Archive for October 15th, 2008
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Two low pressure system has caused heavy rains and affecting the areas of Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Quepos, Parrita, Siquirres, Desamparados and Cartago.
The affected so far are more than 1.200 people and one person reported missing in Cerritos de Quepos.
According to meteorologist, Bernal Stolz, more rain is expected in the next 48 to 72 hours.
The low pressure systems dumped between 70 and 150 millimetres of rain since Sunday, causing flooding in Parrita and Quepos, and affecting the Central Valley and Caribbean coast.
The heavy rain also affected the Interamericana Sur, once again collapsing under the force of the water and mud, closing off all pasasged between San José and Pérez Zeledón. The closure is at kilometre 111 in the area known as El Jardín en el Cerro de la Muerte where a 50 metre section of the road was completed washed away.
The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) has issued a red alert for Parrita, Quepos, Cartago and Desemparados. Heredia, Alajuela and Guanacaste are all under a yellow alert.
The Central Pacific areas are the most affected by the heavy rain that began on Sunday. In Parrita the problems began later Sunday night when the Parrita river began to overflow its banks.
Other areas reporting mud slides and flooding are Neuvo Arenal and La Fortuna.
October is the worst month of the rainy season that end by mid November.
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Telecommunications in Costa Rica are always a subject on every table in this country, whether it is the high rates for electricity and phone services or the terrible cellular signal in a lot of locations as well as the long waits for services requests in some areas. The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) is in charge of all these matters in Costa Rica due to the monopoly created decades ago in telecommunications.
Regarding internet connections, the services are offered not only through ICE, but also to Radiográfica Costarricense (RACSA) and cable companies, yet apparently the rate offered by the ICE is a lot cheaper, not to mention that they offer a faster connection, although some people who have requested this service (called ACELERA) have to wait for over a year to get the service. In Costa Rica, the ICE also offers and compensation program for damaged items while repairs in the electricity connections and power shortages, which is great, however, it is quite amazing how often they have to pay for these issues.
Right now, the entity in charge of protecting consumers have accused ICE of black mail and push rate increases on their services through public statements and correspondence, claiming that ICE is forcing Costa Rica to pay more without proper studies. Costa Rica properties have increased their prices a lot and this increases will make things harder for potential property buyers in Costa Rica (locals mostly) since the real estate is already hard to afford for Ticos.
No one in Costa Rica is really happy with the services provided by the ICE and of course everyone is totally against any increase to benefit their “crappy service”. I personally think that the ICE is making a terrible mistake since in a few months they will no longer have the telecommunications monopoly due to the expansion agreed on the TLC between Costa Rica and the USA last year.
Posted in Costa Rica News | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Congress speaker Francisco Pacheco confirmed that the President of the People’s Republic of China Ju Jintao will visit Costa Rica on November 17. It will be the first time ever that a President of that nation visits Costa Rica, which renewed its diplomatic ties with Beijing in June 2007.
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US Government agency, granted $45 million to Bank Lafise Costa Rica and $60 million to BAC San Jose –both of which are private—for these firms to improve their mortgage portfolio through loans for houses destined to people of mid to low income. The loans will enjoy a low fixed interest rate and a 25-year term. The funds are supplied to the BAC on the condition that it grant loans for houses and for the benefit of small and medium firms who need to expand their activities. OPIC chief executive Robert Mosbacher said that these funds are granted as part of the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Houston Airport System Development Company (HASDC) will take over as manager of Juan Santamaria International Airport as of next December. A member of the Houston Airport System corporation, one of the world’s largest in its area, HASDC must first pay around $90 million which the current manager, Alterra, owes banks. The U.S., Canadian, and Brazilian corporation, pledged to have the airport totally refurbished 12 months after taking over.
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