Under a security blanket never before seen, the usually casual and commercial area of Escazú, from La Sabana to Multiplaza, has become a kind of fortress with hundreds of police officers stationed every 100 metres.
This all for the arrival of U.S. president Barack Obama, who appears will be spending Friday at the Intercontinental hotel.
From La Sabana, along Ruta 27, police keep an eye on traffic and people. Two officers are posted at every bridge. Closer to the Intercontinental the crackdown intensifies, with a security seal of a radius of 200 metres.
Parked in the Intercontinental lot include police cars, motorcycles, ambulances. During the last couple of days the black SUV’s used by Secret Service and various “official” limousines.
Although security is being tight lipped as to where Obama will be staying, the Intercontinental is the favourite. The alternates are the Marriott and Hotel Cariari.
This morning the airspace over San José has been quiet. Since Tuesday night, three Black Hawk helicopters have been doing flyovers. Costa Rica’s security minister, Mario Zamora, explained the flyovers are to test the equipment and for the U.S. military personnel to get familiar with the area they are charged with covering.
In San José, Paseo Colon and Avenida Segunda have been closed since 6am this morning. The General Cañas and Ruta 27 (San José – Caldera) will see temporary closures. The most affected areas will be around Casa Amarilla (across from the INS building), the old Fercori (across from the Pacific train station) and the Teatro Nacional.
Many businesses in those areas have cut their hours today, some closing down completely. Some have sent emails to their customers of the closure.
There are some 16.000 U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica, the majority working in teaching and prefer to live in San José and Pérez Zeledón.
Americans are the third largest immigrant group in the country in terms of population, after Nicaraguans and Colombians.
Almost half of the 16.000 Americans living in Costa Rica are 29 years of age and younger; 41% are of married couples with children, and 19% are retired.
Of those working in Costa Rica, most teach, others work in administrative and support services and business.
Nearly half of the employed work for private companies, while a quarter are self-employed.
The preferred cantons for Americans living in Costa Rica are: San José, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, Alajuela, Santa Ana and Santa Cruz (Guanacaste).
The profile of Americans living in Costa Rica is from the 2011 Census by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos.
The date on which Americans are the third group of immigrants is taken from the Directorate General of Immigration national report 2012.
Arodys Robles, director of the Central American Population Center at the University of Costa Rica, says the data yields two patterns.
“One of Americans who come to Costa Rica with their families to work, generally made up of a younger group, from children to those active in the work force, generally between 35 and 560. The second are retirees, predominantly over 60”, says Robles.
A caricature poking fun at Costa Rica's potholes during the official by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.
In this CRHoy.com Toon, we see Obama’s limo fall prey to the famous Costa Rican potholes.
The captions:
Obama: “And the Ticos”
Driver: “The car comes equipped against bullets, bombs, gas attacks…but not potholes; these we don’t have in the USA”
Chinchilla: “Thet must be…happy!”
The Whitehouse website will be offering the President Obama and President Chinchilla Press Conference live, stating at 5:15pm local time (7:15pm EDT).
The website offers the following “official” schedule for president Obama:
FRIDAY
President Obama will participate in a bilateral meeting with Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla at Casa Amarilla.
In the evening, President Obama will hold a press a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Watch Live at 6:30PM E.T.
President Obama will participate in a working dinner.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, President Obama will attend the Central America Forum on Sustainable Economic Development, where he will deliver remarks and take questions from the press.
In the evening, President Obama will return to Washington, DC.
The presidential plane, Air Force One, is expected to touch down at the Juan Santamaría international airport at 2pm today, when U.S. president Barack Obama starts his official 22 hours in the Costa Rica.
In the early hours of this morning, Paseo Colon and Avenida Segunda had already been blocked off to all vehicular traffic.
The Fuerza Pública is using the National Stadium as a base for operations and officials have been posted on all bridges near the Obama motorcade route.
The Embassy of the United States requested that Costa Ricans follow the visit of President Barack Obama on May 3rd and 4th on television or Twitter and to avoid going downtown San Jose.
The security of the President and of the other heads of state is a priority, Mr. Eric Nelson, minister-counselor of the Embassy told adn radio 90.7 FM. He added that they are cooperating with local officials to minimize the impact of extraordinary measures.
Mr. Nelson added that the talks will be about stimulating the economy and cooperation to fight organized crime.
The US diplomat pointed out that cooperation to fight organized crime is a very important topic. He remarked that it is a threat to the region which has to be challenged and that this is an opportunity to discuss joint measures.
Protesters burn an image mockery of President Barack Obama on Wednesday May 1, 2013, during the International Labour Day in San José (Costa Rica). A confrontation between several dozen youths and police broke out in the area around the Legislature, where were inside were assembled all the deputies, in the traditional May 1 politica activities. Photo / Jeffrey Arguedas
In less than 24 hours U.S. President Barack Obama is set to arrive in Central America, one of the world’s most violent region because of drug trafficking, to meet with the eight presidents who are waiting with economic demands to support their fight against the drug trade and attention for the 5.3 million Central American migrants living in the United States.
Obama arrives in San José, Costa Rica, from Mexico, on Friday, May 3, where during his 22 hours in the country will be holding short meetings with the presidents of the region and attend the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) conference.
The White House announced that President Obama is keen to “strengthen cultural ties, and economic fraternity” with Mexico and Central American nations. The official report recognized that security issues will be included on the agenda for discussion.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), attached to the United Nations, more than 70% of the 280 tons of cocaine flowing from South America to the United States passes through Central America.
In its report on the state of the war on drugs 2012, the INCB noted that in several Central American countries, the highest rates of homicides are linked “to organized crime and conflicts between criminal groups fighting for control of routes drug trafficking. ”
The countries most affected by violence and organized crime, according to various sources, are Honduras (92 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants) and El Salvador (69 per 100,000), although the region is plagued by the scourge of drug trafficking.
On a visit to Washington a few days ago, Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, pointed out that the United States has paid just US$40 million of the US$360 million it has pledged to the security strategy in Central America.
“All Central American presidents agree that while there is not a greater involvement of the main consumer of drugs, the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime is not enough to expected results,” said Funes.
From Managua, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega was more direct: “The U.S. is the largest recipient of drugs in the world, therefore, should provide more funds if you expect the Central governments can contain drug trafficking.”
A media release from Guatemala, meanwhile, indicated that Guatemalan President Otto Pérez, travels to San José with his intention to restate his controversial proposal to legalize the drug, which has not had much response in the region.
Costa Rica authorities confirmed the presence of eight leaders to the meeting with Obama: in addition to Funes, Ortega, Perez and hostess Laura Chinchilla, attending will be Porfirio Lobo (Honduras), Ricardo Martinelli (Panama), Danilo Medina (Dominican Republic), and Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow.
In addition to the issue of drug trafficking, the presidents could also discuss the American Immigration Reform, which is expected to benefit the 5.3 million Central Americans living in the United States.
According to official data, migrants to the region contributed over US$12.7 billion dollars in remittances in 2012, a record and equivalent to seven percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of the area.
The countries benefiting the most from the remittances is Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to official figures.
Remittances are considered a vital source for the fragile econonies of Central America, where it is estimated that nearly half of the population lives in poverty and 19% of them living in extreme poverty.
Thursday afternoon government officials provided details about the agenda regarding U.S. President Barack Obama and the Central American Integration System (SICA) conference.
The central focuse of the agenda is based on collaboration in areas of economy, social and infrastructure. Communications Minister, Francisco Chacon, emphasized this is not a social, bur a working meeting.
Costa Rica’s Ambassador to Washington, D.C., Muni Figueres, said that there is an interest from the United States to generate discussion on economic and security issues and build bridges for a closer relationship and technical cooperation.
According to her, there is “an interest of the United States and Costa Rica and Central America to broaden the debate and discussion on the relationship between the member countries of SICA to economic development issues, opportunities, jobs and address the issue of organized crime.”
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo and Minister Chacon, released to the press a glimpse of the activities in which President Obama will participate in while in Costa Rica.
Friday at 2:00pm, Obama is expected to arrive at the Juan Santamaría airport. By 3:00pm Obama should be at Casa Amarilla (Foreign Ministry) in downtown San José, where he will attend bilateral meetings, privately, with Presidenta Laura Chinchilla.
At 4:00pm, Obama is expected to hold meetings with all the SICA presidents.
A news conference is schedule at 5:15pm in the CENAC, which is expected to last one hour.
At 7:00pm, dinner with Obama and the SICA presidents will beheld at the Teatro Nacional.
President Obama is scheduled to depart Costa Rica at 12:30pm Saturday.
In English it is called Peach Palm Fruit, in Costa Rica it is Pejibaye, and it will be a special guest in the dinner for President Barack Obama and his Central American peers this May 3rd.
There will even be a tray with the red or Bellow fruit, cooked but unpeeled, so President Obama will know where the intense yellow of the dishes comes from. By the way, on security grounds, the names of the dishes were not disclosed.
May be the only one who will wonder is President Obama, since his chef and a good many of his security staff already know in detail the menu, the ingredients, their origin, the place where they were bought, the cooking process, the name of the cooks, their last few hours’.
“I was in charge when President Bill Clinton came (in 1997) and I can tell that security is a lot stricter now,” said Chef Isabel Campabadal, who is Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez’s mother and Communications Minister Francisco Chacon’s mother in law.
She was entrusted with the dinner for the visiting heads of state that is to be held at the National Theater. She proposed a menu that went to the White House and was authorized by Mr. Obama’s cooks, who are led by Chef Cristeta Comerford, quite a celebrity in her field in the United States.
“They did not change one sole ingredient,” Mrs. Campabadal said, proud of her success in her cooking fusion concept, since she blends Costa Rican flavors with those imported.
Care. Even though she is not authorized to disclose the menu, she said it will be based on ingredients as tropical as pejibaye. Avocados and mangoes also play a major role.
Tomatoes, peppers, corn, thyme, and other vegetables will also be used to prepare cold dishes, since it is not allowed to turn on ranges at the National Theater.
The main course will be fish or seafood. The rule is avoiding spicy ingredients, only. Mr. Obama does not report allergies o intolerance to any food. At least, that is what Mrs. Campabadal was told.
Some 130 guests are expected to enjoy some 550 dishes, including the first course, two main courses, and dessert, which will be fixed by 40 cooks, 22 waiters, and 18 people in charge of setting up the dishes.
Everybody is under close watch. “I suppose they know even the minutest detail about all of us,” Chef Campabadal added and pointed out she even had to send a list of her suppliers to White House officials.
The presidents will eat in the foyer of the National Theater, a hall located on the second floor where people use to wait for performances to start.
There they will be surrounded by the tropical decoration designed by the firms Eventos Carlos Gil. Abundant foliage, with ferns and bromeliads, will be the way to represent the tropic. They will pay particular attention to the spaces where President Obama will pose for photos with his peers, Mrs. Maria Cristina Gil reported.
Source: La Nacion
Click here for more on the Obama Visit Costa Rica 2013
No Costa Rican official has dared to say it as clear as this, but the total of security provisions make it possible to make a direct recommendation for the afternoon of May 3rd, when President Barack Obama arrives: It is better to think that General Canas Highway and downtown San Jose do not exist.
Maybe the only one who has stated it clearly has been Counselor-Minister Eric Nelson, from the US Embassy in San Jose, who suggested following President Obama’s visit on television or on Twitter, far from the capital city.
There is a reason why the Government decreed a day off for public workers in San Jose and six other cantons. Public employees will not need to mix themselves with hundreds of police officers. And workers in the private sector may not either, if their bosses realize the obstacles to move through San Jose.
The highway between Juan Santamaria Airport and San Jose will have sudden closes of almost one hour starting at noon, which will force drivers to turn off the car and make believe there is work on the road, as Traffic Police Assistant Director Huanelgue Gutierrez suggested.
This is so because of the transit of President Obama’s caravan and those of six other Central American heads of state.
Only for President Obama, the measure of cancelling the flight of other planes in the Costa Rican air space 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after Air Force 1 lands will be enforced. Tobias Bolanos Airport will be closed for 25 hours starting at noon on May 3rd.
Downtown San Jose, streets will also be temporarily closed. Also, access to the places of the meetings will be denied, except to residents or workers who have been registered in advance.
According to Minister of Security Mario Zamora, the measures are the “minimum necessary” for this “civic festivity”.
Para el ministro de Seguridad, Mario Zamora, las disposiciones son las “mínimas necesarias” para esta “fiesta cívica”.
Let’s look to night sky and see if Air Force One is being lead by a red nosed reindeer. (Not). Rather it is just another traffic jam which has been kept under wraps for protection of the U.S president and make sure we all have reason to either not be at work, or once again work very little.
Obama’s visit comes at a time when Costa Rica is at many crossroad: soliciting with a sleepy sloth much needed direct foreign investment, develop sustainable infrastructure which in the longer term will bring in massive tourism dollars and in the short term create much needed employment. Equally critical is to reactivate and improve both the public health care system best known as the CAJA and to dramatically improve the educational system which is still founded on memorization instead of thinking.
Certainly we have read about the use of computers systems in schools as far away as the frontier. However, the material is fundamentally the same: Rote memory. A brief study was made by the Ministers of Education, Garnier, and to his dismay 33% of the teachers could not pass the exit exam of high schools.
Rightfully so, U.S. Ambassador, Ann S. Andrew has been concerned that Costa Rica has not, not at all assured foreign investment that their expenditures and their contracts are safe in Costa Rica.
We have a national mantra something similar to India and China which is, “Okay we signed the contract now let’s start negotiating.”
President Obama, outside of the SICA conference will certainly ask what does Costa Rica need and how do we do it in a way that makes common sense?”
We have minutes, only minutes to present our case.
Johnny Araya will be presented to Obama since he, right now is favoured to be the next president of Costa Rica.
I have asked the Alcade (Mayor of San Jose) Johnny Araya what he plans to say during his five minutes of interview to Obama and he replied: “My first priority is to reactivate the infrastructure of the country such as our Universal Health System, it cannot fail. Then also reactive public works such as roads, bridges, clean waters which translates to more jobs and more income for the people of Costa Rica. The next priority is to improve our education system which will reduce what we believe is excessive poverty”
The Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad (DIS) – Costa Rica’s intelligence and spy unit – requested all hotels ear the Foreign Ministry a list of all their guests who are staying or will be staying while Obama is in town.
CRHoy.com says the request was confirmed by DIS sources close to the online publication.
In addition, members of the United States Secret Service visited major hotels like the Intercontinental and Marriott and the hospital Clinica Biblica, assessing the preparations in the event the US president requires attention.
The source says that a U.S. Air Force helicopter is stationed at the medical centre’s helipad, where Obama would receive basic medical care and transferred to Air Force One, where he would be treated by U.S. doctors on board the presidential plane.
Hotels have also been asked to have a hotel vehicle available to transport guests, as taxi services will not be allowed within the security perimeter.
While the precise time of Obama’s arrival and his exact movements while in Costa Rica have not been released to the press, what is known is that the President will meet with Costa Rican presidenta, Laura Chinchilla and possibly Johnny Araya, who is favoured to be win the 2014 presidential elections, as well as the other Central American presidents who will be in Costa Rica for the SICA conference.
Enrique Castillo, Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, noted that groups have made clear their intentions to protest the Obama visit, saying, “they want to spoil the party and this minimizes the chances of Obama’s contact with the public”.
Castillo urged these groups are taking advantage of the visit to protest, forgetting the courtesy that whould be given to a viisto as distinguished as Obama.
The Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad (DIS) – Costa Rica’s intelligence and spy unit – requested all hotels ear the Foreign Ministry a list of all their guests who are staying or will be staying while Obama is in town.
CRHoy.com says the request was confirmed by DIS sources close to the online publication.
In addition, members of the United States Secret Service visited major hotels like the Intercontinental and Marriott and the hospital Clinica Biblica, assessing the preparations in the event the US president requires attention.
The source says that a U.S. Air Force helicopter is stationed at the medical centre’s helipad, where Obama would receive basic medical care and transferred to Air Force One, where he would be treated by U.S. doctors on board the presidential plane.
Hotels have also been asked to have a hotel vehicle available to transport guests, as taxi services will not be allowed within the security perimeter.
While the precise time of Obama’s arrival and his exact movements while in Costa Rica have not been released to the press, what is known is that the President will meet with Costa Rican presidenta, Laura Chinchilla and possibly Johnny Araya, who is favoured to be win the 2014 presidential elections, as well as the other Central American presidents who will be in Costa Rica for the SICA conference.
Enrique Castillo, Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, noted that groups have made clear their intentions to protest the Obama visit, saying, “they want to spoil the party and this minimizes the chances of Obama’s contact with the public”.
Castillo urged these groups are taking advantage of the visit to protest, forgetting the courtesy that whould be given to a viisto as distinguished as Obama.
Protesters burn an image mockery of President Barack Obama on Wednesday May 1, 2013, during the International Labour Day in San José (Costa Rica). A confrontation between several dozen youths and police broke out in the area around the Legislature, where were inside were assembled all the deputies, in the traditional May 1 politica activities. Photo / Jeffrey Arguedas
In less than 24 hours U.S. President Barack Obama is set to arrive in Central America, one of the world’s most violent region because of drug trafficking, to meet with the eight presidents who are waiting with economic demands to support their fight against the drug trade and attention for the 5.3 million Central American migrants living in the United States.
Obama arrives in San José, Costa Rica, from Mexico, on Friday, May 3, where during his 22 hours in the country will be holding short meetings with the presidents of the region and attend the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) conference.
The White House announced that President Obama is keen to “strengthen cultural ties, and economic fraternity” with Mexico and Central American nations. The official report recognized that security issues will be included on the agenda for discussion.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), attached to the United Nations, more than 70% of the 280 tons of cocaine flowing from South America to the United States passes through Central America.
In its report on the state of the war on drugs 2012, the INCB noted that in several Central American countries, the highest rates of homicides are linked “to organized crime and conflicts between criminal groups fighting for control of routes drug trafficking. ”
The countries most affected by violence and organized crime, according to various sources, are Honduras (92 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants) and El Salvador (69 per 100,000), although the region is plagued by the scourge of drug trafficking.
On a visit to Washington a few days ago, Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, pointed out that the United States has paid just US$40 million of the US$360 million it has pledged to the security strategy in Central America.
“All Central American presidents agree that while there is not a greater involvement of the main consumer of drugs, the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime is not enough to expected results,” said Funes.
From Managua, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega was more direct: “The U.S. is the largest recipient of drugs in the world, therefore, should provide more funds if you expect the Central governments can contain drug trafficking.”
A media release from Guatemala, meanwhile, indicated that Guatemalan President Otto Pérez, travels to San José with his intention to restate his controversial proposal to legalize the drug, which has not had much response in the region.
Costa Rica authorities confirmed the presence of eight leaders to the meeting with Obama: in addition to Funes, Ortega, Perez and hostess Laura Chinchilla, attending will be Porfirio Lobo (Honduras), Ricardo Martinelli (Panama), Danilo Medina (Dominican Republic), and Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow.
In addition to the issue of drug trafficking, the presidents could also discuss the American Immigration Reform, which is expected to benefit the 5.3 million Central Americans living in the United States.
According to official data, migrants to the region contributed over US$12.7 billion dollars in remittances in 2012, a record and equivalent to seven percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of the area.
The countries benefiting the most from the remittances is Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to official figures.
Remittances are considered a vital source for the fragile econonies of Central America, where it is estimated that nearly half of the population lives in poverty and 19% of them living in extreme poverty.
There is no question that security at the Juan Santamaria (San José) international airport is heightened in advance of the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday.
And it is for that reason that on Wednesday night airport security alerted the airport police unit, Vigilancia Aérea, of an abandoned vehicle in the airport’s parking lot.
According to Oldemar Madrigal, director of Vigilancia Aérea, the vehicle that generated the alert had been left near the Sana terminal, west of the main terminal.
After a close inspection, including the use of the K-9 unit, police ruled out any trace of flammable or explosive substances. “This is normal procedures we use in airport terminal whenever a situation of this kind. Same with abandoned luggage inside the airport and in emergency rooms,” said Madrigal.
Madrigal added that they are now investigating if the vehicle is owned by someone working at the airport or a travelling passenger.
This Friday, May 3rd, 57 branches of Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) will close because of the day off granted to government workers as a result of the visit of US President Barack Obama.
Information disclosed by the bank points out that the branches are located in the cantons of San José, Alajuela, Montes de Oca, Escazu, Curridabat, Goicoechea, and Belen.
However, the source remarked that the Customer Call Center (2284-6600), the Webpage www.bancobcr.com, Bancatel (2258-9191),
Mr. Obama will be in Costa Rica from 2 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd, through noon on Saturday, May 4th.
Let’s look to night sky and see if Air Force One is being lead by a red nosed reindeer. (Not). Rather it is just another traffic jam which has been kept under wraps for protection of the U.S president and make sure we all have reason to either not be at work, or once again work very little.
Obama’s visit comes at a time when Costa Rica is at many crossroad: soliciting with a sleepy sloth much needed direct foreign investment, develop sustainable infrastructure which in the longer term will bring in massive tourism dollars and in the short term create much needed employment. Equally critical is to reactivate and improve both the public health care system best known as the CAJA and to dramatically improve the educational system which is still founded on memorization instead of thinking.
Certainly we have read about the use of computers systems in schools as far away as the frontier. However, the material is fundamentally the same: Rote memory. A brief study was made by the Ministers of Education, Garnier, and to his dismay 33% of the teachers could not pass the exit exam of high schools.
Rightfully so, U.S. Ambassador, Ann S. Andrew has been concerned that Costa Rica has not, not at all assured foreign investment that their expenditures and their contracts are safe in Costa Rica.
We have a national mantra something similar to India and China which is, “Okay we signed the contract now let’s start negotiating.”
President Obama, outside of the SICA conference will certainly ask what does Costa Rica need and how do we do it in a way that makes common sense?”
We have minutes, only minutes to present our case.
Johnny Araya will be presented to Obama since he, right now is favoured to be the next president of Costa Rica.
I have asked the Alcade (Mayor of San Jose) Johnny Araya what he plans to say during his five minutes of interview to Obama and he replied: “My first priority is to reactivate the infrastructure of the country such as our Universal Health System, it cannot fail. Then also reactive public works such as roads, bridges, clean waters which translates to more jobs and more income for the people of Costa Rica. The next priority is to improve our education system which will reduce what we believe is excessive poverty”
More than 1.000 officials of the Fuerza Pública (police) and 150 officials of the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) have been assigned to work the security operation for the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama.
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The Ministro de Seguridad, Mario Zamora, said that the officers will be on special duty starting at 6am Friday and working around the clock until Obama leaves on Saturday.
Zamora, during a press conference, said that Air Force One is expected to land at the Juan Santamaría international airport around noon Friday and that the U.S. presidential motorcade will travel along the autopista General Cañas, Paseo Colon and Avenida Segunda to reach the first stop on Obama’s agenda, Casa Amarilla (Foreign Ministry) in Barrio Amón.
Zamora explained that people will be able to line up along the route to take a look at the presidential motorcade, meanwhile in Barrio California and Barrio Amón, there will be a 200 metre permiter security seal. The Central American Integration System (SICA) meeting will be in the in the old customs (Fercori buiding) in Barrio California, a short distance from the Casa Amarilla,located in Barrio Amón, adjacent to the INS building.
Authorities would not disclose where Obama will be staying. Zamora hinted that it could be one of two hotels booked by the American diplomacy.
Although details are sketchy, authorities say there could be closures of the Ruta 27 (San José – Caldera), a route that would be taken by the Obama motorcade, leading to speculation that the U.S. president may stay either at the Intercontinenal hotel in Escazú or possibly the U.S. Ambassador’s home, also in Escazú.
The relatives of patients at Calderon Guardia Hospital, downtown San Jose, won’t be able to visit them on Friday, May 3rd.
The medical center decided to do so because it has been appointed a “base hospital for emergencies” during the visit of the President of the United States Barack Obama on Friday, May 3rd, and Saturday, May 4th.
According to information from the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS, the Social Security institution), visiting hours will be back to normal on May 4th, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
According to the CCSS, non-medical units in the seven cantons covered by the day off for public workers will be closed. This measure covers the cantons of San Jose, Alajuela, Belen, Escazu, Goicoechea, Montes de Oca, and Curridabat.
However, basic health centers, health areas, and hospitals will operate normally, the CCSS remarked.
Upon the landing of Air Force at Juan Santamaria International Airport, on May 3rd, a 22-hour countdown will start for President Barack Obama in Costa Rica, where his stay will be marked for extreme precision in operational and security details.
More than 1,000 police officers in uniform and the 180 agents of the Intelligence and Security Bureau (DIS in Spanish) will be deployed in an effort to grant security to Mr. Obama. Also acting to that end will be officers from the Special Intervention Unit (UEI in Spanish) and US agents who have been in San Jose for several days already.
Upon the arrival of Air Force One, a security operation will be at full throttle, one that the Vice-Minister of the Presidency Mauricio Boraschi describes as “one of the largest ever in Costa Rica”, since the arrival of the President of the world power will be accompanied by those of six other heads of state from the region.
“Recent events in the United States make us be in red alert,” Mr. Boraschi pointed out. He asserted that security will be extreme in the five places the US President is expected to visit and also on the intervening routes.
The Yellow House (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he will meet with President Laura Chinchilla), the National Culture Center (where he will hold a press conference) and the National Theater (where he will meet with the Central American presidents and will share dinner) are the places foreseen for Friday, May 3rd, in addition to the hotel in Belen or Escazu, according to the preliminary schedule.
No activities are scheduled before 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4th, at that hour he will hold a business meeting at the old Customs Building. He will leave before noon because the departure of Air Force One back to Washington is set for that hour.
Behind will stay the day of for public workers in San Jose and six other cantons, the public services interrupted because the visit of Mr. Obama, and the eventual demonstrations that several groups were planning.
Also, a photograph of the US President with his Central American peers will have been taken after the meeting that will less than one hour.
The aim of Costa Rican authorities is being able to say that there were no negative surprises, not even demonstrations that blocked streets (“We are ready to answer”, Mr. Boraschi stated), that nothing interfered with the plan for Mr. Obama’s 22 hours in Costa Rica.
A group of hooded youth protestors demonstrated their anger at the government, throwing rocks, bricks, sticks and including molotov cocktail that quickly turned into a violent confrontation with police.
The largest of the grous directed their anger at the front of the Legislative building in the centre of San José, smaller groups fanned out around the building.
More than a dozen where detained by police, which at first were totally outnumbered until the riot squad arrived on scene.
According to Deputy Minister of Security Celso Gamboa, two of the detaineed are foreigners and one is minor.
Armed with rocks, bricks, sticks, anything they could get their hand on and including “molotov cocktails”, a group of young Costa Ricans over took the small number of police officials outside the Legislative Assembly building in downtown San José.
It was 1:oopm when the calm of the day was broken.
The demonstrators, according to authorities, clashed with police and the press, beating television cameramen, journalists and number of police officers.
The riot police squad had to be called into action, to repel the group whose number were much larger than the police officers – the majority female officers – assigned to the front of the Legislative building.
Juan José Andrade, San José chief of the Fuerza Pública (police) said the group attacked anyone in their way, causing injury to people and damage to property.
At least 20 bottles filled with fuel were thrown against the legislative building, causing some to get sick from the strong odors. Fortunately, none of the fuel ignited.
Five people had to be treated by the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), with cuts and bruises.
Police say they detained twenty individuals after a tense half hour of violence.
Mario Zamora, ministro de Seguridad, confirmed that three “Black Hawk” helicopters were overflying San José Tuesday night, checking the route to be taken by the U.S. president.
Zamora added that the machines were reassembled on Costa Rican soil and the flyover was also to test the equipment, that the people should not be alarmed by the presence of U.S. security agents and equipment.
In the days and hours before the Obama arrival, U.S. Security, working with local agents, will be doing advance checks, including crossing streets, checking buildings, scoping angles of security and assessing risk factors in scenarios involving the presidential motorcade.
“I thought It was an earthquake, the house was shaking” and “it was terrifying”, were some of the comments posted on the various social networks of the fly over of San José by U.S. military helicopters on Tuesday night.
Three helicopters flew over San José between 8pm and 9pm, flying low and moving slowly across the night sky.
Other comments on the social media, included:
“Ironically, US aircraft flying over the capital, but, when they are needed to fight drug trafficking, legislators will not let them”.
“The four gringo presidents assassinated were killed in their own territory. Here nothing will happened to Barack Hussein”.
“All that is missing is a base like Guantanamo in San Carlos”.
With the election of legislator Luis Fernando Mendoza, the National Liberation Party (PLN) today resumed control of the Legislature, after two consecutive years that the President of Congress legislators were exercised by opposition political parties.
Mendoza, 51, an economist and legilastor from Guanacaste, won the Presidency of the First Branch of the Republic with 31 votes in his favour: 24 coming from fellow PLN legislators, 3 from the Accessibility without Exclusion Party (PASE), and the rest from ther parties.
Several groups seized May 1, Labour Day, not only to protest against the Chinchilla administration, but also against the U.S. President Barack Obama visit scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The group called the Nuevo Partido Socialista (NPS) – New Socialist Party, led by Victor Artavia, is calling unity of the different parties to sustain a fight against the government.
The group is also calling for a demonstration on Friday, May 3, the day Obama is to arrive in Costa Rica. The group will gather in the Parque Central, downtown San José, beginning at 3:30pm.
The NPS has the support of the Vanguardia Popular, who today were on the streets of San José with parade banners with the message, “Obama: Go Home! This is our country and not a Yankee backyard!”
Getting the message heard included some 40 motorcyclists and other vehicles with horns and sound systems blaring.
Other messages by the various groups included messages of discontent against the Chinchilla administration.
According to forecasts, the rainy season is upon us and should be in full swing by the 10th of the month.
Forecasts indicate that we can expect to see a 20% increase in rainfall this month and next over the same period last year, and although it may be perceived as more rainfall, in fact it isn’t, this because last year we received less than the usual amount of rain.
The Comisión Nacional de Emergencia (CNE) – National Emergency Commission – has already begun taking precautions, in recent months working with municipalities, delevoping emergency plans.
Causing much of the flooding and emergencies at the beginning of the rainy season is the accumulation of garbage and debris in the sewers and rivers.
Around the house, this is a good time to clean out the eavesthroughs, avoiding water building up on the roof and causing damage.
On your street, it will well worth organizing the neighbours to collectively clean out the storm sewers (if possible) or alerting the municipality of problems.
It is also time to get back to the habit of always carrying an umbrella, and don’t forget to have one in the car as well.
Dressing for the season is also important, a raincoat or sweater will help you keep dry and warm during the chilly evenings.
Retaining walls are of concern during the rainy season, as water accumulation can weaken the structure and cause it to fail during a heavy rainfall.
When driving in the rain, remember to add to your braking distance and steer away from potholes filled with water. You never know how deep the hole is until your wheel is in it, and then its too late. Also a good time to check and change if necessary, the windshield wipers. Ensure that the windshield washer reservoir is full and best to use a windshield washer fluid instead of plain water, to keep the windshields clean.
The headline “Barack Obama Strolled on Central Avenue” appears on the La Nacion Obama reports page in English. Uh?
Although the link has not story attached to it, it made us wonder what’s going. Has Obama already visited Costa Rica and was that all the action last night of the flyover in the west of San José of three U.S. military helicopters, who flew real low and moving really slow?
Costa Rica’s capital city wants to show its best side during the visit of US President Barack Obama starting Friday. And one of the areas which must get some makeup is the area around Casa Amarilla or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 7th Avenue, in Barrio Amón.
The area around Barrio La California, the location of the SICA meetings, will also need sprucing up, not to mention the routes to be taken by the Obama motorcade.
Several crews from the San Jose Municipality and the Compañia Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL) – National Power Company – joined efforts to place spruce up the lawn on Parque Esapña (across from Casa Amarilla) and to improve street lights in the area.
One of the toughest jobs went to CNFL workers who changed 30 metres of underground cables in order to revive the lamps on Argentina Boulevard.
According to one of the workers, the wire thieves made a mess of the place a couple of weeks ago, leaving the street with light problems which must no exist on security grounds, even more so in the coming days.
It also became known that a census was made in the preceding days in order to learn the number of people working in the shops in the area, as well as of the number of houses in that sector of the capital city. .
One of the critical jobs for the visit of the US President is surveillance, which has been reinforced in all of the area with several groups of police officers.
For several days, Public Force officers have been patrolling the surroundings of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (NS) and the approaches to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. High technology security cameras were placed on the right side of the Ministry.
All of these operations have been closely but discreetly observed by Costa Rican and United States security teams.
On Saturday, May 4th, President Barack Obama and the region’s heads of state will attend the summit of the Central American Integration System.
Mr. Obama will also join President Laura Chinchilla in an activity at the Central American Business Administration Institute (INCAE in Spanish) and the Inter American Development Bank.
One of the situations generating the most uneasiness of the Obama visit among the people is the closing of streets, but the most angered citizens are shop owners, who decided to close their business on May 3rd and 4th. .
“Who is going to pay us those days? We thought Mr. Obama was going to give us dollars,” tongue in cheek said Ms. Carolina Jalinda, the manager of Cafe-té-ría coffee shop.
Miss Larissa Arroyo, a clerk at Ñ Store, in the Amon District, said that Friday and Saturday are the days when the best sales are made.
“It’s a little annoying, but I think it all hinges on lending a hand,” the young clerk added.
Mr. Jos de Hann, owner of the Rincon de San José Hotel said that the situation is not “clear” because there has been a notorious lack of information. He added that they have been called to a meeting in a neighboring hotel where they will be provided with guidelines.
Mr. Javier Sequeira, who works Salvatandas hardware store, said he learned from his boss that they will not open during the visit of the heads of state. He, as well as others who will have a couple of days off, said will take advantage of the unexpected vacation.
