Archive for March 30th, 2010
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Latin pop star Ricky Martin has announced he is gay. “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man,” he wrote on www.rickymartinmusic.com.
Martin said a few months ago he decided to write a memoir and doing so brought him closer to a turning point. “Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating.”
The 38-year-old became a father to twin sons via a surrogate in 2008 and at that time no details were given about the birth or the mother.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
The Banco Nacional de Sangre (Blood Bank) is making call for donations as blood reserves are low and especially “type O Positive”.
The blood bank operates daily from Monday to Friday (only to Wednesday this week) at south side of the Zapote church.
If you want to donate, call 2283 7664 for more information.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Desarrollos Naturales de Costa Rica SA (Desarrollos), the Developer and Admin of the largest luxury flagged condo hotel project under construction in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica, has sued its lender.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) (in Spanish known as Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economica (BCIE)), its lending Partner and the Trustee Banco Improsa S.A. for $120 Million in damages.
Desarrollos filed for Binding Arbitration as agreed in the loan covenants, trust agreements and subsequent amendments in the Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce. Arbitration rules require a final ruling in 155 working days.
The Luxurious Project, in the top tourist destination of Jaco Beach, one hour from the Airport utilizing a recently inaugurated new highway, is currently 84% completed and 75% sold.
The suit claims that, starting January 2009, as the project prepared to commence closings, start-up the hotel and commence repayment of construction loans, arbitrary actions of the Lenders and Trustee violated the terms of the contracts, blocking sales, imposing abusive conditions and not fulfilling their commitments. The complaint alleges the Lenders incurred in breach of contract, breach of good faith, improper control, negligence, refusal to set a release price, disregard of customer rights, and breach of fiduciary duty by the counter-parties that has caused the successful project to collapse.
The lawsuit has been filed to protect the rights of Buyers, Suppliers as well as those of the Developers. Costa Rican Civil Courts have issued preventive measures to protect the interests of all involved until the final ruling is issued.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is traditionally a hot and dry time of year. And this year it will be no different. However, it is also a reminded that the rainy season is around the corner.
Although the rainy season won’t hit the Central Valley and the Guanacaste region for several more weeks, it expected to start in the southern zone.
Meteorologist don’t expect any extraordinary event this season, as the rains will fall as normal, without any great effects of Hurricanes and Tropical Storms that are common in the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Notwithstanding, the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) has started the process of preparation to help out communities from the heavy rains and flooding that may be part of the season’s experiences.
Local CNE committees have begun training programs all over the country.
The national weatherman says that the 2010 rainy season is expected to be within “normal parameters”, but there is always a need to be prepared for “climatic phenomena”.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) announced the suspension of all tolls on the autopistas General Cañas (airport toll station), the Bernardo Soto (Naranjo), the Florencio del Castillo (Tres Ríos) and the Braulio Carrillo (Zurqui).
However, the tolls on the Próspero Fernández (San José - Caldera) will operate as usual. The road is operated privately under concession by Autopistas del Sol and does not come under control of the government.
The toll stations at Escazú, La Guacima, Atenas and Pozón will all operate normally.
The cost of the tolls that road are ¢1.930 colones in each direction. However, the price drops ¢100 colones beginning on Thursday as Autopistas reduces the toll cost on the road to reflect the reduced dollar/colon exchange rate.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
This is what 1 reader had to say about a story we did called “Is Costa Rica Right?“
As a hotel owner let me explain to the readers how Costa Ricans” pay” for their health care.
The employer draws 9% off the Ticos salary for the CAJA, Social Security. The employer pays about 23% of the employee’s salary to the Caja. A Heavy hit.
That gives the Tico his 100% health care. PLUS. YES PLUS.
More than 3 days off work due to illness, I pay the first 3 at 50% and the Caja pays him 50% of his salary for any time off after 3 days. Even if it’s a year. There is a disability included if it’s permanent…..cancer, stroke etc.
PLUS. The employer is required to have a separate policy with INS, the governments insurance company, so if the employee gets hurt on the job, it pays 75% of his salary for time off. Even if it’s a year.
This is what they get for the 9% withdrawn. And you, dear reader?
PLUS. The employer is required to pay aguinaldo, a one month salaries bonus at the beginning of Dec every year so the Tico has some extra cashola for the holidays .Every employed tico is entitled, by law.
12 vacation days are paid and the worker is off. Non negotiable. They take the days off.
The Ticos that earn over 15K, I think, must pay 10% of their salary to the govt as an income tax. Earners, or companies, making more than 25K pay 15% flat.
There’s your retirement program.
Yep. Costa Rica, unlike the fallen empire, has things figured out. Of course when you’re not busy spreading DemoNcracy and FreeDumb…..bombing “evil” into the stone age to steal natural resources……..many, many, things are possible.
When the great Don Pepe # http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Figueres_Ferrer # re wrote the constitution in 1949, he had decided that Costa Rica was big enough and didn’t need to overtake the world and therefore abolished the military.
Imagine. No Ticos, nor their family members, under about 75 or 80 years, old have ever experienced, or financed war or aggression in any form.
They don’t call it Pura Vida ! for nothin’ !
Story by Dooooooglas
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