Archive for November, 2009
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
If the national soccer team, La Sele, were to adopt the work rate of the Chinese builders responsible for building its new National Stadium, the next World Cup would be well within reach.
Under construction for just eight months, the 35,000-seat stadium, at La Sabana Park in western San José, is nearing 50 percent completion, and looks well on course to meet its February 2011 finish date.
After much deliberation, Osvaldo Pandolfo, vice minister for sports, announced this week that the pitch would be natural grass, as opposed to the synthetic type that is becoming more commonly used throughout the country.
“It has been decided that a natural grass field, as opposed to a synthetic one, would be more practical,” Pandolfo told reporters Tuesday. “Not only is it some $400,000 cheaper, but it would suit a wider range of athletes.”
The sports official also suggested grass is considered safer than artificial turf.
He added, “What’s more, the best stadiums in the world have grass pitches.”
While the details of the inauguration ceremony in 2011 are yet to be finalized, a match between the Costa Rican and Chinese national soccer teams is expected to be part of the week-long ceremony.
Built by an 800-strong army of Chinese workers brought to Costa Rica by the contractor, Annuli Foreign Economic Construction (AFEC), the new state-of-the-art stadium will boast an electronic retractable roof, shops, an athletics track, a giant screen, 17 table tennis tables and a mini-museum.
Construction of the multi-purpose stadium, financed by the Chinese government at an estimated cost of $60 million, was part of a business agreement signed by President Oscar Arias and Chinese President Hun Junta, during Arias’ first visit to the Asian country in October 2007.
Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Wang Xiao Yuan said, “While the stadium has been built to last, we hope our growing friendship with Costa Rica, will outlive even the stadium.”
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
The front-runner in Costa Rica’s 2010 presidential vote promises to combat drug trafficking and reduce violence and crime, if she replaces President Oscar Arias. Rising crime is a top concern for voters.
Another candidate from the National Liberation Party plans to improve coordination and provide social programs to keep youngsters off the streets.
Laura Chinchilla, National Liberation Party Candidate:
“Most of the violence affecting Costa Rica is related to drug trafficking gangs hitting all of Latin America. During the second quarter, we need to have better coordination among judges and prosecutors to reduce impunity.”
Chinchilla is aiming to leverage her experience as Public Security Minister to gain voter support. She also hopes to seal free trade deals with China, the European Union and Singapore.
Costa Rica is expected to conclude a sixth and final round of free trade negotiations with China just after the February 7th election. Two years ago, the country ended 60-year diplomatic ties with Taiwan, in order to curry favor with the Mainland’s communist regime.
Otton Solis from the Citizens Action Party trails Chinchilla by 18 percent. He was a three-time presidential candidate who Arias defeated in a contested runoff vote in 2006.
Otton Solis, Citizens Action Party:
“Costa Rica believed that by signing legal documents and free trade agreements this would automatically happen. We think we must invest in education to form a productive work force, invest in science and technology and depoliticize the state and make it more effective.”
Two years ago, Costa Ricans narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. in a bitterly fought referendum. Costa Rica was the last signatory to ratify the accord. Some sectors worry about a flood of cheap manufacture products into the the Central American nation’s tiny economy.
Chinchilla needs at least 40 percent of the vote to avoid a second-round runoff, which would be held in early April. Consecutive term limits bar Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, from running in this election.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Turkish and Costa Rican leaders said Wednesday the two countries intend to sign a free trade agreement to boost bilateral economic relations and also enhance political ties, Turkish media reported.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul told a joint press conference with his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar Arias that Turkey wants to sign a free trade agreement soon with Costa Rica, which has a sound economy with increasing foreign investment, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
Gul said Turkey has seen great improvement in economic, political, military and cultural ties with Latin American countries “as part of its multidimensional and comprehensive foreign policy,” according to the report.
It said the two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries.
Arias said he was happy to talk about a free trade agreement with Turkey, noting that his country plans to open an embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara in 2011.
Arias, who is in Turkey this week for a visit upon an invitation by Gul, is the first Costa Rican president to pay an official visit to Turkey. He will conclude his visit on Thursday.
Costa Rica’s Arias awarded honorary doctorate in Turkey
A Turkish university honored Costa Rica’s President Oscar Arias with an honorary doctorate on Friday.
Istanbul’s Bahcesehir University decorated Arias with honorary doctorate for his contributions to peace.
The Costa Rican president received the title at a ceremony during his formal visit to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Arias told the ceremony that nearly 1.5 trillion USD was paid globally for armament every year instead of education and health, adding that his country abolished its army and allocated military funds for education and health services.
He also urged people to elect leaders who could see real needs of their countries.
Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his contributions to lasting peace in Central America. He has received honorary doctorate titles from almost 50 universities including Harvard and Princeton.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Despite every negative thing that has been mentioned about Costa Rica and its good atmosphere for expats and foreign investors, foreigners still choose to stay here and make their investments because of the belief that, by far, Costa Rica remains to be one of the best retirement destinations in the region.
Fortunately, the Costa Rican government, through its ministries and financial institutions, remain to be pro-American. This means that there will be no socialist leader advocating for the demise of the USA while nationalizing most corporations currently in private hands. This makes the Costa Rican business market favorable for most expats and investors.
Furthermore, the Costa Rican government has long aimed to attract hi-tech corporations in the country through the promotion of its highly educated and computer-literate workforce. A modern production infrastructure that is currently being created is also a plus point. Right now, we are seeing a transition from an economy dependent on agricultural goods to an economy that is service-oriented.
No wonder Costa Rica has already gained the nickname “Silicon Valley of Latin America” after companies like Acer, Microsoft, GE, Abbot Laboratories, and Intel Corporation decided to make huge investments here, both financially and physically, with the establishment of some of their production and distribution facilities set up here.
Costa Rica is one of the proponents of continental free trade, and it has every right to do so after making sure that its local economic and political atmosphere are stable and consistent. Costa Rica is creating a competitive advantage for itself, and the world’s financial authorities are not too slow to not notice this.
All this and a lot more reasons make the country undoubtedly a good place to make an investment in.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. The custom of celebrating the harvest goes back to ancient times and remains a widespread custom.
Thanksgiving Day commemorates the celebration held in 1621 after the first harvest by the Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims who traveled from England on the Mayflower landed on December 21, 1620. The harsh winter claimed about half their number. The local Wampanoag Indians, who were friendly to the newcomers, furnished seeds and taught them how to plant corn. The corn and the crops grown from the seeds they had brought with them produced a bountiful harvest. Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day to celebrate the harvest. The celebration brought together the colonists and the Indians, who were led by their chief Massasoit. The colonists provided water fowl, wild turkey and fish. The Indians contributed deer to the feast.
The tradition of observing a day of thanksgiving spread throughout the colonies, but was celebrated on different dates.
In 1789 President George Washington proclaimed a National Thanksgiving Day in honor of the new United States Constitution.
In 1846 Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of a magazine called Godey’s Lady’s Book, began a campaign to have the last Thursday in November designated as a national Thanksgiving Day. Her campaign resulted in victory in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln decided that the national Thanksgiving Day would be held on the last Thursday in November.
In 1941 Congress named the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, which is not always the last Thursday in November.
Today Thanksgiving Day is a time for family and friends to come together to count their blessings by sharing an elaborate meal including turkey and pumpkin pie, to watch parades and football games and to get ready to begin their Christmas shopping.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Argentina has signed an agreement with Costa Rica to share banking information, in the latest move to tighten the noose on Argentines with cash hidden in overseas tax havens.
Similar agreements were recently signed with Andorra and Monaco.
The deals are designed to stop tax evasion and fraud by exchanging tax information, lifting banking secrecy and allowing agents to conduct investigations overseas, according to the Ricardo Echegaray, director of Argentina’s tax agency, or AFIP.
Argentina is expected to sign similar deals next week with the Bahamas and San Marino, in addition to a customs information agreement with Russia, AFIP said in a press release Tuesday.
The government is also working to reach financial information sharing agreements with a number of additional tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, Dutch Antilles, Aruba, Barbados and Jersey.
The push comes as part of a drive to catch tax cheats who failed to come forward before the Aug. 31 end of an amnesty program for Argentine companies and individuals with hidden funds and unpaid taxes.
The amnesty plan hauled in 32.8 billion pesos ($8.5 billion), surpassing expectations, but still leaves a large amount of funds held by Argentines overseas or suspected to be hidden from authorities.
According to various estimates, Argentines have well over $100 billion in funds invested overseas.
Just under 170,000 companies and individuals took advantage of the amnesty plan, paying ARS14.7 billion in debt owed to AFIP.
Almost 36,000 individuals legalized undeclared funds under the amnesty, bringing in ARS18.1 billion hidden by individuals overseas.
Individuals were allowed to declare their hidden stashes and wipe the slate clean by paying an 8% tax, or just 1% if the funds are invested in real estate or capital goods. That compares with an income tax as high as 35% that would have been paid on most of the funds.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
So far this month of November has been a rocking month in Costa Rica, as the country has been shook and rolled at least 9 times in the past 23 days. However, experts say there is nothing to worry or be frightened about, this is all normal for the month.
According to Ronnie Quintero, seismologist for the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori), the earthquakes this month are normal and cyclical, even though last November only two tremors were recorded.
The latest three quakes were reported on Sunday in the areas of Alaska de Pérez Zeledón, which was hit by two and the other at the volcán Irazú.
Friday a tremor was recorded in La Boca del río Parismina and Thursday in Cartago.
Quintero said it is normal for people to be concerned about the seismic activity, but the tremors are normal seismic activity that people are feeling and naturally get scared.
Nortwitstanding, Quintero added that special attention is being given to the Parismina tremor, where two quakes, one registering 4.6 and the other 5.2 on the Richter scale, were felt.
Quintero explained that the special attention is that even though there have been tremors recorded in the area known as “nido de Parismina” (Parismina nest_, none have been of that magnitude, the majority being between 2 and 3 degrees on the Richter scale.
On January 8, 2009, a 6.2 earthquake shook the Cinchona and Vara Blanca area, causing massive destruction, forcing the evacuation of thousands and the death of 19.
The area is still recovering and the Cinchona – Sarapiquí route is still closed due to land and mud slides caused by the earthquake.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Note on your calendar the dates December 19, 2009 to January 4, 2010, as the date the public sector employees are off on their Christmas/Year End vacation.
The ministro de la Presidencia, Rodrigo Arias, made the announcement yesterday, in effect giving the order to all heads of government institutions and agencies to shut down for the holidays.
Public sector employees will actually have eight days off: December 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31. All the other days are Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays (December 25 and January1).
Arias added that instructions are being sent to those institutions and agencies that provide “emergency” services, to adjust their schedules and staff rotations to guarantee services to the public.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
The new stadium in Parque la Sabana will have a grass field instead of artificial turf as can be found now in one of the local soccer stadiums.
That was the report from Casa Presidencial which said that the stadium, being built by the government of the People’s Republic of China, is half finished.
Rodrigo Arias Sánchez, minister of the Presidencia, said that the stadium probably would be finished in the first few months of 2011. He toured the site Tuesday. The $83 million stadium will seat 35,000 persons.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
The first IMOCA Open 60 to celebrate crossing the Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) finish line in Costa Rica was the French yacht Safran, raced by co-skippers Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier-Benac.
At 0852:10 (0252:10 local time Tuesday, 24 November) after 15 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds on course, Safran, co-skippered by France’s Guillemot and Caudrelier crossed the finish line off Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.
Guillemot and Caudrelier have therefore won the 14 boat IMOCA Open 60 Class in the TJV transatlantic race which started on Sunday, 8 November from Le Havre.
Safran sailed 5,263 miles at an average speed of 12.46 knots.
Line honours had already been taken, however, just hours before by Crêpes Whaou! from the Multi 50 Class.
After 15 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds at 0431 on Tuesday, 24 November (2231 local time Monday, 23 November), Franck-Yves Escoffier and Erwan Le Roux on the Multi 50 Crêpes Whaou! broke the finish line off Puerto Limon, Costa Rica to take line honours in the ninth edition of the TJV transatlantic race from Le Havre.
For the 5,805 miles sailed their average speed was 13.41 knots.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) – Costa Rica’s sole provider of cellular service – said on Friday that it was having problems with the text messaging platform. The problem continues still today.
However, since the announcement, thousands of complaints have been reported of users not being able to text. Some users of the older technology, TDMA, have also reported experiencing some texting problems.
The problem has affected some 1 million users, according to ICE, which is working on resolving the problem.
Many in Costa Rica prefer to send a text message or SMS (Short Message Service ) to another telephone rather than make a call. An SMS message costs ¢0.06 colones while a minimum one minute telephone call costs ¢0.23 to 0.30 colones (off peak and peak times), perhaps the main reason for preferring texting, however, it could me of a social change in people’s habits and the way they communicate with others.
In terms of traffic, in 2008 more than than 4 trillion text messages were sent globally, in an industry that is valued at tens of billions of dollars annually.
Throughout history technology has always modified consumer behaviour, because it makes out lives fulfilling and more time to do other things. The cellular phone is one of those. Can you imagine yourself without a cellular phone?
Moving quickly ahead from the beginning of the cellular phone revolution, although voice is the primary method of communication, text messaging is now the preferred method.
A text message can be informative and means “optional participation”. A text message can be used to schedule or change a meeting, share a thought, an idea or it can be used to communicate without someone without interaction.
Smart phones offer even more flexibility in texting. An iPhone, for instance, will treat the exchange of text messaging as a conversation, keeping each sides of the conversation in a different colored bubble and in chronological order.
Smartphones all have a full keyboard, some with physical keys, while others offering a digital keyboard, eliminating the pecking of a,b,c to get to the b and so on.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Costa Rican authorities destroyed 1.057 plants of marijuana in the Península de Osa.
The plantation was located in the jungle of Puertas del Sol de Tinoco, in the area of Palmar, in the southern zone.
The police report says that officials had to walk 10 miles to get to the plantation and now are looking into who might have planted the crop.
Police say they found no one on the plantation and have no suspects.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Costa Rican health authorities confirmed Sunday the deaths of two Nicaraguan women from pneumonia caused by the H1N1 virus, bringing the total number of people who have died of – or of complications from – swine flu here to 40.
The deceased were 33 and 51 years old and both died about two weeks ago, Costa Rican Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila told local reporters.
The two patients had other risk factors working against them, including obesity and diabetes, said Avila, who added that – in addition – the women waited to go to health centers until they had already been having symptoms of the virus for five days, which is generally too long in the estimation of the medical community, particularly if one has other risk factors.
Costa Rica is expecting in the coming weeks to receive 200,000 doses of swine flu vaccine which will be administered first to health care workers and then to the most at-risk population, including pregnant women.
In January, authorities said that they are scheduled to receive another 250,000 vaccine doses.
In all, according to Avila, Costa Rica will invest some $3 million in purchasing the vaccine.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Costa Rica said Sunday it will sign with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) an information exchange agreement aimed at avoiding possible sanctions by the grouping.
Costa Rica’s Treasure Minister Jenny Phillips told Xinhua that the government will seek to amend existing laws to permit investigations of bank accounts in the country, as required by the OECD.
Under the country’s law, probes of bank account data require the authorization of a judge.
According to Phillips, the government will send a law amendment bill to the Legislative Assembly before Dec. 15, as a way of showing its willingness to cooperate with the OECD.
The OECD will also sign similar agreements with 12 other countries, including Mexico, France, Germany, Switzerland, Chile, Colombia, Canada, Brazil and Argentina, Phillips said.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Many are excited for the arrival of 3G in Costa Rica, especially with the announcement by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) will begin marketing the 950.000 next generation of cellular lines by mid December. However, some will be severely disappointed.
ICE, the sole provider of cellular service in Costa Rica, says it will offer 3G only with basic services at the start and none of the innovate and sophisticated options available on a 3G network.
The 3G network installation contract in Costa Rica was gien to the Chinese company Huawei Technologies and a price tag of us$235 million dollars.
It was expected that by the end of this year this marvel in technology would be available in full, like it is available in just about every country that has cellular service, including neighbouring Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America.
ICE says that the network will be delivered in three stages, the first is basic services, which allows the making and receiving of telephone voice calls and text messaging with a greater coverage and speed that what Ticos are accustomed to.
According to Elbert Durán, ICE spokesperson, the 3G will be transmitting on a wide band and no the 64Kb that the current cellular networks (TDMA and GSM) are using.
The difference that to download, say a video or music, can take less than a minute on the 3G while it can take many minutes under the current network.
However, 3G is more than just a network for making and receiving telephone calls. The wide band allows the transmission of data – large amounts of data, like photos, movies and even television (mobile tv) – all in the palm of a hand. But, not in Costa Rica.
Durán failed to say when the other two stages of the service will be available, nor the exact date when the first 3G will be available.
The introduction of the 3G is crucial for ICE as it heads into a new era for Costa Rica, competition in the telecommunication sector, with the expected authorization of three additional cellular carriers by next year.
Currently there are 1.8 million cellular users in Costa Rica.
With the addition of the 950.000 3G lines, ICE will have locked in the market, as a change to a competitor will surely mean a change in phone number, something that Ticos are simply not accustomed to, where many subscribers, have the same phone number since the first day cellular service was introduced in Costa Rica.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
