Archive for December 23rd, 2009
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Featured in Florida’s 12 Days of Fugitives is escaped convict Julio Bonchea. Julio Bonchea goes by the aliases Julio Bonachea, Manuel Tata Rodriguez, and Miguel Tata Rodriguez. On August 8, 1998, Julio Bonchea was convicted and sentenced to sever 18 years in prison for attempted murder. Julio was convicted of leading a home invasion burglary that resulted in one victim being stabbed and another victim being shot multiple times. He had been charged with attempted murder, burglary, grand larceny, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. On March 26, 2000, Julio Bonchea escaped from the Calhoun Correctional Institution.
Julio was later arrested in June 20001 in San Jose, Costa Rica; again he was charged with attempted murder. Julio Bonchea was sentenced to serve 11 years in a Costa Rican prison but escaped a second time in June 2005. It is unclear if Bonchea remained in Costa Rica or moved to Cuba as he has family members there. It is possible that he is in South or Central America as well. He has worked in various sales jobs and in the traveling industry and is fluent in both Spanish and English.
“This fugitive is the first to be featured as he has the dubious distinction of being highly violent and escaping from a Florida Prison and a foreign jail. He has family in Cuba and South Florida connections but could be living undetected in any Spanish-speaking community anywhere,” said FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Jim Madden.
Julio Bonchea stands 5’7” and weighed approximately 155 pounds at the time of his escape. He has brown hair and brown eyes and may be using his assumed aliases and working in sales, insurance, telemarketing, or the travel industry.
There is a cash reward offered for Julio Bonchea under the 12 Days of Fugitives program. If you have information regarding Julio Bonchea’s whereabouts you are asked to call (1-877-FLA Wanted) or email: FLAWanted@fdle.state.fl.us
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
In two days the year end parties begin around San José and it will be up to the officers of the Fuerza Pública (police), the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) to ensure safety and security and the to the personnel of the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) and Bomberos (fire department) to respond to emergencies for the hundreds of thousands that will be taking part in the Zapote Fair and the Festejos Populares de San José.
At noon on Christmas Day, Zapote comes to life, as the annual fear plays hosts to those looking for entertainment, traditional fast food, the megabars and of course, the bulls.
The annual event attracts visitors from all over the country and tourists.
On Sunday, December 27, Paseo Colón and Avendida Segunda shuts down to vehicular traffic to host the Tope Nacional, the annual horse parade in downtown San José.
Raúl Rivera, regional director of the Fuerza Pública de San José, said that more than 200 police officers will be assigned to the Zapote fair, working in two 12 hour shifts.
Rivera added that police officials will be stationed at the points of entry. Even though entry to the fair is free, unlike other years, there are specific points of entry and exit to control the entry of firearms and other weapons on the fair grounds.
The police director is asking parents to keep a strict eye on their children. Lost children are always a hearbreaking situation for both the police and the Cruz Roja.
The Cruz Roja suggests that parents dress their children with a bracelet with the child’s name and emergency contact.
Both Cruz Roja and Fuerza Pública officials recommend an afternoon visit for those with children and avoid being in the park with children after 8pm.
Germán Marín, director of the Policía de Tránsito, said his officers will be on hand to control traffic and the traditional practice of illegal parking and blocking driveways and emergency routes.
Marín said that at least 25 Tráficos (Traffic officials) will be posted to the Zapote detail and more than double that to the downtown San José and Circunvalación that feeds traffic to and from Zapote.
Recommended for a safe visit to Zapote is not to wear jewellery or anything flashy and not carry large amounts of cash.
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Break out the piggy bank or the coin jar to remove all the large silver coins or “plateadas”, as they will be phased out next year.
Costa Rican banks will begin receiving in exchange of the coins during the first three months of 2010, after which the coins can only be exchanged at the Banco Central de Costa Rica (Central Bank).
TheCentral Bank informed on Tuesday that the local banks will begin receiving and exchanging en masse the ¢5, ¢10 and ¢20 large silver coins. These are the large heavy silver coins, not to be confused with the smaller and lighter silver coins that will be maintained in circulation.
The announcement to retire the coins was made last September and banks have been receiving the coins and remitting them for exchange at the Central Bank, though no mass public collection was announced,
Marvin Alvarado, director of the Tesorería del Banco Central said that beginning on January 1, the Central Bank will begin exchanging the silver coins collected by the local banks and hat beginning on April 1, 2010, the coins can only be exchanged at the Central Bank.
The Central Bank estimates that there are 205 million coins circulating, of which only 18.9 million had been recovered as of December 15.
The move, according to the Central Bank official, is to have only one size of coins in circulation. Although there will exist the the ¢5 and ¢10 gold and silver coins, they will be of the same diameter.
The Central Bank assures that is has enough coins on hand to replace the removal of the large silver coins and will begin a campaign to make the public aware of the exchange.
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
The total amount of cocaine caught being smuggled through Juan Santamaría International Airport, Costa Rica’s principal airport northwest of San José, has jumped from a little more than nine kilograms in 2008 to 209 kg this year, the Public Security Ministry said Monday.
The rise has coincided with increased efforts by narcotics police force and Costa Rica’s increasing presence on the drug-trafficking route.
So far this year authorities have caught 56 people carrying drugs through Juan Santamaría, the ministry said in a news release.
The latest capture was a 25-year-old Israeli male with four packages of cocaine taped to his legs.
Of the total 56 detained this year, 45 were foreign, hailing from countries ranging from Guatemala, Israel, Lithuania, Spain, South Africa and the United States.
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
In response to a visit of the Governor General of Canada last week, the Canadian government has expressed interest in creating a consulate in Costa Rica and the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) of Costa Rica is looking to attract more Canadian tourists.
During Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s visit, she promised to take steps to remove the visa complications for Costa Ricans hoping to move to Canada. Without a Canadian consulate in Costa Rica, Ticos currently have to send their documentation to the consulate in Guatemala in order to have their visas approved.
“Part of my work here in Costa Rica involves simplifying the visa issues for the Costa Ricans hoping to come to our country,” Jean said. “We are, after all, friends and need to develop opportunities between the two countries.”
President Arias nodded in agreement and suggested a Canadian consulate should be opened in Costa Rica.
Other matters discussed by Canada’s highest-ranking representative of the head-of-state and President Arias included: maximizing the trading relationship in light of the 2002 Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, improving the flow of tourism between the two countries, as well as working together on cultural and education exchange projects.
This week, CANATUR has defined how Costa Rica is looking to improve tourism between the two countries, indicating that there has been some exploration into establishing direct airline flights to and from Canada.
In his comments regarding the push for Canadian tourism, CANATUR President Juan Carlos Ramos said, “The year 2010 will be a period to make national tourism more convenient, and to promote activities to attract tourists from destinations like Canada, which represents an opportunity to help us recover in the tourism sector.”
Information from CANATUR reveals that, from January to September 2009, 75,790 tourists from Canada visited Costa Rica, accounting for more than 5 percent of the total visitors during that period. CANATUR also revealed that 287,705 Canadian tourists have come to Costa Rica from 2007 through September 2009. Canadian tourists are found to spend approximately $1,425 per person and have the longest average stay of any visiting population, at 18.7 nights.
“The Canadian visitor is relatively young, as 60 percent are younger than 44 years old,” Ramos said. “They find Costa Rica to be a destination with different options for the purpose of entertainment, beaches, mountains, diverse eco-systems and a place committed to the development of sustainable tourism.”
At the conference for Jean, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias had the following words to say about Canada: “I was once asked by a reporter what country I would like to belong to if I hadn’t been born in Costa Rica. The answer was Canada because of its sense of responsibility, solidarity and diversity. We can learn a lot from Canada.”
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Arenal is one of the most exciting and sought after destinations for the ultimate Costa Rica vacation. Arenal and the nearby town of La Fortuna offer a wide range of hotels and activities that rival any top vacation destination. It is impossible to ignore the allure and majesty of the Arenal Volcano itself. The volcano and its abundant natural hot springs, provide the stunning backdrop that makes this natural wonder an absolute must-visit in Costa Rica. Considered extinct in modern times, this sleeping giant awoke with a vengeance on July 29, 1968 with a large eruption which destroyed three villages and killed 87 people. The current eruption period in the 7,000 year history of this picture-perfect conical volcano now produces daily displays of red-hot lava tumbling down the slopes with the signature rumblings and ash columns towering above. It is the youngest and most active of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, and is said to be one of the tenth most active in the world.
Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake is a beautiful complement to the southwest slope, not only for its natural beauty, but for the array of activities it offers as well. Additionally, the post 1968 effect tripled the area of the lake which provides hydroelectric power for Costa Ricans. Sources site between 40% and 70% of all power produced in Costa Rica comes from Lake Arenal hydroelectric. (more…)
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
The new flagrancia court will be open every day over the Christmas holidays to handle those crooks caught in the act, said the Poder Judicial.
The judiciary will be going on vacation Dec. 21, but a summary Monday said that necessary services would not be affected. These include the flagrancia court that issues judgments on those caught red-handed. It will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Poder Judicial said.
Also open will be the Sala IV constitutional court where magistrates will share the duties of awaiting the filing of cases and appeals. The court will be open for the reception of documents 24 hours a day. The entire court could be called into special session if the case warrants that kind of emergency response, the Poder Judicial said.
The Judicial Investigating Organization, the morgue, the Ministerio Público where prosecutors work and the Defensa Pública also will be open with short staffs.
Those who have to pay child support will see no changes, the judiciary said. Monthly payments will be routed directly through the Banco de Costa Rica.
And the judiciary also will be keeping open the office where reports are given about crimes by victims. The vacation ends Jan. 4.
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