayo will be just 30 minutes from Liberia International Airport (LIR), with easy access to Papagayo’s Gulf and Peninsula. Recognized as one of the country’s most popular resort destinations, guests of this Hard Rock Hotel will be treated to secluded landscapes, natural wonders, eco-adventure excursions and an up close look at Costa Rica’s impressive biodiversity.

Among the upscale hotels located in Papagayo include the Four Seasons.

Hard Rock already operates to Hard Rock cafes in Costa Rica: one in San Jose, in Cariari; the other in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste.

The Hard Rock hotel will be managed by Blue Diamond Resorts. “We’re excited to bring such a world-class, award-winning brand to Papagayo that will raise the standard of cool and contemporary for Costa Rican all-inclusive resorts,” says Jordi Pelfort – Managing Director, Blue Diamond Resorts (Sunwing Travel Groups Hotel Division). “With a passionate fan base and proven track record of delivering memorable experiences through landmark hotels and resorts, we look forward to collaborating with Hard Rock International and welcoming visitors of all ages to Costa Rica’s first Hard Rock Hotel.”

In true Hard Rock style, the resort will boast brand exclusive offerings, such as a full-service Rock Spa featuring relaxing and recharging treatments and The Sound of Your Stay music amenity program offering free in-room Fender guitar checkouts.

Vacationers seeking the ultimate experience will have the opportunity to upgrade their room to the Rock Royalty Level and enjoy VIP services including preferred room locations, personal assistants, upgraded bath amenities and one-of-a-kind music perks. Hard Rock Hotel Papagayo, Costa Rica will cater to multigenerational leisure travelers with several family-friendly offerings, such as the brand’s two signature hangouts exclusively for younger rockers, Teen Spirit and Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club. In addition, plans call for a vast array of dining options, ranging from an all-day buffet restaurant to four a la carte eateries, including a North American steak house, an Asian restaurant, an Italian trattoria and an internationally inspired eatery.

The Hard Rock Hotel Papagayo will feature Hard Rock trademarks such as an extensive music memorabilia collection, complimentary in-room use of a Fender guitar and a full-service Rock Spa.

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One Step Closer to New World Order

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QBLOGS, by Rafael Stumbo Tarasco, guest columnist –  You may not know this, but Costa Rica is a nation of immigrants.  When I first got here 25 years ago the major foreign influences were first and foremost American Fruit, followed by Pepsi & Pizza Hut, Coca Cola & McDonald’s.  Intel had not yet set up shop.

It was in the late 1970’s that the CIA established several clandestine airstrips in the northwest part of the country to support the Contra effort in Nicaragua.  The thought of a Sandinista government was horrific to the North American sensibility and the idea of Socialism in a country friendly with both the then Soviet Union and Cuba was enough to send shivers up the spines of GMO farmers in Indiana.

The 1970’s was also the time that the CIA cranked up its cocaine smuggling operation from Colombia across Central America and on to California where “Crack” was born. Well documented history points to Ronald Regan’s paranoia of Communism and his need to illegally finance the overthrow and ultimate destruction of Iran.  It was an opportunity to crank up the steam powering the Military Industrial Complex and a war-time economy produced an economic boom in the U.S. To be sure, Atlas shrugged.

Corporate greed, banking deregulation, fiscal irresponsibility and corruption were all taken to a new degree by the likes of Enron, and an epic Savings and Loan Crisis was just around the corner. Slogans like “Greed is good” were on the lips of every Wall Street robber baron and real estate swindler who had learned his way around U.S. Bankruptcy laws.  What better way to make the rich richer than war?  Since the French Revolution, the incestuous Rothschild banking clan has financed both sides of every conflict on the planet. The proof is in the Federal Reserve pudding.

In 1971 Richard Nixon declared a War on Drugs.  It was a money-maker from the get go.  Ronnie Regan took it all to a new level.  The U.S. maintains no less than 8 military bases in Colombia financed with U.S. tax dollars.  If the intention was truly to stop the flow of untamable contraband from South America at the source, the means are in place.

Doing so under the guise of a New World Order in need of cash would be out of the question.  It all seems like a set-up for something bigger and in fact that is exactly what it is. For a populist hero to arise there first must be a bad guy.

For fifty-seven years Fidel Castro played the role of villain, but even the most diabolical of bad guys can’t live forever.  Sure, there was Mikhail Gorbachev but it was Yuri Andropov who perhaps inspired President Regan to coin the phrase “Evil Empire” in 1983.  At this point in my rant, an aficionado of history might ask where Vladimir Putin was while all this was going on.   He was working his way to the top of the then KGB (now FSB) waiting for his opportunity to draw and quarter the first president of post Cold War Russia, Boris Yeltsin.  Of course, it was Yeltsin who named Putin to the head of the FSB.  Imagine that?

So now what have we got?

We have got Vladimir Putin president for life of Russia and possible holder of sex tapes stating “the best prostitutes in the world” entertaining the new Commander-in-Chief of the Free World, none other than the populist playboy and water sports enthusiast, the Vulgarian himself, Donald J. Trump.

It wouldn’t be the first time Mr. Putin has played the blackmail card.   Personally, I couldn’t care less who Trump likes to take snorkeling.  What I do want to know is how much money he owes Little Russia mobsters from Brighton Beach in New York. You know these guys are kicking back something to Big daddy Putin.  There is not a bank in the continental U.S. that would issue Donald J. Trump a credit card, so how is he floating the boat? I wonder what light his Federal Income Tax Return could shine on the subject.

In the history of the world there has been no Authoritarian world leader who could rule over the minions without invoking the mystical powers of some imaginary being.  The simple-minded TV reality show watching public tend to respond well to this type of stimulation.  Such great historical monsters as Adolph Hitler were affiliated their entire life with organized religion.  Hitler was a Roman Catholic and he did in fact have the Vatican, the Pope and The Pope’s Army, if not minions on his side.

The Vulgarian Trump has the bible thumping creationist Mike Pence on his side and creationism certainly does appeals to the lowest common denominator.  It was in fact the lowest common denominator that swept Trump through the Electoral College, and let me say this just once; the U.S. election results are the fault of the arrogance of those of us who believed that our candidate (Bernie or Hillary) just couldn’t lose.  They could lose, and they did with or without the help of wikileaks. Get over it.

So what does all of the above commentary on the history of western civilization have to do with Costa Rica being a country of immigrants? Let’s start with the Duty Free Zones of Costa Rica.  North American and European companies employee about 98,000 people in Costa Rica. Why?  Because if you manufacture in Costa Rica, do your assembly in Costa Rica or do your Customer Service in Costa Rica these corporations can provide their product at a price that the North American consumer is willing to pay.   The average salary for these skilled jobs is $8USD an hour here.  U.S. businesses are complaining about paying a minimum wage of $15 an hour for unskilled labor.  Bring jobs back to the U.S. you say?  You do the math.

Costa Rica over the last 25 years has become a microcosm of the United States.  Not so much a protectorate as Puerto Rico, but more of a stepchild that does the dirty work that the legitimate children or in this case the 50 states won’t do. Robert Vesco found his way here in the late 1970’s followed by North American online casinos, sports books, loan sharks and yes the Chinese and Russians.

The gold rush was on. What could go wrong?  The Central American Free Trade Agreement has proven to be bad for everyone involved except of course the United States. NAFTA predicted the bad end when Mexico finally realized they were getting the short end of the U.S. stick.  Still racism, religion and prime time TV have convinced the average American voter that a Great Wall between Texas and Mexico is the solution to their international trade woes…with China!  Moreover, who better to build said wall than a real estate mogul well versed in construction and bankruptcy?

A more perfect storm never was.

Yes, Costa Rica has become a country of immigrants and we are all better off for it.  Today I had a café with a group of long time expats here representing countries including Bolivia, Nicaragua, France, Germany, Italy and New York.

I euphemistically refer to New York as a country only because it is the ultimate melting pot and the place that first made America great, and by its diversity keeps it so. Yes, America is great by virtue of its birth and continues diversity.

None my coffee clutch pals had anything to do today, and some of us are prone to speculate.  The Italian was musing about a move to Albania.  Yes, Albania.  Why Albania, asked the Frenchman.  It’s cheap and you can start a business there in 60 days.  You haven’t started a business here in 8 years, said the Frenchman, what makes you think you will start one anywhere else?  And if you do, there is a good chance that the Russians will roll tanks over you on the day of your inauguration.

I haven’t done a damn thing in about a year, said the New Yorker.  You can do that here and get away with it, said the lady from Nicaragua.  Everyone agreed it was true.  Costa Rica has no army.  It may be the most expensive place to live in Latin America, but just like the U.S. we have a Pacific Coast and an Atlantic Coast. You can start a business if you like, or do nothing.  We have socialized medicine and private medicine.  We have public schools and private schools.

We go on vacation a lot. We have a bunch of millionaires and some people often allude to the seven families that run the country, but on the whole we are a Social Democracy.  We like to save turtles. If someone from the north invades us we put up a fuss and are consumed with indignation, for a while.

Then we file an international suit with The Hague. We invite the Chinese to build us futbol (soccer) stadiums in exchange for tax breaks on cheap junk, and then we sit around complaining we have nothing to do over espresso at 2:30 in the afternoon.

We have a president who was a history professor and would do well to return to his previous occupation.

What we don’t have is social unrest, we are not on the brink of a civil war and there is no threat of some red-faced little ego in Costa Rica starting a nuclear war. We have not yet experienced the horror of fundamentalist terrorism and it seems that the New World Order couldn’t care less about what goes on in Costa Rica.  I think that’s just fine.

We have our share of A List celebrities that keep a vacation home here, none of which will be attending the January 20th event in Washington D.C.,  but I don’t think that we run the risk of a Vulgarian Real Estate mogul wanting to build a luxury Casino Hotel featuring Russian talent any time soon.

There’s a Bellagio in Panama City just waiting for some crazed speculator to renovate it. As the world turns, we the expats in Costa Rica will continue having our café rendezvous, taking naps and complaining that we don’t have anything to do.  That’s just fine by me.

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Massacre in Liberia!

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Stephanie Hernández, de 24 años, y Joseph Briones, de 22, son dos de los fallecidos en Liberia y tenían varios años de ser novios. (Facebook)
Photo Rafael Pacheo, La Nacion

Q COSTA RICA NEWS – Without a motive or a suspect, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) is working on putting together the pieces of the puzzle of what could have led to the murder of five people and the serious injury of another in a house in Liberia, Guanacaste.

Dayana Martínez Romero, 24. (Facebook)

The alert came at 6:30am Thursday. Inside, the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) reported five bodies – three men and two women – dead from fatal wounds to the neck and one survivor, a young girl, 14 years age, rushed to hospital with a serious wound to the neck.

The young girl underwent surgery and is currently in intensive care,  battling for life. She is under police protection.

At least three of the victims were students at the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), living together in a house their rented in barrio La Victoria.

Stephanie Hernández, 24, and Joseph Briones, 22. (Facebook)

The victims were three women and two men. Four of the victims were identified as Dayanna Martínez Romero, Stephanie Hernández García, Ingrid Massiel Méndez Serrano and Joseph Briones Solís. The fifth has yet to identified, being that he did not live in the house. All the victims were between 20 and 25 years of age.

Information released through the press office of the OIJ, it appears all the victims were found in one room of the house. There is no sign of a break in or theft.

“There was no forced entry. Nothing was stolen. They are young people who were not absolutely involved in anything, at least that is what the neighbours tell us … these were people who did not party, did not cause scandals. They came home from the university, they didn’t go out and now were on summer break,” said the Assistant Public Prosecutor of Liberia, Ricardo Quirós Vargas.

Quirós explained that based on an audio recording allegedly sent by one of the victims, the presumption is that only one person may have perpetrated the killing.

“It must have been around 2:00am (this Thursday) based on the time the audio (message) was sent. She says, ‘sir you are not going to do anything to us’, referring to one person. One person against five. It is not known if they were armed (with a gun)…but all (the victims) were killed with a blade…all had stab wounds…I don’t know if it was for being young or what…but if he already killed one, why didn’t the others confront him…,” said the Prosecutor to Nacion.com.

In a report by Crhoy.com, the audio message said “please, don’t hurt me”. Apparently it was sent to a woman who heard the message in the morning, told her husband, who called 911 and then went to the neighbouring house, finding the young girl wounded and bleeding profusely.

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Costa Rica Starts Bank Account Renumbering

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Q COSTA RICA – Sunday, January 22 will see the start of the process to replace the 17-digit customer ‘cuenta cliente” (account numbers) with the global standard International Bank Account Number (IBAN), which will facilitate interbank transactions at the national and international level.

The Central Bank (Banco Central de Costa Rica – BCCR) says on its website:

Costa Rica is making firm progress in changing the current format for bank accounts to the standardized bank account number structure, that will allow a single account number for both local and international transactions and will reduce errors while processing incoming and outgoing payments in financial institutions. The new standard will affect the technological infrastructure of financial institutions and the National Electronic Payments System (SINPE), a process which will also be felt by the technological systems of public entities connected to SINPE.

To make the change, the Central Bank will “disconnect” the SINPE payment platform from 12:01am to noon Sunday to make the technical changes.
What this means is that no transfers can occur during the 12 hours.

According to Carlos Melegatti, director of SINPE, the day and time was chosen because there is little traffic and no anticipated major impact on the transactions.

What is IBAN?
The International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is an internationally agreed system of identifying bank accounts across national borders to facilitate the communication and processing of cross border transactions with a reduced risk of transcription errors.

The IBAN has been us sed in 70 countries around the world for 20 years.

What is SINPE?
The Sistema Nacional de Pagos Electronicos or SINPE is a safe and efficient technology platform system created by the Central Bank of Costa Rica that can be used by Costa Rica financial institutions allowing the online (electronic transfer) of funds in real-time with other financial institutions, that is ‘interbanking’ or ‘bank-to-bank’ transfers.

Customers wanting to use the SINPE must register at their local banks. Some banks, like the Banco Nacional (BN) use a token (costing US43), while the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) use a ‘clave dinamica’ (free), as a requirement to make SINPE transactions.

Businessman

How To Use SINPE?
To use SINPE, all you need to have is either a checking, savings, or credit card with one of the local financial institutions (private or public). Upon request, the financial institution will issue you a “cuenta cliente” (client account) which is a bunch of numbers attached to the beginning of your bank account number. It is that number that will change, currently 17 digits, that will change to the new 22 digit. There is no change to the SINPE system, only the client number is being changed starting Sunday.

Using the financial institutions online system, with your credentials (ie username, password and any other requirement set by the particular institution) you can now make transfers from your account to another persons account at the same or another financial institution.

Transfers within the your registered accounts at same financial institution does not require SINPE. That is, if you have more than one account (ie colones, dollars, savings, checking, etc) at the same bank, transfer within the accounts does not require the SINPE.

What is the change ?
Currently, in Costa Rica, the current customer account (bank account) numbers is 17 digits.  Starting Sunday, account numbers will have 22 digits and will be made up of the country code (two letters CR) check digit (two digits), a “0” and the 17 digits of the client account.

Graphic by La Nacion explaning the change


When will the change take place?
Each of the financial institutions will have to make changes in their platforms for the use of the new account.

It is expected that during this 2017 and 2018, financial institutions in the country will switch to IBAN accounts so their users will adopt the new number that will be communicated to them. By 2018, this new account number will be used for transactions within the same bank, as well with other financial institutions.

The new number will be printed on credit or debit cards and checkbooks for customers to become familiar with the new system.

Want to know what your IBAN number will be? Click here, the Central Bank page will convert your current 17 digit account number to the 22 digit IBAN. (Look for the converter scrolling down the page)

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Costa Rica Casts Its Net Wider for Investment as Deficit Widens

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Costa Rica Business

Q24N via Washington Post (Bloomberg) — Costa Rica is looking to the vast reserves of the United Arab Emirates’s sovereign wealth funds to boost investment in the Central American nation, President Luis Guillermo Solis said, a year after failing to convince the Chinese to buy US$1 billion of its bonds.

Costa Rica Business

The wealth funds, as well as private investors in the UAE, could buy into a series of highway and railroad projects connecting the Caribbean to Pacific coasts and in the production of high-tech medical devices, as well as tourist facilities, Solis said in a telephone interview interview.

Talks over a US$1 billion bond sale to China stalled early last year, forcing the Central American nation to cast its net for foreign investment wider as it looks to drive growth, while curbing a burgeoning budget deficit. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority manages almost US$800 billion, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, about 14 times as much as Costa Rica’s gross domestic product.

“The democracy in Costa Rica, the strong adherence to the rule of law in a country that is pretty secure, all of this means that we have a very adequate environment to come and develop,” Solis said in a telephone interview. “We are ready for business.”

Costa Rica and the UAE signed an accord Monday to ease visa requirements for both nations, with Costa Rica opening a trade mission in Dubai and an embassy in Abu Dhabi in the coming months to help foster trade that Solis said is growing 25 percent a year.

The Central Bank forecasts economic growth of 4.1 percent this year and next lead by banking and the service industries. Foreign direct investment is growing at a pace of 9 percent a year, Solis said. The nation received a record 2.9 million tourists in 2016.

Still, unemployment rose in the third quarter last year to 9.7 percent and the government’s budget deficit is forecast to widen to 5.9 percent of GDP this year as it struggles to get Congress to raise taxes.

Article by Filipe Pacheco and Michael McDonald originally appeared on Washingtonpost.com

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UNA Veterinarians Save Ocelot Struck By Vehicle in Tamarindo

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Rico
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Photo Courtesy HEMS-UNA
Photo Courtesy HEMS-UNA

Q COSTA RICA, from Vozdeguanacaste.com – A group of veterinarians from the National University’s Smaller Species and Wildlife Hospital (HEMS-UNA) saved the life of an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) that was struck by a vehicle in Tamarindo.

The accident occurred on Jan. 12. Veterinarian Gilberth Cavallini provided emergency assistance to the ocelot at the scene of the accident. After getting the animal stabilized, responders transported it by air for emergency surgery the same day at HEMS-UNA.

The accident caused severe injuries to the ocelot’s jaw, legs and head.

HEMS-UNA Director Mauricio Jiménez said the ocelot arrived at the hospital in critical condition and was immediately sent to surgery. He said caregivers were able to save the animal’s life thanks to the quick response at the scene of the accident.

The ocelot will remain under observation for at least three days at HEMS-UNA until it heals from encephalic skull trauma. After that, it will be transported to a wildlife refuge before being returned to its natural habitat.

In 2016, six ocelots were struck by vehicles in Nicoya Peninsula and two were struck on the Cañas-Liberia Highway, according to Grupo Vías Amigables con la Vida Silvestre (Safe Wildlife Routes Group).

According to specialists, the animals cross from one side of a highway to the other to seek refuge and food or to mate.

Article originally appeard on Vozdeguanacaste.com, republished here with permission.

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BREAKING NEWS: Five Found Beheaded In Rooming House In Liberia, Guanacaste

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Rico
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Photo Rafael Pacheco / La Nacion
Slaughter in Liberia. Photo Rafael Pacheco / La Nacion

Q COSTA RICA NEWS  (8:40am) This just in, the Cruz Roja report finding five people dead in a Liberia (Guanacaste) rooming house this morning. In addition, a woman with a serious neck wound was taken to hospital.

The victims were three women and two men. Some were tied up. All were beheaded.

Photo Rafael Pacheco / La Nacion

Authorities say a sharp weapon was used, all seemed to be young adults.

Neighbours say they were college students, but no one heard or saw anything suspicious.

Gustavo Mata, minister of Security, said as part of the normal working protocol, the borders are on alert for the possible fleeing of the country by the aggressor or aggressors.

“No guns is not a normal situation,” Mata told La Nacion.

The incident, occurring in the barrio La Victoria, was reported at 6:39am.

La Victoria is some 70 kilometres southeast of Liberia, where 11 months and three days ago occurred the massacre of Matapalo, Santa Cruz. In that case, the perpetrator left only one member alive, a young child, in the killing of an entire family, fled to Nicaragua, where he was tried and sentenced to 183 years in prison for his crime committed in Costa Rica.

Source: La Nacion

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Lunar New Year

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Q24N
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(CNN)Want to strut your stuff in the Chinese Year of the Rooster?

(Q24N) This just in from CNN. Today’s headlines are so packed with fodder for stand-up comedians it is hard to pick a starting point. Literally, you could tack the New York Times to a wall and select your news by throwing a dart from roughly eight feet away and not be disappointed.

I expect that at any moment the late George Carlin will return from the grave just to take advantage of the juicy material waiting to be exploited.

First, let’s start with some facts.

China is the largest trading partner of the U.S., the European Union, Canada and Mexico follow to complete the top 4 spots. Russia is ranked at #24. Evidently, Beluga caviar and Stolichnaya Elit vodka are not big sellers at the Wal-Mart in Topeka, Kansas. Still, there are other Russian commodities for which some Americans have an acquired taste.

Not to be outdone by the Chinese, Mr. Putin recently made a comment referencing his new Tzar of Tourism AKA PEOTUS in an international press conference.

“Did Trump really come and meet with Moscow prostitutes? Firstly he is an adult, and secondly he is a person who for many years has organized a beauty pageant, socialized with the most beautiful women in the world. It is hard to believe that he ran to a hotel to meet with our girls of a low social class, although they are the best in the world,” Putin said.

(CNN)Want to strut your stuff in the Chinese Year of the Rooster?

If you’re in Hong Kong — or Vietnam, Korea or anywhere else in the world with a Chinese diaspora — it’s time to don that tacky red jacket, gamble until you lose and eat till you burst.

Yes, it’s the Lunar New Year; a time when the wheel of destiny decides whether you’ll be cock of the walk or just a feather duster in 2017.

Guest post by DC from Colibriexpress.com

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OIJ Warns Of Increase Thefts Of The Streets of Downtown San Jose

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The corporations tax would be used to combat insecurity and the hiring of 1,000 new police officials
Despite constant prevention operations, theft of cell phones and pickpockets increased last year.  Photo Adrián Soto/La Nacion

Q COSTA RICA / If walking about downtown San Jose watch out for pickpockets, warns the head of the robberies section of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Eddy Roda Abarca, who said there is a noted increase of robberies perpetrated in the center of the capital city.

The OIJ statistics for December 2016 reveals 430 reported cases of thefts, almost 100 more than the previous month. Also, for 2016 there were 587 more reports than in the previous year.

The OIJ chief said that in the midst of the Christmas shopping in downtown San Jose, thieves took advantage of the crowds in the streets and sidewalks to commit robberies.

Cellular phones, money and wallets are the most sought out by criminals, explained Roda.

Although not all thefts were a direct hit by thieves, in many cases carelessness led to thieves taking advantage of tablets, cell phones and shopping bags left unattended.

The official explained that the statistics for the central core of the capital (the districts of Carmen, Merced, Catedral and Hospital) had 4,240 reported cases of theft. In 2015, the number was 3.653. The key word here is “reported”, as many cases of thefts and pickpockets go unreported, many feel that it is not worth the time and effort to file complaint, a filing that involves a large amount of time and will not lead to the recovery of the lost item(s).

The areas of the Borbon and Coca Cola markets, as the Alajuelita, Hatillo and Desamparados bus stops, among others, are the favourite spots for the snatches.

These are areas with a large concentration of people, narrow streets made narrower by street vendors (both legal and illegal) and despite a police presence, where agile thieves take advantage of scurrying shoppers and passersby.

While some thieves act alone, others act in groups. Such as the person ahead of you pretending to stumble or fall, while his or her accomplice snatches your valuables as you come to help.

At the bus stops thieves keep a keen eye open for carelessness.

Erick Calderón,regional director of the Fuerza Publica (police) in San Jose, said that they have identified at least 100 thieves in the central core. He noted that in the group there are many women, as well as seniors dedicated to the thefts.

Calderón added that they are generally not aggressive people, but very skilled at their craft.

The police chief said that people when shopping or simply walking the streets of downtown San Jose adopt an attitude of “healthy distrust”.

Although the translation in Spanish is “desconfianza”, the common term used is “tener malicia”, translated in English “have malice”, which is the desire to see harm come to another, though in this case it is applied not with the intent to commit a crime, rather to ward being a victim of a crime.

Roda explained that it takes about five seconds for a skilled thief to open and snatch a cell phone from a ladies bag, less to lift the wallet from a man’s pant back pocket.

According to Roda, they have had reports of a group of women, some with babes in arms, working as a group to commit robberies of the unsuspecting.

Of concern to authorities is the approaching start of the school year (beginning of February), a time when many come from the rural areas to the big city to buy school supplies.

Authorities insist on people being careful not to make visible, while in the street, money, jewellery or cell phones, especially in the most thefts occurring hours of between noon and 9:00pm.

Of the possible explanations why this type of crime is on the increase, well other than economic necessity, is the penalty or lack of.

The Criminal Code (Código Penal) goes easy on theft under ¢212,000 – the equivalent of one half of the current salary of a “oficinista 1” (class 1 clerk) fo the Judiciary (Poder Judicial).

Added is the debate currently in the Legislature of removing the going to jail for thefts over the ¢212,000, where thieves would be issued a fine or some other sanction instead.

Source: La Nacion

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Costa Rica Is One Of The 10 Countries Where the iPhone Is More Expensive

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Rico
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Phil Schiller, Apple Marketing VP
Phil Schiller, Apple’s marketing VP, during a presentation of the iPhone 7 last September. (AP)

Q TECH Looking to purchase a new iPhone 7? Costa Rica is not the place to do it. Doing so can cost you a lot more, says the Technology Price Index, published by the online retailer, Linio.

The index takes in the prices of 71 countries, ranking the average price of 14 different popular devices, both iOS (Apple) and Windows powered smarphones are other products.

Linio says it found a huge influence of tariffs, taxes, and inflation on price.

According to Linio, the cheapest countries for buying tech were those in the Middle East that, despite relatively high costs of living, they have a low VAT (Value Added Tax) on consumer products. On the other end of the scale, the most expensive countries for electronics were those like Belarus and Venezuela, where inflation and import restrictions have taken a huge toll on consumer access to the market.

In the Linio Technology Pricing Index, Costa Rica is ranked at 62 overall out of 72

According to Linio, the averagre price of an iPhone 7 in Costa Rica is US$852.94, while the same unit costs US$641.50 in Kuwait (number 1 in the ranking), US$555.25 in Canada (4th) and US$625.88 in the U.S. (8th). The most expensive iPhone 7 is in Venezuela, at US$97,813.82.  No misprint.

The Q did a check of online prices for the iPhone 7 at Kölbi, Claro and Movistar in Costa Rica.

  • The State telecom, Kölbi, had the best prices for the iPhone 7: 32Gb Silver is ¢412,000 colones; 128Gb Jet Black is ¢475,000.
  • At Claro, with the most expensive prices, the  the iPhone 7 32Gb Silver sells for ¢575,900 colones; 128Gb Black is ¢770,900.
  • At Movistar, the retail price for the iPhone 7 128Gb Jet Black is from ¢519,900.

Linio also compares prices around the world for Android, Macbook, Windows powered phones, PS4, XBox One, 40″ smart TV, and Apple Watch. On the last, if you have the time, Kuwait is your best price at US$242.

In Costa Rica, the Apple Watch will set you back US$467.46.

 

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US Ambassador To Costa Rica Looking For New Place To Live To Stay In Costa Rica After Trump Takes Office

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Rico
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The US Ambassador to Costa Rica and his family must move out of the huge home (compound) in Escazu following the president-elect Donal Trump edict recalling all ambassadors "without exception"
The US Ambassador to Costa Rica and his family must move out of the huge home (compound) in Escazu following the president-elect Donal Trump edict that all politically appointed ambassadors leave their overseas posts “without exception” by inauguration day.

UPDATE: January 18, 2017 – The U.S. Embassy San Jose announced that Ambassador, S. Fitzgerald Haney, received an extension to continue in his position in Costa Rica.

“I am very excited to be able to continue our joint work in advancing the bilateral relationship between the United States and Costa Rica,” said the diplomat.

– – – – –

Q COSTA RICA – In break with precedent, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition staff has issued a blanket edict requiring politically appointed ambassadors to leave their overseas posts by Inauguration Day, reports the New York Times.

The “without exceptions” mandate declining to provide grace periods has unpended the personal lives of many ambassadors, who are scrambling for new living arrangements and/or acquiring visas to remain in their host countries so that children can remain in school.

Such as is the case for Ambassador Stafford Fitzgerald Haney who, according to Nytimes.com, is hunting for a house or apartment as his family, which includes four school-age children, and his wife, who has been battling breast cancer, struggles to figure out how to avoid a move back to the United States with five months left in the school year.

Haney, a New Jersey businessman who was a Democratic Party financier, arrived in San Jose just a year and a half ago, in June 2015.

Haney, 47, presented credentials to President Luis Guillermo Solis on July 8, 2015. For nearly two years before his arrival, there was no ambassador, for although he was appointed by Obama from 2014, the Senate was late in ratifying his appointment.

The ambassador speaks Portuguese, Hebrew and Spanish perfectly. In fact, when he introduced himself to the Costa Ricans, he did so in a peculiar way: a video with his family filmed in Costa Rica where they all appeared with the red shirt of the Costa Rica national soccer team.

Under orders, the diplomat has to vacate the government assigned residence in Escazú, before January 20 and risks taking out his children out of private school in the middle of the school year.

In Costa Rica, some private schools which teach in Spanish and English, have adjusted their school calendar to that of the United States, which concludes classes in June. The normal school year in Costa Rica is from February to December.

But Haney is not alone. Ambassadors in Belgium and Switzerland face the same situation. In the Czech Republic, Ambassador Andrew H. Shapiro is seeking housing in Prague. In Brussels and Geneva, Denise Bauer, the U.S. ambassador to Belgium and Pamela Hamamoto, the permanent representative to the United Nations, are both trying to find ways to not pull daughters out of school before high school graduation.

Ronald E. Neumann, president of the American Academy of Diplomacy, told the NY Times, he could not recall an occasion on which such a strict timeline had been applied. “It was reasonable to expect ambassadors to return at the end of the term(…),” said the head of the Washington-based nonprofit association for former ambassadors and senior diplomats.

The New York Times report says that, at a farewell reception held by President Obama on Wednesday night for noncareer ambassadors, many of them commiserated, comparing notes about how to handle the situation.

Some even expressed dismay that Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania, had chosen to stay in New York to avoid moving the couple’s 10-year-old son to a new school mid year.

The report says the ambassadors are weighing a direct appeal to Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state.

 

 

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Costa Rica’s Former Ambassador In Havana Sees It Difficult to Do Business With Cuba

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Rico
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At age 69, Rodrigo Carreras
At age 69, Rodrigo Carreras, decided to hang up his diplomatic life resigning as ambassador to Cuba, partly due to “internal decisions by the Foreign Ministry” and part due to President Luis Guillermo Solis’ handling of foreign relations.

Q COSTA RICA / Rodrigo Carreras, who up to December 31 (2016) was the Costa Rica’s Ambassador to Cuba, in an interview with La Nacion said it will be difficult for Costa Rican investors to do business with the island nation, at least for now.

Carreras who decided to take early retirement from his post, claims that “bureaucratic procedures and permits” required by the Cuban government stall the process, as well as the fact that any business can be established only in partnership with the State.

According to Carreras, none of the 50 entrepreneurs who traveled to Cuba in December 2015, together with President Luis Guillermo Solís, managed to establish any business in Cuba.

Nor does the former ambassador consider Cuba a strong competitor for Costa Rica, except in tourism.

Costa Rica reestablished diplomatic relations with Cuba during the second term of Oscar Arias Sanchez (2006-2010). However, for many years there were “very constant political meetings” especially with the recently deceased Fidel Castro, according to the former ambassador.

Carreras asserts that he left his post in Havana because of “internal decisions by the Foreign Ministry” and to the way the government of Luis Guillermo Solis handles foreign relations. For Carreras, the one thing on top of a lot of other things was Solis’ snub of his Brazilian counterpart, Michel Temer (Brazil’s 37th and current President).

The now former ambassador spent only two years in Cuba. Before that, under President Laura Chinchilla (2010-2014) he was the top diplomat in Israel, where he had been posted for two years during the Miguel Angel Rodriguez Echeverría (1998-2002) administration. Carreras has also served as ambassador to Nicaragua, Brazil and Turkey.

In October 1996, Carreras was vice-chancellor. In the photo he seen next to then President  José María Figueres Olsen (who is on the phone).  Photo from La Nacion archives.

At 69 years of age, Carreras has been a lifetime staunch member of Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), but says he is a not a ‘liberationist’, despite being an ally of former president José María Figueres Olsen (1994-1998) – who is now seeking presidential re-election, and faithful follower of Figueres’ father, Jose Maria Figueres Ferrer, who  served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions: 1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974, who created the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), and considered to be the most important political figure in Costa Rica’s history. Carreras was also vice-chancellor in the Figueres Olsen administration.

In the interview, Carreras says the diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and Cuba “have been interesting” in the sense that for many years it was interrupted, starting during the government of Mario Echandi Jiménez (1958 – 1962), following the executions by firing squad in Cuba.

“However, we were always able to maintain a communication with the Cuban government through our diplomats at the United Nations and in the different multilateral organizations. That always allowed us to be informed,” said Carreras. “Different contacts were always maintained. We started to maintain a more intense trade, which for a few years worked quite well because we had in the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica and the Banco Nacional de Cuba a clearing house that allowed the flow of payments of the different things we sold to one another”.

Carreras explained that during the Figueres Olsen administration, when he was vice-chancellor, Costa Rica maintained an “office of business interest”, which somewhat more than a ‘consulate but less than an embassy’.

Cuba is home to 129 countries that have accredited embassies, resulting in ‘a very intensive’ diplomatic life, in which constant meetings between diplomat and ambassadors keep each other apprised of what is going on, explained the former ambassador.

“In a typical week in Cuba, there is a visit form a prime minister, a president, and usually many foreign ministers are visiting Cuba,” said Carreras.

The rest of the interview deals with subjects such as, is Costa Rica’s current relations with correct are correct? and rumours of the Figueres family has business in Cuba, selling prefabricated houses.

In describing how business is done in Cuba, the former ambassador makes it clear, “in Cuba you cannot open a business overnight, you have to go through a whole series of paperwork, permits, authorizations…in the Cuban legal system, the only form of private enterprise is what they call ‘paladares’, in the gastronomic industry, a paladar is defined as something a family obtains its subsistence working in a restaurant”.

I always like to quote a phrase I saw in a very beautiful film: ‘There are infinites greater than infinities.’ Those infinities bigger than others…is that I have seen some paladares with people working two shifts, that consist of eight waitresses, six cooks, and a cashier.

Private business in Cuba are with a partnership with the government. The former ambassador, he rhetorically asks, how can an entrepreneur invest US$5 million dollars in a contract (partnership) with the government for only a 10 year period?

Read the full interview (in Spanish) in La Nacion.

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Is The Low-Cost Airline Model Crashing in Costa Rica?

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Rico
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Veca Airlines on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Costa Rica. The airline says it is undergoing a "restructuring" process.
Veca Airlines on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Costa Rica. The airline says it is undergoing a “restructuring” process.

Q COSTA RICA / A few months back the lines for seats on low-cost airlines with their offers of cheap flights within Central America were long.

Volaris, Veca and Wingo took to the skies with no-frills and cheap fares. The big names, Avianca and Copa followed.

But is it all crashing down?

On Tuesday Veca Airlines, the Salvadoran low-cost airline, cancelled flights to and from the Juan Santamaria (San Jose) airport.

In addition, it is not possible to buy tickets for future travel. The airline’s website is on “maintenance mode”, visitors are being asked to contact customer service for information on flights and refunds. A check by the Q reveals that the San Jose (Costa Rica) airport office telephone is not in service.

Costa Rica’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not been able to confirm what is happening with Veca Airlines, saying only until it had not received (as of Tuesday) any request to cancel flights. According to Ingrid Madriz, of Transporte Aereo, airlines are required to file suspension of flights at least 30 days prior.


Meanwhile, in El Salvador, La Prensa Gráfica reported only that the Salvadoran Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) had no information on the current situation of the airline.

The La Prensa Gráfica added that other Salvadoran media reported on the company’s financial problems, resulting in layoffs this week.

The Salvadoran news Elsalvador.com , however, had mor to say, reporting that Veca’s representative, Jose Luis Merino, confirmed the airline has suspended operations for the next three months, “while the company will be undergoing a restructuring process that begins next week.”

Merino added that the airline “will return” the second aircraft it leased for its operations, an Airbus 319 leased from AERCAP, an Irish company, that it has cost the airline US$800,000 dollars so far.

Merino added that the airline will be looking for “smaller aircraft” to reduce costs and maintain regional operations that include Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The president of the AAC, René López, told elsalvador.com that the airline, that began operations in 2013, would not close, but would merge with another airline.

Last week, on January 11, Wingo Airlines confirmed the cancellation of its San Jose – Guatemala route, citing low market demand.

For the time being, Volaris, on the other hand, is upping its game announcing new flights to El Salvador.

And both Avianca (Colombia) and Copa (Panama) airlines have launched promotional prices for travel within Central America.

In second half of 2016, with the arrival of the low-cost airlines competiting for passengers, the cost of travel within the region came down drastically.

For example, currently rates for flights from San Jose to destinations like Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador are under US$100, both at the low-costs and major airlines. Before the arrival or the low-cost airlines, passengers had only the major airlines, with at cost more than double the current to these destinations.

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The Big Inauguration

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Juan Sebastian Campos
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President-elect Donald Trump takes questions during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in New York. The news conference was his first as President-elect. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

QBLOGS / D-day is almost upon us and like most Latins I have a lump in my throat a churn in my stomach.

Donald Trump and his inner circle gave his first press conference in six months on Wednesday, coming the day after allegations dropped that have some calling for impeachment or a block on his inauguration altogether. [Image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]
What’s next for Pura Vida?

I take back what I said is a wait and see attitude. When 100% of the cabinet are either CEOs or generals, they do not salute, they give the orders. Orders from the President?

Already the Trump camp has issues with Europe, China and Taiwan. The other countries are holding their breath. So are the immigrants who are lined in poverty, working illegally in the U.S. and wanting to escape their destitute lives by taking on low level jobs gringos do not want.

We all know the scenario of if the immigrants are denied or deported in either Costa Rica or the US, because who cleans the hotel rooms, the house, picks the crops, digs the ditches…?

But that is not what brings me to fear.

It is the very thought that so many countries have powerful armies and nuclear capability and Trump has so little diplomacy in his curriculum vitae. That scares hell out of me.

Put that on top Costa Rica’s assembly of American parts which are at jeopardy, even in the field of health. We import parts, assemble and test and send the product back to the United States. Right now a win-win situation. After D-day, who knows?

A 35% tariff?

Even without being president, xenophobia permeates the U.S. and foreign policy regarding Palestinians and/or Israel has become a big ass point of contention.

How many presidents does the U.S. have at the same time?

So many questions and so many of them without answers. We must, not by choice, but we must just wait and see.

I keep saying that but in truth my stomach hurts from worry.

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How Do We Define North, South, Latin America

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Rico
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The term "Latin America" can be regarded as a region, cultural and geographical world or group of States having a lot of geographical, political, cultural and other similarities between themselves and at the same time very different from other states.
“Latin America” can be regarded as a region, cultural and geographical world or group of countries having a lot of geographical, political, cultural and other similarities between themselves and at the same time very different from one another.

Q TRAVEL / The term ‘Americas’ refers to the continents of North and South America and all of the countries and territories that lie within them. However, there are other words used to describe geographic and cultural subsections of this large land mass and it can be quite confusing.

What is the difference between North, South and Central America?

This is a very good question and the answers are not as clear cut as one might think. It’s probably best to list each region with its commonly accepted definition.

What is North America?

North America is a continent that includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. In general, it is defined as any country to the north of (and including) Panama.

  • Geographically, the North American continent also includes Greenland, though culturally and politically, the country is more aligned with Europe.
  • In some uses of ‘North America’, Central America and the Caribbean are excluded and in others, even Mexico is left out of the definition.
  • North America includes 23 independent countries.
  • A number of the Caribbean islands are territories or dependencies of other (often European) countries.

What is South America?

South America is the other continent in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world. It includes the nations south of Panama, including 12 independent countries and 3 major territories.

  • In some uses, ‘South America’ may include the portion of Panama south of the Isthmus of Panama.
  • Islands near the main continent are also considered to be part of South America. These include Easter Island (Chile), the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), the Falkland Islands (U.K.) and South Georgia Islands (U.K.).

What is Central America?

Geographically, what we think of a Central America is part of the North American continent. In certain uses – often political, social or cultural – the seven countries between Mexico and Colombia are referred to as ‘Central America.’

  • Central America includes the countries of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
  • Central America, a part of North America, is a tropical isthmus a narrow strip of land that connects North America to South America.
  • At its narrowest point in Darién, Panama, it is only 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. At no point is the isthmus more than 125 miles wide.

What is Latin America?

We use the term ‘Latin America’ when referring to the countries settled by Spain or Spaniards and their descendants. The term is often used to refer to all of the countries south of the United States, including all of South America. It is used more as a cultural reference to describe all Spanish – and Portuguese  – speaking nations in the Western Hemisphere.

  • Latin America is a cultural entity of a very diverse group of people who differ by nationality, race, ethnicity and culture.
  • Spanish is common throughout Latin America and Portuguese is the main language of Brazil.
  • Latin America cover those countries where “romance languages” are spoken (Spanish, French  and Portuguese). So the countries under Latin America are all the countries of Central America, and all the countries of South America  and the Caribbean countries that speak Spanish and Portuguese.
  • Among the exceptions, that could not be considered part of Latin America are Belize, Guyana, Surinam and Trinidad and Tobago.

Sources: geography.about.com, answers.yahoo.com

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