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Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Archive for August 13th, 2009
Ready For A Return To Candlelight? ICE Asks Populace
Thursday, August 13th, 2009That is the question being posed by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) in its fight to put the brakes on a possible reduction in electrical rates.
The state institution is using the scare tactic to pressure a move against a possible reduction of 12% in electrical rates, saying that any reduction would leave the institution without the financial resources to meet the power demands of the country.
This is not the first time ICE has used scare tactics, as we all remember the blackouts of 2007, when the state energey provided announced a series of rotating power blackouts that affected all areas of the country.
It is not clear if the 2007 blackouts were really due to problems in the production of energy or simply the actions akin to a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum.
Elbert Durán, an ICE spokesperson, explained that the “candle” reference is to make the point that any drop in ICE revenues from reduction in rates would mean a lower investment in infrastructure and the institution’s ability to move forward in several projects that would guarantee the power needs of the future.
“We have taken preventive action to guarantee the people that there would be no more ‘apagones’ (blackouts”, said Durán.
The ICE officials added that for many years ICE ran in the red, but now (with the current rates) the institution can continue to invest in the country’s future energy needs.
The reduction in electrical rates is being spearheaded by the Cámara de Industrias, which comes before the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) – government regulator of public prices and services – on August 24 for consideration.
The Cámara, in its petition, argues that ICE received approval in its rate hike at the beginning of the year to spend ¢98 billion colones for the purchase of bunker and diesel fuels, however, in reality the institution needs ¢42 billion and as such electrical rates should be reduced.
Honduras Beats Costa Rica 4-0 in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
Thursday, August 13th, 2009SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Carlos Costly scored twice and Carlos Pavon and Malvin Valladares added goals in Honduras’ 4-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifier in the CONCACAF region.
After six of 10 qualifying games, Costa Rica leads with 12 points followed by Honduras and the United States with 10 each, Mexico with nine, and El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago with five each.
The top three teams will advance automatically to the World Cup. The No. 4 team faces a playoff with South America’s No. 5 for another berth.
Costa Rica’s Arias works from home with swine flu
Thursday, August 13th, 2009 
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias received treatment at home for the H1N1 swine flu virus on Wednesday, but officials said his symptoms were mild and he could recover by next week.
Health ministry doctors tested people who have been in recent contact with the president, including members of his Cabinet, Arias’ office said, a day after announcing he was ill with a mild case of the virus.
The 68-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner is the first head of state known to have contracted swine flu, which has spread around the world since April and could eventually affect 2 billion people.
Arias was being treated with the antiviral Tamiflu for symptoms like body aches and fever, but was working on his computer and answering the phone, presidential spokeswoman Lisbeth Barbosa said.
“He will probably be back to a full schedule next Monday,” she said.
More than 20 people in Costa Rica have died of swine flu, which was declared a pandemic on June 11 and has killed more than 800 people worldwide. The World Health Organization stopped trying to get a precise count of flu cases.
Arias is considered a high-risk case because he also suffers from asthma. He began feeling sick over the weekend and was tested for H1N1 on Monday.
Last month, Arias brokered talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras, where a de facto government unrecognized by most of the world has been holding power since the army ousted President Manuel Zelaya in a June 28 coup.
Negotiations broke down two weeks ago over whether the interim leadership would let Zelaya return to power. Arias’ illness is unlikely to affect the situation.
