The $27 million Tempisque Friendship Bridge was to open at midnight, and officials are expecting heavy use for the Semana Santa Holy Week period.

For now, crossing the bridge is free, but a toll will be enacted after Easter.

The bridge connects the east and west banks of the Tempisque River and the mainland with the Nicoya Peninsula. The bridge is seen to be a boon for development on the peninsula, particularly in the beach communities of Sámara and Nosara.

The bridge was inaugurated last April by outgoing President Miguel Angel Rodríguez even though the work was not completed. Officials plan yet another inauguration at a later date.

Contractors still are working on the access roads that began to fail even before they were used. That work should last six more weeks.

The 780 meter bridge (nearly a half mile) is the second longest in Central America. The towers that hold the suspension cables are 79 meters high, some 257 feet, making them the tallest structure in Costa Rica. 

The bulk of the bridge is carried by eight columns. But a section some 170 meters (some 550 feet) is held up by the suspension cables and the high towers. 

The opening of the bridge was a series of incorrect predictions. In November officials said the bridge would be open in January. Then the faulty road work turned up. President Abel Pacheco said a month ago that the bridge would open in six weeks. The span replaces a ferry that has connected both banks for more than 20 years.

Youngsters love to wade through the clothing at this used duds outlet in downtown San José.
 

To dress well used to be expensive, and good clothing was hard to find. People who could travel went to Miami or Panamá to find exclusive and original clothing. But the prices were high.

Those who created or imported the same kind of clothing into Costa Rica demanded prices that many perceived to be unfair.

But now the castoffs of North America are what many of the better dressed Costa Ricans are wearing,

They call it "bueno, bonito y barato" (good, pretty and cheap) where second-hand clothing stores operate in the capital and also in other population centers of the country.

The idea is about 15 years old, but the go-go North American economy of the last 10 years resulted in many more useable clothes finding their way to Costa Rica. They arrive in large, plastic-covered bales. The sorting process is complex. Some of the clothing is collected by charities in the First World countries. The charities then sell the clothing to finance their operations.

The clothes sell at very low prices, as low as 500 colons (a bit more than $1.25) for a light blouse. But the smart shopper can find nearly every famous label in one of the many shops that offer these recycled threads. At least six offering "ropa americana" are within the central San José core.

The stores compete directly with boutiques and other specialty clothing stores nearby. Despite the 

"American clothing" slogan, even top European labels can be found on the shelf. Part of the attraction, of course, is in finding a low-priced steal, just like at a garage sale. Sometimes the shops are like wonderlands where the savvy shopper can leave with a bulging bag for under 3,000 colons (less than $8). 

The stores also provide a way for the Costa Rican consumer, continually under financial stress, to make ends meet. Few garments cost more than 3,000, and the type ranges from sports gear to office clothing. You might even find a few North American retirees among the racks.

Labels include Levi, Benneton and Giorgio Armany.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Venezuela is making "substantive progress" in the political dialogue between the government and the democratic opposition," Ambassador Jorge Valero said Wednesday.

He is that country’s permanent representative to the Organization of American States and spoke at a meeting of the permanent council.

Recalling the coup d’état against President Hugo Chavez’ government on April 11 last year, the ambassador said "thanks to the courageous and noble Venezuelan people, the coup leaders were defeated when the legitimate president was restored to power," as "the OAS and the international community condemned the coup and hailed the return to democracy." 

According to Ambassador Valero, "the plan to sabotage the oil industry had inflicted $7.36 billion in damage — equivalent to 33 per cent of the national budget." The ambassador said that despite the economic setback and the political excesses, "Venezuela is gradually returning to normal." 

Explaining the surprisingly rapid recovery in the oil industry, Valero said crude oil production currently exceeds 3 million barrels a day, with exports of 2.8 million barrels to meet international quotas. 

"Venezuela is moving towards full recovery of the productive capacity,"  he said.

The Venezuelan ambassador told the council that last year’s coup in his country had put the Inter-American Democratic Charter to the test for the first time. He said the Permanent Council and General Assembly resolutions have reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to democracy, and "encourage the Venezuelan government to continue expanding the frontiers of democracy." 

More effort sought
in fight against SARS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More needs to done to defend against a deadly virus, said Julie Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The emergence of SARS has reminded us yet again that we must not become complacent."

In her prepared statement given before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Dr. Gerberding called SARS, (severe acute respiratory syndrome) "an emerging global microbial threat."

"It is not possible to adequately protect the health of our nation without addressing infectious disease problems that are occurring elsewhere in the world," Dr. Gerberding testified.

Dr. Gerberding noted that much progress has been made in the last decade to better the nation's capability to deal with the threat of infectious diseases, but surveillance and laboratory capacity must still be improved.

The center is recommending that persons "postpone non-essential travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Hanoi, Vietnam." Anyone who has traveled to affected areas and experiences flu-like symptoms is instructed to contact a physician.

Costa Rica wins
delays in tariffs

Costa Rica won a diplomatic and commercial triumph in preventing the levying of tariffs by the European Union on certain agricultural exports, Roberto Tovar Faja, minister of Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, said Wednesday.

Officials learned that the European Union meeting in Brussels, decided to apply tariffs in two stages, the first in November and the second in May 2004. The tariffs cover flowers, ornamental plants, some fruits and a few other agricultural products.

Costa Rica has been spared the tariffs due to its status as an emerging nation. The time ran out on the amnesty this year. Costa Rica has been working hard on the diplomatic front to eliminate or moderate the tariffs.

Costa Rica to propose
ban on human cloning

Costa Rica will present to the United Nations a proposed text of an international convention to prohibit the cloning of humans.

Pope John Paul II praised the initiative in a message delivered to Costa Rica Wednesday. The proposed text was offered at a seminar Wednesday in San José.

Marijuana, coke links
severed in probe

Investigators arrested 21 persons and confiscated 5.7 pounds of marijuana, 300 grams of cocaine, 186 crack rocks, automobiles, firearms and other products of drug sales in an extensive operation in Concepción de La Union. The investigation culminated Tuesday with the arrests.

Investigators said that the operation dismembered a marijuana sales network of five persons and a cocaine network of 12 persons.

Agents of the Judicial Investigating Organization worked with the Furza Publica and its Polícia de Control de Drogues. They said more arrests were likely.

American Airlines gets
pact with British Airways

A code-sharing arrangement between American Airlines and British Airways has been tentatively approved, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The arrangement enables each carrier to market certain flights of the other carrier as its own, thereby expanding each carrier's service network, according to a department press release.
 

Bandits confronted a 64-year-old man who just left a bank in San Francisco de Dos Ríos Wednesday morning and shot him as they took 500,000 colons, about $1,285. The man, identified as Carlos Castillo, resisted the two men on a motorcycle who grabbed him.

He suffered a bullet wound to the left hand and to the groin, investigators said. The man had just completed a transaction in the Banco de Costa Rica.

Tovar supports dissidents

Costa Rica has joined other international voices seeking the liberation of imprisoned Cuban dissidents.

The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto expressed its concern over the disproportionate sentences imposed on the dissidents by Cuba.

Roberto Tovar Faja, foreign minister, called the jailings unjust. Those held include independent journalists and members of the political opposition seeking a more democratic Cuba.
 

Professional Directory A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor. Lawyers INVESTMENT RECOVERY CENTER Learn how to best protect your interests in the Villalobos case. Explore your options at http://www.irccr.net Also, we invite you to join one of the most active discussion groups on the case.  Find out what people who care are saying. Join at irccr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 232-8/16/03 Lic. Arcelio Alberto Hernández Mussio Attorney at Law, Notary Public Official Translator Corporate, Criminal, Constitutional, Family Practice. Property title searches and transfers. Official English/Spanish translation & interpretation We also offer the following services in association with Morning Star Investments CRI, S.A.: *Real Estate Investment opportunities *Money Management *Accounting Services e-mail: legalxpt@racsa.co.cr           Web: www.forovial.com Cell: 365-3088  132-5/29/ KEARNEY-LAWSON & Asoc.       Lic. Gregory Kearney Lawson, attorney at law Villalobos and Savings Unlimited Collections *Investments  *Corporations  *Real Estate Sales in Costa Rica *Tax Shelters  *Immigration *Intellectual Property     *Business procedures *Family and Labor Law     *Locate People *Private Investigations        Ph/Fax: 221-9462, 841-0007 gkearney_lawson@hotmail.com attorneykearney@yahoo.com Real estate agents MARGARET SOHN  of Carico 15 years Costa Rican real estate experience Member of the Costa Rican Real Estate Association, Lic. #1000  Member, Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce margaret@caricohenderson.com www.realtorcostarica.com (506) 232-5016 home   (506) 233-8057 office  (506) 382-7399 cell  229-8/9/03 Investments Investigators Empresa de Investigadores Internacionales S.A. Telephone (506) 280-5217  FAX (506) 280-5120 P.O. Box 297-2100 Costa Rica Cédula Juridica #3-101-097681-32 investigators@prodigy.net johnniechaverri@policeone.com 112-5/18/03 Web Design Personalized Web Design •Hosting •Promotion •Logo Design Prices so reasonable they will astound you Call for a quote:  220-4602 www.alegria-webdesign.com We have over 12 years international experience 214-7/14/03

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The International Monetary Fund says Latin American economies remain fragile as a result of the region's worst downturn in two decades. The fund also says prospects for the region remain uncertain but that the situation varies depending on the country. 

The fund assessed the region's economic prospects in its latest World Economic Outlook, released Wednesday. The report says Mexico and Chile have remained largely resilient to the region's economic problems, while Brazil appears to be stabilizing under new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. 

The World Economic Outlook also notes that the worst may be over for Argentina, which has been mired in a severe recession and defaulted on its massive public debt.

The lending agency says that since the middle of last year, Argentina has had a modest recovery in real gross domestic product and strong growth in industrial production and construction. 

The fund, however, warns that the Argentine economy still faces inflationary risks, in part because of the planned release this year of bank deposits that had been frozen to prevent capital flight out of the country. 
 

The World Economic Outlook, a semiannual publication presenting analysis and projections of global economic developments, forecasts that in 2003 the global economy will grow at a 3.2-percent rate — one half of a percentage point less than it projected in September 2002 — with growth accelerating significantly only during the first half of 2004.

The researchers, in preparing projections, assumed a relatively short war in Iraq with little spillover outside the region and limited impact on the global economy as the most likely outcome. An even more rapid resolution of the conflict could provide a larger boost to global activity from the second half of 2003, through a stronger increase in confidence and lower oil prices, the report said.

"The economy may snap up faster than we expect," said Kenneth Rogoff, fund chief economist, who presented the report at a news briefing here. "Heightened security risks may . . . have long-term insidious effects that could ultimately reduce our notion of normal global growth from 4 percent to, say, 3.75 percent," Rogoff said. 

The company that wants to develop an open pit gold mine in northern Costa Rica is considering international arbitration.

The firm would join Harken Energy and perhaps a group of Luis Enrique Villalobos investors in the international arbitration process.

Business New America quoted Infinito President Erich Rauguth as saying "If we don't get transparency and a process free from political interference, we are going to seek resolution in international courts in Washington." 

Vannessa Ventures Ltd. is the parent company of Infinito. The firms have rights to a large deposit of gold ore near the San Juan River. The Ministerio de Ambiente y Energia has so far denied environmental permits.

Some investors in the failed Villalobos high-interest firm are seeking arbitration and perhaps a financial settlement from Costa Rica on the grounds that the country should have cracked down on the firm long ago.

According to Jack Caine, who is spearheading the investor effort with a Canadian law firm, all such disputes must be settled before a country can participate in a free trade treaty with the United States. Such a treaty is being negotiated now.

Vannessa did not specifically confirm the Business News America story, but the firm posted it to its Web site.

This newspaper seeks the prompt return of two men who ran high-interest investment operations that have gone out of business.

Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, 62, was associated with Ofinter S.A., a money exchange house, and with his own private investment business that had about $1 billion in other people’s money on the books.

Villalobos closed his business Oct. 14 and vanished.

Louis Milanes operated Savings Unlimited and several casinos in San José. He left the country with other members of his firm the weekend of Nov. 23. He may have as much as $260 million in his possession. Both operations catered to North Americans.

Villalobos and Milanes are the subjects of international arrest warrants.  Associates of both men have been jailed.

A.M. Costa Rica has posted a $500 reward for information leading to the detention of either man with the hopes that others will make similar pledges. The newspaper believes that investors only will see some of their money when the two men are in custody.

Milanes has few supporters in San José. On the other hand, as the letters frequently on this page show, Villalobos still has supporters who believe that he will reappear and settle his debts. They believe he is in hiding because of a predatory Costa Rican government.