Archive for November, 2008
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
A widely circulated e-mail may have compromised a critical part of the prosecution’s case against two suspects in the murder of a White House Casino dealer.
The e-mail contained the mug shots of the two suspects in the case, Juan Mena Jimenez and Christian Mora Cantillano, who were arrested in the Oct. 28 murder of Yerlin Marín and for attempted murder of Angie Peraza and Arelis Marín, Yerlin’s sister. Peraza and Arelis Marín were both shot twice but survived. (more…)
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
The government of Costa Rica congratulated the people and government of the United States of America for the unprecedented presidential elections held last Nov. 4, which resulted in the election of Democratic candidate Barack Obama, according to information provided by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Relations.
“Costa Rica expresses its warmest congratulations to President-elect Mr. Barack Obama and the American people, and salutes the candidates who participated in this election for contribution to revitalize the democratic exercise in that great nation. Mr. Obama’s victory, by becoming the first elected African American president, son of immigrants, does not have any precedents in the country’s history,” the official communiqué said. (more…)
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Monday, November 10th, 2008
Sylvester Stallone is bringing his next action project, “The Expendables,” to Costa Rica, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Stallone will join Chinese martial artist Jet Li and U.K. actor Jason Statham in the film about mercenaries sent to a Latin American country to topple its dictator.
The “Rocky” star, who wrote the screenplay and will direct it beginning in February in Costa Rica and Louisiana, is hoping to add Oscar winner Forrest Whitaker to the cast, the movie trade publication reported Saturday.
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Monday, November 10th, 2008
The Crucitas open-pit gold mining project in northern Costa Rica could become an environmental cross to bear for the government of Óscar Arias.
For more than two decades Costa Rica has cast itself as a pioneer when it comes to environmental matters.
But the concession for a gold mine granted to the Industrias Infinito company, a subsidiary of the Canada-based Infinito Gold, has stirred things up between environmentalists, who are opposed to the project, and the government they accuse of double dealing.
Infinito obtained a government permit to cut down 191 hectares of forest in Las Crucitas de Cutris, in the northern province of Alajuela. The area is habitat to the almendro tree (Dipteryx panamensis), highly prized for its hardwood and for its role in the feeding and nesting of the great green macaw (Ara ambigua), which is facing extinction in Costa Rica. (more…)
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Monday, November 10th, 2008
The presidents of Costa Rica and China have announced that they will be initiating the free trade treaty among both countries in November 2008. The president of the People’s Republic of China, Hu Jintao, will be visiting Costa Rica November 16th to November 17th.
Jintao will be meeting with Costa Rican president Oscar Arias in order to start the negotiations for a free trade market among both countries. China is currently Costa Rica’s second largest export destination according to Foreign Trade Minister, Marco Vinicio Ruiz.
According to Ruiz, the first round of negotiations will take place during the first trimester of 2009. Ruiz also mentioned that authorities have just finished evaluating different productivity sectors and believe that the country has a positive environment to seek the commercial treaty with China.
Both Costa Rica and China have elaborated a feasibility study that took around eight months to complete. The study that showed that exports could increase in 11% while imports could increase in 4%. These results were made public last August and were submitted to key industry sectors for its review.
Although there is a good environment for this treaty, the majority of the industry leaders prefer to wait until CAFTA enters into action and the negotiations with Europe have been completed.
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Friday, November 7th, 2008
Owners of properties worth more than about $182,000 will soon pay a new graduated tax, the first fiscal reform since President Oscar Arias took office in May 2006.
Approved by lawmakers yesterday morning, the tax will raise an estimated ¢9.7 million ($17,000) a year to fund the state’s efforts to rebuild substandard housing, according to an estimate by the National Assembly’s budget analysis department.
The bill, which will take effect once Arias signs it, imposes an annual 0.25 percent tax on properties worth between ¢100 million ($182,000) and ¢250 million ($454,500). The tax increases with the property’s value, up to a 0.55 percent levy on properties worth more than ¢1.5 billion ($2.7 million).
The taxes must be paid in the first 15 days of each year. Properties belonging to the government, public institutions, churches and non-profit organizations are exempt.
The revenue will go to the National Housing Mortgage Bank (BANHVI), which offers grants to poor families looking to rebuild their homes and neighborhoods. About 40,000 families live in substandard housing in Costa Rica, according to BANHVI spokeswoman Susan Otárola.
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Friday, November 7th, 2008
A holistic environmental approach to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is being implemented in the Costa Rican industry. This is the first banana industry in the world to put in this strategy in place.
The ‘Banana Industry Action Plan against Climate Change’ has been handed in to the Ministry of Environment and Energy by the association of the Costa Rican banana producers. The goal of the action plan is to reduce the greenhouse gasses emissions to 0 by 2012.
A program to educate and raise awareness amongst workers will soon be implemented. The program is to teach the workers on the importance of fighting climate change and global warming due to CO2 emissions. Using a manual of environmental practices, this program is expected to succeed and reach each goal by 2012.
The holistic strategy will be implemented and measured by these points:
- Reforestation programs to create carbon sinks
- Reducing the use of fossil fuels and fertilizers
- Using bio-fuels and biodegradable plastics
- Applying bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers
- Implementing energy-saving programs
The Banana Environment Commission was the one who developed this action plan and all actors of this industry have decided to take part and commit themselves to the plan.
More than 25% of all the land in Costa Rica is protected as national parks and biological reserves which makes the country an international leader on green issues. From 1986 until today, Costa Rica forest has increased a whooping 30%, making it the first tropical country to reverse deforestation.
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Friday, November 7th, 2008
Since the mid-1990s, growth in electricity consumption in Latin America has averaged about 5 percent per year, one of the highest and most sustained growth rates in the world and one that is expected to continue at least to 2015. To meet this demand, governments and, increasingly, the private sector and multinational financing institutions are developing new power projects throughout the region.
In Central America, electricity from new and existing plants is being transmitted from countries that have excess capacity to countries in need of electricity. This situation has made the region one of the world’s hotbeds for the development of hydroelectric projects. This has occurred alongside growth in ecotourism and the region’s identity as being a leader in sustainable development. (more…)
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Federal marshals arrested a Reno man on a Costa Rica warrant accusing him of fraud.
Rudy Hernandez Gomez, 32, was taken into custody at his Stead home, booked into Washoe County Jail and is a permanent legal resident employed as a delivery driver, marshals said.
According to Costa Rican authorities, Gomez was president of a company from October 1997 to November 1998 and allegedly forged documents to show his company was exporting goods so he could claim the corresponding Costa Rican tax credits. Gomez allegedly reported at least 10 fictitious shipments of goods in order to fraudulently obtain $367,700.00 from the Costa Rican Central Bank.
Authorities said Gomez came to the United States in January 2001. Arraignment was scheduled today.
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Citibank finalized its fusion with Banco Cuscatlán and Banco Uno in Costa Rica this week, and the two absorbed banks will now operate under the name Citi.
The merger creates one bank in Costa Rica with a net worth of more than $100 million, and total assets of more than $750 million, the daily La Nación reported.
In addition, Citi now has 500 ATM machines in Costa Rica, 67 branches and 80,000 clients.
Citibank acquired Grupo Financiero Uno in October 2006 and Cuscatlán the following December.
The banks were closed early in the week as the companies completed the merger.
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Prices increased 16.3 percent in the past 12 months, breaking a 10-year inflation record set in September.
Prices for food and nonalcoholic drinks increased by 26.7 percent over the 12 months ending in October, while transportation increased by 20.4 percent, and restaurant food increased by 19.5 percent, according to a monthly report by the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) released yesterday.
The institute measures inflation using a basket of 292 goods and services. In October, 72 percent of the basket’s contents increased in price, while 18 percent decreased and 10 percent stayed the same.
The goods and services that most contributed to an October inflation of 1.04 percent were water, taxi fares, potatoes, tomatoes and the casado, a popular Tico dish that includes rice, meat, beans and salad.
As salaries fail to keep pace with inflation, more Costa Ricans are slipping over the poverty line. An INEC study released late last month showed that 17.7 percent of households were poor in July 2007, up from 16.7 percent 12 months earlier.
During those 12 months, real salaries grew just 0.3 percent for employees of private firms, and they shrunk by 1.2 percent for domestic servants. State employees saw their real wages grow by 4 percent.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
As if the economy is not creating enough problems for real estate in Costa Rica, the government is now going to tax the over 6000 homes valued at over $200k with a luxury tax to “help eliminate shanty towns”.
They will be doing some similar schemes in the good old U.S.A. in the coming year so you foreigners with homes in Costa Rica can plan on paying more in both locals.
Legislators have approved taxes on luxury homes, and the money will supposedly help to eradicate shantytowns. How much money these taxes will generate is still unknown and the current estimates vary greatly. Houses valued at about $200,000 or more will be the targets of the new tax; however taxes on the land on which they are built are excluded in this scheme.
According to the National Registry there are more than 6,492 properties that are registered with a value of $200,000 or more. This project, which will be valid for 10 years, is considered to be a gesture of solidarity and should bring in enough cash to help build decent housing for the poor, thus allowing them to live with more dignity and sanitation.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
Sky Mountain Canopy – Costa Rica provides a way to enjoy nature safely as one glides over tree tops. The specially built metal platform was built to guarantee the safety of those who use the Canopy. The tour takes one over 7,200 feet of trails, four towers, and eight platforms. While using the the canopy, you will enjoy ocean and mountain views.
Visitors can see a picturesque view of the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Those who come for the tour, can swim at the waterfalls.
What You Can Expect
You can expect to see the breathtaking mountain and ocean views of Costa Rica in the most scenic way available. As you ride from tree to tree and canopy to canopy, using pulleys on cables, you may be surprised at the majestic view you have below. You can expect a lot of fun as you ride the canopy and listen to the guide’s description of what you see. You can expect to be comfortable and feel safe, as the cables for the Sky Mountain Canopy were designed by expert engineers. (more…)
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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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