Archive for September 14th, 2009
Monday, September 14th, 2009
This week the Costa Rican flags on display everywhere – private homes, public buildings, store windows, etc – are not to support the Costa Rican national soccer team, “the sele”, but, rather to celebrate the country’s 188th day of independence which is on Tuesday, September 15.
Beating drums have been a fixture at all public schools this week, as teachers have been stressing the importance of the independence and instill patriotism.
To mark the celebration is the arrival of the independence torch, arriving tomorrow at the north border from Nicaragua and be in San José Monday night.
Tuesday, traditional parades will be on hand in all the provinces, children beating their drums, to remind the public of liberty and independence that is a privilege in Costa Rica, which has shown does not have to be defended by arms. (Costa Rican abolished its army in 1948).
Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain.
After a brief time in the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide Costa Rica became a state in the Federal Republic of Central America from 1823 to 1839. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José, but violence briefly ensued through an intense rivalry with Cartago. Although the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes broke out among them, adding to the region’s turbulent history and conditions.
Costa Rica’s membership in the newly formed Federal Republic of Central America, free of Spanish rule, was short lived; in 1838, long after the Central American Federation ceased to function in practice, Costa Rica formally withdrew and proclaimed itself sovereign.
The distance from Guatemala City to the Central Valley of Costa Rica, where most of the population lived and still lives, was great. The local population had little allegiance to the government in Guatemala City, in part because of the history of isolation during Colonial times. Costa Rica’s disinterest in participating as a province in a greater Central American government was one of the deciding factors in the break-up of the fledgling federation into independent states, which still exist today.
However, all of the Central American nations still celebrate September 15 as their independence day, which pertains to the independence of Central America from Spain.
Historically, Costa Rica has generally enjoyed greater peace and more consistent political stability compared with many of its fellow Latin American nations.
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
On September 23, 2009, there will come into effect a sweeping legislation intended to transform Costa Rica’s roadways from the hazardous – free for -all that has developed in recent decades, into a network occupied by safe, conscientious and prepared drivers.
» Computerization of Licenses, where points are deducted for infractions
» Dramatic increase in the amount of fines
» Safety seats for all minors under 12 years of age
» Harsh penalties and jail time for driving under the influence
» Immediate loss of license for multiple offences
» New devices requirements, like hands free cell phone adaptor, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, GPS transponder, etc.
» Sanctions for left lane slow pokes and no passing on right, even on multiple lane highways
» Foreigners and their drivers license
» Pedestrians will be required to cross at a corner or crosswalk
Accumulating 50 points is easy!
Examples of infraction combination’s:
1. Running a red light and a stop sign
2. Speeding, not wearing a seat-belt, using a cell phone while driving
3. Blocking traffic, speeding in front of a hospital, not carrying booster cables or first aid kit, too many passengers
Driving with a 0.50 blood alcohol content, driving at more than 120 Km/h or not strapping in child under the age of 12 on September comes with a heavy fine and license suspension.
Reckless criminal driving is another a major change in September. Driving over 150 Km/h or taking part in any type of street racing will mean an automatic license suspension and jail time!
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
Officials in Costa Rica have said that a boat with 54 African migrants on board has been intercepted off the country’s Caribbean coast.
Three members of the crew were held on suspicion of human trafficking, the Latin American Herald Tribune reported.
The Security Ministry said those on the ship had been without food or water for several days and may have been abandoned in the vessel, which is not seaworthy. Doctors were sent to examine them.
They believe the 54 migrants, including seven women, came from Eritrea and had paid traffickers to reach the US.
The number of Africans found in Costa Rica illegally has been increasing. Authorities say many of them appear to be victims of trafficking groups that charge them as much as $7,000 each, promising passage to the United States, and then abandon them.
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
Not to be confused with the mountainous region north of San Jose, about half way between the Pacific side cities of Uvita (South of the Dominical) and Puerto Cortes, lies the growth-targeted natural wonderland of another, Coronado.
While tourist and retirees were flocking to Costa Rica’s northern Pacific Coast which has been perceived as the country’s first hot spot, further South (about 240 km from San Jose) on the Puntarenas province, and among the mist-shrouded mountains, cascading rivers, and vast tropical forests of the southern zone remained a secret that for years has been maintained by adventure-tourists, eco-gurus, and local Costa Ricans. It is warm and humid year round, average temperature: 83°. It’s rainiest season from May through October.
Needless to say, Costa Rican Government has anticipating the potential of this region first starting with President Oscar Arias who has finalized plans for a new international airport in the area that is to be built by 2010. (more…)
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Monday, September 14th, 2009
China and Costa Rica concluded the fourth round of negotiations in Beijing aimed at reaching a free trade agreement, according to the foreign trade ministry.
Costa Rica — which gave up six decades of ties with Taiwan in favor of China two years ago — is the third Latin American country to negotiate a free trade deal with China, after Chile and Peru.
In the round of talks that ended Thursday agreements were reached for more than 90 percent of each country’s exports, the trade ministry said.
Costa Rican exports include coffee, bananas, fruit juices, cigars, pork, beef and chicken, said Costa Rican chief negotiator Fernando Ocampo.
Costa Rican negotiators face intense pressure from the local business community, which is calling for a long list of potential Chinese exports to be banned, fearing they will be overwhelmed by cheap imports.
Advances in trade talks were also made in other areas such as labor, investment, environment, and immigration.
Ocampo said he was very satisfied with the advances, but said that important issues were still pending.
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