Archive for August, 2010
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Frontier Airlines said Monday it is adding once-a-week seasonal nonstop flights from Denver International Airport to the western Costa Rican city of Liberia.
Frontier — a unit of Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET) — already flies to San José, capital of the Central American nation. But Liberia (airport code LIR) is closer to Costa Rica’ popular resort beaches in its north Pacific coast province of Guanacaste.
The seasonal service begins Feb. 13, 2011, and runs through Aug. 21, 2011. Airbus jets will fly once in each direction each Sunday.
Frontier said it will be the only carrier to offer nonstops between Denver and either San José or Liberia.
“The addition of Liberia is a great compliment to our successful service to San José and now provides our guests with greater flexibility to enjoy all the natural beauty and relaxation Costa Rica has to offer,” Daniel Shurz, Republic’s VP of strategy and planning, said in a statement.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. dedicated its innovative Biodigester system at its Mundimar S.A. facility in Guapiles, Costa Rica.
Joined by Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, senior vice president for government affairs and corporate responsibility officer Manuel Rodriguez spoke about Chiquita’s newest effort to promote sustainable operations and carbon neutrality.
“Chiquita’s new Biodigester is at the forefront of our global sustainability efforts,” said Rodriguez. “This technology enables us to harness the full energy potential of fruit materials that previously could not be captured. It provides a sustainable energy source for our facility, nutrient rich fertilizer for local farmers and filters processing water. It benefits our company, our communities and our planet. The Biodigester is the latest demonstration of Chiquita’s global citizenship and our drive to incorporate sustainability into everything we do.”
“For Costa Rica to continue being the environmental leader it has become, and to strengthen our international position as defendants of the environment, we need to work in alliance with the private sector, especially with companies that guarantee clean energy and environmentally friendly industrial processes. This is why I want to congratulate Chiquita for this new step on the right direction,” said Costa Rican President Chinchilla.
Biodigester systems convert organic material into electrical and heat energy as well as produce valuable byproducts such as nutrient rich fertilizers. Specifically, Chiquita’s Biodigester utilizes excess fruit material and processing water from its operations to produce energy that is used by its Guapiles facility and fertilizer for use by local palm producers and farmers. The unique “gravity utilizing” design of the Biodigester system allows for the circulation of processing water without using electricity, thereby creating a carbon neutral circulation process.
When commissioning the project, Chiquita insisted that the latest sustainable technologies be incorporated to ensure an optimal environmental impact was achieved. The Biodigester was designed by BioSinergia, an innovative company led by two graduates of EARTH University who devote their professional practice to the construction of environmentally sustainable systems.
Since the early 1990s, Chiquita has been a leader and pioneer in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility efforts including water conservation, reduced plastic use, and biodiversity. Moreover, Chiquita was one of the first seven companies to join in the Costa Rican National Climate Change Strategy and has been a leader in developing globally recognized labor agreements and business practices that incorporate the core conventions of the International Labor Organization.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
William Dathan Holbert and Laura Michelle Reese arrived in Costa Rica via the port of Limon on a Cruise ship in 2006, and the body found under a mysterious concrete slab in Puerto Viejo is fugitive attorney Jeffery A. Kline. Many of the details of this story have been reconstructed recently by Don Winner in Panama, and the storyline could easily fill the pages of a crime novel.
For most the discovery of a crudely constructed concrete foundation on their Costa Rica rental property would send shivers up their spine. This is exactly what expat landlord Joe Freconna discovered in 2007 upon making a trip to check up on his property investment. His worst fear was confirmed when excavation turned up the shallow grave of Wisconsin attorney Jeffery A. Kline who turned out be on the run with $100,000 in cash.
Kline arrived in Costa Rica during the spring of 2006, and had recently transfered $107,000 into a local bank account. He was on the run from a child support judgment and an ugly divorce.
Holbert, the man later to be known as Wild Bill Cortez befriended him during a trip to San Jose, and both stayed at the Best Western Irazu. Kline was a heavy drinker and apparently confided enough for Holbert to know that he had some cash, and no one would miss his disappearance.
Don Winner speculates that it was Holbert who burglarized Kline’s hotel room and robbed approximately $6,000 in cash. It’s also probable that Holbert gained access to important personal documents that made it possible to take over his bank account after murdering him. At the very least Holbert could have obtained the debit card and PIN, which made it possible to drain the funds over the course of several months.
ATMs of public banks in Costa Rica tend to have much higher limits than in the United States, and it’s possible to withdraw several thousand dollars per day.
Working with a source in Costa Rica Don Winner was able to reconstruct most the the details of Holbert’s and Kline’s brief relationship.
The other interesting revelation made by Don Winner is that Holbert and his girlfriend Laura Michelle Reese arrived in Costa Rica via a Cruise Ship. Holbert apparently stole a U Haul truck in Bismark, North Dakota after escaping a Wyoming highway patrolman in a high speed chase. He had been stopped in a stolen Jeep with West Virginia license plates.
According to Don Winner, Holbert and his paramour arrived in Puerto Limon via cruise ship after driving to Florida in the stolen truck.
Holbert apparently established himself in Costa Rica by dealing in used cars and was able to finance his foray into Jaco on the Pacific coast with the cash he acquired from Kline.
Expat Allen Duckworth reports that during a trip to Jaco he suspected Holbert was plotting his murder in order to steal his business and property and he escaped the country in a big hurry.
According to other sources Holbert leased an office across the street from the Beattle Bar and initiated a night photo surveillance on affluent sex tourists. Its unclear if there are victims of Holbert in Jaco, and it’s possible he was content to live off the proceeds of extortion.
Eventually Holbert and Reese left Costa Rica for Panama where Holbert took on the identify of Wild Bill Cortez and combined his portfolio of murder with property fraud. He made the mistake of killing an honest woman, Cher Lynn Hughes who unlike other victims had family and friends to miss her in the United States. An investigation into her disappearance uncovered a body and Holbert became a Fugitive from Justice in Panama. He fled Panama ironically enough for Costa Rica, and was Captured at the Border with Nicaragua.
Many questions remain unresolved, and since Holbert has confessed to the murder of five people in Panama he will likely never live to be a free man again. It’s also unlikely that many of his crimes in Costa Rica will never come to light.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
The government in the Central American nation of Costa Rica appears set to regulate the online gambling industry, following the release of draft plans by the Finance Ministry.
Around 380 gambling companies are currently based in Costa Rica, most of them serving US consumers, mainly because they pay no taxes and only need a date-processing license to be allowed to operate in the country.
The proposal, which comes just three months after the election of President Laura Chincilla, aims to end the current situation by establishing a gambling control board for online gaming that would be funded by a new levy of 0.5 percent of gross income.
A tax of five percent would also be implemented under the scheme, in order to fight increasing crime and fund the country’s education system.
The new board would be subordinate to a council chaired by the country’s Minister of the Interior and Police and it would issue licenses valid for a maximum of six years and attainable for a fee of $50,000 per year.
However, this is far from the first time that Costa Rican authorities have tried to implement measures to regulate the online casino industry. Just last year the Finance Ministry attempted to introduce a two percent tax on gambling, after estimating it would raise $85 million.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
The days of the vehicular restrictions on the Circunvalación are few, as with the opening of the Alajuelita overpass, the ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes is serious about changes to the restrictions.
Francisco Jiménez, the MOPT minister, commented last week that once the work of the rotonda below the bridge is complete, the restrictions on the Circunvalación will be lifted. The road work is expected to be completed within three weeks.
The Circunvalación has a daily traffic count of 40.000 vehicles and is currently included in the vehicular restrictions of San José between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
American graduate student David Gimelfarb vanished a year ago while hiking in Costa Rica. He is one of three men who disappeared in Costa Rica in 2009.
Gimelfarb, 28, was working on his doctorate degree at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois, and traveled to Costa Rica on his summer break. According to his family, Gimelfarb arrived on August 9 and was last seen two days later.
He was hiking in Parque National Rincon de la Vieja, which is in a thick jungle popular among backpackers, when he vanished. His vehicle was found in the parking lot and his cell phone and passport were found in his hotel room.
Some witnesses place Gimelfarb at the hotel bar later that afternoon, while others say he left the hotel in his car and was not seen again.
Gimelfarb’s orange, gray and black North Face backpack is missing. It might contain a water bottle, power bars, a camera and a travel book on Costa Rica. Gimelfarb also had the keys to his apartment in Chicago, his rental car keys, his wallet and a copy of his passport with him. (more…)
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
If playing golf is your passion then Costa Rica is a golfer’s delight! At Los Suenos Resort, you will find one of the best championship golf course designs not only in Costa Rica, but in all of Latin America! Within travelling distance from Playa Jaco and Manuel Antonio beach, this supreme Costa Rica golf resort comes highly recommended; a must-see destination while on vacation in Costa Rica.
Opened in 1999 and designed by Ted Robinson Junior, this is a modern, one of a kind golf course in Costa Rica will exceed all of your expectations. Los Suenos Resort in Jaco features a prime 18 –hole, Par 72 golf course makes up total of 6,698 yards, including an expansive driving range and putting green. Located in the secluded Central Pacific cove of Herradura Bay and positioned alongside exotic rainforest, this golf course in Costa Rica is like none other! This a challenging golf course with some truly spectacular Pacific Ocean views.
Los Suenos Golf Resort is nestled amongst lush, exotic rainforest vegetation including palm trees and orchids and surrounded by tropical wildlife including macaws, humming birds, toucans and friendly monkeys. These exotic animals will be your companions as you make your way around a beautiful yet demanding golf course located right in the heart of the Costa Rican jungle. This Jaco golf course and resort is certainly an art gallery with a different perspective!
The Pro Shop at Los Suenos Resort has a range of products to suit all your golfing needs during your stay in Costa Rica. It is well-stocked with golf products from the best golfing manufacturers including Polo and Slazenger. State of the art rental equipment is available to for all specifications, including Callaway clubs, Foot-Joy footwear and the digital swing analysis V1 System.
Additionally, qualified PGA golfing professionals are on hand to help you reach your ultimate golfing aspirations! Los Suenos Resort also offers specialized private golf lessons which focus on specific areas of your game help you develop game techniques and golf clinics for groups of 5 or more are also available.
The ultimate 19th hole is your reward for completing this amazing golf course in Jaco Costa Rica. Serving up ice cold beers, quality cocktails, natural fruit drinks and delicious snacks are available for your refreshment after a hard day on the green.
So what are you waiting for? Experience what it’s like to golf Costa Rica now! Los Suenos Resort is the ultimate golfers paradise so you already have a hole in one! For more information about Los Suenos Golf Resort on Herradura Bay near Playa Jaco, contact Escape Villas at 1-800-340-2407 or info@villascostarica.com.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Costa Rica’s telecommunications market offers opportunities with its new liberalization, opening the door for competition across all segments and boosting mobile penetration to 136 percent by 2015 with prepaid subscriptions, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.
Costa Rica is the last country in Latin America to liberalize its telecommunications industry. Now, the regulator in Costa Rica has been quite busy with the liberalization of fixed and mobile services taking place. “Costa Rica is auctioning three mobile licenses over the next few months, and the process is expected to be completed before year end,” says Jose Magana, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research. “New regulation includes number portability and infrastructure sharing.”
“Mobile penetration of the population closed at 52 percent in 2009, one of the lowest rates in Latin America and not consistent with the income level of the population,” says Magana. “We forecast that after liberalization, mobile penetration will advance to 136 percent by 2015 with prepaid subscriptions accounting for 79 percent of the total, and that mobile revenue will advance to $831 million by 2015 from $603 million in 2009, with gains coming mostly from data services, such as mobile broadband.” (more…)
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Prepaid cellular phones are big hit with Costa Ricans, with a total of 660.000 subscribers to the service by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) that went online April 19 this year.
The state telecom estimates that one quarter of all cellular phone users in Costa Rica have a prepaid line.
Prepaid lines offer customers the ability to control their cellular phone costs, loading their line with a minimum of ¢50 colones (10 cents) to a maximum of ¢10.000 colones after the initial acquisition of the service with a minimum usage of ¢2.500 colones.
In this way cell phone users are not burdened with the monthly minimum of about ¢4.000 that is paid by post-pay subscribers.
However, ICE still requires subscribers to be a legal resident of citizen, a move that is puzzling since the residency/citizen requirement was to protect the institution against fraudulent charges.
And each person is restricted a maximum of two prepaid cellular lines.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, announced that Canada and Costa Rica have agreed to work toward modernizing the existing bilateral free trade agreement. Minister Van Loan made the announcement following his meeting with the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Minister, Anabel Gonzalez.
“Our government’s aggressive free trade agenda is creating opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers and is securing future prosperity for Canadians and our trading partners in the hemisphere,” said Minister Van Loan. “Costa Rica is our largest trading partner in the region, and updating our free trade agreement is the logical next step in our growing commercial relationship.”
Canada and Costa Rica have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations, enhanced by the entry into force of the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement in 2002, a first-generation agreement that focuses mainly on trade in goods and excludes substantive provisions in areas such as cross-border trade in services, government procurement, financial services and investment.
An updated free trade agreement could lower tariffs on goods and remove trade barriers in a broad range of sectors, creating new opportunities for the Canadian construction, manufacturing and agricultural industries. It could also expand market access for cross-border trade in services, financial services, electronic commerce, telecommunications and investment, as well as secure access to the government procurement market.
Two-way trade between Canada and Costa Rica totalled CAD 441.8 million in 2009. In the same year, Canadian exports consisted mainly of preserved foods, machinery, and paper and paperboard.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Costa Rican President Chinchilla Inaugurates Innovation in Sustainable Operations
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) today dedicated its innovative Biodigester system at its Mundimar S.A. facility in Guapiles, Costa Rica. Joined by Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, senior vice president for government affairs and corporate responsibility officer Manuel Rodriguez spoke about Chiquita’s newest effort to promote sustainable operations and carbon neutrality.
“Chiquita’s new Biodigester is at the forefront of our global sustainability efforts,” said Rodriguez. “This technology enables us to harness the full energy potential of fruit materials that previously could not be captured. It provides a sustainable energy source for our facility, nutrient rich fertilizer for local farmers and filters processing water. It benefits our company, our communities and our planet. The Biodigester is the latest demonstration of Chiquita’s global citizenship and our drive to incorporate sustainability into everything we do.” (more…)
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Costa Rica’s gay rights activists have sought a different path than those in the US.
Some are celebrating, some cursing, a new federal court ruling to restore gay marriage in California — even though same-sex weddings are on hold pending an appeal process.
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, the country’s high court ensured that the battle over gay rights won’t be fought through the ballot box.
A public referendum on recognizing same-sex civil unions was set for December. Proponents had submitted enough signatures — at least 5 percent of the electorate — to hold the vote.
But on Aug. 10, the Supreme Court canceled the referendum.
So why is the Costa Rican lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community ecstatic? (more…)
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Saturday, August 28th, 2010
Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels. Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the “loser,” and I eat the inferior one immediately.
The winner gets to go another round.
I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world.
Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment.
When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3×5 card reading,
“Please use this M&M for breeding purposes.”
This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this “grant money.” I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament.
From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion.
There can be only one.
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Friday, August 27th, 2010
Longshore workers in the United States and Costa Rica are celebrating a ruling by Costa Rica’s high court that throws out the illegal government takeover of the SINTRAJAP longshore union and the ouster of its democratically-elected leaders.
The takeover prompted the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s (ILWU ’s) Coast Longshore Division to charge Costa Rica with “serious and repeated failures by the government of Costa Rica to effectively enforce its own labor laws” in an 18-page complaint with the Labor Department’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA).
“The return of the legitimate union leadership is a victory for hard-working people everywhere, who count on having the democratic right to join a union and improve their standard of living, ensure their safety and strengthen their communities,” says ILWU President Robert McEllrath.
It’s an important step forward in the never-ending battle to protect workers from forces that would like to return to the days before union rights, when poverty and unsafe working conditions in the workplace were considered an acceptable cost of doing business.
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