This is an idea the COSEVI – the road safety council – is working on: since they cannot fine speeding drivers due to legal and technical problems with notification, the idea is to outfit the traffic cameras with a laser that will stop the speeding vehicle and driver in its tracks.
The COSEVI say they are still working out the bugs in the laser. But…
The vehicular inspection service, Riteve and the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS), will continue their campaign to collect discarded tires this week, in a campaign against Dengue.
Riteve will accept used tires at its stations in Alajuela, Santo Domingo de Hereida and Lagunilla from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
The campaign aims to prevent the spread of Dengue, as discarded tires are a favourite breeding place for mosquitos.
All the tires collected will be recycled and used as fuel by the Holcim cement plant in Cartago.
All types of tires not exceeding 22 inches in diameter will be accepted.
Workers at the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) – state refinery – were on strike yesterday, shutting down all operations, including the filling of tanker trucks for delivery to gasoline stations.
However, the effect was not felt by the public, no gasoline stations reported being out of fuel and drivers making lines at the pumps.
According to the head of the worker’s union, Gilbert Brown, the strike was to call the attention of management and the government on the recent Comptroller’s office criticism with respect to overtime work hours and pay.
Brown said the intention of the strike was to affect the public and as such it did not.
For their part, in anticipation of the strike Thursday by workers of the Sindicato de Trabajadores Petroleros Químicos y Afines (Sitrapequia), Recope extended hours for filling tankers to ensure gas stations would have fuel for Thursday.
Recope has 1.650 employees of which some 90% belong to the Sitrapequia union that has represented workers for the past 46 years.
The flow of gasoline at Recope depots was back to normal this morning. Reports that truckers lined up the Recope plants in the early hours anticipation of the expected lifting of the strike action.
If you’re heading out to Expomóvil today, better make out plans, the car show HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
The municipalidad de Belén this morning (Friday) shut down the event known as Expomóvil, that kicked off on Thursday, for lack of building permits.
According Horacio Alvarado, mayor of Belén, the organizers were making infrasctructure improvements and what happened is that they did not have building permits for the improvements.
“We cancelled the ‘patente’ (event permit) for failure to have building permits”, said Alvarado.
So, what happens to the annual event that brings together dozens of car dealers and financial institutions, catering to what had been an expected crowd of thousands?
Alvarado explained that organizers can re-apply for permits and hold the event in a month or two.
The mayor told the press that it was minutes before 6:00 pm Thursday when the Tribunal Contencioso (Courts) gave the municipality the right to shut down the event.
“At this time we are coordinating with the local police for the closing process”, Alavardo told La Nacion this morning.
A bill introduced by José María Villalta of the Frente Amplio party seeks that all buses and trucks have their exhaust going out the top of the vehicle, to eliminate the smoke released directly to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
If you live or have visited San José, without a question you have been “smoked” by a bus or truck, as the soot is in your face and nostrils with each acceleration.
Well, Villalta is saying “enough of that” and is seeking the support of his fellow lawmakers to regulate exhaust systems on all public and private buses and trucks.
According to Villalta, the benefit is for people not have to inhale the gases discarded by such vehicles. The legislators realizes the move will not reduce pollution, but will benefit the quality of life of people.
The bill, presented on February 7, states “that the vehicles shall have a vertical exhaust emission at the highest point of the vehicle, either back or front”.
The bill would only apply to diesel powered vehicles.
Artists like Maná and Alejandro Sanz are two major artists coming to Costa Rica in the coming weeks. But neither will see the inside of the Estadio Nacional (National Stadium), the structure that has become the “proud white elephant” sitting at the northwest corner of the La Sabana park.
Last month, the Ministerio de Salud by way of a health order limited presentations at the stadium, in effect shutting off the lights at the stadium for night concerts, for sound levels cannot exceed 45 decibels after 8:00 pm.
The ban was imposed after the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) ruled in favour of an appeal by a neighbour complaining of the noise and requesting the Ministry of Health to control sound levels during events.
The appeal was filed with the Lady Gaga concert on November 3, 2012. The order by Court was handed down in mid January.
What this meant was that promoters have had to look elsewhere.
Edgar Barrantes, general manager at the stadium, said that stadium faces to lose some US$750.000 in revenue this year. According to Barrantes, it is revenue needed to maintain the stadium, as the cost of maintenance and operations is about US$120.000 per month.
“It is not enought with just soccer games”, explains Barrantes.
The ban also affects Costa Ricans from attending class events. Moreover, promoters who were shy at first to stage their presentations at the stadium, began to warm up to the idea and in the past year were using the stadium in La Sabana for major concerts.
But, now it is back to the likes of the Ricardo Saprissa and Alejandro Mora stadiums, stadiums that are great for soccer games, but less than ideal for concerts.
In the past, the Saprissa and Mora was all that was available for major concerts. Promoters had to work around the limitations, bands had to work with that they had and the fans, well “this is Costa Rica”.
The development of the national stadium changed all that.
Guillermo Flores Galindo, the regional director for the Ministry of Health, defended the Health ban in saying that they have to place the well being of the public first and what the stadium managers have to do is mitigate the situation.
However, Flores is realistic. He told La Nacion in a recent interview that the measures presented so far by stadium officials “do not meet expectations” and that in no way does he see the stadium solving the situation.
One of the alternatives the stadium is looking at is adding a clause to the promoter contract, placing the burden of noise level and controls on them. Another alternative is to not allow concerts that go past 10:00 pm and/or change the location of the stage to direct the sound away from the residential homes (to the west and north) and onto the direction of the soccer fields (to the east).
Barrantes added that he also intends to discuss the situation with the complaining neighbours and come to some sort of agreement.
For the first half of this year there had been five major concerts planned to take place in the stadium. To date, all have moved to other locations.
The only events occurring at the stadium are day events like soccer games that are far and few in between, religious activities and the ucomping inauguration event of the 2013 Central American games, the largest multi-sport event organized in Costa Rica, opening in San José on March 3.
The Estadio Nacional was built by the government of China and donated to the people of Costa Rica. The stadium was built on the same spot where the old national stadium had stood for decades and a few blocks away from the home of the man responsible for brokering the deal, Oscar Arias Sanchez and the Chinese embassy across the street from don Oscar.
The area around the stadium has also changed in the two years the stadium has been standing: across the street is now a McDonalds, many old homes and businesses have been torn down and the land cleared for parking, which can go as much as ¢10.000 colones (US$20) for an event.
The area around the stadium has also seen the mushroom of high rise condos. Within two blocks in the north, west and south of the stadium (the east is the soccer fields of the La Sabana park), there are at least six high rise condos built or near completion.
During the Sistema de Integración Centroamericana (SICA) – Central American Integration System – meetings in San José, Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, opened the discussion to eventual “free migration” in the region.
According to the Mexican president, the possibility of an open borders policy should be included in the agenda of regional integration.
“Through discussion we need to find the best from the free trade agreements and cooperation, that can lead to eventual free migration, and also ensure or establish mechanisms to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants”, said Peña.
Coinciding with Peña is Guatemala’s president, Otto Perez Molina, who feels that the seach for economic cooperation and open borders goes in hand with higher integration.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo, was a little wary of the idea.
Castillo said that Costa Rica is not ready for an elimination of visa with the Central American countries, as it is ready to do with Colombia and Peru, the latter which will allow it to enter the Alianza del Pacífico (Pacific Alliance), that includes Mexico and Chile.
The SICA discussions took place Wednesday at the Real Intercontinental hotel in Escazú (San José) and attended, in addition to Mexico and Costa Rica, the presidents of Honduras and Panama, Porfirio Lobo and Ricardo Martinelli, respectively.
Absent from the meeting was Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, El Salvador’s, Muricio Funes, as well as the presidents of the Dominican Republic and Belize. All sent representatives.
Among the achievements of the talks was for the chancellors to set a date (not later than March) to negotiate a trade agreement complimentary that the region already has with Mexico and seek international assistance to combat coffee rust (la Roya, a fungus that has affected 65% of the coffee plantations of the region).
Also, the meeting, allow Costa Rica and Panama to obtain a donation of US$5 million dollars for feasibility studies for a new bridge over the Sixaola river, between Costa Rica and Panama.
Ever wondered what San José looks like from above? Wonder no more.
The video by Costa Rican filmaker Hernán Jiménez and musix by the ministro de Cultura Manuel Obregón, using slowmotion gives us glimpse of San José and the Central Valley like never seen before.
[youtube id=”umi5y-eGJ-E” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Expomovil 2013 kicks off today and to run until March 3, at the Campo Ferial Pedegral in Belén. For two weeks, visitors to the show can kick a few tires, chat up salesmen and driver away with a new car.
To help car buyers, banks will again be part of the Expomovil, with financing plans to fit most budgets and with a quick turn around, with loan decisions in 24 hours or less, with loan terms of up to 84 months.
A total of 35 car dealers will be showing off their best and latest, like Purdy motors promise to “thrill” visitors with the new Lexus.
Cost to get in ¢2.000 colones.
The Pedgral is on the Belén – Cariari (westbound) road to your right and down the hill. There is lots of parking.
Workers at the state refinery, the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE), will be on strike today in response to a call by their union, in protest of Constitutional Court filing by the Contraloría General de la República (Comptrollers General’s office) against tripe pay incentive.
The Sindicato de Trabajadores Petroleros químico y afines (Sitrapequia) union says the action is against the principles of equality, legality and financial management.
Jorge Rojas, RECOPE’s general manager, assured the public that today’s strike will not disrupt fueling services, as the state entity has a prepared strategy to deal with such events.
For example, retailers and transporters were told that the fuel depots would be open two extra hours on Wednesday, that is filling tankers up to 10:00 pm instead of the usal 8:00 pm closing time, explained Rojas.
Rojas added that fuel supply at the Juan Santamaria international airport in San José and the ports of Limón will not be interrupted.
The RECOPE manager said that the refinery defends the incentive pay questions by the Contraloría and has made it known to the Constitutional Court.
Gilbert Brown, head of the RECOPE workers union, said, “the strike will serve to send a message to the country”.
It is unlikely that gasoline stations will run out of fuel today. However, fuel supply could be interrupted if the strike continues past today.
Costa Rica’s 2013 Fulu FLC5 review by QCostarica.com – China keeps getting better at making cars. One reason: It’s getting better at cutting corners. And that corner cutting allows Costa Ricans to be able to buy a brand spanking new car for under US$7.990 dollars. Introducing the Fulu.
With a 149.4cc, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid cooling engine, the Fulu FLC5 is being now for sale in Costa Rica.
The dealer specs says the vehicle with an engine only a few cc’s bigger than a scooter, can reach a maximum speed of 50 km/h, offers a fuel consumption of 2.8L/100km and a 5 gear manual transmission.
To fill the fuel tank it only costs ¢5.600 colones (US$11) at today’s prices for 8 litres of regular gasoline.
All the above and more is available for the price of US$6.990 dollars (¢3.5 million colones at today’s exchange rate)
The full page ad in Wednesday’s La Nacion shows two models, the FLC5 ad the FLC3, but not differentiate the extras between the models, like a CD Radio, sunroof, disc brakes on all four wheels, sunrood and automatic locks. It comes a choice of three colours: white, red, blue and gray.
The vehicle is a great “city” car and would do well in the small towns of Guanacaste and the plains of northern Alajuela.
But, around San José? It would be hard pressed to climb the Escazú mountains, or get around Barrio Mexico or up to Coronado.
I have difficulty climbing the Santa Ana hill to Guachipelin in my old Land Cruiser with an engine more than 10 times that of the FLC5. I make this reference for the Fulu dealers is in Santa Ana.
Without a question the vehicle is the lowest priced new vehicle and the most economical in Costa Rica. The dealer offers a 1 year or 100.000 kilometres warranty and financing of up t 72 months through Cathay Pacific bank at an 7.5% interest (fixed for the first two years).
One caveat, the model and specs on th Fulucostarica.com website indicates a 2012 model, the ad in the paper – identical as far as I can see – says it is a 2013!
This photo was posted on Facebook, showing the transalation in Tico style of what appears to be a national park that is visited by “English” speaking tourists.
Quick, get out the translator app on your phone, what is a “Baranda”?
Just in case your were wondering:
English Translation of BARANDA: rail, railing
What is really going on inside Costa Rica’s Legislature?
The Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (INAMU) – Costa Rica’s Natioal Women’s Institute – is alarmed by the report of 400 pregnancies of girls under the age of 15 in 2011.
According to the most recent records by UNICEF, one in five pregnancies – 20% of all births – in Costa Rica in 2011, were of a teenager.
The women’s institute says the figures are alarming, evidence of quite a permissive society on the subject and considers the pregnancy of a teen under the age of 15 as rape.
According to most recent reports by the INAMU, in Costa Rica for every 1.000 teenage (ages from 12 to 19) girls, 112 were reported some type of relationship with a man at least at least five years older than she.
Here is a not so comforting fact, 3 out of 4 trucks carrying flammable materials failed the Riteve inspection of the first try.
According to the vehicle inspection service, the Revisión Técnica Vehicular (Riteve), in the second half of 2012, 74% of all trucks carrying flammable products had to be re-inspected.
Fernando Mayorga, Riteve general manager, the main cause of the failure was related to faulty brakes.
Accordig to Mayorga, the Riteve does not have data of other periods to compare with due to changes in the regulations for inspection.
A major change that went into effect with the new Ley de Tránsito (traffic law) in October, is that vehicles with a registered gross weight of 3.5 tons must now be submitted for inspection twice a year, rather than once a year as per the previous law.
Vehicle inspection tests have become tougher, as many of the “leve” (light) faults that allowed the vehicle to pass became “grave” (serious).The vehicle inspection results offer three levels of results: Leve, Grave and “Peligro” (Danger).
A vehicle can have any number of “leve” and still pass the test, but just one “grave” and the test is failed. The difference between Grave and Peligro, is that with Grave a vehicle is permitted to continue to circulate, while with Peligro it must be taken off the road immediately.
Despite credit restrictions sanctioned by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) in January, ratings on the country’s Financial Institutions will remain stable, according to Fitch Ratings.
The reform will not alter the ratings’ fundamentals, which are driven by sovereign or institutional support, in the majority of cases. Fitch also foresees that financial institutions whose ratings are based on their intrinsic creditworthiness will be able to sustain the impact of restricted credit growth.
The reform enacted by the BCCR places a ceiling of 9% in the accumulated growth rates in credit to, and investments in, the non-financial private sector in both local and foreign currency between the months of February and October by financial institutions regulated by the Superintendencia General de Entidades Financieras (SUGEF), the General Financial Institution Authority.
The reform also limits credit expansion in foreign currency by either 6% in entities reporting an accumulated growth of equal or less to 20%, or by 30% of the annual rate for entities surpassing the aforementioned growth. According to the BCCR, these measures respond to the increased external capital flows, motivated partially by interest rate arbitrage, and its effects in the appreciation of the local currency, the colon.
The measures also seek to contain excessive credit growth particularly that denominated in foreign currency.
According to Fitch’s estimates, this reform will primarily impact the smaller and private banks and credit and savings unions. The limit enacted by the BCCR, equivalent to 12.2% annualized, is close to the growth rate reported by the domestic banking system during 2012 (13.45%). However, the limit is well below the growth rates achieved by private banks (16.6%) and credit unions (21.57%).
Of the 59 institutions comprised in the agency’s calculations, at least 35 exceeded credit growth rates of 12.2%, and nine of these institutions were banks.
Fitch estimates that interest income foregone by the credit restrictions will have a moderate impact in the results of the financial system. Assuming stability in interest rates and the sustainability of last years’ growth rates, foregone gross interest income will be close to 90,000 million of colones (USD 180 millions) or 6% of last year’s gross interest income generated by the restricted assets. The median of foregone interests relative to last year’s operating income is 12% for those banks exceeding the limit. For credit unions, this ratio is 11%.
The temporary nature of the reform, together with the short horizon between its announcement and implementation, impairs the ability of the financial institutions to adjust their strategies to compensate for the credit restrictions. Nonetheless, some entities may delay their investment plans.
Residential mortgages and consumer loans, the leading growth sectors, will be the most impacted by the credit restriction, according to Fitch. Additionally, this credit restriction will increase the already elevated exposure to securities issued by the state and the BCCR.
The national financial system comprises 59 institutions, including commercial banks and other private financial intermediaries: credit and savings unions, housing mutuals, private finance companies, exchange bureaus, and the Caja de
Ande.
Restricted credit assets include loans and investments in the non-financial private sector extended by financial intermediaries regulated by SUGEF. As of the fiscal year ended in 2012, these assets accounted for 11,778,746 million of
colones (USD 23,557 millons).
The measure was enacted by the BCCR on Jan. 30, 2013, effective from Feb. 1, 2013.
Additional information is available on ‘www.fitchcentroamerica.com‘ or ‘www.fitchratings.com‘.
Where have all the Boomers gone? In fact where are all the tourists? Q asks why?
Once again the promise of thousands upon thousands of Baby Boomers who were forecast to descend upon our tiny Paradise making every real estate agent as well as land owner rich has simply fizzled out.
We can blame the world recession which probably did have or might still have a negative impact on the amount of both tourists and retirees who once flocked to Costa Rica. But that is not enough.
The Boomers never where going to come and Costa Rica pretty much chased away the “Boomer” tourist.
Boomers born between the years 1946 to 1964, just in the U.S. represent better than 78 million people or 26% of the entire population. It is true that 7,980 people turn 60 years old each day or 330 people every hour.
Japan and Europe will come with 40m + more Boomers and we can safely expect there are 100 million people in total.
Here in Paradise, we market our perfect climate, safety (except for earthquakes, assaults, home invasions and killings), the “Pura Vida” lifestyle where today’s chores can stretch into the many tomorrows (procrastination) and the country truly offers exceptional natural beauty which along with inviting warm ocean waters, good medical care at reasonable prices.
So where are these Boomers, retirees, tourists that were forecast by the board of tourism (ICT) and the real estate developers to over run the country with their money, ergo making so many locals indeed rich?
The busiest of tourist seasons has just passed by and 50% 60% of the hotels polled said that they were only 50% to 60% occupied unless the hotel was all inclusive, on the water front, with a mega promotional budget and guests could eat turkey sandwiches with non-fat mayo, low fat cheese along with a slice of tomato plus lettuce: wilted or not, 24 hours a day for one, single, albeit, expensive price. For the entire year of 2012, The Cámara Costarricense de Hoteles reported a 54.1% occupancy rate. A significant drop from even recession times. Many have just closed their doors in a defensive mode.
Hundreds of cruise ships have avoided Limón and its flamboyant Reggae “style” of life, its perpetual robberies and since there is nothing to see or do for eight hours except protect your wallet.
And, on the other side of the coin are the more educated economic studies which conclude that unless the place is truly “cool”, not expensive and within close proximity to the United States the Boomers and tourists will not be coming.
Think about this: Per capita more retirees and tourists prefer Mexico over Costa Rica even with a 60,000+ murder rate and cheap but corrupt Ecuador ranks right up there, not to mention less cheap and also more corrupt Panama than our very own “no military”, ecologically centered, peaceful sense of Paradise with a toucan on every corner, i.e. Jurassic Park.
However, even these more popular per capita places, which have increased hotel occupancy in high-season 2012 , have their own question marks up the flag pole asking, “What happened to the 78 million U.S. Boomers and the 2+ million tourists?”
One is the complete misunderstanding as to the Baby Boomer’s “wants and needs”. It is estimated that 79% of all Boomers will keep on working bringing that worldwide 100 million down to 81 million candidates.
Polling, which is never very accurate, suggests that U.S. Baby Boomers, “Are not ready and may never move more than 150 miles from their primary home.” And, they tend to spend no more than one month per year, average, as visitors to their secondary home. That sounds like a tourist to me?
And why not Costa Rica?
We are primarily a vacation spot, have been advertised extensively as such and remain ill equipped to serve the longer term active retiree. (Notice the words “active retiree” which suggests they do not have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel). And as such, the cost of living as well as community activities are far more advantageous in Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador.
Those Boomers with more expensive tastes also demand more expensive services which are more readily available in the Bahamas. Those living on Social Security or a fixed income find the cost of living in Pura Vida country, almost to the person, horribly expensive and public services highly questionable as well as costly.
To assume that the aging Boomers are coming to Costa Rica and willing to lower their personal standards of living is absurd.
And so the advertisements goes, live cheaper, live in better weather, live tax free, explore the many beaches, visit the magical rain forests and live the good Costa Rican life.
Well, active retirees might do some of those things and may even a lot during their one month stay, but those are exceptions to the rule and most seek weekend side trips, fish, play golf, shop, go to movies, eat good food,etc.
John Speirs, a leading developer of and manager of active retirement communities in the United States points out that Costa Rica has no coordinated system to attract active retirees, not even as tourists.
The Boomer, according to Speirs, wants community living with their peers close at hand and that includes their favorite sports; golf, tennis, fishing, boliche: they want to be near “clean “water (lakes or oceans), they must be no more than 1 hour from a major hospital and 15 minutes to a primary physician, no more than 1.5 hours to an international airport, 15 minutes to get to a police station, and most of all…lots of things to do and lots of international food stuffs within a short distance of their accommodations.
The environment is not here yet and we must understand that much like the genetically treated corn, this type of project needs to fit the foot of the customer and not ask the customer to fit our only shoe size.
We have the raw ingredients; we just do not have the elements or the commitment to bring in export money through tourism and retirees.
Sources; U.S. Mortgage Bankers Association, United Nations Census Bureau, Speirs & Associates
Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, is in Costa Rica this week, arriving on Monday with his wife, Angélica Rivera, for the summit of the Sistema de Integración Centroamericana (SICA).
In a behind closed doors meeting on Monday, Costa Rica’s presidenta Laura Chinchilla stuck her hand out asking her Mexican counterpart to finance the construction of the Sixola river bridge, at the Panama border.
Nieto, dressed in black suit walked down the red carpet along side Chinchilla, in her typical turquoise coloured dress, with a smile. After the meeting, still with a smile though his feelings on the inside might have been different, the two offered the press a message but did not allow questions.
Chinchilla explained that the talks focused on trade and investment, and that she asked her counterpart to finance the construction of the bridge over the Sixaola river, a bridge that connects Costa Rica and Panama on the Caribbean coast.
In fact, sources say that the meeting only dealt with financial issues.
For his part, Nieto did not comment on the handout, only asked that Costa Rica’s legislators support the approval of a free trade agreement between the two countries.
Neither leader provided any details or even if Mexico is willing to hand over cash to little Costa Rica for this project.
Although Costa Rica is in national mourning following the death of Supreme Court justice, Luis Paulino Mora, the customary minute of silence was not observed.
The Asociación Nacional de Educadores (ANDE) – national education association – union has called on its members and other public sector workers and unions, to assemble before the Ministerio de Trabajo (Ministry of Labour) building at 2:00pm Thursday, February 21.
The union leadership says that government representatives have been invited to discuss the draft law, Ley para el Ordenamiento de las Retribuciones Adicionales al Salario Base del Sector Público – management of additional remuneration to the Public Sector Base Salary.
In plain terms, the union wants to discuss the adjustment of bouses and incentives contained in the draft legislation.
“It is important the presence of workers in these processes. Unity makes us strong and allows us to continue to defend the rights we have gained over the years. The ANDE calls all to be present and speak out against any project or action that threatens the workers and thus against the welfare of their families”, said Gilberto Cascante, President of ANDE.
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.
From iNews.co.cr
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.
Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Nacioal box office, visiting the Teatro Nacional website or by calling (506) 2010-1112.
For a virtual view of the Teatro Nacional and the surrounding area go to: http://teatronacional.go.cr/tourhighres.html
Luis Paulino Mora Mora (April 8, 1944 – February 17, 2013)
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.
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.
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.
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