While Presidenta Laura Chinchilla is in Europe promoting Costa Rica, at home Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez, who is a candidate for director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said because it’s a small nation that opted for integration into the global economy to boost domestic growth.
“My country has gone through a very strong structural- transformation process,” Gonzalez saide. “The story of Costa Rica shows that trade is a very powerful instrument for growth and development, that the multilateral system has a strong role to play in leveling the playing field for all countries. I would bring in a strong sense of neutrality.”
The Geneva-based WTO has suffered from its inability to agree on a global trade deal after more than a decade of negotiations. Gonzalez said one of the key challenges it faces is keeping itself relevant and that she’s “cautiously optimistic” the trade arbiter will be able to produce “some deliverables” at its ministerial meeting in December.
“The most important challenge for the WTO is to continue to support the growth in trade,” she said in the Jan. 21 interview. “Half of aggregate trade flows originate in developing countries. We need to integrate more countries into the world economy.”
Gonzalez said her professional career in both the private and public sectors and experience in the Uruguay Round of trade talks qualify her for the WTO’s top job. She is up against candidates from Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico and New Zealand to succeed Pascal Lamy when his term ends on Aug. 31.
The WTO has had only one head from a developing country since it was created in 1995 and no women have ever competed for the four-year job. Gonzalez, 49, is one of three female candidates.
Starting last week the 2013 Páginas Amarillas (Yellow Pages) has been hitting the doors of homes and businesses across the country. The 900.000 copies published by RACSA are being delivered by members of the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).
The book ‘Guía 1155’ includes business listings in a traditional Yellow Pages format. The 2013 edition includes also numbers to local hospitals and full directory of the country’s potal codes.
However, with the proliferation of easy-to-use online directories, including the Guía 1155 (www.telefonicamarilla.com) that put consumer reviews at your fingertips, who uses the Yellow Pages anymore?
Consumers have largely dumped local “white pages” for online directories, but experts say a surprising number are still flipping through the Yellow Pages.
Despite the proliferation of online directories, RACSA says that a large number of consumers use the Yellow Pages directory. Frequent users are likely older consumers “because they’ve used Yellow Pages their whole life.
Print directories can also be a good backup for consumers without a smartphone or fast Internet connection.
Many younger consumers are finding online directories — or a simple Google or Bing search — faster and more valuable than a flip through a print directory.
Ana Helena Chacón one of the founders of the new political party, the CDS.
Ana Helena Chacón one of the founders of the new political party, the CDS.
A new political party has emerged for the upcoming presidential elections in 2014, the Centro Democrático y Social (CDS), comprised of several ex members of the PUSC party.
The new group held its first national assembly on Sunday that was attended by two representative of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – elections tribunal, establishing the internal structure of the party to be able to be included in the 2014 elections ballot.
Forming part of the new party are former PUSC members like Luis Manual Chacon, one of the founders of the PUSC, and former PUSC legislators Ana Helena Chacón and Lorena Vásquez.
The president of the new party is Guillermo Vargas, was minister of Education in the Miguel Ángel Rodríguez administration (1998-2002).
According to La Nacion, the party is a reflection of the national reality and to propose an alternative to strengthen the country.
For decades Costa Rica was ruled alternatively by the PUSC and PLN parties. The last PUSC president was Able Pacheco (2002-2006).
In the last decade several political parties, like the PAC, ML and Frente Amplio, have changed the “traditional” politics of the country, allowing the PLN party with two consecutive terms and a possible third, while the PUSC party was destroyed politically in the 2006 elections, and crumbled even more in 2010 when it fielded a “pinch hitter” (party president Luis Fishman).
Epsy Campbell has hired Giovanni Bulgarelli, creator of the “El Menos Malo” (Least Bad) political campaign in the 2010 presidential elections. Bulgarelli also created the “Sí al TLC” campaign in 2007 and “lás máscaras de Ottón Solís en el 2006” (the mask of Otton Solis), among others
According to Campbell, jointly with Bulgarelli, the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) leadership candidate aims to build a strong message to take to the public in her bid to take the party leadership and the presidential chair in 2014.
The publicity campaign will include all media, which strategy is now being developed.
According to Bulgarelli the message will be strong, similar to his other campaigns.
Bulgarelli ran the campaign for Johnny Araya in his PLN party leadership bid he lost to Laura Chinchilla in 2008. The “Menos Malo” campaign was for the failed PUSC party presidential bid by Luis Fishman in 2010.
Bulgarelli appears to cross party lines, working at one or another for all three of Costa Rica’s major political parties.
“Gato Casero” is Spanish for an inside job. That has been the the assumption of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) in several cases of stolen cables.
The assumption was confirmed on Monday when the Fuerza Publica (police) detaineda an ICE employee, in Pócora de Guácimo, Limón, with some 250 kgs of cables that appear to have been stolen from the state power company.
The Fiscalía in Pococí is assuming that the haul is part of a big robbery of cable recently at an ICE project in Siquirres.
Anyone living in Costa Rica will tell you, while experts confirm that living in Costa Rica has gotten expensive. In fact, it is the most expensive country to live in the region and one of the most expensive in Latin America.
According to the poll ‘cost of living 2011’, San José is the city with the high cost of living in Central America.
The 2012 Mercer Cost of Living Survey compared 214 cities in five continents, with San José placing 165 worldwide, but number one in Central America. In contrast, Managua (Nicaragua) is the most economical city in the region.
The survery backs up what residents and visitors feel, as deeper pockets are needed to live and visit the country.
Economists of national universities say there are several reasons for this, the appreciation of the Colon and the higher minimum salaries in the region.
On average Costa Rica’s minimum salaries are almost double that of other countries in the Central America, which in turn elevates the prices of goods and services.
Another factor cited by experts is that Costa Rica has a higher percentage of “formal” (or legal) workers than the rest of Central America.
Hundreds of litres of vodka, whiskey, rum and brandy are among the spirits aging in the cellar of the Legislative Assembly, as spirits purchased over the years accumulates.
The liquor stockpile includes bottles of Chivas, champagne and wine, some bottles stored there for up to 15 years. A total of 1.141 bottles at a purchase cost of over ¢7 million colones sits in storage.
According to Emilia Victor Granados, president of the Legislative Assembly, the situation is not rational nor proportionate for the times we are living, especially because there are now clear guidelines not authorize events in the Assembly which use such liquors.
The bottles have been purchased over the years. According to Karla Granados, in charge of protocol in the Legislature, the purchases have been on the decline since 2004. Granados confirms that the purchases made since are only for what is actually consumed each year.
OTTAWA – Canada’s foreign affairs department blocked the appointment of Canadian businessman Nathan Jacobson as Costa Rica’s honorary consul to Toronto in 2007 after an RCMP review, documents from the Central American country show.
The revelation raises questions about why senior officials didn’t warn the prime minister and senior cabinet ministers about Jacobson’s legal difficulties.
Jacobson, who pleaded guilty to money laundering in San Diego in 2008, was a friend of Foreign Affairs Minister Baird and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney until Postmedia News reported on his legal difficulties this past summer, when he failed to surrender to American authorities as agreed.
Spokespeople for Baird, Kenney and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have all said their bosses were not aware of Jacobson’s legal difficulties.
But senior officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the RCMP, appear to have known about Jacobson’s problems, since the department rejected his appointment in 2007 after the Mounties conducted a review, according to a letter from Costa Rica’s ambassador to Canada that was uncovered by La Nacion, a newspaper in San Jose, Costa Rica.
La Nacion reported last Monday that Jacobson was proposed as honorary consul after Jacobson donated $25,000 to former president Oscar Arias’ Foundation for Peace and Human Progress.
Arias, a Nobel Prize winner, told La Nacion that Jacobson was recommended by a friend of former Israeli president Shimon Peres. On his application for the post, Jacobson named two Canadian politicians as references: former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy and Lyle Oberg, former Alberta Transport Minister. Neither could be reached for comment Monday.
After Jacobson’s name was submitted to the federal government, Canada objected, according to a Dec. 20, 2007 letter to Costa Rican foreign affairs minister Bruno Stagno from Emilia Alvarez Navarro, then Costa Rica’s ambassador in Ottawa.
Alvarez Navarro wrote that four months passed after Costa Rica put forward Jacobson’s name without response, signifying there was a problem, so she spoke with protocol officer Angelica Tello, who said the RCMP were looking into the matter.
On Oct. 19, James Lambert, then director general of the Latin America and Caribbean bureau for Foreign Affairs, informed her that Canada would not accredit Jacobson but declined to give reasons.
Alvarez Navarro wrote that Jacobson was surprised by the news, and promised to fix the problem, but Mannon Dumas, deputy director of protocol for Canada, told her on Nov. 30 that if Costa Rica didn’t withdraw Jacobson’s name, Canada would reject it, which would set a bad precedent.
Costa Rica subsequently withdrew the application.
In May, 2008, Jacobson pleaded guilty to laundering $146 million from the illegal sale of prescription drugs through the Internet pharmacy Affpower, which operated in Costa Rica. The plea was sealed while Jacobson helped investigators with their case.
After pleading guilty, Jacobson sponsored events, and moved in social circles with Baird and Kenney and other senior Conservatives, seeking to help build ties between Canada and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This past summer, Andrew MacDougall, spokesman for Harper, said the prime minister’s relationship with Jacobson was minimal.
“I understand the prime minister may have met with Mr. Jacobson at a community event, as he meets thousands of Canadians from all walks of life each year,” he said in an email in July.
Rick Roth, a spokesman for Baird, had no comment Monday on why the foreign affairs minister was unaware of Jacobson’s legal problems, given that his department had refused Jacobson’s appointment several years earlier.
“Neither I or the minister were at the department in 2007, so I can’t speak to the issue,” said Rick Roth. “The minister met with Mr. Jacobson on a few occasions and was unaware of his legal problems.”
Jacobson was arrested by Toronto police and spent a week in a Toronto detention centre after the Americans requested his extradition. He was released on bail.
Neither of Jacobson’s Canadian lawyers, Michael Gordner and Howard Wolch, responded to email queries on Monday.
In October, 2011, Jacobson filed a statement of claim alleging that York Centre MP Mark Adler had failed to pay back $140,000 that Adler borrowed from him for his Economic Club.
Adler, who claimed the money was a gift in a statement of defence, didn’t respond to an email Monday inquiring whether he has settled the lawsuit.
Costa Rica is, in absolute numbers the largest recipient of labour migration in the region, this according to the report of the regional office of the Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), a division of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The report estimates some 300.000 migrant workers living in Costa Rica, representing 7% of the country’s total population. The largest group of workers are from Nicaragua, representing 75% of all migrant workers.
The report stresses that the majority of migrant workers are looking for better living conditions and better job and become part of the “secondary labour market” such as in agriculture, construction and domestic services, sectors that seek unskilled and cheap labour.
Nicaragua is a country that historically has produced large number of migrant workers because of low wages and labour opportunities.
Regarding the characteristics of migrant labourers arriving in Costa Rica, the report notes mostly men of working age, between 25 and 34, but increasingly there is a trend towards more women.
Migrant women workers in Costa Rica account for 30% of all people who come to the country to work, working mostly for low pay, often in precarious conditions.
In general terms, despite there has always been a mobilization of workers between the countries in the region, there are three factors that stand out today.
First, says the report, is the economic and cultural factors that countries in Central America have suffered in the last three decades. second is the ease of mobility mainly due to agreements between countries that allows crossing of borders easier. And third, the economic crisis in the U.S. and Europe has led many to seek opportunities closer to home.
Although the report noted that Costa Rica is the largest recipient of foreign workers in the region, the study forecasts a different future.
The report says that El Salvador and Panama as the countries that could see growth in migration reception. It cites the growing influx of Hondurans and Nicaraguans labourers reaching out to them and employment opportunities created in infrastructure projects, one the expansion of the canal in Panama.
The Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL) – power and light company – says it as to replace more than 200 light posts each year, all fallen from traffic accidents.
According to the utility, the number of downed posts in traffic accidents were 259 in 2010, 234 in 2011 and 257 last year. In contract, the number of posts downed due to natural causes were 43 in 2010, 21 in 2011 and only 25 last year.
In cases of traffic accidents, the utility has to recover from the driver/owner of the vehicle. Although the CNFL does not provide numbers, in many cases it has to resort to the judicial process to recover a claim for damages.
Just last month a driver took down a total of nine posts in one accident, costing the utility between ¢50 and ¢60 million colones, work that for the most part is complete. (See story.) In that case, the mother of the young driver (the registered owner of the vehicle) has come forth to claim responsibility for the damages.
Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) is processing a request for a hike in fuel prices that could see prices at the pump go up as much as ¢43 colones per litre by the end of the month.
The increase would certainly affect the economy of consumers who are already battling the “cuesta de Enero” (January financial crunch).
When approved, the price of a litre of super gasoline will increase to ¢718 from the current ¢675, regular or Plus would increase ¢35 colones from the current ¢643, and Diesel fuel will increase ¢8 colones from the current ¢632.
Aviation fuels, Karosense and compressed natural gas (used in kitchens throughtout the country) will also see an increase.
The hike in fuels will also mean a hike in electricity rates in the coming months.
If the Consejo Nacional de la Producción (CNP) – National Production Council – where a business it probably would be broke, and its CEO and managers on the unemployment line. The reasons are many, but one stands out more than the rest – the CNP has no idea of the location and use of at least 48 its properties.
This was confirmed by CNP chief executive, William Barrantes, following up on the Contraloría General de la República (Comptroller’s office) report that questions the weakness and disorder of the state institution that is repsonsible for promoting national industry.
Manager of the Area of Economic Development Services Office of the Comptroller, Manuel Corrales, said there is a drop in five processing plants and agricultural products that do not have preventive maintenance, among other problems at the NCP.
Norway tops the list of happiest countries in the world
What does happiness mean to you? At its core it consists of being healthy, having enough food to feed yourself and your family and enough to money to do what you want and buy what you want. For most people that entails a nice home, decent clothes, a car or two, cable TV, good times with family and friends.
Furthermore, happiness means being able to speak what’s on your mind without fear, to worship the God of your choosing, and to feel safe and secure in your own home.
Costa Rica did not make the latest list of the Happiest Countries in the world.
The World’s Happiest Countries:
1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Ireland
Happiness means having opportunity – to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What’s more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?
With this in mind, six years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because “happy” carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it “prosperity.”
The objective of the institute’s work (which is part of billionaire Christopher Chandler’s Dubai-based Legatum Group) was to figure out what it is that makes happy countries happy – so that the less fortunate corners of the globe might have a benchmark to work toward.
The resulting Legatum Prosperity Index is based on a study of 142 countries comprising 96% of global population. Nations are analyzed and ranked on 89 indicators in eight categories, such as education, government and economics. The inputs for the index are both objective and subjective. It’s not enough to just look at per capita GDP or unemployment rates. It also matters how hard people think it is to find jobs, or how convinced they are that hard work can bring success.
The core conceit: Prosperity is complex; achieving it relies on a confluence of factors that build on each other in a virtual circle.
So who are the happiest people in the world, as measured by Legatum? Norway takes the crown, followed by Denmark and Sweden (which leapfrogged Australia and New Zealand this year). Rounding out the Scandinavians is Finland, just a few steps behind in the seventh spot.
Luxembourg is the healthiest nation on Earth. Iceland is the safest. Switzerland has the world’s best economy and governance, according to Legatum.
What’s Norway got that the rest of the world doesn’t? For one thing, a stunning per capita GDP of $57,000 a year. Norwegians have the second-highest level of satisfaction with their standards of living: Ninety-five percent say they are satisfied with the freedom to choose the direction of their lives; an unparalleled 74% say other people can be trusted. It sure doesn’t hurt that the massive Norwegian welfare state is bankrolled by high taxes and big reserves of offshore oil and gas.
Indeed, most of the top 20 “happiest” countries according to the index are in western Europe. So what gives? What do these nations have in common that can somehow explain their prosperity?
Being an electoral democracy is virtually a given – of the top 20 most prosperous countries, only Singapore and Hong Kong aren’t democracies. Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it harder for a society to build social cohesion and trust.
What else? They are all borderline socialist states, with generous welfare benefits and lots of redistribution of wealth. Yet they don’t let that socialism cross the line into autocracy. Civil liberties are abundant (consider decriminalized drugs and prostitution in the Netherlands). There are few restrictions on the flow of capital or of labor.
So where does the United States rank? It’s at 12th place this year, slipping from 10th. According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes “a decline in citizens’ perception that working hard gets you ahead.”
Costa Rica exported about 103 million boxes of bananas during 2012, a decline of 2% in production compared to 2011.
Jorge Sauma, president of the Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA), said that this 2% decline is in response to the harsh climate they had in 2012, however, the industry predicts a more encouraging outlook for the current year.
“We hope to regain the levels of 2011, when 106 million boxes of bananas were exported, with a weight of 18.14 kilos each, i.e. just over 1.9 million metric tons,” explained the manager. According to a commercial alert from the Promotora de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (Procomer) – Costa Rica’s foreign trade office, the global banana supply would shrink in 2013, after a fall in the production from Ecuador and the Philippines, first and second product provider worldwide.
A plague that reduced by about 70,000 hectares banana plantations in Ecuador (30% of production) and the consequences of a typhoon that hit just over 26,000 hectares in the Philippines, decreased production for this year.
Sauma said that in this scenario, Costa Rica does not get any direct benefits, as it is occurring in response to current demand and the country would not be able to meet the increased demand.
“They have already established contracts and must comply with them. You can not rule out possible shortages, which could be supplemented by national fruit, but this is something you can’t guarantee,” he added.
Currently the only insurer to provide coverage for a cellular phone is the state insurer, the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS). For ¢15.000 colones per year, the policy covers a loss of up to ¢500.000 colones.
The policy holder will be paid in the event the insured cellular phone suffers damage from a natural causes, like a fire, lightning and earthquake, among other things. Also, if the cellular phone is damaged in an automobile collision.
However, when it comes to theft (robo in Spanish), herein lies the dilemma.
According to the Dirección de Operaciones (Directorate of Operations) at the INS theft is defined as “crime against property include the illegitimate seizure of chattels of others, through the use of force on objects or violence or intimidation of person”.
By this definition, the loss of a cellular phone by larceny (hurto in Spanish) or carelessness of the owner is not covered. Thus unless there is violence or force, like breaking into a home or vehicle, being threatened by a weapon or taken in assault, there is no coverage.
The INS says, “it is a contractual obligation of the holder to protect and safeguard it (the property), so there must be evidence that the property was stolen and not by neglect or omission of the customer.”
Insuring an expensive cellular phone – smartphones like a Samsung SIII or iPhone5 – for the first year could be a sound decision for the first year of ownership. Past the first year may not be so, as the cellular phone is depreciated 20% each year after the first. The INS policy also has 25% deductible.
Neither of the private insurers, ASSA and MAPFRE, do not have a policy for cellular telephones.
The Policia de Tránsito (traffic police) catch on average six drunk drivers, which seem not to appear scared of spending time in prison for up to the three years.
According to police reports, between November 1 2012 and December 31, 2012 a total of 385 drivers were caught with over the legal limit. The period corresponds to the first two months of the new traffic law that is more severe and reduced the amount of alcohol to drive without facing criminal reckless conduct, which is punishable from one to three years in prison.
A breakdown of the statistics indicates that 35% of the drivers had less than three years driving experience (new drivers or novatos in Spanish, as defined by the new law) or professionals (defined as drivers driving vehicles transporting cargo or persons).
These drivers were found with more than 0.5 grams of litre per blood, the legal limit for these two groups.
The remaining drivers were those with more than three years experience and had more than the 0.75 blood alcohol limit.
The situation is of great concern for transport authorities, calling it a “latent risk”, which was reinforced in the first couple of weeks of this new year, with more than a dozen traffic accidents death where drunk driving was involved.
German Marín, director of the Traffic Police, says that Costa Ricans tend to believe that even though they have had too much to drink, they will never get caught and will ever have an accident.
Although the law calls for a prison sentence, judicial officials confirm that depending on the situation, a drunk driver – if the first time and there are no serious injuries or death involved – could see community service and/or a fine instead of a jail cell.
I originally started this series a couple of months ago but got sidetracked and wrote a series of blogs about different subjects.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana used to be the weekend retreat and summer destination for well-to-do Costa Ricans. There is a pleasant mixture of Many foreigners and Costa Ricans living in this town of 30,000 inhabitants and growing.
Santa Ana has experienced growth because of the new Calera Highway that begins at La Sabana Park and passes through Ciudad Colón to Central Pacific beaches and on to the port of Caldera. You can also get to Santa Ana by taking the old scenic road through the hills from Escazú. Despite this recent development parts of Santa Ana are still slightly more rural than Escazú. The town is is a good spot for retirees to reside because of its warm climate all year long and it is only a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the bright lights and entertainment of Escazú and all of its amenities.
Although Santa Ana is more rural and less developed than Escazú it still offers good supermarkets and some basic shopping. So, now you don’t have to go Escazú or San José for your essential products. Santa Ana also has a couple of restaurants that will rival those of Escazú. There are new high-end strip malls in the Lindora area just north of the new highway which feature restaurants, sports bars, spas, supermarkets and fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Wendy’s and McDonald’s.
Recently, there has been a building boom in the area. Every day some parts of Santa Ana more closely resembles the suburban sprawl found outside U.S. cities. There is more emphasis on gated communities rather than towers in the Santa area. Luxury homes in secure gated communities are a popular choice for middle-to-high-income budgets. The Pozos, Lindora and Río Oro neighborhoods seem to be the areas of greatest growth and choice. Upscale four-bedroom homes in a gated community start at around $250,000. Costa Rican-style homes in the older areas are still reasonably priced.
Ciudad Colón
Ciudad Colón or Villa Colón as it is sometimes called by old timers, is the farthest western suburb of San José,— about six miles beyond Santa Ana. There is a small group of expats who live there. The new highway which passes by Ciudad Colón has cut driving time driving time to the beach from Ciudad Colón in half. Ciudad Colón is sort of a misnomer in that it is not a city and has a small-town feel, with small Costa Rican stores. Every year this quaint town hosts a horse parade, or tope, where everyone gathers along the streets to watch the horses prance through town with their owners dressed in their best riding gear.
As Escazú and Santa Ana become less affordable and crowded, Ciudad Colón will grow. Property values have increased as more and more homes are being built on what used to be cattle pasture and coffee fields.
Puriscal
Santiago de Puriscal is a mountain town is about 17 miles to the west of west of Ciudad Colón. The town is often called called Puriscal or just Puri by the locals. Actually the word Puriscal comes from the word purisco which is the flowering stage of a bean plant. This picturesque area is located within easy reach of the most modern conveniences and services of Santa Ana, Escazú and San José. Many who live in Puriscal commute daily to San José since bus service is good.
The town’s cool mountain climate with its clean air, magnificent views are its main appeal. In recent years the town has become increasingly popular with foreign retirees because of its climate, rural laid-back setting , affordable land and housing. There are quite a few properties that offer breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Nicoya and the Central Valley. There is even a back road from Puriscal which comes out just north of Quepos. It is mostly unpaved, so be prepared for a rough trip. Another scenic country road which is paved goes from Puriscal to Orotina.
There are some new homes and lots for sale in the area but the only real development is Orchid Point Estates in San Antonio de Puriscal. It offers incredible views of the Central Valley and prices of the home sites are very attractive. Please see: www.orchid-point-estates.com
The Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos (Costa Rican Association of Plastic Surgeons) confirms there are only 52 plastic surgeons duly recognized in the country and is asking the public to be informed before being wheeled into the operating room.
Every day across the country hundreds submit themselves to all kinds of surgeries, among the most common are breast augmentation (implants).
Along with the Asociación, doctors are asking the public to be fully informed about the surgery and the doctor who will be procedure, to ensure that the practitioner is properly identified and registered.
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic; plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns.
Would you go to an obstetrician to have a breast augmentation? How about a general surgeon for a facelift? Should an ear, nose, and throat doctor perform your tummy tuck? If you think these questions are ridiculous, think again. Every day in Costa Rica, non-plastic surgeons are performing these procedures.
The lack of regulation has allowed an increasing number of doctors of all types — including gynecologists, general surgeons and even emergency medicine physicians — to perform tummy tucks, liposuction, facelifts and breast enhancement.
These procedures are almost never performed in real hospitals. Hospitals typically vet their surgeons and allow them to practice only within their field of training and expertise. Doctors get around this by performing cosmetic procedures in their own in-office operating rooms or at ambulatory surgery centers, where the credentialing requirements may not be as strict.
So why do so many doctors reject their chosen specialty and remake themselves as plastic surgeons?
As much as we would like to say, “Come on down and get new breasts and while here, a dental implant or two, then have a nice vacation in Costa Rica for half the price of the U.S. or Europe,” ethically, we can’t or should not.
It finally took a running front page story of the former model Cristina Garcia who is living with infection, 24 hour pain and inability to even walk resulting from a butt augmentation to convince the public, there is no real legal and no academic standard in Costa Rica to become a surgeon or dental specialist. The medical degree obtained by physicians, all physicians, clearly states “Medicine and Surgery”.
In truth, one can graduate as a general medical physician and absent of any training whatsoever except observation, become a surgeon. Or a dentist might very well only know general dentistry, like floss ever day, and then make whatever specialty claims best represents his/her economic wants.
With the recent promotion of Costa Rica as the newest Mecca of medical tourism, suddenly and legally, some general practitioners have become cosmetic surgeons and the local dentists who have a humongous amount of competition will give every tourist, as well as local, that John Travolta smile he/she has always wanted.
Cristina García on national television: “Dr. Andrew totally destroyed my life “
The problem is, as in the case of Ms. Garcia, she has spent reportedly upwards of US$100,000 more in medical expenses to correct what went wrong. She went to Mexico and was forced to pay her own tab in that country after work by a doctor in Paradise. As a matter of interest, Ms. Garcia was a medical tourist and is not from Costa Rica.
According to the Spanish language newspaper, La Nación in 2012 there were 318 cases of malpractice (malpraxis in Spanish) complaints against Costa Rican physicians.
There are many tour organizations as well as specialists like ProMed who say that its mission is to “…assure the quality of the Health Industry in Costa Rica,” which is followed by “…actively promote Medical Tourism.” Sort of a conflict of missions?
Since general practice physicians might decide to become cosmetic surgeons who have limited or no exposure to the practice, and dentists can pretty much do whatever makes them a living, we welcome you to Costa Rica, but as a lot of blogs and reviews say, “It is a crap shoot”.
One less enthusiastic patient review says, “Costa Rica is the worst place for medical tourism. I was butchered there myself and have since spoke to many other people who were butchered over there. If you’re going to get any medical or dentistry abroad please pick another country. Stay away from Costa Rica and Mexico. To see my personal nightmare go to Youtube and click on my channel kimberly4064. It covers your lack of legal rights when butchered in this country as well. God Bless, Kimberly “
On the other hand, there are solid surgeons and excellent medical care is available in Costa Rica. But this is a “buyer be aware” country with little if any legal recourse.
I am sure Ms. Garcia would certainly agree that you need to do your homework.
And, please remember that: (a) a website might be attractive and alluring, but not reality, and (b) only three hospitals are approved by the internationally recognized accreditation commission, Joint Commission International, JCI. While not eliminated the chance of a bad procedure, the medical tourist at least has a pretty good chance of success.
I fear that much like real estate in 2006 and teak forest investments in the past, Costa Rica, on general terms will find away to kill the golden goose with greed.
If you are considering cosmetic or plastic surgery, do not overlook the importance of choosing the right physician. Consider these tips when researching your potential plastic surgeon:
1. Make sure the surgeon is certified
All plastic surgeons are not alike. Plastic surgeons that are certified by the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticosare uniquely qualified and specially trained. They have been proven to provide the best patient care and have the lowest rates of complications.
Do not assume that all doctors who claim to be “certified” have the same training. Be sure that your doctor is certified by the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos.
2. Check the surgeon’s record
Contact the Asociación Costarricense de Cirujanos Plásticos and ask for a report. Make sure that your surgeon is licensed to practice medicine. Link to list of doctors certified by the ACCPRE.
3. Ask if the surgeon has hospital privileges
This is important because hospitals do background checks. If they don’t have hospital privileges, that is a red flag. Hospitals have balances and checks. Oftentimes when you’re doing surgery in an outpatient setting, there’s no place to take a patient.
4. Come armed with questions for your doctor
How many times has the physician performed the procedure?
How long has the physician performed the procedure?
What other procedures does he/she perform?
Who will assist in the procedure? Their qualifications and training?
Are all involved licensed in good standing?
What is involved in the procedure? How is it performed?
Can I see multiple before and after photos of patients on whom you have performed this procedure?
Can you provide me with three to five reference patients on whom you’ve performed this procedure?
What are the exact breakdown of fees for this procedure?
Can I get advance copies of all forms I have to complete and sign prior to procedure?
Are you insured for malpractice?
Will the physician use sedation? If yes, what level of sedation will the physician use?
Who will administer and monitor the sedation?
How long will the procedure last?
How long will the sedation effects last?
How long will it take to recover in the facility before discharge?
Where will the surgery take place?
What are the emergency plans?
To which hospital would you be taken?
Will post-operative medicine be necessary?
Will there be noticeable scarring?
What realistic result can I expect?
Will the physician perform the procedure from the first cut to the last stitch?
What are the risks associated with this procedure?
What are the warning signs or concerns to watch for?
If you are going out and about this weekend make sure you have a jacket or even a coat and something to hold to, as the winds are expected to reach gusts of 80 km/h (50 mph).
The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – national weather service – is warning of the strong winds that can pull down power lines and snap tree branches.
With the winds also comes cold that can become chilly during cloudy periods and at night.
The weatherman also advises that there could be some drizzle in some areas, especially in the upper elevations of the Central Valley and recommends taking this into account when driving.
Costa Rica has been rock and rolling, siemic wise, with the latest registering at 8:26pm Friday night.
The OVSICORI confirms a 4.5 quake rocked the country in the area of Espadilla Sur de Aguirre de Puntarenas.
The quake was reported felt in many areas including Escazú, Santa Ana and Cartago. Reports to the OVSICORI also came from Desamparadoes, Coronado and Puriscal.
A ruling by the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) says that the offender is the one responsible to pay a traffic fine and not the owner of the vehicle.
In the past, a driver could skip out on not paying a traffic ticket, leaving the owner of the vehicle holding the bag, so to speak.
Employees using the company vehicle, friends borrowing cars, renters of rental vehicles, etc, were some of the drivers who could leave the responsibility of paying the traffic ticket to someone else.
Before the Court decision, the unpaid ticket would be “registered” against the vehicle, which meant that come time to paying the Marchamo (annual vehicle circulation permit) and/or selling the vehicle, the outstanding ticket, plus fines and penalties, would have to be paid.
Under the old law, lending a car to a friend could be a costly if the friend turned to be less than a true friend.
Now, the driver is the sole responsible for paying the traffic ticket.
Moms and babies, including strollers and baby bottles, paraded on Friday through downtown San José in support of an initiative to extend maternity leave to six months from the current three.
The walk began at the north side of the Catedral Metropolitana to the Legislative Assembly building several blocks away. Joining mothers with their babies wer also pregnant women, grandparents and some parents.
The unusual march was to call attention to the iniative. Currently, mothers to be have one month paid leave before the child is born and then three months after childbirth.
The cost of the paid leave is shared between the employer and the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) or Caja – social security.
The initiative to extend the maternity leave is based on a recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and national health organizations, saying that it is important that the mother spend more time with the newborn.
Legislator José María Villalta, of the Frente Amplio party, and promoter of the bill walked with the mothers carrying his son. Villalta said that the bill should be ready to presented to the Legislature in a couple of weeks.
“We have to find a creative funding source so as not to place the total burden on the Caja and employers.
The more than 6.000 Costa Ricans that live abroad adn who are registered to vote in the upcoming presidential elections can participate in internal conventions of the major parties, the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), according to the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – elections tribual.
Diego Brenes, spokesperson for the TSE, emphasized that those who wish to participate in the processes must be affiliated with the party.
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Miley and Liam have hit Costa Rica for a romantic, bikini-clad vacation getaway! Aren’t they so romantic?
While hanging out with a bunch of friends and family in Costa Rica, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth got into their swimsuits for some fun and frolicking in the rivers of Costa Rica. How exciting!
The sexy duo ventured to Costa Rica to celebrate Liam’s birthday, which was on Jan. 13, and it looks like they had tons of fun. The trip started as Miley and Liam left LAX on Jan. 11, with Liam’s eldest brother Luke and his family. The two showed off their sexy bodies as Miley was in a sexy two-piece bikini, and Liam rocked swim shorts. Talk about a great, relaxing adventure!
This trip must be just what the doctor ordered after the tragic incidents with Miley’s dog Lila have nearly consumed her. After, she even tweeted, “I haven’t been the same since you left and I don’t know if I ever will be…” which seems to have addressed the loss of her beloved dog. So it is great to see that she is taking time away to have fun and be away from the tragedy.
The trip also must be a stress reliever now that she has been in the studio recording new music, especially since it’s been a long time coming! Back in June, HollywoodLife.com learned EXCLUSIVELY, “Miley’s a sweet girl with a work ethic like none other. She’s working on an album, but people don’t really know how long that takes. It takes time and preparation and a lot of creative process.”
So hopefully this trip will energize her to have an amazing 2013! A little R&R always seems to be the trick!
(CNN) — Not so long ago, Costa Rica was a backpacker’s game.
Other than a few business-class hotels in the capital of San José and a handful of isolated luxury properties scattered about the scenic hinterlands, travelers could expect little in the way of genuine comfort while exploring one of the most beautiful and eco-conscious countries on the planet.
Over the past decade, however, Costa Rica’s fastest-growing crop has been a collection of opulent hotels and resort communities, complemented by marinas, golf courses, gourmet restaurants, hot springs and other world-class facilities.
The tag attached to most deluxe properties is usually something like “ecolodge” or “ecoresort,” which may conjure visions of dreadlocks, granola and recycled hemp-fiber sheets.
Don’t be fooled.
Yes, most of the country’s destinations are green; Costa Rica’s Sustainable Tourism Program rewards environmentally friendly properties with one to five “leaves” and copious free publicity.
But Costa Rica’s new upscale properties are as elegant and comfortable as any in Latin America.
Here are the best regions and stays for putting a little service and Chardonnay into your sand and scenery.
Gulf of Papagayo
Costa Rica’s posh spot is Papagayo, a sparkling strand of beaches in the northwestern Guanacaste Province.
Once better known for sabaneros (cowboys) and fine horses, Papagayo Peninsula has been developed into Central America’s premier luxury destination.
It even has its own international airport (LIR) just minutes away in the regional capital of Liberia.
Lavish rental properties, excellent restaurants and bellowing howler monkeys might convince you to stay put for your entire vacation. But it’s worth leaving the luxury (and wildlife) to see some of the region’s outstanding national parks and festive beach communities.
Accommodations are led by the exquisite Four Seasons Papagayo, the top pick in a scenic region that boasts Costa Rica’s best resorts, golf courses, spas and white-sand beaches.
5 reasons to visit Easter Island
Manuel Antonio
Rolling jungle hills surround tiny Manuel Antonio National Park, considered Costa Rica’s most beautiful, as well as its original upscale destination.
It’s also one of the most wildlife-rich regions in the world, which means you’re certain to spot several species of monkeys, sloths and tropical birds, among other animals.
Excellent restaurants, sparkling nightlife, art galleries and an array of adventure tour operators make it a honeymooner’s choice.
When traveling in high season (December through February), make reservations well in advance, and be prepared for crowds.
Among numerous upscale hotel choices, the prestigious Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort has received the Costa Rica Tourist Ministry’s Five Sustainability Leaf Award along with its top Five Star Award for luxury and comfort. Within walking distance of the national park, the gorgeously landscaped property is an attraction in its own right.
Arenal
Until 2011, Arenal Volcano was Costa Rica’s most active volcano.
Alas, for area entrepreneurs, the lava flows that graced so many tourism brochures have mellowed to mere puffs of smoke.
On the upside, you can now get excellent deals on the region’s dozen or so five-star properties, the best of which are known for their spectacular hot springs.
The gold standard is Tabacón Grand Spa and Thermal Resort, with world-class rooms and restaurants, as well as a river of steaming natural water, which feeds extravagant gardens and spas.
A close runner-up is the Springs. It features a dozen cascading pools and whimsically decorated rooms.
No matter where you stay, virtually all area hotels will arrange day trips to the many hot springs pouring from Arenal’s slopes, a must while you’re in Costa Rica.
anta Teresa
On the tip of Nicoya Peninsula, the wide white-sand beaches of Santa Teresa have become a playground for celebrities, jet-setters and vanguard surfers.
You’ll need to take a ferry or small plane to the isolated spot (often voted Central America’s most beautiful beach), where an array of luxury boutique hotels and condo rentals await.
The fabulous oceanfront Florblanca and Latitude 10 are full-service resorts that won’t disappoint.
Tamarindo
Costa Rica’s most famous beach town is growing up, its scruffy surf shacks and beach bars now complemented with excellent restaurants and attractive accommodations.
Despite complaints that paving the roads and erecting high rises have compromised Tamarindo’s authentic local flavor, the surfing is still awesome, and the neighboring beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park, known for nesting sea turtles, have remained pristine.
Tamarindo’s top-end options are well-established, such as the sprawling Paradisus and plush rental properties at Reserva Conchal.
But there are other interesting options, including the romantic Los Altos de Eros, which gets high marks for its attentive staff, and the golf resort at nearby Hacienda Pinilla resort, which sits astride three miles of superb shoreline.
The cloud forests
An escape from lowland heat and humidity, Costa Rica’s mountains and volcanoes are topped with misty cloud forests, where temperatures hover between 12 and 20 C (53 to 68 F) year-round and visitors will find a number of outstanding mountain lodges.
Some travelers may want to skip Monteverde, Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest (aka “crowd forest”).
Lodges such as Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and El Silencio Lodge and Spa offer access to quieter, private wildlife reserves.
Others such as Finca Rosa Blanca and Xandari Alajuela are located on coffee plantations and have beautiful trails good for wildlife viewing.
The imaginative Peace Lodge, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a unique spot with lots of wildlife to watch from gorgeous jungle positions.
Los Sueños
An hour from San José and the country’s international airport, Los Sueños Resort and Marina is Costa Rica’s best value for luxury digs.
Anchored by the graceful Los Sueños Marriott, surrounded by scores of extravagant rental properties, an adorable marina area and one of the country’s best golf courses, Los Sueños offers almost everything you’d want from a tropical vacation, albeit without the hassle of actually seeing Costa Rica.
By “almost everything,” it’s worth mentioning that there’s no real beach, hence the spectacular collection of swimming pools.
Rowdy and noisy sport activities are welcomed at the Estadio Nacional (national stadium) located in La Sabana, but not concerts.
The Ministerio de Salud (Health Ministry) said it was forced to intervene to regulate organized activities at the State stadium following an action of unconstitutionality filed by area residents.
The prohibition is for ALL CONCERTS past 8pm and activities that surpass 45 decibels, according to the guidelines presented on Thursday.
As to sport activities, there is no ban – not yet – but Salud will be monitoring sound levels during the year before making any determination. But night concerts are definitely out.
Concert promoters say they are not the only ones affected by the prohibition, but millions of dollars of revenue per year for the stadium.
Edgar Barrantes, manager of the Estadio Nacional, was quiet yesterday. He did not provide a reaction, nor would say what action will be taken to mitigate the noise level at the stadium.
The elimination of the boards of directors of independent institutions and the closure of Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi), de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) y de Transporte Público (CTP) – National Highway Council, Road Safety and Public Transit – are part of the administrative restructuring that the group of “notables” recommended in order to improve governance of Costa Rica.
Communication minister, Francisco Chacon, said that a MOPT intervention is an issue that the Presidency has been working on and the reason it has not rejected the recommendation.
Although there was no consensus, the recommendation to remove the boards was included in the report.
For her part, presidenta Laura Chinchilla, promised a deadline of February 25 for her government to present bills based on the recommendations by the Notables panel.
Following the presentation at Casa Presidencial on Thursday, the Presidenta said that the plan is to include reforms that will “expedite legislative, as well as judicial and administrative procedures”.
Chinchilla added that it should also strenghten “accountability of public officials” as part of the seven priorities of her last year of government.
The President ruled out increasing the number of legislators, another recommendation by the Notables.
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla pays attention to the Notables report at Casa Presidencial Thursday.
Minister Chacón assured that the government will be hiring lawyers to work on the proposals and will be discussing the “document” at the next cabinet meeting, on Tuesday. The minister also did not rule out a referendum to hasten the execution of the proposals.
“I am not responsible for the accident, I request my freedom. It happened because I dodged a heifer or bull and invaded the opposite lane to avoid colliding head-on. That is when I felt the blow”, was the statement by driver of the tractor trailer that took the lives of six people Saturday night in La Cruz, Guanacaste.
Photo for illustrative purposes.
The 30 year old driver involved in the fatal collision alleged to have left a local bar moments earlier and found to have a 1.7 blood alcohol content, was ordered in preventive detention for six months by the Juzgado Penal de Liberia while investigators piece together the evidence.
The driver of the tractor trailer with a load of stone, identified by his last name Chaves, a resident of Filadelfia, south of Liberia, is now seeking his freedom and blaming a cow or bull to have crossed his path, which forced him to cross the median and hitting the small vehicle. The truck jack knifed and trailer overturning, crushing the vehicle and its six passengers, three couples returning home from celebrating the birthday of one of them.
The driver, who did not suffer any injuries, is the only eye witness to the accident that occurred in an isolated area and in the dark of night.
In the statement, Chaves said, “I had dinner and drank two beers around 6pm. I set the alarm for 11pm to continue to my destination. After the accident I was in shock and there was a bottle of whiskey in the truck cab which was given to me as a gift two or three days earlier; thus after the accident, I took a few swigs of the whiskey”.
Defence lawyer, Ricardo Jiménez, explained that that was the reason his client had the high blood alcohol reading when tested by the Policia de Tránsito.
The lawyer confirmed that a request has been made to release his client from preventive detention. The Fiscalía de Liberia (prosecutor’s office) confirmed the arguments filed by the accused.
“However, in an inspection of the vehicle by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (Judicial investigators), they did not find any bottle of liquor on the site or in the truck”, said a statement by the Fiscalia.
