New tourist police HQ opening
brings praise for the agency


Leaders from both the public security and tourism sectors met at the new Policía Turística headquarters for its official unveiling and a show of support for the officers. In addition to the new facility, the government has also invested in new vehicles, uniforms, and weapons for the agency.

Friday morning the minister of Seguridad Pública, Mario Zamora, joined with the ministers of  Turismo and the Presidencia, and the heads of the Fuerza Pública and the Policía Turística to announce the economic support directed towards the specialized police force.

Zamora drew upon the increasingly critical connection between the state's tourism industry and it's overall safety. As Costa Rica's tourism industry remains lucrative, Zamora said the work of the Policía Turística should not be overlooked.

“You all are carrying out critical duties for our country,” said Zamora to the audience of police officers. “You are responsible for the nation's tourism success.”

Carlos Ricardo Benavides, the minster of the Presidencia, echoed Zamora's words and said he remembered in past years when the ruling administration's biggest worry was national security. He recalled a time when drug dealers had nicer, more efficient cars than the police offers trying to track them down. Because of the government's ability to cut off this disparity, Benavides said the investments have been worth it.

“And now today we are one of the best tourism destinations in Latin America,” he said. He is a former tourism minister.

Created in 2006, the Policía Turística is now made up of 345 officials dispersed into 10 locations throughout the country. The agency is under the direction of Xinia Vásquez Mora, whose work received great praise from the government ministers.

Allan Flores, the current minister of Turismo, promised that the Policía Turística could expect additional aid from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo in the near future. Flores said he is in favor of any taxes concentrated on public security measures and that these investments in facilities, vehicles, and uniforms are invaluable.

“This is obviously an important subject because no one visits this country without first being assured of its safety,” he said.

The new two-story building is located on Calle 11 and between Avenidas 10 and 12. Officers from all over the country will have access to the new headquarters since it includes a training room.

Water bill is on agenda
for lawmakers to vote today


Lawmakers are expected to vote today on first reading of a bill that restructures the management of water in Costa Rica.

This is the measure that was brought to the legislature by popular demand in 2010. There were some 140,000 signatures on a petition.

The bill would restructure the Dirección Nacional del Agua, which would continue to be within the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía. It also declares that humans have priority to water and that there is a human right to access to water.  Still unclear is what this might mean in practice.

The bill also declares a water table as a unity for management and planning.

The measure was voted out of the Comisión de Ambiente.

Water is a disputed commodity in Costa Rica. Those who oppose private hydro projects claim that use of water is a private taking of a public commodity. A big irrigation pipeline in Guanacaste is facing similar criticism. And there have been public protests in Sardinal over the diversion of water from there to condo projects on the Pacific coast.

Earthquakes hit to north,
south, east and above Jacó


The country was bracketed by earthquakes over the weekend.
The strongest, magnitude 5.3, took place Friday at 8:36 a.m. off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. It was felt in some sections of Costa Rica.

A 4.0 quake at 11:59 Saturday had an epicenter estimated to be off the northern coast of the province of Limón. A 4.0 magnitude quake at 8:09 a.m. Sunday has estimated to have taken place on the border with Panamá in extreme southwest Costa Rica. A second quake Sunday was estimated to have taken place in the hills above Jacó at 12:42 p.m. The magnitude was estimated to be 3.4.

Balance urged between reality
of change and status quo

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I read the letter to the editor dated March 28 by Carol Meeds about the new land use law involving the Caribbean Coast and was surprised by some of the conclusions.  As Ms. Meeds explained that she moved here and has stayed between the lines by getting all her paperwork in order and trying to abide by the State and Local rules . . . me, too.  As many expats, my wife and I moved here over 18 years ago and loved the remoteness and natural beauty.  But Ms. Meeds argues of everything changing, ”little by little that feeling of being back in time has been eroded.”  Really?

There are still lots of locations in Costa Rica that have not changed in the years since we arrived, but you probably would not want to live there. That is what happens as more people want to move here, live near the beach and enjoy your lifestyle. That is what happens with change.

In my opinion, where your argument really falls apart is when you state, ”Five miles away, nestled between the maritime zone and the Gandoca Preserve, I found a paradise of nature and wildlife.  I built my home here.”    So, I’m on board now, pull up the ladder, and no one else is welcome?  That’s not fair to everyone wanting to retire here. That is what happens with change

It is not greed and corruption driving these changes, as you stated. It is people who already live here and folks who purchased titled land and want to develop their property.  I live on the other end of the spectrum. People have purchased expensive land here on the Pacific side and have been told they cannot build on their titled property because certain groups want to save the beaches for the turtles.  After 10 years of very little construction, the turtle count is almost nothing, and no construction has equated to high unemployment and investors losing large sums of money and then walking away. 

We all want to stop time and say "I want it to stay just like when we first moved here." In the early years we never had to lock our doors because theft was not an issue, but today you would be a fool to not lock your doors and set your alarms.

So, Ms. Meeds, I agree with you and hate to see change, but it is going to come, and in my humble opinion, we need to help establish good building practices that find a balance between the Costa Rica you and I want with the reality of change.