Archive for December 4th, 2008
Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Two U.S. military disaster-relief teams from Joint Task Force-Bravo, based at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, have delivered more than 278,000 pounds of relief supplies to victims in flood-affected communities in Panama and Costa Rica.
The teams, composed of 68 U.S. military personnel from the task force, have been supporting U.S. relief efforts in both countries since Nov. 26. During the past week, the teams have flown 95 missions, using eight “Chinook” and “Blackhawk” helicopters to distribute aid and evacuate 17 flood victims in need of immediate medical attention. (more…)
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Costa Rica has replaced two top intelligence officials because a government password apparently was used to loot private bank accounts.
Prosecutors have accused the deputy director of the Intelligence and Security Directorate, Roberto Guillen, of helping steal from private bank accounts after accessing credit reports through a government account with a private data company.
The president’s office on Wednesday announced that the agency’s director, Roberto Solorzano, had resigned after acknowledging the agency’s “negligence in the handling of the password.” Jose Torres, a top adviser to President Oscar Arias, will succeed Solorzano, who has not been accused of any crime.
Prosecutors say Guillen was part a ring that used falsified checks to steal at least $360,000 from Costa Rican businessmen. Guillen allegedly used the password to access credit reports on the victims.
Guillen was arrested in November but is free pending further investigation.
Cabinet Chief Rodrigo Arias said the government will propose legal reforms to the intelligence agency to better define its jurisdiction.
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Right on time for the holiday shopping spree, government officials have announced that gas prices will be going down. The first price reduction became effective Tuesday November 25th and there is a second price drop to take place starting December.
The new gas price was published in the official newspaper La Gaceta on Monday and was effective Tuesday at 12:01am. The price drop for Super gasoline was of ¢52 (US 10cents) and regular gas ¢46 (US 8cents). If a car owner is to fill a 45 liter tank, his or her total savings will be approximately ¢2,000 (US$3.63).
However, the Costa Rican Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) is in the process of authorizing a heftier price drop that will most likely be effective in December. The new price drop will be above the ¢200 (US 36cents) per liter of gas. This means that the total savings to fill up a 45 liter gas tank will be around ¢9,000 (US$16.36).
Diesel will also have its price drop although not as substantial as Plus, Super and regular gas prices. However, the price drop in diesel will have a direct effect on the public transportation rates as buses will lower their rates.
Costa Ricans have received the news with great relief as the holiday season is just around the corner.
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008
The first thing you notice about Costa Rica, in comparison with its neighbors in the rest of Central America, is its peaceful, orderly atmosphere, and the lack of hustle and bustle. Even in San José, traffic flows at a regular pace and there is little of the “overtake at any attitude found in other Latin American cities.
Costa Rica has 22,121 miles of paved roads which include almost 3,000 miles of highway, incorporating 405 miles of the Inter-American Highway which links San José with other provincial cities. The Pan-American Highway traverses the country from Panama to the Nicaraguan border. From San José to Panama, the Pan-American Highway passes through the old capital of Cartago.
From San José to the Nicaraguan border it continues past El Coco airport to Heredía and Alajuela. On some stretches the road is a dual highway and, as it is completely paved, travel through the country is fast and easy, with much of the highway passing through spectacular scenery.
Currently approved, is the new Escazu-Jaco Highway which will reduce the drive time to Jaco by over 50%. Currently this is a beautiful drive through mountain roads and small little towns, but the country’s goal is to make Costa Rica a country that is easier to maneuver and get around in.
It’s my opinion that this is part of the government’s plan to open up the southern region. The best way to open any area is to improve accessibility into that area and with a current drive time of 5 hours from San Jose to the Osa Peninsula, having that cut in half will make it a much more appealing destination.
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