Health workers, teachers and professors, motorcyclists, drivers and many others will be protesting today in Costa Rica, with the major concentration in San José, starting at 8AM today Monday. Port of Limón workers will be shutting down the port in protest.
The meeting point for the mass of protestors is at the Parque Central on Avenida Segunda, in the heart of the capital.
The protest is against hikes in electricity rates, the dialogue on the government’s fiscal (tax) plan and the increase in the cost of the Marchamo.
According to Albino Vargas, head of the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos (ANEP) – the largest of the workers union in the country – the main focus of the protest is the proposed adjustment in electrical rates.
In the Health sector affected services will include outpatient and medical appointments at state hospitals and clinics. Luis Chavarria, head of the Unión Nacional de Empleados de la Caja (Undeca) – health sector union – stressed emergency and critical care services will not be interrupted.
Costa Rica’s Communications Minister, Carlo Roverssi, said Sunday afternoon by way of a press release that the union action is meaningless and protestors are “distorting groups of social peace”.
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla on Sunday said there is no reason for protesting and “is irresponsible and unjustified”
More than 400 police, both of the Fuerza Publica and Tránsito (traffic) will be on hand to ensure the vast majority of the population has free movement in the capital and major routes around the country.
Although there are no planned protests (save for the Limón dock workers strike) around the country, but it does not preclude last minute groupings of manifestations.
