Four computers containing information regarding road builders’ contracts with the highway agency CONAVI were stolen late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Both the agency and contractors are under investigation regarding contacting procedures of the “Trocha”, the border road.
Of all office equipment available only the computers were stolen but both the Comptroller General’s office and CONAVI Director Jose Luis Salas said they have backup for the data, so if the thieves hoped to cripple the probe they were foiled.
Construction of the Trocha, the border road on the southern bank of the San Juan River, has been the Watergate of the Chinchilla Administration, sparking a legislative investigation that is going into its second year.
Police say that the offices where the computers were stolen do not have security cameras but the access to the floor they were on does. Two belonged to the Comptroller and the other two were personal computers of director of the road conservation section Cristian Vargas and engineer Edgar May.
The radio news staff of ADN 90.7 FM revealed that the computers were scattered in various offices. Prosecutors have CONAVI under investigation for alleged contract irregularities pointing toward corruption.
It was 5:53am when many in the Pacific coastal area of Playa Jacó were awakened by an earthquake registering 4.2 on the Richter Scale
The Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN) de la Universidad de costa Rica (UCR) – National Seismological Network of the University of Costa Rica – said the epicentre was located 23 kilometres south of Playa Jacó, at a depth of 15 kilometres.
The tremor was also felt in Alajuela and San José.
There were no reports of damage or injuries.
The RSN says that the quake was caused due to the subduction of the interaction between the Cocos and Caribbean plates.
Playa Jacó and nearby Playa Herradura are favourite tourist destinations for both foreigners and nationals.
The Dirección Nacional de Tributación (National Directorate of Taxation) shut down last week, 18 retail business located in different parts of the country, for breach of their tax obligations.
The closures were for problems with late payment of taxes, not issuing proper invoices and/or billing practices and errors in declarations on tax statements.
Carlos Vargas, director of Tributación, explained that when dealing only with invoicing/billing problems, they only close the offending location, but when lateness and other irregularities are added, all the retail locations of a business are shut down.
Closed last week were: Obras de Madera Bieanz S.A. (Escazú), Bisutería Mari (Hatillo), Amadeus Global Travel Distributions (San José), Barro Barroco S.A., Bar y Restaurante Country (Desamparados) and Supermercado 24/7 (La Merced), among others.
The closures are part of “tax control activities” carried out by the Ministerio de Hacienda (ministry of Finance), with the objective of imporoving taxpayer compliance, explained Vargas
The Cruz Roja (Red Cross) released on Monday that 16 people died violently this past weekend, with traffic accidents the leading cause.
In the 48 hours between Saturday and Sunday, four people became victims of being hit by a vehicle, while six others involved in a collision between vehicles.
According to Jim Batres, assistant director of operations at the Cruz Roja, it had been a quiet month until this weekend. Batres points to this weekend being a pay weekend and many were out taking in the summer conditions as a major factor in the number of deaths.
The recommendations to not become a statistic are to respect the rules of traffic, don’t drink and driver, keep your vehicle in a good state of repair and avoid driving for long periods, especially at night. These recommendations are basic but they could be the difference between getting home safely or not.
So far this month (to Sunday) there have been 58 violent deaths. Last February the month closed with 95.
The 2013 season of the “Teatro al Mediodia” (Theatre at Noon) begins today and every Tuesday at the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre) in downtown San José.
The program, in it’s sixth year, is an incredible way to get some culture and all for a few bucks.
Entrance is ¢1.500 colones (US$3), students and seniors pay half price.
Today, at 12:10pm and for 30 minutes, you can enjoy a concert with the Big Band, a group of young professional musicians from Costa Rica in a presentation of Jazz, in the manner of the great bands that marked an era from the thirties.
The Big Band. Photo: Teatro Nacional
Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Nacioal box office, visiting the Teatro Nacional website or by calling (506) 2010-1112.
Take a virtual tour of the Teatro Nacional using the link below
Luis Paulino Mora Mora (April 8, 1944 – February 17, 2013)
President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica since July 12, 1999
Judge of the Penal y Titular de Menores de Limón (1969-1975)
Juez Primero Penal de San José (1975) y Juez Superior Penal de San José (1975-1983)
In 1983 was elected Magistrate of the Sala Tercera de Casación de la Corte Suprema de Justicia
1985 a 1986 was Director del Área de Asistencia Técnica del Instituto Latinoamericano de las Naciones Unidas para el Delito (ILANUD)
1986 a 1989 minister of Justice in the Oscar Arias Sánchez administration
In 1989 was appointed as magistrate of the Sala Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Costa Rica for the 1989-1997 period ad re-elected in 1997 for the 1997-2005 period
In 1999 was elected as President of the Corte Suprema de Justicia (Supreme Court)
Former president, Oscar Arias Sanchez, said the integrity of Supreme Court Justice, Luis Paulino Mora, “never ruled in one way or another just to please”.
Arias said of Mora, who died Sunday night, voted against presidential re-election, despite having been minister of Justice in his first administration (1986-1990). Those were the only years that Mora did not work at the Poder Judicial.
“It was he who taught me to respect the votes as they are”, said the former president of Mora.
Arias characterized Mora as a professional, distinguished university professor and judge, responsible, courageous and a “great friend” who he would ask for advice on law while he was president.
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla Miranda summed up the contributions of the late president of Supreme Court, as “the country owes him a lot” in terms of rule of law, separation of powers and strengthening and modernizing the administration of justice in Costa Rica.
Chinchilla commented on the work of Luis Paulino Mora on establishing “expedited” procedures and the establishment of court around the country that provided all access to justice.
Chinchilla said, “I had the fortune to know him him 30 years ago, when the Costa Rican model of justice served as a model for reforming the administration of justice in Latin America”.
The casket of Luis Paulino Mora was displayed in the Supreme Court in San José this morning for one and all to pay their last respects.
The state funeral was at the 3:oo pm Monday afternoon at the Catedral Metropolitana in downtown San José, his body was then taken to Puriscal, a place west of San José the Supreme Court judge called home.
The objective of the institute is to save lives and not profit.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Kenya will soon be joining Nigeria in fighting snakebites with anti-venom made in Costa Rica.
The serum is manufactured by the Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP), which has been supplying Nigeria for the last three years and adding three more African countries by the end of this year.
According to ICP director, Alberto Alape, the institution has been supplying Latin America since the 90s and in recent years received requests from the African continent.
Alape explained that it is not possible to create a universal anti-venom, so each drug is tailored to the specific region and snakes that inhabit it.
Since 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a call to anti-venom producers countries to try to solve the problem experienced by many poor nations that do not have access to them.
Serum produced in Costa Rica is available at affordable prices, explained the ICP director, adding that the objective of the institute is to save lives and not profit.
In Latin America, only Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica are the countries self-sufficient in the production of anti-venom.
While Costa Ricans and private carriers look forward to cellular phone number portability – the ability to change operator and keep the same number – the state carriers, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), continues to block the idea.
Cell Number Portability Around The Corner
Since the arrival of private operators Claro and Movistar in December 2011, there has been a push to allow users to switch between operators without having to lose their number, numbers that many have had for more than a decade.
The Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SUTEL) – government regulator – has contracted the the Spanish company, El Corte Inglés, and set a deadline for June to install and maintain the cell number portability service in the country.
However, ICE – operating under the “Kolbi” brand – feels the process of awarding the contract to the Spanish company is illegal, alleging that none of the bidders complied with the requisites.
Another point being argued by ICE officials, is that El Corte Ingles moditied its bid after it was submitted and that is an incorrect procedure and to the detriment of other bidders.
Yet another point on ICE’s list of points to fustigate the process is that under the current regulation a user cannot stop the process of changeover. On this point, the state carrier feels it “unconstitutional” to not allow a user the right to change his or her mind after initiating the process. ICE officials argue that users, who decide on a change, should have the ability to rescind the order if they receive a better offer from their current operator.
ICE has in the past stalled the process of free market telecommunications in the country, delaying the arrival of competing operators and now by stalling number portability, it maintains an advantage by blocking the majority of cell phone users to switch to the competition and lose their number.
Whether the stall tactics have been good business on the part of ICE or truly in the best interest of its users, is debatable.
The SUTEL has said number portability will take place, though it is unclear if it will be June of this year or not.
The idea of creating a “common area” at the Costa Rica – Panama border is picking up momentun, that if and when approved, it would eliminate the requirement of a passport to enter the zone.
The proposal is being made formally today by Panama’s ministro de Seguridad, José Raúl Mulino.
For her part, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla, reiterated, “in the name of friendship and fondness for Panama” we willingly move forward o the issue.
Mario Zamora, ministro de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica, is expected to travel to Panama today to analyze the feasibility of eliminating the need for a passport between the two countries.
Weeks ago Presidenta Chinchilla anounced the formation of a task force to examine how to expedite passage at the Costa Rica – Panama border crossing at Paso Canoas.
At 67 years of age Dr. William Argüello is just one the some 176.000 civil servants employed by the government and its agencies. However, there is something different about this civil servant: for the past 40 years, he had never been on the disability list.
Dr. Argüello has worked asa gynecologist-obstetrician in CCSS clinics in Upala and Hatillo, the Hospital San Juan de Dios in San José, 34 years at the Hospital Psiquiátrico (Psychiatric Hospital) in Pavas and 20 years at the Hospital de Heredia.
In his career spanning four decades he has attended to many patients, including civil servants looking to get on the disability list to get the benefit of what many see as time off work with pay.
Civil servants in Costa Rica make it a habit of using disability as a rest from the work, resting assured that their job and tenure is secure.
Dr. Argüello is from Los Chiles, in the province of Alajuela, near the northern border with Nicaragua. In 1963 he arrived in San José to attend the Universidad de Costa Rica after graduating from the Liceo de Costa Rica high school.
Dr. Argüello is now faced with retirement and what to do with his life after years of never been off the job.
Supreme Court Chief Justice, Paulino Mora, died Sunday night at the age of 68. His death was a surprise to many after being admitted to hospital last Monday.
Mora was Minister of Justice during the first Oscar Arias Sánchez (1986-1989). Following he was elected magistrate to the Sala Constitucional, the country’s Constitutional Court and in 1999, elected as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
During his tenure at the Poder Judicial (Justice), he was a criminal judge in Limón and and chief justice of the Sala Tercerra.
Mora graduated from Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) and earned a doctorate in law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
During the great earthquake of Cartago in 1910, there were reports of a meteor streaking across the skies of Costa Rica. Historians say that the night of May 4, 1910, while the “vieja metrópoli”(old metropolis as Cartago is often referred to) was rocked by the great earthquake, a sign in the sky further instilled fear.
Reports say a fireball crossed the night sky, from side to side. And became forever part of that fateful day in Cartgao, when more than 500 people died from the quake, although no exac figure was ever available.
BY all accounts, the meteor crossed the sky from east to west and was confirmed by a the crew of a German steamship that at the time was in the Gulf of Nicoya, on the Pacific coast.
The Cartago meteor was the second.
The first meteor was recorded in April 1857, 156 years ago.
Proof of that meteior is a fragment weighing only 3 grams that is possession of the Geología de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) – Geology department of the University of Costa Rica.
That meteorite fell in the province of Heredia. Reports of the day indicate that it was seen over San José as a great fireball that streaked across the sky.
In a check of the web records lists for cCosta Rica lists only one meteorite record, the Heredia. This is because the Cartago meteorite never impacted.
According to the Meteriological Society, the Heredia meteor was classed an “H5:.
“An ordinary chondrite from the H group that is petrologic type 5.”
The highlighted words are defined as follows:
Ordinary chondrite: A major class of chondrites, distinguished by sub-solar Mg/Si and refractory/Si ratios, oxygen isotope compositions that plot above the terrestrial fractionation line, and a large volume percentage of chondrules, with only 10-15 vol% fine-grained matrix.
H group: The high-iron (H) chemical group of ordinary chondrites, distinguished by their high siderophile element content, relatively small chondrules (~0.3 mm), and oxygen isotope compositions that are closer to the terrestrial fractionation line than those of other ordinary chondrites.
Type 5: Designates chondrites that have been metamorphosed under conditions sufficient to homogenize olivine and pyroxene, convert all low-Ca pyroxene to orthopyroxene, cause the growth of various secondary minerals, and blur chondrule outlines.
Some 190 small and medium sized businesses will be promoting their products this weekend at the “Feria del Gustico Costarricense” (Costa Rican Tasting Fair), in the Antigua Aduana, San José.
The aim is to promote the marketing of agro-food products and crafts, in support of rural enterprises.
According to the deputy minister of agriculture, Tania Lopez, exposed aat the fair are innovative products that are not found in the supermarkets.
This is the second year that the event takes place. According to Lopez, in 2012 sales exceeded ¢80 million and received some 15,000 visitors.
The Antigua Aduana (Old Customs Building) is on the east side of downtown San José, 100 metres east of the Parque Nacional and Atlantic train station. Some may remember the building by its old name, FERCORI.
A weakness in security at the Estadio Nacional (National Stadium in La Sabana has allowed a man to climb to the top of the roof on four separate occasions. The last time was Friday morning.
Stadium manager, Edgar Barrantes, assures that they are considering physical barriers to impede the unauthorized to climb to the top of the roof and access other parts of the stadium.
The Cruz Roja (Red Cross) told the press that each time the man climbed the stadium’s roof he wsa taken to a medical facilty for evaluation.
Norris moved to the farm town of Quepos, Costa Rica, in 2006
A man accused of sexually abusing a child in Santa Barbara (California) over several years was arrested Thursday night at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shortly after his plane from Costa Rica touched down, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department..
Michael Norris
Michael Norris, 67, formerly of Carpinteria, is charged with multiple counts of child molestation, including but not limited to continual sexual abuse of a minor, contact with a minor with the intent to commit sexual abuse, distributing and producing pornography to a child, and aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Kelly Hoover.
An investigation began in February 2012 involving allegations that Norris had sexually abused a minor from 2003 to 2006 while he lived in Carpinteria, Hoover said.
Norris moved to the farm town of Quepos, Costa Rica, in 2006, and a warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2012, Hoover said.
When Norris learned of the warrant, he agreed to return to Santa Barbara County and negotiated his surrender with sheriff’s investigators.
The arrest was a coordinated effort between investigators from the sheriff’s Felony Fugitives and Criminal Investigative Divisions and U.S. officials in Costa Rica who assisted in monitoring Norris’ whereabouts and ensuring he boarded the plane.
Norris was on a direct flight from Costa Rica Thursday when sheriff’s Investigators, along with FBI and U.S. Customs agents, boarded the plane and took the man into custody.
The Ministro de la Presidencia (Presidency Minister) Carlos Ricardo Benavides Tuesday lay the blame for decisions on construction of the Trocha (Route 1856 or border road) directly in the lap of President Laura Chinchilla.
The testimony was in reply to allegations that the decisions surrounding the debacle of the road construction in the north of the country were made by advisers to the President.
The unicameral legislature’s government spending committee has been investigating the hapless construction for more than a year during which the lawmakers have turned up much finger pointing at others for making serious mistakes. (See previous articles.)
The committee has managed to implicate everyone in the Administration from Vice President Luis Liberman to the National Emergency Committee on down while coming up with more questions than answers.
Benavides told the committee emphatically that that the final decision were the President’s, made with the expert advice of then-minister of Public Works Francisco Jimenez.
The road was begun to provide a land link between border communities on the south bank of the San Juan River so residents would not have to use the river (Nicaraguan territory) to get to the rest of the country.
The decision was taken in haste in 2010 after Nicaraguan troops invaded Costa Rica’s Calero Island. (See previous articles.) Construction began without an environmental impact study and, indeed, even a paper plan.
Private construction companies were contracted willy-nilly and the courts are still investigating the corrupt practices involved, which implicate the highway construction agency Conavi, MOPT, Emergency Committee and a host of private contracters.
The national newspaper La Nacion observed that Deputy Walter Cespedes of the Social Christian Unity party, a vocal critic of the government’s action, was less aggressive than usual in questioning Benavides.
This may be because he himsef is under scrutiny for having petitioned Benavides to influence the Education Ministry to give two of his nieces jobs. Or, it may be because he did not want to get on the bad side (caer mal) of the powerful minister.
Comment: The committee has spent many hours investigating this fiasco. But, they had plenty of time. There was enough blame in the Administration during 2010-11 to go around — no one needs to fear being short-changed in that regard.
Still, the public may be growing tired of the whole mess. It may be time to get some lawmaking work done.
In celebration of its 85 years, the Teatro Melico Salazar, will get a facelift. The “Melico” as it is commonly referred to, is a veteran of Tico culture. The renovation, that is to cost ¢1 billion colones, will start with the installation of a new electrical system.
The theatre, that sits across from the Parque Central, is icon of downtown San José and all of Costa Rica and maintains a full schedule of concerts, recitals, and plays. So far, it has been likened to Madison Square Garden.
While large and built in the European Baroque style, it is far simpler than the Parisian influenced Teatro Nacional one block east.
The land was bought by Jose Raventós, who dreamed of building a theatre in which to produce zarzuelas, (usually comic Spanish operettas). The building was designed by Jose Fabio Garnier Ugalde, dramatist and architect. Construction began on February 8, 1927, and was completed October 7, 1928. The inauguration featured operettas of Esperanza Iris, the famous Mexican singer known as the Empress of Operetta.
In 1960 a new gallery was added that included a screen for Cinemascope. Seven years later, in 1967, during the dawn of April 23, a fire destroyed the room.
In the early 70s, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports decided that Costa Rica must buy the theater and renew it. In December 1981, a pre-inauguration occurred. Shortly afterwards, the building was closed to finish the restoration. There was a re-inauguration on March 6, 1985, and April 7, the following year. “The Gaceta”, the official newspaper of the government, announced law 7023 that gave the Melico Salazar the position of “cultural institution especializada” of the Costa Rican State.
Originally named the Raventós Theatre, it was renamed in 1986 to honor famous Costa Rican tenor Manuel “Melico” Salazar.
According to police authorities, taxi drivers in Costa Rica have become a favourite target of criminals. And not only are taxis targets of attacks, but also used a trusted “ally” in committing crimes.
The last act against a taxi occurred Thursday night, when man called 911 reporting that three men were beating on a taxi driver. The call came in at 8:00pm and through the quick action of the police, they had the men in custody.
The driver told police that he was flagged down by the men in Hatillo, was pistol whipped and shoved into the trunk.
Police gave chase and stopped the vehicle in La Sabana, near stadium, exchanging fire wire with the criminals before apprehending them.
Authorities say that taxis are under the watchful eyes of offenders, for several reasons, including at night there are a lot of taxis and can go unnoticed.
Former vice-minister, Karina María Bolaños Picado, retracted her statements made to the Spanish magazine, Interviú, on alleged corruption in the Costa Rica government.
Karina made the statements last September 7, part of her public outrage for being fired after a video of her in scanty clothing was made public. The video went viral making headlines in Costa Rica and half way around the world.
In the magazine inteview Karina lashed out at Presidenta Laura Chinchilla and her government, saying she (the Presidenta) only protects the corrupt.
Adrían Chinchilla Miranda, doña Laura’s brother, filed a libel lawsuit against Karina, and for that reason, this week, she appeared in court and stated the following:
“Me retracto de las manifestaciones que proferí para la revista española Interviú. Si con ellas ofendí al querellante le ofrezco mis sinceras disculpas, ya que no fue esa mi intención” (I retract the statements made to the Spanish magazine Interviú. If by doing so I offended the complainant I offer my sincered apologies, because that was not my intention).
Moisés Fachler, Karina’s lawyer, said the the apology statement is part of her getting on with her life. According to the lawyer, Karina intends to return to public life and is involved with a large group of the Liberación Nacional party.
Fachler added that there is sufficient evidence to prove Karina was being extorted after her personal computer was stolen.
Above is a screen capture of the video that brought Karina to the public eye and resulting in her dismissal. During the 56-second video which was viewed by over a million people, Karina points at her breasts and invites a man she refers to as ‘little one’ to join her.
A University for Peace student delegation visited the Presidenta Laura Chinchilla, at Casa Presidencial in San José, as part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
President Chinchilla signed a message of support for the “Treaty on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons” in a special ceremony related to the paper crane project, which foresees sending 1000 paper cranes to every head of state worldwide as a symbol to encourage them to sign a treaty for the prohibition of nuclear arms.
“We need to applaud and recognize the important campaigns you [UPEACE students] have been carrying along many years. I would like to emphasize that the request that you make with these beautiful paper cranes does not fall on non-fertile ground here in Costa Rica and in the hands of the Presidents”, said Chinchilla.
Costa Rica, said the presidenta, stands precisely “for advocacy over and over again, through a set of facts, the calls for peace”, especially by abolishing their own army in 1948.
Dr. Victor Valle, Rector of the the University for Peace, pointed out the paradox that the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations are the countries with the most nuclear weapons.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Costa Rican government, legilsators and civil society, and diplomatic corps.
Chinchilla said Costa Rica, which got rid of its army in 1948, is an advocate for peace.
Reuters – Costa Rica’s Presidenta Laura Chinchilla speaks during an interview with Reuters at Casa Presindcial in Zapte (San Jose), February 14, 2013. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate
In an interview with Isabella Cota of Reuters on Thursday, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla said that she was ready to take more steps to prevent flows of foreign capital from driving the Costa Rica’s currency higher.
In the interview, Chinchilla said she was worried a capital controls bill sent to the Legislature could stall, reviving interest from speculative investors that have tipped the Central American nation into a battle over its currency.
Costa Rica’s Banco Central (Central Bank) has spent US$1.5 billion in six months to keep the colon from strengthening beyond ¢500 per dollar, but inflows at the end of last year prompted the government to take more drastic steps.
Business leaders are concerned that an appreciation in the currency could hurt the tourism industry and coffee exporters, who sometimes receive payments in dollars.
So the government sent the Legislature a bill proposing to raise the current 8% tax on foreign investments by up to 30 percentage points. It also would require foreign investors to make a deposit at the central bank of up to 25% of the value of any investment, without receiving any interest.
Since then, the central bank has not had to buy excess dollars, but the commission in Congress in charge of reviewing the proposal has not yet approved it.
“(The plan) has given us great peace of mind, but it’s a temporary one because we know quite well that unless the project passes it’ll be very difficult to maintain these conditions,” said Chinchilla, sitting in the living room that leads to her office at Casa Presidencial in Zapote (San José).
“If we were to see a similar flow before the project is approved by the Legislature, we would, of course, turn to other mechanisms. Investors should have no doubt about this, we are totally willing to protect our economy”, she added.
Last month the first female president of this tiny Central American country referred to the potentially destabilizing flows as “weapons of mass destruction.”
On Tuesday, Group of Seven nations issued a statement reaffirming a “longstanding commitment to market-determined exchange rates” and Chinchilla admitted feeling pressure to let the colon float freely. But she said she would stay the course.
“There are (pressures), yes,” she said. “A government should not function based on the pressures of some or others. It should try to adapt a mix of measures that fits every context and generates the appropriate steps forward.”
HIGH RATES
The Central Bank’s high benchmark interest rate, currently at 7.8%, has lured investors to bring in dollars and buy government bonds in the local currency.
Interest on deposits in dollars is around 2% due to loose monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Late last year, interest rates in Costa Rica were as high as 12%.
Even as rates drop gradually, Ministro de Hacienda (Finance Minister) Edgar Ayales has said that it will be impossible to lower them to 45 or even 5% without a significant overhaul of fiscal policy.
Just over year before her term ends, Chinchilla is struggling to introduce a plan to tackle Costa Rica’s budget deficit of 4.4% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The previous plan was killed by the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court), which declared it to be unconstitutional last April.
Chinchilla, whose centrist Partio Liberación Nacional (PLN) party lacks a majority in the Legislature, has not given up, she says. She aims to send a new plan to the Legislature before her term ends in May 2014.
“We will not relent in our final efforts to see if we persuade a few congressmen to re-establish the conversation about the fiscal plan,” she said.
“The finance minister is currently undertaking a new consultation process and we will see if a new situation arises that will allow us to leave a well-ordered country in fiscal terms.”
If you are a customer of Scotiabank and use the bank’s online services, WARNING OF THE EMAIL that tells customers that their account has been “frozen” after detecting an improper closing when last used.
At first glance the email looks legitimate, the from to says “scotia.co.cr, there is the Scotiabank logo and a link “Scotiabankcr.com”.
However, when the shock of the frozen account – especially on a Friday afternoon and on payday in Costa Rica- wears off, you will notice that the link is a redirect.
The www,scotiabankcr.com allows access to the bank’s website, but to enter the online banking the correct URL is www.scotiabank.fi.cr. The bank has posted a warning on access to its online banking site.
DO NOT CLICK OR FOLLOW THE LINK IN THE EMAIL!
Typically customers of state banks like the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) and the Banco Nacional (BN) have been target of phishing emails.
Following is a sample content of the email:
Estimado cliente de Scotiabank le informamos que nuestro sistema de seguridad ha detectado problemas en su cuenta, debido a que en su último ingreso no finalizo de manera correcta, y por cuestiones de seguridad su cuenta ha sido bloquea, para el desbloqueo de su cuenta será necesario hacer una pequeña verificación de identidad. Una vez emitido este correo electrónico tendrá un plazo de 24 horas para llevar acabo dicha acción de lo contrario y por medidas de seguridad su cuenta sera congelada.
Entre aquí para realizar el desbloqueo de su cuenta http://www.scotiabankcr.com/
The negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Costa Rica and Colombia did not come to and yesterday, despite a video conference to close the deal.
The demands by Costa Rica’s industrial remains the biggest stumbling block, the minister of Comercio Exterior (Comex) – Foreign Trade, Anabel González, said yesterday.
Both González and her Colombian counterpart, Sergio Diaz Granados, held a video conference to resolve the issue, both coming to the conclusion that they have reached an “inlfexible” point.
Ministra González explained after that both sides will talk again, reconvene a meeting some 12 days time, after each reviews their positions on the sensitive points. The Ministra did not say exactly when and where or the type of meeting, in person or again by video conference.
Costa Rica’s industrial sector wants excluded from the FTA soaps and detergents, paper, cardboard, sanitary wear, forestry, furniture and glass.
The government of Laura Chinchilla is promoting a bill that would allow micro, small and medium business owners to take out loans for their business, without risking the family home as collateral.
The bill, Ley de Garantias Mobiliarias (Secured Transactions Law) would allow financial institutions to accept accounts receivables, inventory, even a business or professional license as collateral for a business loan.
If the bill is passed, Mayi Antillón, the head of the Ministerio de Economia Industria y Comercio (MEIC) – Commerce minister – said it would meets the needs of the business sector and the calling for alternative methods of obtaining credit without risking the family home, for example.
“I ask, is it fair to lose the family home if a business venture fails? The clear answer is NO”, says presidenta Laura Chinchilla.
The bills is now in the hands of legislators who will evaluate, analyze and discuss it before putting to a vote for approval or denial.
The new director of the La Anexion Hospital of Nicoya, Dr. Jorge Fonseca Renault, conversed in depth with VON a month after taking the reins of the main medical campus of the peninsula, after the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) intervened in December due to serious management deficiencies.
Fonseca took the place of Dr. Juan Jose Li Kam and will be in charge for 6 months to a year since Dr. Anner Angulo, current Regional Director, will have to return to the role of medical director in a year and a half given that the post is his property, unless the CCSS indicates otherwise.
Fonseca was cautious when speaking of the plans of the intervention and the deficiencies found since in six months he will have to make a report to the Medical Management, but he didn’t hide that when he first walked into the hospital, he found it functioning at 60% compared to how it should be.
“There are many things that catch the attention. The physical layout continues the same, but it should be bigger and with more staff since the population of this area has grown considerably,” the doctor explained.
Weaknesses and Priorities
Fonseca pointed out that “a quick expansion and structural reinforcement is needed since the seismic code is different, principally the expansion of external consultation and hospitalization services since emergencies is new.”
In addition, the beds are insufficient. Today we only have 105 and in surgery and internal medicine they are always full, more now with how dengue is,” added the chief.
Meanwhile, Fonseca mentioned that among the immediate priorities of the hospital is resolving the problem of garbage collection, because the Municipality of Nicoya hasn’t done it since December 24th. Elizabeth Fernandez Ramirez, coordinator of environmental management for the Municipality of Nicoya, explained that the hospital wasn’t properly separating hazardous waste such as bags of blood from normal waste. In addition, she said that most hospitals have private contracts for garbage disposal and by law the municipality is not obligated to collect the hospital’s waste. Fonseca assured VON that the garbage is now being properly separated.
In addition, the challenge with the operating rooms continues. The rooms were shut down by the Ministry of Health on June 6, 2012. Although they were reopened on November 27th, Fonseca indicated that “due to bad fortune a change in voltage in the electrical current damaged three air conditioners in the hospital, one of which is for one of the operating rooms; nonetheless we will repair it in the next days.”
Due to this, the waiting list for surgeries continues to grow. “As for those who are stuck [waiting], the idea is to get them out by November at the latest. I should explain that there is a wait of three months to get a case onto the waiting list; for everything to be normal there should be a maximum wait of one week. At the same time, we have to scientifically analyze the waiting lists for external consultation; there are many determining factors, but I can say that we would have to obtain more personnel to achieve the objective in two years minimum,” he cited.
Budget, Overtime Hours and More Positions
As VON stated in the January issue, the CCSS will allocate $35 million between 2013 and 2017 to develop a hospitalization tower, the renovation of the entire old structure and the electromechanical systems. The job bid closes on May 8th and minor works are expected to initiate in October.
“The damages that the September earthquake caused will be done with separate money. With this budget, we have to recover the archive clinic and the roof of the external consultation, which is being installed and will be ready in March,” said the director. He also indicated that the budget from the CCSS for this year is 15 billion colones ($30 million), but he estimates that this won’t be enough so more will have to be requested.
“La Anexion has 595 employees, of which 40 are doctors and among them 23 are specialists. For the resolution level we need more, but at this moment there wouldn’t be room for more to work. Between February and August we will receive four specialists recently contracted by the CCSS, one of whom is a much-needed anesthesiologist,” he affirmed.
Finally, he referred to overtime hours, a theme that led some doctors to protest in August of 2012. “We have an on-duty guard system on Sundays with specialists, and with general doctors on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but we want to eliminate as much as possible all types of on-duty guards. I want them to work in shifts 24 hours a day, so the doctor is always resting. It’s more efficient and the costs are less,” he assured.
“I can only say to this beautiful town that the hospital has reactivated, the personnel appear completely committed to the cause. I am a demanding person and I’ve marked the path and the objectives to pursue. I have great affection for Nicoya because even two of my children were born here. Therefore I want and will look to do things well,” concluded Fonseca.
Soon the sound of the train will be heard in Cartago, as the INCOFER – Costa Rica’s railway – nears completion of a line that has been inactive for the last 13 years. Construction is almost complete, only 100 metres (a block) is left to go.
For ¢580 colones (one way), passengers can ride the train from the downtown San José and Cartago in only 40 minutes, enjoying the beautiful landscape while avoiding the traffic congestion if taking the bus or vehicle.
In addition to commuters using the train to get to and from work, the INCOFER says the train will also be open to family outings on weekends.
It is expected that the wheels of the train will start rolling next month, and INCOFER estimates are that more than 6.000 people wil use the service daily.
This image appeared on Facebook and shows the misspelling of “Costarricense” in the library. A note says that the sign has come down after appearing on FB.
Sign warns visitors to not to have “relaciones” (sex) in the area.
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla (middle in blue) sits on floor with students in Aserri. To her right (shirt and tie) is the minister of Education, Leornardo Garnier.
“The school should not replace their parents or guardians”, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla told the pupils of Liceo de Aserri on Thursday about sex education in the schools.
The Presidenta said that if parens are not satisfied with the sex education their children are gettig in school, they the parents are the ones who should be talking to their children.
The warning comes from the horror story of a German couple vacationing in Costa Rica, losing her arm due to alleged misconduct by local private doctor
If Costa Rica is touted as a destination for adventure then has an obligation to provide security . The German Embassy in San José has exacerbated travel warnings to German tourists vacationing in Costa Rica, following an accident by a German couple in Cóbano and the alleged misconduct by a local private doctor that led to the loss of an arm by one of them.
According to a German Embassy document (Nota-Verbal-11-Embajada-de-Alemania-1) dated December 14, 2012, addressed to the Ministerio de Relaciones Esteriors y Culto (Foreign Ministry), German officials express heir concern of the quality and access to private medical services in the country.
The letter tells the tale of 23 year old Evelyn Jürgensen who suffered an ATV accident while vacationing in Santa Teresa de Cóbano, on the Pacific coast.
The young lady suffered multiple fractures and was taken to a private area clinic, where the doctor decided that considering the extent of the injury she should be sent to San José, but only “after long discussions about who would bear the costs of the helicopter”.
The letter continues, as they headed to Playa Tambor (the local airport) the doctor informed the young coupe that the helicopter would not be coming since the credit charge for US$8.000 had been denied.
Jürgensen was thus taken to the Ebais de Cóbano (local state clinic), where she was treated and sent to Paquera and onto the hospital in Puntarenas and the onto San José, when the Puntarens hospital doctors could not perform the required surgery.
Twelve hours had passed since the accident and doctors in San José could save the girls arm, requiring an amputation.
Attending physicians at the Hospital México commented “if only the patient had arrived two hours earlier, it could have been possible to save the arm”.
Following up on the German Embassy letter are the disturbing facts.
One, the cost of a helicopter from Tambor to San José is between US$2.500 and US$3.500, depending on the aircraft and when adding US$500 professional fees, how did the local doctor come up US$8.000? Was this a case of lets get what we can given the predicament of the visitors?
And, two, in a medical emergency, such as the case as related by the Embassy, the medical professional deserved the greatest balme for violating the basic principles of medicine and the Hippocratic Oath.
Here is a situation of visitors being in the middle of nowhere, in the jungles of Costa Rica and requiring urgent medical attention.
While the Tourism Ministry promotes the country as a destination for adventure, must it not also provide safety for visitors and ensure they not become mere objects of profit and misfortune?
In the case of Jürgensen, had not the medical professional been concerned with profit and over billing, the couple could have travelled by land and obtain the proper medical attention and in time to save the arm, as the San José doctors confirmed.
If nothing more, the relevant authorities should investigate the incident reported and establish liability and in favour of the country’s tourism image and the highest human values that distinguishes us.
