Archive for February, 2010
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Eleven tropical rain-forest countries Tuesday agreed to commit on sustainable forest management at a ministerial meeting held in Indonesia’s Bali province.
The tropical rain-forests are home to diverse biological species and storehouses of genetic resources. They also serve as sources of livelihood and a repository of cultural heritage, the group, also known as F-11, said in a joint press statement.
Looking forward to 2010, the ministers emphasized that the forthcoming global climate talks must include the issue of forest as an integral component.
Indonesian Foreign Minster Marty Natalegawa told reporters that the meeting was very useful and productive as it gave opportunity for member countries to share their experience on forestry issues.
‘We have discussed various topics related to forestry matters, including biodiversity, climate change and sustainable forest management,’ said Marty.
Papua New Guinea Forestry Minister Belden Namah said all ministers in the meeting supported initiatives of forest management practices.
‘We support initiatives taken by the F-11 in the area of sustainable forest management,’ said Namah.
The forum also agreed admission of Guatemala, Suriname and Guyana to the association.
The F-11 consists of Indonesia, Brazil, Gabon, Costa Rica, Congo, Cameroon, Colombia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Peru and Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
The Caribbean Tourism Industry is delighted to learn that effective immediately Canada has approved more flights to the region according to Canadian government officials.
Canada’s transport minister, John Baird, and minister of international trade, Peter Van Loan, said the country has successfully concluded an expanded air services agreement with Cuba “which will allow more airlines from both countries to immediately operate scheduled air services to any Canadian or Cuban cities.”
Transport minister Baird said two additional Canadian Airlines were able to apply to the Canadian Transportation Agency to offer new flights between Canada and Cuba. He also annouced that an additional Canadian airline will immediately offer new flights between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.
“In the past few years, the governemnt of Canada has moved at an incredible pace to negotiate new or expanded international agreements and this current agreement provides even greater options for Canadians travelling south,” Baird said in a statement.
“Over the past four years, we have worked to provide airlines with more flexibilty to increase the number of convenient flights and cheaper fares to help travelers, businesses, shippers, and the tourism industry,” the minister added.
Meanwhile minister Van Loan indicated that Canada is “leading the way in creating better trade and travel links throughout the Americas and the world.”
“This agreement builds on the agreements we have signed or updated since 2006, which now totals nearly 50 countries including Barbados, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico,” he said.
Baird said Westjet and Sunwing will operate scheduled intetrnational air services between Canada and Cuba and that Westjet will commence flights to Trinidad and Tobago in May.
Several caribbean countries including Jamaica are expecting increase business from Canada this winter season.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
On International Mother Language Day, the regional representation for South and Central America of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stresses the need for effective measures to halt the extinction of native languages across the region, as well as to encourage their use.
The opportunity to use and transmit beliefs and traditions in one’s mother tongue represents not only a cultural right, but an essential tool for ensuring knowledge of human rights. According to UNESCO, 90% of the world’s languages will disappear in the next 100 years.
South America is one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world. According to the UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, there are more than 248 languages in Latin America that are currently considered severely or critically endangered, including: 14 in Argentina, 4 in Belize, 35 in Bolivia, 178 in Brazil, 8 in Costa Rica, 6 in Chile, 64 in Colombia, 12 in Ecuador, 1 in El Salvador, 23 in Guatemala, 7 in Honduras, 143 in Mexico, 8 in Nicaragua, 8 in Panama, 12 in Paraguay, 57 in Peru, 1 in Uruguay, and 34 in Venezuela.
The Regional Offices of the OHCHR stress the urgency to adopt measures to implement national and regional linguistic policies. At the same time, they call on States to encourage intercultural bilingual education as well as the production of digital contents in native languages.
The Regional Offices of the OHCHR point out that such rights are enshrined in Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, The ILO’s Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognize the right of indigenous people to use, revitalize, stimulate and preserve their language.
These instruments establish the responsibility of States to adopt measures to ensure access for indigenous peoples to education in their own culture and language, as well as their responsibility to adopt effective measures to protect and guarantee the exercise of such rights in political, judicial and administrative instances.
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
At least one group is not too pleased with the drinking and driving sanctions in the new Ley de Tránsito. The Cámara Costarricense de Restaurantes (Costa Rican restaurant association) is making their concerns known to legislators as they continue discussion on making the provisions even tougher.
The Cámara says that at least 325 bars have closed and 6.000 people have lost their jobs since the introduction of tough drinking and driving sanctions in December 2008.
In their petition to legislators, the Cámara is asking legislators to remove the penal provisions of those that drive under the influence of alcohol if it is a first offense and no damage to property or people is involved.
Edgar Marín, president of the Cámara, said on ADN Noticias (90.7FM) says that the Ley de Tránsito and the economic crisis has hit hard the industry.
Marín said that the law is too harsh on first time offenders who face jail and losing their vehicle if found driving with blood alcohol levels of 0.75 and over.
In contrast, the Instituto de Alcoholismo y Farmacodependencia (IAFA), assures that the economic interests of bars cannot override the security of the roads.
Guiselle Amador, director of the IAFA, said that the safety and health of individuals outweighs the “profits” of business and did not agree with the petition of the Cámara.
Legislators have until the end of this week to approve tougher sanctions. Legislators are discussing a proposal to drop the drunk driving limit to 0.50.
The current law calls for a fine and points for drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.50 and 0.75 and criminal prosecution above the 0.75.
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Legislators are racing against a March 1 deadline to pass a series of modifications to the transit law due to take effect that day.
Motivated by criticism that fines for traffic violations in the original law were too high, legislators are debating the introduction of more reasonable tickets.
The original traffic law was passed in November 2008 and threatened to raise the maximum ticket from $36 to $410. For those ignoring traffic lights or signs, it would be a $310 fine. Not wearing a seat-belt or holding a cell phone? Also $310.
Just weeks before the fines were scheduled to take effect on Sept. 23, legislators put its implementation on hold (estimated to cost $35 million), delaying it until March 1 of this year.
Speaking on the floor of the assembly on Feb. 18, legislator Andrea Marcela Morales said, “This is the hour to vindicate these mistakes, to give the Costa Rican people a better quality law, traffic legislation that is not lenient, but also doesn’t smother people.”
The Arias administration presented the law early in its four-year term, and his cabinet is pushing to pass it before the administration leaves office on May 8.
“It has been and will continue to be a priority for the government,” Rodrigo Arias, minister to the president, said in a statement last week. “We hope that … legislators will be ready to arrive at the necessary consensus, and once and for all, pass a transit law that is rational, that punishes those who insist on driving after drinking excessively, and who recklessly inflict death and pain on many families.”
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Costa Rica is a country where gamblers of all denominations can feel right at home. Gambling is explicitly legal and proves to be a booming business within the country. The small nation is home to 30 large casinos and hundreds of other gambling establishments.
Costa Rican gambling law permits just about every form of gambling. Though the gambling industry seemed to be bounding on without limits, the government has started putting more energy into regulating it over the past few years.
Through gambling, the government has a great opportunity to raise revenue and through different regulations they can adjust their intake. Up until this point, the industry’s only concern was whether or not the government will raise its taxes on gambling.
A new president, Laura Chinchilla, has been elected in Costa Rica, but has a few months before she will take office. President-Elect Chinchilla is the first woman to be elected president. Land-based casino operators are not happy with the President-Elect due to her open dislike of gambling facilities due to their unfortunate relationship with prostitution. Land-based casino can expect stricter rulings and regulations from this point on, through the new government.
Online gambling sites in Costa Rica, however, have nothing to worry about. President-Elect Chinchilla is highly supportive of the online gambling industry and all of the business that it brings to the nation.
Online Casinos in Costa Rica are obviously much cleaner than their land-based counterparts when it comes to prostitution due to the lack of a physical location. Many online gambling havens are based in Costa Rica and are accessed from all over the world. Brick and mortar casinos also cater to an international scene being that new laws require casinos to be attached to large hotels.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2010
American Airlines plans to expand its international presence in New York with three new routes between John F Kennedy International Airport and San Jose, Costa Rica; Madrid, Spain; and Manchester, England.
The new flights to San Jose will begin on April 6, 2010, while service to Madrid will start on May 1, 2010 and flights to Manchester will begin on May 13, 2010.
The enhanced schedule brings the number of international destinations American serves from New York to 31. American will fly its Boeing 757 aircraft with 16 seats in business class and 166 seats in the coach cabin on the route.
Jim Carter, vice president eastern sales division at American, said: “New Yorkers are international travelers whether for business or leisure travel and we’re excited to add these three great destinations to our schedule. These new flights are perfect additions to our sparkling, state-of-the-art John F Kennedy international airport terminal a major international gateway that provides best-in-class service and amenities for our premium and coach customers from our New York hub.”
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Monday, February 22nd, 2010
The ideal is that drivers adopt a responsible behaviour when they get behind the wheel. But the reality suggests otherwise, according to the director of the Policía de Tránsito, Germán Marín, the country’s top traffic cop.
“We have a situation of road ignorance. We see it every day, dramatic events occur when people drive under the influence of alcohol and committing other actions that many drivers do not consider important”, Marín said in a recent interview with the daily Al Día.
“Responsible drivers do not care if there is a traffic officer nearby or that the fines are too high”, said Marín.
The new Ley de Tránsito that goes into effect on March 1, 2010, has many up in arms that the fines are too high and that the penalties for drinking and reckless driving are too harsh.
Although legislators are currently discussing reducing the fines called for in the legislation that was passed in 2008 and postponed its implementation to September 2009 and then March 2010, the new law will certainly change the way drivers in Costa Rica take to the road.
For his part, Marín is confident that people are ready to assume the consequences of the new rules of the road.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2010
The Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) is getting aggressive in attracting new mortgage customer and is now lending up to 100% of the value.
The program allows home buyers with no down payment, but have the ability to make the payments, to now make that important purchase in their life.
The BCR will lend on mortgages in dollars or in colones for terms of up to 25 and 30 years, respectively.
Interest rates can be on a fixed term or variable.
The loans are open to all Costa Ricans and foreigners alike who are current with their immigration status (legal residency) and have been working for the same employer for more than a year or can show sufficient income to service the debt.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2010
The last few years has not been a good time for municipal mayors, the corrupt ones at least, as the Ministerio Público has been active in investigating complaints of corruption in municipal offices since 2007. A total of ten municipal mayors are currently facing judicial problems, all related to acts of corruption while in office.
The most common practice of corruption is “peculado”(embezzlemen), where local leaders put their hands in the municipal coffers, followed by “cohecho” (bribery) as some form of payment is taken for favours and the act of making contracts contrary to the good of the municipality, among many other acts of irregularities.
Of the ten mayors, two have already gone to trial and convicted, as the case of the mayors of Aserrí and San Carlos; the mayor of Talamanca is still in detention; and the mayors of Santa Cruz and Liberia in Guanacaste were arrested and released on bail, as the case of the mayor of Limón.
Meanwhile, the mayors of Siquirres, Guatuso, Alajueala and Carillo, under investigation.
In those cases, the Fiscalía has raided the municipal offices in search of evidence to complete their cases and bring the corrupt officials to trial.
Of course all the mayors of the focus attention of the ministerio Público all claim their innocence of any wrong doing.
In Alajuela, for example, mayor Joyce Zürcher she is being investigated for abuse of authority and influence peddling with respect to a cement company. Zürcher claims persecution.
In San Carlos, Alfredo Córdoba was convicted this week for defamation. He is appealing. In Aserrí, Mario Morales was sentenced to five years prison for embezzlement, bribery and false statements. Morales assures he will be appealing the sentence.
Carlos Marín in Liberia was reinstated after being suspended last month. Marín is being investigated for not fulfilling his obligations and disobedience to authority. Marín says he is being persecuted by judicial officials who are being spurred by local interest groups.
In Carrillo, Guancaste, judicial officials raided the municipal offices and charge Carlos Cantillo with destroying prime forests and mangroves. Carrillo is being accused of dereliction of duties.
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Monday, February 22nd, 2010
A federal investigation had been ongoing for over a year and it appears that it has uncovered a major online gambling operation. Two men pleaded guilty earlier this month to charges stemming from their involvement in the operation.
On Friday, two more men have now been convicted after pleading guilty. Michael C and Anthony V. Sansone, two brothers, have pleaded guilty. Federal agents conducted raids back in March and arrests were made.
The case had been held up because over a dozen people have refused to testify about the operation. Some of these people have served time in jail for their refusal. Attorneys have argued that their clients have a right to not want to answer any questions.
Computers and notebooks with gambling figures in them were confiscated as part of the raids. Friday, Michael Sansone relinquished his right to $4,038 that was seized and a laptop that was taken by authorities.
The operation is said to have been run in Kansas City, with gamblers placing their bets on the telephone, or, on the Internet. The bets were being routed through Costa Rica, where phone operators and Internet clerks were taking the wagers. Payouts would then be made to those members of the operation in Kansas.
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
Tiger Woods apologized to his fans Friday, saying he was “deeply sorry for his irresponsible and selfish behavior.”
“For all I have done, I am so sorry,” he said. “I have a lot to atone for.”
As expected, Woods did not reveal when he would return to playing golf, saying he will return to therapy Saturday “for guidance on the issues he is facing.”
Wearing a dark blazer and a blue shirt, Woods often had tears in his eyes during his statement, telling a group of reporters he was responsible for the scandal that has engulfed his family.
“I knew my actions were wrong,” said Woods at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. “I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I only thought about myself.
“I felt I was entitled, thanks to money and fame. I was wrong, I was foolish. I don’t get to play by different rules. I brought this shame on myself.”
He ended his nearly 14-minute statement by asking colleagues and fans to “believe in me again.”
Woods also shot down reports that his wife, Elin Nordegren, attacked him on Nov. 27 when he crashed his sport-utility vehicle outside his Florida home.
“There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever, Woods said. “Elin deserves praise. Not blame.”
Woods also appeared angry when he asked the media to respect the privacy of his family.
“Please leave my wife and kids alone,” he said.
As seen in the photo above Woods went over and gave his mom a big hug after his statement.
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
The new road to Caldera claimed a second life yesterday in three weeks of being open to the public.
The fatal accident that claimed one life and sent three others to hospital occurred on the Orotina – Santa Ana direction of the highway, when a mini van slammed into a concrete median, flipped over a couple of times and landed on its side.
The highway was closed in both directions for almost two hours following the 8pm accident.
The van was being driven by 34 year old American, Jake Travis Braesch.
The accident occurred near the Turrucares section of the new highway, where the road is divided by a concrete median.
Witnesses say the driver could not negotiate a curve, lost control and slammed into the first section of the highway divider.
Critics of the new highway were quick to blame the lack of illumination and poor design.
Cruz Roja (Red Cross) rescue workers has a difficult time to pull two children from the wreckage, which fortunately were still alive and taken to the hospital México.
The actual cause of the accident is under investigation.
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
If you live in Escazú, Santa Ana and Alajuelita, be prepared as the AyA will be shutting off the taps between 8am and 8pm.
Some 140.000 persons are expected to be affected by the cutting of water service, mainly in the areas of:
Santa Ana centre, Gavilanes, Pozos, Chispa, Concepción, Obando, Casa Blanca and calle Pilas.
Escazú centre, San Antonio, San Rafael, Bello Horizonte, Los Anonos, Alto de las Palomas, Miravalles, Mata Palo, Guachipelín, Laureles, Multiplaza and Trejos Montealegre.
Alajuelita centre, San Josecito, San Felipe, Tejarcillos, La Aurora, Concepción and barrio El Tejar.
The service cut is expected to also affect residents in Desamparados barrios of Maiquetia, Los Angeles, Tolima and Novedades.
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) are calling on its subscribers to save energy during this dry season, before we see a decline in water levels of the major reservoirs.
Greivin Mayorga, deputy electricity ICE, said: “We manage our reservoirs and plan to maintain the safety levels for the critical months of this summer.”
In the case of Arenal, it is currently at 541 meters above sea level but is in a steady declining curve. Meanwhile, Cachí is currently at a level of 988 meters above sea level.
Mayorga believes that energy should be saved, especially during March, April and May.
The electrical energy generated by ICE comes in from 93% clean sources.
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