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A.M. Costa Rica third newspage
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, Vol. 7, No. 42

Despite assurances, deaths of pelicans are still a mystery

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Why hundreds of pelicans died in the Gulf of Nicoya still is an open question.

Feb. 12 a Costa Rican coast guard patrol confirmed that some 500 pelicans died from unknown causes near the island of San Lucas in the Gulf of Nicoya.

Two days later health officials responded to a report that the birds died from eating sardines that had been carrying a natural poison produced by sea vegetation. The implication was that there was nothing to worry about if one were not a pelican.

The whole time health officials were worried about panic among citizens who are concerned with the world epidemic of bird flu.

Now Yayo Vicente, director general of the Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal, reaffirms that the birds, a non-migratory species, did not die of bird flu, but his

organization still does not know what caused the deaths. His agency is within the Ministerio de Producción, which used to be called Agricultura y Ganadería.

Vincente said his department based their findings on some 160 dead pelicans and a live specimen from the Isla Pan de Azúcar in the gulf.

Costa Rican officials are generally nervous whenever an animal die off takes place because they are afraid of the impact on the tourist trade. The last major case of animal deaths was in the Parque Nacional Corcovado in December 2005 involving monkeys, sloths, birds and other animals.

Officials then blamed an intense rainy season that caused a malnutrition problem in Corcovado, but they never explained how the lack of tree fruits would affect creatures like a sloth that ate mainly leaves, which were abundant.

Attempts to obtain copies of animal autopsy reports were frustrated in part because some specimens thawed en route to a U.S. laboratory.

Agents testify how they followed Canadian drug figures

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rican investigators followed two Canadians from Juan Santamaría airport to Zurquí and then to the Ofinter S.A. money exchange business at the request of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, one of the agents testified Tuesday.

He was Guillermo Carballo, head of the Sección de Estupefacientes of the Judicial Investigating Organization. His testimony was supported by two other members of the same organization.

The gist of his testimony was that Canadians Norman Denault and Richard Rivers, spent about 40 minutes inside the Ofinter facility at Mall San Pedro. None of the investigators had any idea what transpired inside or why the men were there.

After their visit to the mall, the Canadians and a third person who was not identified other than being the person who picked them up at the airport, went to the Hotel Del Rey where agents discontinued their surveillance.

It appeared that prosecutors are laying the ground work that would link Oswaldo Villalobos, the man on trial, and his money exchange business with money deposited by the Canadians. Both Rivers and Denault later pleaded guilty in Canada for their roles in attempting to import some 590 kilos of cocaine by boat.

Both men were members of a group assembled by Bertrand St. Onge, who died of natural causes before the arrests. Even before the trial began, that St. Onge had invested some money with Luis Enrique Villalobos was known.

There was no knowledge of any transactions by Rivers or Denault.

The prosecution is trying to show that Oswaldo Villalobos participated in his brother's investment business that was located adjacent to the Ofinter mall offices.

The surveillance took place in January 2002. The activities of the Canadians gave Costa Rican police an excuse to raid both the money exchange operation and the Luis Enrique Villalobos investment business July 4, 2002. Costa Rican investigators had been keeping an eye on the Villalobos operation for at least three years. Also involved in the raid was a Jacó condo owned by St. Onge. Carballo and his two investigators, Warren Campos and Gilberth Solano, participated in the raids, but their testimony on this point contained nothing new.

In his testimony Carballo said that Canadian police had told him that drug dealers from their country were making investments in Costa Rican real estate and with state banks here. But he said in reality the St. Onge associates were doing all their transactions in the Ofinter money exchange house.

If prosecutors can produce evidence that ill-gotten money from the Canadians passed through the exchange house into other investments, the case for the charge of money laundering would be supported. However, there was no evidence of this documentation Tuesday. Oswaldo Villalobos also faces charges of fraud, in that the Villalobos investors did not get their money back, and illegal banking, a third charge also linked to the Luis Enrique Villalobos investment scheme.

Two investors also testified in the Tuesday afternoon session. Guiseppe Russo of Playa Tamarindo said he put $72,000 with the Villalobos operation. Ana Dobles of Rohrmoser said she put in $10,000. Both were enticed by the 3 percent monthly interest paid by Luis Enrique Villalobos.

Heredia utility company wants to be Internet service provider

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Empresa Servicios Públicos de Heredia is ready to go into the internet business and only needs approval of a pending piece of legislation that will give it this right, according to Allan Benavides Vílchez, the general manager.

He was at a meeting of a legislative commission Tuesday to support the proposed law along with other representatives of electrical cooperatives and rural electification firms.

Benavides said that his Heredia firm sees the proposal law

as a golden opportunity not only to commercialize the Internet but to provide a socially viable business to families with low resources, as is required by law.

Benavidas also said that his firm was negotiating with the nation of Israel to make Heredia a digital city in which the services, including traffic lights, are controled by computer.

Empresa Servicios Públicos de Heredia covers 23 percent of the national territory and provides electricity to 120,000 customers.

You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE!

DOS VISTAS . . . finally on the market...

Located literally on top of a ridge, a small mountain, the vistas are unequalled anywhere in the area.   Surrounded by mountains and volcanos, the panoramas stretch from the lights of San José and the Central Valley to the smaller towns further north, Sarchi, Naranjo, Atenas, and Palmares. This house and its location is truly one of a kind.

Dos Vistas is located just off of a well-
maintained public road only 10 minutes into the mountains overlooking Grecia.   The property consists of one manzana (almost two acres), private yet very accessible and convenient.   The property sits on a flyway for birds and flocks of parrots and literally hundreds of other species visit daily.

The home itself is spacious yet comfortable.   It consists of over 1,500 sq. feet, and over 300 sq. feet of tiled terraces.   There are two large bedrooms, each with its own bath.   The large living area, with larger two story cupola, is vaulted and the entire home features hardwood ceilings and gorgeous tiled floors. The kitchen is framed by custom cabinetry and granite counters. Just off of the kitchen, yet separate from the rest of the home is the pila or washroom. And two steps further is a rustic carport.

The home is surrounded by trees, coffee, grass and many varieties of shrubs. There is more than enough room for additional creativity, perhaps a pool, a jacuzzi, a larger garden, or a gazebo.

This home is truly one of a kind.   It is not huge. It is comfortable and the location is definitely pure Costa Rican.   Click HERE for additional pictures.

Come to Grecia and view Dos Vistas — before it is gone. $160,000

randy@cr-home.com toll free: 1-877-247-3014 local: 444-8716 or 841-5782

A.M. Costa Rica fourth news page
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, Vol. 7, No. 42

Are you considering doing business with a burglar alarm company?

If so, you should contact me first
for my opinion

prometheusthegreek@gmail.com

2970-2/8/07

From a hotel owner:

'At this time we have a deposit and all looks good!! Thank you for your help, and I must say your paper is impressive, and I had no idea you had such a circulation around the world. Received many inquiries for our hotel for that reason.'

She used our classifieds!

El Salvador's economy doubled with free trade, Saca says

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

El Salvador's economy has doubled in size since the Central American Free Trade Agreement took effect last year, according to Tony Saca, the country's president.

El Salvador is a big supporter of the United States. The country even uses the U.S. dollar as currency.

Saca has been a big proponent of free trade and comes from the business sector to the president's office. He made his comments Tuesday talking with reporters after meeting with George Bush at the White House in Washington.

Before the free trade agreement, El Salvador, which was torn by civil war in the 1980s, had a sluggish economy with about 1.2 percent growth per year.

In his statements, Saca gave no figures. Most of the discussion revolved around immigration.

Bush used the press conference to call again on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Bush told reporters that Saca reminded him that the temporary protected status given Salvadoran residents in the United States expires in September. The protected status can be given to citizens of certain countries affected by armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions, but it does not lead to permanent residency.

Bush did not say whether he supports renewal of protected status for Salvadorans. Instead, he said he told Saca he is working hard to get Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill that would permit illegal immigrants to seek temporary work visas.

Saca also voiced support for U.S. immigration reform, adding he is grateful that President Bush has always been sensitive to the issues of the two million Salvadorans living in the United States.

Fidel Castro a call-in guest on Hugo Chavez radio show

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Cuban President Fidel Castro, who has not appeared in public since undergoing intestinal surgery last year, says he is recovering and feeling stronger.

Castro spoke Tuesday with his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in a phone call that was broadcast on radio. In the phone call Castro said he is gaining ground and has more energy and strength.

The Cuban leader temporarily transferred power to his

brother, Raúl Castro, following the July surgery. Cuban officials have refused to release details of Castro's condition, saying the health of the 80-year-old is a state secret.

Earlier Tuesday, the head of U.S. intelligence said the ailing president's domination of Cuba will probably end this year.

But Mike McConnell, national intelligence director, also warned a U.S. Senate Committee that significant, positive change is unlikely immediately following Castro's death.
McConnell, a retired Navy vice admiral, made the remarks at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Foreign oil companies in Venezuela will come under state ownership

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has ordered the nationalization of oil projects run by foreign companies in Venezuela's Orinoco River region.

Chavez said Monday during a radio address that he would give the companies four months to agree to the terms and conditions of the nationalization — which will result in Venezuela's state oil company holding at least 60 percent interest in the projects.

The companies affected are Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Total SA and Statoil ASA.

Chavez has undertaken a program of nationalizing privately held industries since he began his second term in office earlier this year. Venezuela's legislature in January gave the president the power to rule by decree for 18 months.

Venezuela has already taken control of a foreign-run telecommunications company and an electrical power company.

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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, Vol. 7, No. 42

Monteverde school plans a 10K March 17 as fundraiser

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A race through Monteverde to raise scholarship money for students at a local school has been planned for March 17. The Cloud Forest School, known locally as the Centro de Educación Creativa, is an English immersion institute with an environmental focus.

Because many local families earn less than $500 a month, more than 60 percent of the students rely on financial assistance in order to attend, said representatives of the school.

The 10-kilometer race, entitled “Carrera Creativa,” will

wind its way through Monteverde beginning at 1 p.m. The registration fee is 5,000 colons ($10) and includes a T-shirt, ribbon, and food bag, said organizers. The race will be divided into age groups, and there will be prizes.

The family event will also have live music, games and food throughout the day.

The mission of the Cloud Forest School is to nurture generations of ecologically aware, academically well-rounded bilingual individuals, said a release.

More information about the race and how to donate to the school is available on a Web site.

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A.M. Costa Rica Second newspage
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, Vol. 7, No. 42