Archive for July, 2009
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Like a corner animal, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), is pulling out its claws against a possible reduction in electrical rates that is currently under discussion by the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Publicos (Aresep).
The president of ICE, Pablo Quirós, assures that a rate reduction will cause problems with electrical service and could mean a return of blackouts, as the institution will not have the financial resources to maintain operational levels.
The Cámara de Industrias says that ICE will be spending some ¢56 billion colones less this year to produce electrical energy and that the consumer should be compensated.
The state utility had said that for 2009 it would be spending ¢98 billion colones to produce electrical energy, while the Cámara puts the estimate at only ¢42 billion.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
The Comisión Plena Primera del Congreso (Congressional Committee) last night approved the proposal to impose a heavy fine for making false 911 calls. Under the proprosal, a false call can cost the owner of the telephone line the equivalent of 65% of the base salary of a clerk (oficinista 1).
The high fine was suggested by the proposal of the initiative, Fernando Sánchez, of the Partido Liberacion Nacional (PLN).
Sánchez added that each subsequent false call should cost the caller or owner of the phone line, if different, an additional 5% of each false call.
Currenlty, the fine is ¢65.000 colones and is applied after 10 false calls are received from the same phone line.
The proposal is to eliminate the large number of 911 calls that are not an emergency and tie up resources. The fines, according to Sánchez would go towards improving the emergency service.
The change in the legislation also allows the emergency service to use the revenue from the fines to improve services. Currently, monies collected from fines can only be applied to media educational campaigns or subsidize the cost of units responding to false calls.
The legislator explained that if his proposal becomes law it would financially help out the Cuerpo de Bomberos (firefigthers), the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (national emergency commission) and the Cruz Roja (Red Cross).
According to figures released by Fernando Sánchez, in the last three months of this year, the 911 emergency service received 10.866 false calls or 90% of all calls received by the system.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Since December 2007, Costa Rica’s Isla de Coco has been in the running to become one of the new seven wonders of nature that are scheduled to be announced in 2011 by the New7Wonders foundation.
The island made the list of 77 finalists, after over 440 locations around the world were originally nominated and voted upon online. After it became one of the final 77, a “panel of experts,” according to the New7Wonders Web site, narrowed the list down to 28 finalists on Tuesday.
The Isla de Coco did not make the final 28. (more…)
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
·Representatives of Zelaya and de facto government met for a third round of talk.
·A “Declaration of San Jose” was announced by Arias as a solution to on-going crisis.
·The declaration demands Zelaya’s return to Honduras within 24 hours.
Representatives of deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya and the de facto government met again on Wednesday with chief mediator Costa Rican President Oscar Arias for a third round of talk.
A “Declaration of San Jose” was announced by Arias on Wednesday as a solution to Honduras’ on-going crisis.
Costa Rican presidency confirmed to Xinhua that the declaration to be signed by the parties in conflict demands Zelaya’s return to Honduras within 24 hours. (more…)
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Tegucigalpa, Honduras – In the early hours of June 28, military forces entered the home of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, put him under arrest, and sent him on a plane to Costa Rica. Leaders from around the world condemned the action as a coup – a “violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group,” according to Merriam-Webster. But the interim leaders in Honduras claim that their president vacated his office by acting against the Constitution and that a legal succession of power took place. Neither side has backed down, though talks are under way in Costa Rica . (more…)
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
The U.S. Men’s National Soccer team returns to Soldier Field in Chicago where they meet Honduras Thursday. The match is the first semi-final game in the North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region Gold Cup tournament. The second match pits Costa Rica against Mexico. United States is up against a Honduras team it defeated earlier in Gold Cup action.
There are only four teams left in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and all of them have been here before.
The first game of the semi-finals doubleheader on Thursday night is a rematch.
The United States takes on Honduras, the team it defeated 2-0 in Gold Cup Group Play earlier in July. (more…)
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
The Costa Rican government has confirmed plans to create a new gaming authority under forthcoming legislation that will also subject all gaming companies – online and offline – to tighter licensing and taxation requirements, the country’s finance minister has announced.
The government’s plans to address Costa Rica’s worsening fiscal situation include tighter regulatory control over gambling and an extra 2 percent tax on the gross revenues of all gaming operators established in the country, finance minister Guillermo Zuñiga announced earlier this week.
Speaking at a press conference in Costa Rica’s capital, San José, Zuñiga stated that the government would introduce a new gaming bill for discussion in the country’s parliament, perhaps as early as this August.
Zuñiga said the 2 percent gaming tax on gross gaming revenues would allow the government to generate US$85m per year in new revenues. The proposal comes as Costa Rica attempts to address a fiscal situation that has seen government revenues drop eight percent during the first-half of the year, with expenditure rising by more than 20 percent. Projected GDP growth for the year has also been lowered by the country’s central bank. Under the fiscal plans, the government will also introduce US$112m worth of public spending cuts. (more…)
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Costa Rica has a great tourist industry. They are welcoming and friendly and in most cases they are honest and genuine. But human nature being what it is, sometimes we end up getting less than we bargained for. The following are just a few tips on what to look out for before you pay out of pocket.
In most cities these days, when the local cops aren’t busy they park in a discreet spot and scrutinize drivers to see if they can catch them in an infraction. One person I read about got stopped for speeding and the cops told him that it was an expensive ticket. The cop told them that for $100 he would look the other way. Later he was told that he could have settled the ticket at any Bank of Costa Rica.
This is a great example of why you should take the bus and taxi whenever possible. You may think you are free with your own vehicle but you won’t be very free if you are stuck in a hole on a dirt road in a foreign country. Just figure into your budget, taxi and bus fare. Always hide extra cab fare on you somewhere just in case of emergency. (more…)
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
The virus is spread through human to human contact, no swine need be touched, as its name suggests. The best way to avoid contracting the virus is through prevention. Here are some of the most effective:
1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, frequently throughout the day.
2. When water isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough.
4. If you do come into contact with a sufferer, limit your exposure.
5. Increasing vitamin C intake has proven effective against colds and the flu.
6. To maintain a healthy immune system, eat a healthy, balanced diet and get a good night’s sleep.
7. If you have children, stress hand washing and covering their noses and mouths when they sneeze or cough.
8. Routinely disinfect counters and surfaces at home and at work.
9. If you experience any flu symptoms, stay home and do not go to work.
10. If you experience any flu symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
The ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila, yesterday confirmed the death of a 39 year old man who suffered from asthma and hypertension, person number 12 to die from the AH1N1 flu virus, and expressed concern that the death toll could be as high as 140.
“That figure is based on what is happening in México during the last three months”, said ministra Ávila, who added that her officials are updating the figures that could be available by the end of the week.
The ministra said the number would represent the number of expected fatalities during the first year of the virus.
Ávila explained that the latest victim was in intensive care at a downtown San Jose hospital and so far 11 of the 12 deaths are associated with people in the high risk group: obese, hypertense, smokers and diabetics.
The ministra also confirmed that they are waiting on test results of the death of an infant in a hospital in the provinces, which could be the first infant victim.
“She was admitted to hospital and died in the emergency room”, explained Ávila, not providing details of when the death occurred, saying only that the infant was brought to hospital after displaying a number of the symptoms during the week, according to the mother.
As such the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), is asking all parents to take measures to reduce the infection of their infants by ensuring that they are vaccinate, avoid infants not to be picked up by anyone, continue breast feeding, and maintain a balanced nutrition.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
The vehicular restrictions of San Jose are back as of 6am this morning and with a vengeance, as the Policia de Transito (traffic police) are out in full force this morning to fine drivers who violate the restrictions with begins with vehicles with their license plates ending in 3 and 4.
German Marin, the director of the Policia de Transito, said this morning in a live television interview that there was a noticeable difference in the number of vehicles on the roads this morning, as compared to yesterday and the past five weeks since the restrictions were in limbo.
On June 12, the Constitutional Court struck down the vehicular restrictions of San Jose, a decision based on an appeal filed by the former director of the Judicial Police.
Since, the ministerio de Obras Publico y Transportes (MOPT) had been working on drafting a new decree to re-implement the restrictions, such was published Monday in the official government publication, La Gaceta and takes effect today. (more…)
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Talks to resolve the coup crisis in Honduras collapsed yesterday after the de facto government refused a mediator’s proposal to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya.
The failure of negotiations under the direction of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias dashed the most promising diplomatic effort aimed at ending the crisis and raised the specter of more violence.
“What is the alternative to dialogue?” Arias said in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose. “Possibly . . . there could be a civil war, or bloodshed, that the Honduran people do not deserve.”
Zelaya, toppled in a military coup June 28 and deported from Honduras, has threatened to force his way back to his country, with or without a political agreement.
Carlos Lopez, representing the de facto Honduran government as foreign minister, said the brief reinstatement of Zelaya – the first of seven points proposed by Arias – would not fly. (more…)
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Monday, July 20th, 2009
The mediation efforts of Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, failed to reach an agreement by the parties designated to resolve the Honduras political crisis. Shortly after 3:30pm. the delegations broke off the talks, saying only there was no consensus.
President Arias refused to questions of the press, saying only that the mediation talks would resume in three days, allowing for time to “talk to a lot of people”. Arias said he wants to avoid a civil war in Honduras, something that the “Hondurans do not deserve”.
Both sides began talks on Saturday demonstrating hostility towards one another.
The representative of interim president Roberto Micheletti, Carlos López, called the Arias proposal laid out on Saturday as an “imposition” and “a meddling in the internal affairs of Honduras”. In addition, calling Micheletti a “de facto” president did not sit well with the delegation.
Saturday Arias opened the mediation talks saying that it was imperative that Zelaya be returned to power, something that did not sit well with the Micheletti delegation from the moment it was heard. (more…)
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Monday, July 20th, 2009
The director of the Imprenta Nacional (National Printer), Nelson Loaiza, confirmed that the decree to reinstate the vehicular restrictions of San Jose will be published today, Monday, July 20, and as such will go into effect beginning at 6am tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21.
The ministra del MOPT, Karla González, said last week that the vehicular restrictions will begin this week, possibly Tuesday and that the Policia de Tránsito is all set to uphold the restrictions.
On June 12 this year the Constitutional Court struck down the decree that restricted the circulation of vehicles in the San Jose area dependent on the last number of the license plate. The Court said the restriction violated the right of free circulation, following an action brought by the former director of the OIJ.
Transport officials reacted quickly to draft a new decree and put it in place in only 5 weeks, something of a record in Costa Rica.
The new decree, which may be subject to another Constitutional Court challenge, is basically the same as the decree struck down, but with a different fil number.
The decree restricts the circulation of vehicles with a license plate ending 1 & 2 on Mondays; 3 & 4 on Tuesdays; 5 & 6 on Wedensdays; 7 & 8 Thursdays; and, 9 & 0 Fridays. (more…)
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