What really happened in Puriscal in the early hours of Friday morning fire that caused the death of five and critically injured several others? Fire Chief, Hector Chávs, says that poor conditions of the building made it a death trap.

Cháves explained that the lack of an alarm and smoke became lethal elements for the victims of the fire. The Fire Chief said the victims were unaware of the fire that began shortly after 1:00am.

In addition, locked metal doors, narrow hallways, a garage door that did not work and that the only emergency exit  blocked, all contributed to the tragedy.

Preliminary investigations points to a faulty electrical system causing the fire. The Fire Department said that fire probably started at the front of the building, due to exposed and worn electrical wires.

Investigators said they were concerned to the speed in which the fire spread. Even more worrisome is that the conditions found at the Las Aguilas hotel is not isolated, rather is similar to many other properties around the country.

Authorities say the owner of the hotel is responsible for what happened.

The Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health) had ordered the hotel closed. Salud officials say that they received an anonymous complaint against the hotel last September and confirmed the unsanitary conditions on first inspection. A second inspection by a civil engineer uncovered problems with the electrical system.

With other code violations found, on December 19, 2012, Salud issued an order for the closure of the hotel. But, the owner  requested and was granted an extention to make improvements and conform to code, so long as the building was not occupied.

The order by the Ministerio de Salud called for a total closing of the hotel by January 30, 2013, and had coordinated with the Fuerza Pública (police) to evict on February 11.

Operators of school buses can circulate, carrying students to and from school, without permits up to February 15, says the Ministerio de Transportes, for its inability to process all the applications.

According to the road transport and road safety, Rodrigo Rivera, last week alone the Public Transport Council received 2,800 requests.

Until February 15, school buses have to meet the legal requirement and the operator must provide proof of the application, failing they will be taken off the road and sanctioned, explained Rivera.

As of Friday, the ministry of Transport confirmed there were some 1.500 still to process at a rate of 150 applications per day on average.

Opinion: The 2013 school year began this past Wednesday. The start date of the school calendar is not a last minute decision, thus a responsible and sensible ministry, for the safety of school children across the country, would be better prepared: either require applications to be submitted earlier or provide more staff to process them.

This is just another example of the inefficiency of an important government agency and the lack of the current government to reform it. Another example of a tragedy to occur before anyone in authority takes action.

Parents are urged not to send their children in school vehicles that do not have the required permits – even if the application has been submitted. AND to inspect the school vehicle – with or without permit – to ensure the safety of their children.

The price of public services like water, electricity and gasoline are all regulated by the government agency, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP).

According to the Banco Central (Central Bank), the Aresep increased regulated service prices by 13.5% in the past year, while the inflation rate was 5.7%. It was July when began the increase in the difference between the two indicators.

Aresep spokesperson, Carolina Mora, cites services by the state power company,  Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) was the fastest growing, using oil to generate electrical power.

Mora explained that some of the increases approved last year had delayed adjustments that went into effect in the second half of 2012.

The increase in prices of public services higher than the overall cost of living affects local business and job productivity, according to the experts.

A 51-year-old U.S. air traveler was arrested at Juan Santamaria Internation Airport in San Jose trying to smuggle two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles aboard a Jet Blue flight to the United States.

The disassembled rifles were hidden in his luggage destined for the baggage compartment of the jetliner. But a sharp-eyed Jet Blue employee discovered the attempt at check-in and alerted airport authorities.

Chief of Airport Police Glen Pacheco told the newspaper La Nacion that the passenger told him that he did not know that he had to report firearms to authorities before they were put aboard commercial aircraft.

He was charged with illegal possession of firearms. He was traveling with a Costa Rican who also missed his flight to the U.S.
U.S. regulations make sales of automatic weapons illegal so the AR-15 is offered in semi-automatic form. However, the rule is laughable — parts are sold to turn them into fully automatic weapons and can be installed by even the most ham-fisted gunsmith.

From iNews.co.cr

An early morning fire claimed the lives of five in Puriscal, west of San José. Authorities say the flames spread through the old building rapidly, consuming the small hotel in minutes.

The fire, that started around 1am, was located some 300  metres from the centre of Puriscal, a thriving community in the mountains west of Cuidad Colon.

The director de Bomberos (Fire Department) Héctor Chávez said fire crews were on scene within 3 minutes of the call, but couldn’t do much for the 60 year old building.

Most were able to get out, suffering smoke inhalation and bruises, but five did not.

Chávez said they suspect an electrical problem caused the fire. An investigation is underway.

Costa Rica’s presidenta Laura Chinchilla said on Thursday that there is no reason why the credit restrictions measures adopted by her government would hurt families and businesses.

The Presidenta made the remarks during the presentation of 1.500 kits to students at the Escuela República de Haití. Chinchilla argued that the credit constraints remain at “reasonable levels” and criticized thosw who oppose the regulations, the same as those who in the past opposed the tax plan and dollar exchange bands.

Chinchilla said that the limits for loans in colones “remain about the same” and a “relatively small decliine” for dollar loans.

The restrictions are a warning by the Central Bank to be cautious and not take out loans in dollars, according to Presidenta’s explanation of the current financial policy.

In the last couple of days, financial experts, that include bak managers, criticized publicly the government’s restrictions on credit saying it will negatively affect production and jobs.  See story.

Some experts are saying that current credit policy could lead to layoffs in the private sector.

All licensed drivers in Costa Rica must now provide the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI) – licensing office – with an email for any and all notifications, in particular for notice of traffic tickets.

According to the COSEVI, all 1.1 million licensed drivers in the country must meet the requirement, that is the completion of a form that was released yesterday by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) – Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The document will record the full name and identification of the driver (passport number, residency or cedula), the phone number, home address and email.

Once the form is completed, it can be handed in at any Policia de Tránsito station, Riteve (vehicular inspection), the traffic ticket appeals office, drivers licensing centres or the COSEVI offices in La Uruca.

The deadline for submitting the form is April 26, 2013.

The form can be downloaded here or at the COSEVI website. (Once downloaded you can print it and submit it).

For those who have the “firma digital” (digital signature), they can email to the direccionelectronicavial@csv.go.cr.

Although the form is mandatory, the MOPT says drivers who do not provide the information cannot argue they did not receive notification, for they will be deemed automatically notified with the publication in La Gaceta, the official government newsletter.

Carlos Rivas, an official with the COSEVI, recommends if delivery the document in person, to bring a copy and get it stamped or acknowledged, as a back up and proff that it was submitted and on time.

The requirement to provide the information is established in the new traffic law that went into effective on October 26, 2012.

Article 149 states: “The obligation of drivers and vehicle owners to annually update the email address and, if any changes, notify the COSEVI within ten days after the change occurs.”

According to the COSEVI there are 1.8 million licenses issued to 1.1 million drivers.

The inability of the COSEVI to notify drivers of their traffic tickets has caused problems for transport authorities, in particular shutting down the traffic camera program.

Editor’s note: In Costa Rica a driver is issued multiple licenses for the different type of vehicles, ie a license for passenger vehicles, another for motorcycles, buses and heavy trucks.

From Trafficlawcostarica.com

Excitement, laughter and hope returned to public and most private schools across the country on Wednesday with the start of the 2013 school year.

Keeping an eye for the some 940.000 students were the Fuerza Pública (police) and Policia de Tránsito (traffic police). All reports indicated a safe and trouble free first day back.

Some 200 Tránsitos (traffic officials) will be on hand for the coming days to ensure safety to and from school, while the Fuerza Publica maintian security for safety in the classrooms.

The presence of religious images and prayer in public buildigs are protected by the freedom of religion and are no discriminatory, according to Costa Rica’s Constitutional court.

The court decision followed an appeal by Mauricio Ordóñez that the religious image at the Municipalidad de Montes de Oca services platform affected him. In addition, the San Pedro municipal employee, in his appeal questions the prayer at the beginning each municipal council session.

The Court found that Ordóñez’s freedom of thought or conscience was never affected, nor was he caused harm or offence, expained judge Fernando Castillo.

Castillo added that the Court has extensive jurisprudence in respect of religious freedom in the country.

Montes de Oca Deputy Mayor, Viviana Jimenez, said religious activities never interfere with the normal working of the municipality, nor citizens.

Costa Rican authorities restricted the visit time to Poas Volcano crater after experts confirmed the emission of gases with toxic particles that may cause health problems. The decision was made after studies carried out by the Volcanological and Seismological National Observatory and the Analysis Laboratory of the School of Environmental Sciences at the National University.

It is not recommended that people with asthma visit the place, informed a report released today by the newspaper Prensa Libre which insists that, among the first signs of poisoning are coughing and eye irritation.

People may be more prone to respiratory problems and there is a relationship between the acidity of the particles and the development of other diseases, said Jorge Herrera, coordinator of the Laboratory of Environmental Analysis.

Meanwhile Juan Robles, director of the National Park, insisted that the visit time to the crater for tourists will be limited and discusses the possibility of using masks to prevent inhalation of these chemicals.

If you didn’t fill the tank yesterday, for at one minute past midnight this morning the price of fuel increased at the pumps.

A litre of gasoline now costs ¢43 colones per litre more, bringing the price at pumps to ¢718; regular increased ¢35 colones for a final price of ¢678; and diesel went up ¢8 colones.

What this hike means an increase of ¢1.575 colones to fill a 45 litre gasoline tank with regular, bringing the total cost to fill it ¢30.510 colones (US$60 dollars).

Natural gas, kerosene and jet fuel prices also increased today.

And while you get used to the new prices, keep in mind that the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) – regulator of public prices – is processing another increase that will further push up fuel prices.

In the span of 10 minutes the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI) reported three tremors on Tuesday night: in Puntarenas, Alajuela and Guanacaste.

The first regsistered 2.7 on the Richter scale and was felt at 8:22pm, locaed 42km norteast of San Vicente in La Cruz, Guanacaste, at a depth of 300 km.

The second, a little stronger at 2.8 hit 51km norteast of Mexico de Upala, in the province of Alajuela, with a depth of 280km.

The third movement was felt at 8:0pm, registering 2.5 some 16 km of Pochotal in Garabito, in the province of Puntarenas, with a depth of 16km.