Archive for December 9th, 2009
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
The president-elect of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, said Tuesday he wants political amnesty for all those involved in the coup that deposed President Manuel Zelaya and isolated the country.
Zelaya, a leftist, was ousted by the army on June 28. De facto leader Roberto Micheletti who took his place has defied world pressure to reinstate Zelaya, dividing the impoverished nation and provoking an international aid freeze.
“I believe there should be (an amnesty) for all those involved in June 28,” Lobo told reporters in San Jose after meeting with the presidents of Costa Rica and Panama, both of whom have recognized his victory in last month’s election.
“There must an amnesty for all,” Lobo said.
An amnesty could end the five-month crisis and allow Zelaya to leave the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he has taken refuge since slipping back into Honduras in September.
The United States and Brazil have been pushing for Zelaya’s return to office but his fate remains uncertain after the Honduran Congress voted last week not to allow him to finish his term that ends in January.
Zelaya told Reuters Sunday by telephone from the embassy, which is ringed by Honduran soldiers around the clock, that he will stay there for as long as Brazil lets him.
Opposition candidate Lobo won the presidential vote last month but regional power Brazil has said it does not recognise the election because it was organized by a de-facto government. But it has since signalled it may consider Lobo’s victory as separate from the coup and potentially legitimate.
Zelaya has also rejected the elections as a sham, but told Reuters he did not rule out talking to Lobo, a sign that he too may be willing to compromise.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Prostitutes and transvestites working the streets of the downtown Heredia are complaining of abuse by police, who are responding to the concerns of citizens of the growing problem in the cuidad de la flores (the city of flowers).
A group of 12 transvestites or “travestis in Spanish” who provide sexual services on the streets of downtown Heredia denounced police aggression against them, saying that last December 5th on the them, a travesti known as “Gaviota”, was beaten senselessly by officers of the Fuerza Pública.
Police officials deny the occurrence.
For their part, the Policía Municipal (Heredia Municipal Police) say they are keeping an eye on the 12 who work mainly the streets near the “comandancia de Heredia” (the Heredia police command centre).
Residents are upset about all that is going on, as they are the ones who are directly affected by the rise in prostitution in their neighbourhoods and concerned that the tension between the travestis and police could result in aggression against them.
Prostitution in Costa Rica is not illegal.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Planning a Tropical vacation full of lush jungles, secluded beaches, and friendly people but not too expensive? Costa Rica is the place to go! But where do you stay, a resort or a private villa? Do you want long lines, crowded pools, kids running up and down the corridors? I think not.
Selecting the best Costa Rica vacation rental can be the difference between a great vacation and one where you feel like you are ‘doing without’.
Many vacationers consider the Costa Rica vacation rental as ‘just somewhere to stay’ since most of your time will be spent in or on the water, or enjoying local attractions. Don’t make that mistake. There is no reason to settle for less when, with a little planning, you can find a great Costa Rica vacation rental that you’ll enjoy as much or more than the other parts of your vacation.
Remember, your vacation home is where you’ll be sleeping, waking up, having many of your meals, and resting.
If it rains or is unseasonably hot outside, you may end up stretched out reading a book to while away the day or wanting to watch one of your favorite movies on the DVD – assuming there is a comfortable sofa. And when you meet new friends, you’ll want someplace nice for entertaining. Shouldn’t your vacation rental be a pleasant get-away with the amenities that make vacations a real treat? “A home away from home”
Here are 10 tips for selecting the perfect Costa Rica vacation rental:
1. The single most important factor is whether or not you can “see” actual recent photos of the interior and exterior of the vacation rental. It’s one thing to read a great description – and some of them are quite ‘complimentary’ (sometimes overly so) – but you need to see what you are getting.
With the Internet, a website is the quickest most convenient way for you to get information on prospective Costa Rica vacation rentals. If there are no pictures, you’ll know right away to keep looking. Brochures, books and guides are nice, but may have out-dated information. (more…)
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of former Costa Rican Vice-President Rebeca Grynspan to be second-in-command at the United Nations agency tasked with providing countries with the knowledge, experience and resources that aid economic growth.
Ms. Grynspan has been named Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which she has served since March 2006 as Regional Director of the agency’s office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
She succeeds Ad Melkert who has been appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and head of the UN mission in that country (UNAMI).
Before joining UNDP, Ms. Grynspan worked within the UN Secretariat as Director of the Sub-regional Headquarters in Mexico of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) from 2001 to 2006.
She won election to Vice-President of Costa Rica, serving one term from 1994 to 1998, after holding ministerial positions in the Central American nation’s Government for eight years.
In her new post, Ms. Grynspan will assist UNDP Administrator – former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark – in overseeing the agency’s programmes, as well as fulfilling other leadership responsibilities.
In addition to helping developing countries build democratic governance; assist in conflict prevention and recovery; aid in poverty and HIV/AIDS reduction; and establish energy sources while protecting the environment; UNDP seeks to promote human rights and the empowerment of women.
Ms. Grynspan, who was born in 1955, holds a masters degree in economics from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom and is married with two children.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
