(TICO BULL) Am I missing something here? I just finished reporting a story where the Nicaraguans have signed a US$27 million dollar contract with a Costa Rican company to build a road to the Caribbean.
If the Nicaraguans can have confidence in a Costa Rican company, why then do the Costa Ricans need the Chinese to build a similar road to Caribbean?
Many years ago, with a good friend (who is longer with us), we drove from Puerta Vallarta in Mexico, to San Jose, Costa Rica.
Right up to the point when we entered Costa Rica, the roads were great. The odd pothole here and there, but nothing like the “dodge the pothole” driving (as we called it) in Costa Rica, starting from the moment we entered the Costa Rican side of the land border.
I even had t-shirts made saying “I survived the potholes of Costa Rica”.
That’s how bad the roads were then, a mere three presidents ago. Since, they improved, but aren now on a quick slide back to way things were.
I can remember a time when, with every new president coming into office, we could see a pretend road maintenance program. Within months of taking office, we got new lines painted, new signs went up, we could spot crews filling in potholes, etc. By the second year of the new administration, back to the same old.
This administration didn’t even bother try to give the people that small illusion.
But I digress.
So back to my questions. If Costa Rican companies build such bad roads, why does Nicaragua, with some of the best roads in the region, trust the Costa Ricans? And if the Costa Rican’s can actually build a good road, then why do we have such bad roads? And so, why do we need the Chinese to build out – actually to a refit – the Ruta 32?
Many questions that have only one truthful answer … well, you know it too, so I don’t have to say it.
Really, this, the Nicaraguans hiring Costa Ricans to build their road, in my opinin is kudos for the Costa Rican company, but, a real slap in the face for the administrators of Pura Vida.
Use the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions on this.
I have often wondered this type of thing.
With the extremely high taxes on vehicles and fuel, why are the roads in such bad condition?
Why is there a need to hire out this work to other companies when there is an abundance of workers with no jobs that can do this work and perhaps take pride in their work?
Could this be a matter of the tax dollars, or colones, going into someones pocket instead of taking care of the needs of all the people?
I don’t think Costa Rica engineers have the expertise to build lasting highways. Look at the highways to the north of us as well as the highways to the south of us (Nicaragua and Panama). Both countries road systems are far superior to Costa Rica’s. And to make matters worse the Tico’s don’t want any help from experts of other nations. “This is our country and that’s the way we do things here.” Pretty pathetic.
The plutocrats are selling the Costa Rican people into economic slavery to Red China!