Archive for December 14th, 2009
Monday, December 14th, 2009
The Costa Rican government has invested more than ₡ 360 billion (about $638 million) on infrastructure and transportation projects in 2009, which is nearly 10 times the amount spent in 2005, Public Works and Transport Minister Marco Vargas said Friday during a year-in-review presentation.
“I would grade the infrastructure sector for 2009 using the formula of its contribution and assistance to the economic situation,” Vargas said.
He explained that the Public Works and Transport Ministry’s (MOPT) total expenditure accounted for 2.15 percent of Costa Rica’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Vargas detailed the improvements made to Costa Rican roadways, airports, trains and ports. He said more than 7,200 kilometers of national roadways have been paved in 2009, stressing a 42 km stretch of road between Quepos and Dominical in the central Pacific region whose completion is expected sometime in the first three months of next year.
Vargas also commented on the near completion of the Caldera Highway, which will stretch 77 km from the town of Escazú, southwest of San José, to the Port of Caldera, on the central Pacific coast. The road is expected to be finished by July 2010.
MOPT says investment contributed to the ports of Limón and Moín in 2009 totaled $800 million.
However, the minister sidestepped some of the recent dark spots in MOPT’s recent history, including the controversy over the environmental impact of the Caldera Highway work and overdue bridge repairs. A bridge close to the town of Orotina, near the central Pacific coast, collapsed in October, killing five people and causing an uproar that forced the former MOPT chief, Karla González, to resign.
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
As the cost of health-care continues to climb, many Americans and Canadians are having elective, cosmetic or otherwise cost prohibitive procedures done in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has a nationalized health care system that is nearly free for all residents. Quality of care ranks #36 worldwide by the World Heath Organization (the US is #37) and yet the cost per capita of health-care in Costa Rica is less than 1/10th the cost of comparable care in the US. Many procedures cost even less, in fact many procedures cost as little as a tenth the cost of comparable care in the US.
What is their secret? With cost of living expenses in Costa Rica significantly lower than the US, the cost of doing business is less. Average per-capita income in the country averages less than $12,000 per year, so labor costs are significantly lower than many other countries. Furthermore,Costa Rica has basically eliminated malpractice expenses, a primary reason why health care costs are so expensive in the US. (more…)
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
Porfirio Lobo, Honduras president elect, said on Sunday he is committed to enable ousted president Manuel Zelaya to leave the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he remains under refuge following a frustrated attempt last week.
Honduras now made it clear what it will accept: “It was decided at the highest level of government: it will be a territorial asylum and he may not go to any nation which borders Honduras, ie that is in Central America,” said the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Milton Mateo.
According to the Honduran government, Zelaya will not be allowed to travel to Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua or Costa Rica. “He must select another country, but none in Central America,” stressed Mateo.
Lobo said he had plans to meet this week with Zelaya in the Dominican Republic, but the planned exit of Zelaya to Mexico last Wednesday was canceled. (more…)
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
Are you planning a trip to the beautiful country of Costa Rica? There is plenty to see in this country including the beaches on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, quaint colonial towns, and lush inland rainforests. It would be impossible to see all of this with buses and taxis so you should consider renting a car. Car Rental Costa Rica will give you the ability to come and go as you please and see places that aren’t reachable by other forms of transportation.
Since Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination there are several local and international car rental companies to choose from. Here are some tips on renting a car in Costa Rica.
Driving in Costa Rica
You might be worried about driving in a foreign country but Costa Rica is one of the most developed Central American countries and the roads are in fairly good condition. The road rules are about the same as the U.S. so it’s easy to get the hang of it after a few hours of driving around.
Check with the car rental company about what kind of license you’ll need. Sometimes you can just use your license from home but usually you’ll need to get an international drivers license. An international driver’s license doesn’t require a test and you can pick one up for a nominal fee from an auto club such as AAA. Even if you’re not required to have an international driver’s license it’s a good idea to get one since your information is translated into several languages.
Rental Car Locations
The majority of rental car companies have facilities at the Juan Santamar?a airport which is most likely where you’ll arrive and depart. Some also have offices in town which can be more convenient if you don’t want to rent a car right when you arrive. Smaller local car rental companies may only have offices in town but they usually offer a pick up and drop off service to make it more convenient.
Resort cities also have a few car rental offices in town. You can rent a car for just a day or two to explore the sounding area and get away from the chaotic city. Some offer one way rentals so you can drive it back to San Jos? and drop it off at the airport when you leave.
Special Offers
Costa Rica car rental always have special offers and discounts especially in the off-peak season. Visit individual car rental websites to find specials you may be eligible for. Most rental companies partner with airlines so it’s worth checking with the airline you’ll be traveling on. Discounts are usually available such as auto club, senior and corporate discounts. Make sure you have the discount code and supply it when booking your reservation.
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, always maintained that the Costanera Sur be build during his administration. However, neither he nor the area residents had envisioned that it would occur, 20 years later, during his second term as president.
Travelling from Quepos to Dominical in record time has been a dream for many for decades. However, that dream is almost a reality as work on the Costanera Sur is almost complete.
Only three kilometres of construction are left on an important road that connects the Pacific Central with the Pacific South.
Last week, Marco Vargas, ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), visited the area to inspect the 8 major and 20 minor bridges along the route and along with Alfredo Villalobos, general manager of Transportes Unidos La Costanera, the company building the road, said that the completion will end a nightmare of many, many years.
Travelling from Quepos to Dominical or vice-versa took some two hours or more, depending on weather conditions.
most of time spent at one lane bridges or dodging potholes. The new road, that took 30 years to build, will soon cut that time to a fraction.
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
The results of the Central Government’s accounts show a reduction in income of 8.4% in the first eight months of this year, in relation to the same period last year.
According to figures from the Ministry of Finance, the total spending grew 21.7%, motivated mostly by the increase in income, due to the different adjustments that have been made over the year, and from the transfers from the Superior Education Fund (FEES for it’s initials in Spanish). The income reflects an accumulated growth of 32.1% up till the month of August in comparison to the same period in 2008. Also, the item “other spending” increased a 15.2% and the resources destined to pension payments increased 18.1% in the first 8 months of 2009 in comparison to the same period in the year 2008. (more…)
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says he will leave the Brazilian Embassy in Honduras by Jan. 27, when his presidential term ends, according to an interview broadcast Friday.
Zelaya said in the telephone interview with Globo TV that he wants to leave soon but did not say where he will go. He has been holed up in the embassy in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa for three months under threat of arrest if he sets foot outside the building.
Zelaya’s comments aired a day after Honduras’ coup-installed government said he is free to leave the country, but not as president.
The top-ranking Brazilian official at the embassy also told Globo TV that Zelaya must leave by Jan. 27. Francisco Catunda did not say where Zelaya might go, saying only that it would be “another destination.”
Officials at Brazil’s presidency and at the nation’s foreign ministry did not immediately return telephone messages left Friday seeking comment.
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