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| A.M. Costa Rica's Second news page | |
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San
José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Vol. 14, No. 65
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Playas del Coco
book sale
planned for this weekend Special
to A.M. Costa Rica
Playas del Coco’s Annual Spring Book Sale will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Coldwell Banker office on the town’s Main Boulevard. Sale hours both days are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. All proceeds will be donated to C.A.R.E., Coco Animal Rescue and Education, to support monthly spay and neutering clinics and extensive work in providing help to sick and homeless animals. Sale organizers expect to have several thousand books available donated by the larger hotels and left by guests, the Ladies Book Club, and the town’s high volume readers. Donations are welcome both sale days, and shelves will be continually restocked assuring a good selection for all. The majority of books will be in English and for adults. However, if things go as they have in the past, there will be books in Spanish and other languages and a large selection of children’s books. In addition to books, the sale will feature games, puzzles and CDs. Work began several weeks ago to organize the inventory so as to make it easier for shoppers to locate books by specific authors or categories of interest. In addition to being a draw for the local community, the sale has attracted regional interest thanks to its size and is being publicized throughout Guanacaste. Specific audiences known to have an interest are also being targeted including area educators, members of groups similar to C.A.R.E., church congregations and those already out and about eating at many of the town’s restaurants on sale days. Guiding the event this year are three co-chairpersons, each focused on a different function of the event. Leading the group is Kent Carthey, who is also in charge of publicity and promotion. Roseanna Boyer has responsibilities for managing the space and the sales/service team. Bill Elms is gathering donations and organizing them. Former Grecia expat told to avoid contact with kids By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Another former expat has come under legal trouble for sexual contact with a minor. Hans Loudermilk, who previously lived in San Isidro de Grecia, was released Tuesday by a U.S. District Court judge in Utah following a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor on an aircraft. Loudermilk, a 67-year-old California native, was flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City when he was accused of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old girl in the seat next to him. According to an affidavit from FBI agent Daniel Horan, once the plane landed the girl went up to the first legal authority she saw and told him she was a victim of sexual assault. Horan's affidavit said that Loudermilk had a sexually driven conversation with the girl on the Delta Airlines flight. Loudermilk's release from court coincided with a variety of orders. He may not leave the U.S. or the State of California and has to surrender his passport without the ability to apply for another. The court also ordered that he is subject to wearing a location monitor and that he must receive medical or psychological counseling. He was also ordered to avoid contact with individuals under 18 years of age without adult supervision. This incident comes nearly a month after the arrest and conviction of Michael Norris, a former Quepos resident who was arrested in California for committing a lewd act upon a child. Norris is serving a three-year prison sentence in Wasco, California. Founder of adventure firm will be remembered today By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Quepos resident Brad Watts was found dead Saturday morning after an apparent suicide. The 40-year-old was a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Watts founded Quepoa Expeditions in 2005. Since then his adventure company has led travelers on rafting expeditions through the rivers and rain forests of Costa Rica. Watts' friend of seven years who also lives in Quepos, Conrad Barrantes, said that he was a fixture of the town and someone everyone loved to be around. “He really did a lot for this community,” Barrantes said. Watts is survived here by his partner Eileen Molly McKeown. A memorial will be held today for Watts at Playitas Beach in Manuel Antonio. The commemorative event that includes a eulogy will start at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Home intruders kill host of popular show in Panamá By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
A popular Panamanian radio host has died after being shot in an apparent robbery attempt in his home early Tuesday morning. The 80-year-old Ramón “Monchi” Cano hosted a radio show in Chiriqui, a province just beyond the Costa Rican border. According to Panama's newspaper La Prensa, Cano was shot in the head from point blank range. Both he and his wife were tied up and beaten by the intruders. The newspaper later reported that Chiriqui's governor has issued a province-wide curfew. Officials said people should stay in their homes between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in hopes of helping investigators solve the murder and preventing any additional crime. Cano hosted a long-running show on the Ondas Chiricanas radio station. Ministry to report increase in number of legal firearms By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The security ministry has called a press conference for this morning to provide statistics that show the possession of firearms since the year 2000 has increased 94.68 percent. Presumably the statistics reflect only legal firearms. The ministry in a brief announcement, said that the additional firearms were being held by private citizens and security guards. The session is supposed to be directed by the minster, Mario Zamora Cordero.. Some suspect that the press conference is a last-minute pitch for President Laura Chinchilla's strict firearms policy thatches languished in the legislature. This is the same ministry that has reported a recent decrease in some violent crimes, although no one has mentioned a correlation.
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A.M. Costa Rica Third News Page |
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Vol. 14, No. 65 | |
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This is Castillo Azul, the 103-year-old mansion on Cuesta de Mora hill in San José that is the most distinctive building in the Asamblea Legislativa complex. Until 1954 it was the U.S. Embassy. Earlier it served as home and office to the president. |
 A.M. Costa Rica file photo
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| Crumbling legislative buildings are historic and prevent new
tower |
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By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The minister of culture has rejected a plan for a new legislative building because construction would have an impact on adjacent historic structures. The concept got its first rejection in February from the Centro de Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, which noted the historic nature of the buildings already on the legislative site. The minister, Manuel Oregon, basically upheld the original rejection saying that the law was clear on the protection that has to be afforded such buildings. Involved are the Casa Rosada, the former Colegio de Sión and the Castillo Azul, once the home of the U.S. Embassy. All are on the complex at Cuesta de Mora in San José. The ruling on the building also noted that the modern tower would |
not be consistent
with the other structures in the area, which is considered a
tourism zone. Lawmakers immediately said they would seek to overturn the rejection, perhaps with a new law exempting the area from the restrictions. The legislative complex has been condemned by the Ministerio de Salud. Health officials have noted insect infestations, rodents, bad wiring and other problems. At one point the legislature was going to be evicted until an agreement was reached. A new structure has been in the works for years. At first, lawmakers were considering a new building on the Circunvalación in Zapote. Then in 2011 the plan was unveiled to erect a modern building on the exiting legislative campus. The price is about $77 million. A trust was set up with the Banco de Costa Rica. It actually is the trust that sought permission to build the structure. The site is the former Lamm building. The plan was to turn Castillo Azul into a legislative museum. The Museo Nacional is just across Avenida Central. |
| Holidays and Semana Santa break up April and reduce work time |
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By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
April is not a great month for commerce this year. Friday, April 11, is Día de Juan Santamaría, a national holiday. And both April 17 and 18 also are legal holidays. On all three days, employers are obligated to give workers a paid holiday. If for some reason the employees agree to work at the request of the employer, they get double pay. Overtime means triple pay. These are the obligations for employers as set out this week by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social. April 13 to 19 is Holy Week or Semana Santa leading up to Easter Sunday, April 20. That Thursday and Friday are the holidays. Lucky members of the workforce will embark on a vacation starting the evening of Thursday, April 10, and not return to the job until April 21. The ministry noted that workers can use vacation time for |
the first three
work days of Semana Santa. Of course for the tourism industry, Semana Santa is hard work. The Cámera Nacional de Turismo said Tuesday that operators of some 78 hotels that were surveyed predicted an average occupancy over Semana Santa of about 75 percent. Those at the beaches estimated occupancy in the 80s. Most of the tourism operators expected the week to be the same as last year. The average was thrown off somewhat by the Central Valley where occupancy was estimated at about 52 percent, about typical for a holiday week when vacationers go to the mountains or beaches. Curiously only 55 percent of the hotel operators said they were offering any type of promotion for Semana Santa. Those who were said they offered discounts, accepted coupons or provided an extra night's lodging for free. Tourism over Semana Santa is heavily Costa Rican. Many do not bother with hotels. Some stay with relatives who live near vacation spots. Others simply set up tents on the public beaches. |
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| You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE! |
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Vol. 14, No. 65 | |||||
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| Law enforcement prepares for a lot of work due to runoff
Sunday |
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By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Election day and the period before and after are filled with efforts to protect voters and the vote. With the runoff scheduled for Sunday, the appropriate actions are being taken for the second time this year. That means that the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones has to distribute another round of ballots. The Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea will be flying the voting materials to remote areas, such as Punta Burica in extreme southwest Costa Rica and to the high Talamancas. An aircraft also will collect ballots from the Isla del Coco far west in the Pacific. The Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas will be bringing election workers and materials to the islands in the gulf of Nicoya where 1,935 residents are eligible to vote. The coast guard also is delivering the ballots before Sunday to Isla del Coco where 28 persons can vote. That's a two-day trip by patrol boat. The Policía de Tránsito has special obligations around voting locations, mostly schools, that are on high-traffic roadways. Late Saturday or early Sunday Fuerza Pública officers will be providing security at the voting locations where political parties set up their tents and booths. Unlike elsewhere, Costa Rican political parties are encouraged to provide election information just outside voting locations. Only two parties, Acción Ciudadana and Liberación Nacional, will be present Sunday because only candidates from these parties are still in the running for president. Traffic police also said they would be cracking down on the unique tradition of private individuals running transportation service to the polls for a fee. Doing so for free is encouraged, but to accept payment is a traffic violation, police said. |
 Ministerio de Obras Públicas y
Transportes photo
This is the election tribunal,
the center of runoff logistics Sunday.Police also will be blocking off traffic in the vicinity of the Tribunal Supreme de Elecciones between Avenida Primera and Avenida 3 in San José so workers there and those delivering ballots can get through. Since October, police forces have been under the jurisdiction of the election tribunal. |
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| A.M. Costa Rica's Fifth news page |
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| San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Vol. 14, No. 65 | |||||
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| Legal traditions are lagging for copyright, 3-D printers By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
As prices of 3-D printers continue to fall, experts are increasingly calling for reconsideration of copyright laws that protect the owners of patents and designs. However, they also warn that overreaching laws could stifle new ideas. Very rapidly, 3-D printers have spread from scientific labs to industrial workshops to private homes. The available machines range from sophisticated models that can print complex objects, such as replicas of human organs, to more affordable machines that make children’s toys or parts for home appliances. A German firm recently displayed a prototype of a car chassis printed in one piece, while a Chinese manufacturer advertised a house created in a 3-D printer. With the help of a computer, practically anyone can print exact copies of a variety of objects and potentially violate the law. Julie Samuels is a senior staff attorney with the U.S. civil liberties group, Electronic Frontier Foundation. “If a certain design that you want to print is covered by copyright, then if you print that you are infringing, arguably, someone's copyright," said Samuels. But 3D companies warn that passing more restrictive copyright protection laws could impede both citizens’ rights and technological innovation. Several decades ago, legislatures and the music industry were equally slow to adjust when suddenly anyone could copy music, first to magnetic and now electronic media. But just as in the music industry, the founder of the Web site 3DPlus.me, Cydni Tetro, says she expects to see 3D licenses very soon. “All of those companies are in very active engagements right now about how they'll deploy 3D printed products over the next year, and we're going to see that," said Ms. Tetro. 3-D printer designer Diego Porqueras says owners of 3-D printers and copyright owners should come to terms. “If companies really take advantage of that and just charge nominal fees to download your favorite character off Star Wars and 3-D print it, I think that's going to prevent a lot more piracy," said Porqueras. The lack of legislation related to 3-D printing will hardly stop the technology from spreading, but experts say they hope the new laws will not punish people for printing a copy of something for their personal use. U.S. administration reports 7.1 million on obamacare By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
U.S. President Barack Obama says 7.1 million Americans have signed up for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as obamacare. In a Rose Garden speech Tuesday, Obama celebrated the better-than-expected enrollment saying, the health care reform initiative is here to stay. Monday, the final day for Americans to sign up on the federal exchanges, more than 4.8 million visits were made to HealthCare.gov and 2 million calls were made to the call center. The president's remarks amounted to a victory for an administration that botched the start of the long-planned launch. The enrollment Web site was riddled with technical problems, and a flurry of private policy cancellations forced Obama to recant his pledge that Americans who liked their health insurance plans could keep them. Although the Congressional Budget Office had originally estimated that 7 million people would enroll in the health exchanges this year, it lowered those expectations to 6 million due to the Web site problems. The enrollment number does not include those who signed up on Monday in the 14 states that run their own insurance exchanges. Nor does it include people who were unable to complete applications in time. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 47 million Americans are without health insurance. GM chief exec apologizes for firm's safety stonewalling By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
The chief of the biggest U.S. automaker, General Motors, has apologized to the relatives of 13 people killed in car crashes after her company failed for a decade to disclose a defect in ignition switches that led to the accidents. Chief executive Mary Barra offered her apology at a congressional hearing in Washington Tuesday. It came after the recent company recall of 2.6 million vehicles it produced from 2005-2010 to fix the problem. "Today's GM will do the right thing," she said. "That begins with my sincere apology to everyone who has been affected by this recall, especially the families and friends who lost their lives or were injured. I am deeply sorry." Ms. Barra, recently named as the GM chief, said she has no idea why it took the company until recently to disclose the ignition switch defect. She pledged to find out why and be fully transparent with the information. The GM chief executive and the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, David Friedman, were called before the congressional committee to explain why the company and the government agency pushed aside complaints that the faulty ignition systems shut down cars while they were being driven. That in turn disabled the vehicles' electrical systems and prevented airbags from inflating in crashes. GM's own data on the defect provided to the government shows that it knew of the problem as early as 2001. In his prepared statement, Friedman said GM had information about the faulty ignition switches but did not disclose it to the government until last month. Drivers, however, had complained to the agency about the ignition problems as early as 2005 and it had information about a fatal accident. Government investigators decided a trend was not evident. In recent weeks, GM, the second biggest automaker in the world behind Japan's Toyota Motor, has recalled 6.3 million vehicles, the 2.6 million vehicles in connection with the faulty ignition switches, and another 3.7 million vehicles linked to other safety issues. Relatives of the victims killed in the crashes held up pictures of their loved ones at a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol. They condemned GM and the government for ignoring their complaints about the faulty ignition switches. One victim's mother, Laura Christian, said GM put profits ahead of safety. "Corporate executives made a decision that fighting a problem was cheaper and easier than fixing a problem," she said Newspaper says CIA misled for years on interrogations By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
The Washington Post newspaper says according to a congressional report the CIA misled the public for years over its now-defunct enhanced interrogation program of suspected terrorists. The Post reports Tuesday the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has concluded the spy agency falsely claimed the program had uncovered credible intelligence that prevented future terrorist attacks. The report says CIA agents were able to obtain valuable information from the detainees before they were subjected to the harsh techniques. The 6,300 page report also says the CIA withheld details about the severity of its methods from lawmakers. The program also caused deep divisions within the agency. The newspaper says in one case, CIA officers witnessing an interrogation session at a secret prison in Thailand left because they were disturbed by the brutal measures being employed there. The report is the result of a four-year investigation by the Senate panel into the harsh interrogation program, which was launched under former President George W. Bush in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The committee sent the report to the CIA so the agency could review it and add its own comments before it was released to the public. The Post says the panel is expected to vote Thursday to send a shortened version of the report to President Barack Obama for declassification. Tensions erupted last month when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the committee, accused the CIA of improperly searching a computer network the panel used in its investigation of the agency's activities. The CIA said Senate aides illegally took classified documents as part of their investigation. Flight 370 mystery seen continuing for a long time By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Malaysia's national police chief is warning that authorities may never learn what exactly led to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The comments today came 25 days after the Boeing 777 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board. An international search for debris in the southern Indian Ocean and a criminal investigation by Malaysian police have so far proven fruitless. Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar said investigators still need more time to search for clues, warning the probe "may go on and on and on." Khalid said police continue to focus on the possibilities of hijacking, sabotage, and personal or psychological problems of those on board. He said investigators have conducted 170 interviews and that more statements need to be collected. Malaysian officials have said they believe someone intentionally diverted the plane before it crashed into the remote and treacherous waters off the northwest coast of Australia. The search for possible wreckage continued today with ten aircraft and nine ships joining the effort. Australian maritime officials said visibility was favorable, unlike in recent days, when bad weather forced the search to be suspended. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his country is committed to finding out what happened to the plane. "It's one of the great mysteries of our time. It's a terrible tragedy. There are 239 devastated families. There are a lot of very concerned people right around the world and Australia is leading the search and recovery effort as is right given that it all happened in our search and rescue zone. We owe it to the world, we owe it to those families to do whatever we reasonably can to get to the bottom of this," said Abbott. The search is also expanding underwater, with the arrival of the British Royal Navy nuclear submarine HMS Tireless. It is the first submarine to join the mission. Time is running out to detect the signal from the missing plane's flight recorder, or black box, which is powered by a battery that usually lasts only 30 days. Sacked Venezuelan politician promises to continue battle By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
A leading opposition politician in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado, said she will continue to support the anti-government demonstrations in that country after being impeached by the Venezuelan National Assembly. Venezuela has faced months of street protests with the opposition blaming the government's socialist policies for high inflation, crime and the shortage of many staples. The protests have at times turned violent, with deaths reported. Ms. Machado was recently stripped of her title in the National Assembly that is controlled by President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist party. She was cited for speaking about Venezuela's political crisis at the Organization of American States in Washington as an invited guest of the government of Panamá. Ms. Machado is being investigated for possible treason by violating the constitution, which prohibits parliamentarians from accepting public posts from other countries without the approval of Venezuela's Congress. Ms. Machado rejects these charges as a political tactic and says she will continue to speak out against the government’s attempts to repress opposition voices. “In my case I have been accused of treason because I went to the OAS and I had the chance to speak in the seat of Panamá using a procedure that has been used in the past several times, even by the Venezuelan regime in the case of Honduras four years ago. So it is my duty to speak out as the representative, as a member of the parliament both inside the National Assembly as in the streets of Venezuela as well as around the world, that is exactly what I have done. That is precisely what I’ll keep on doing in the future," said Ms. Machado. By stripping Ms. Machado of parliamentary immunity she could be arrested at any time. New U.S. envoy in India seen as an opportunity By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
The resignation of the U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell could pave the way for improved ties with India. Observers hope the veteran diplomat's departure will reset ties that have been rocky since the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. Ms. Powell's resignation came as no surprise in New Delhi. Reports about her imminent exit had swirled in the Indian capital for weeks following a rough patch in ties between the two countries. In Washington Monday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Marie Harf denied reports that Ms. Powell’s resignation is linked to a recent diplomatic spat. Ms. Harf said the diplomat is retiring after a distinguished career. “It is in no way related to any tension, any recent situations. There’s no big behind-the-scenes story here,” she told reporters. In New Delhi however, analysts saw it as a move by Washington to wipe the slate clean on the ugly row over the arrest and strip search of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York. They say it also sets the stage for doing business with a new Indian government, which will be in place by end of May. Ms. Khobragade has returned to India but her arrest last December on charges of underpaying her nanny has not been forgotten in Delhi. However the bigger problem looming is the U.S. approach so far to the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Narendra Modi. According to polls, he could win enough votes to form a new government after elections conclude in mid May. It was during Ambassador Powell’s tenure that Modi emerged on the national political stage and became a serious challenger to the Congress-led government. Modi had been barred from traveling to the U.S. and several Western countries for not doing enough to stop the 2002 religious riots that killed 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in his Gujarat state where he was governor. But several European countries built diplomatic bridges with him last year. Ms. Powell held her first meeting with Modi only six weeks ago. Analysts in New Delhi describe her move as “too little, too late.” Chairman of the Center for U.S and Latin American studies at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, Chintamani Mahapatra, says Washington has been slow in reaching out to Modi. “There are certain issues which could have been handled in a slightly better way. 2005 was the year when he was denied a visa and it is 2014, almost eight years plus have passed and no serious steps have been taken yet, although Ms. Powell met him. This is not the language if they want to really reset the button. That is why I think Washington is making a subtle move and trying to have a new kind of interaction with potentially a new government in Delhi," said Mahapatra. Ms. Powell will leave her post by the end of May. Observers in New Delhi hope that the new ambassador will be a political heavyweight and not a career diplomat like Ms. Powell. “This gives an opportunity for the U.S. administration to start a process by appointing an important person as an ambassador who can restore the strategic partnership between the two countries and interactions will be more cordial and friendly rather than exchange of bitter words," said New Delhi observer Mahapatra. Other observers say diplomatic and trade tensions during Ms. Powell’s tenure escalated following a period of drift in ties between the two countries as both the Obama administration and the Indian government failed to tap the relationship’s potential. |
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| A.M. Costa
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Strong quake in
Chile gives tsunami scare to Costa Rica By
the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
with A.M. Costa Rica staff inputs A strong 8.2-magnitude earthquake has struck off the northwestern coast of Chile, killing at least five people and setting off a small tsunami that prompted evacuations along the country's Pacific coast. Costa Rica and nations to the north were the subject of a tsunami watch, but there were no reports of damage. Nations to the south were given a stronger warning alert, but the reports of tsunamis were centered around the earthquake zone. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the alerts about 10:45 p.m. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered about 100 kilometers northwest of Iquique Tuesday evening. Several aftershocks followed, including one measuring a magnitude 6.2. The main quake took place at 5:46 p.m. Costa Rican time and the strong aftershock was at 5:58 p.m. Chilean authorities said waves measuring about two meters were striking cities along the coast. Officials quickly ordered evacuations, warning that larger waves are expected later. Waves eventually were reported to have reached as high as seven feet but never reached far enough inland to cause any damage. Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said at least five people died after being crushed by collapsing walls or experiencing heart attacks. He also said about 300 inmates escaped a woman's prison in Iquique. Troops have been deployed to prevent looting. Though there have been no reports of widespread damage, Chile's emergency office said landslides are partially blocking some roads and highways. Thousands also experienced power outages, while others were forced to spend the night outside. Chile is one of the world's most earthquake prone countries. In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude quake rocked central Chile, killing over 500 people and destroying 220,000 homes. The region hit by Tuesday's quake had also experienced several smaller temblors in recent days, including a 6.0-magnitude earthquake Sunday. Just last week Costa Rican emergency agencies took part in a tsunami simulation in Limón where they simulated a tsunami originating from an 8.5-magnitude earthquake. |
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| Fom Page 7: Country issues $1 billion more in bonds By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Costa Rica has issued $1 billion in bonds, the second such issue in as many years. Edgar Ayales, the finance minister, said that the money would reduce the pressure on the U.S. dollar in the internal market. The dollar went up at least three points to 540 colons Tuesday afternoon. It was up six points at some banks. Ayales also said that the country was taking advantage of historically low interest rates. The 30-year bonds carry 7 percent interest. The money also will be used to pay off debts that mature in the next 12 to 18 months. he said. The Ministerio de Hacienda said that more than 300 financial entities participated in the bond issue and that there were many more orders than could be filled. |
