Archive for November 4th, 2008
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Former Costa Rican President Rafael Angel Calderon went on trial here Monday for alleged embezzlement and corruption over payments he received in the purchase of medical equipment from Finland.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses Calderon and seven others, including the former head of the social security fund, of receiving kickbacks in the purchase of 39.5 million dollars of medical equipment from Finnish company Instrumentarium Medko Medical.
Calderon — who was president of the Central American country from 1990 to 1994 and plans to stand again in 2010 — said he is innocent and that he received professional fees from a private company for his services as a lawyer in the sale.
The purchase took place several years after the end of his presidency.
“It is a long process and we have to be patient,” the 58-year-old, who has already spent one year in prison in connection with the case, said Monday.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
The Central American Football Union (UNCAF) are looking for a new host nation for next year’s Nations Cup after the withdrawal of Panama, but Costa Rica appears unlikely to be the answer.
Last weekend, the Panamanian Football Federation (FePaFut) admitted they cannot host the biennial tournament - which doubles as a qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup - due to a lack of a suitable stadia.
The Estadio Rommel Fernandez, which was initially considered to host the championship to be played between January 22 and February 1, is undergoing a revamp and will not be ready in time.
The alternative of the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew also appears not to be an option after negotiations between the FePaFut, the UNCAF, the company Traffic and the owners of the stadium failed.
On Monday, a press released on uncaf.net read: “The UNCAF will analyse other options to host the UNCAF Nations Cup and will call the executive committee for a meeting to define the new venue shortly.”
Costa Rica were seen by many as favourites to take over organising the championship which also includes Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, but the country’s football federation announced on Monday that they would find it very difficult to afford the tournament.
“So far, we have no official communication from organisers and, on our own, it is not possible to contemplate the organisation of the Nations Cup as the necessary budget for this type of tournament is too high,” Costa Rican Football Federation secretary general Joseph Ramirez told the body’s website.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
President Oscar Arias warned that it will impossible to avoid the unemployment resulting from the impact of the international finance crisis. Sooner or later, unemployment is going to increase, a general slowdown is going to be felt, particularly in the construction sector, Dr. Arias added. Sources of the construction sector said that 20,000 workers have been laid off so far this year and that the final figure for 2008 is likely to be close to 40,000.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Houston Airport System (HAS), which is the new administrator and operator of Juan Santamaria International Airport and is in charge of the revamping of the facility, was also awarded the administration of Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. According to the Minister of Public Works and Transportation Karla Gonzalez, the initial investment at Liberia will be $35 million. HAS is the fourth largest airport operator in the United States and the sixth worldwide.
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