Even a protest against the free trade treaty with the United States (TLC from the Spanish title) could be found among the teachers.



Teachers' voices boomed through loud speakers and stopped traffic on Avenida 2 as hundreds marched for higher wages Wednesday morning.
 
The main group present was Asociación de Profesores de Segunda Enseñanza, whose members have been on strike since the end of March.

Daniel Quesada, a high school teacher from Alajuela, said teachers are demanding three things.

“First we don't want bad pay. Second we want to be treated as the professionals that we are. And last the government wants to put 40 kids in a classroom, and we think there should be less than 30.”

Quesada who teaches at Colegio Tecnico in Alajuela, has been teaching for six years, he said. He said that it is possible that the strike could last much longer, but that teachers are waiting for more negotiations with the Ministerio de Educación Pública.

Various groups of teachers, students, and supporters marched. The group split up to demonstrate in front of the Ministerio de Trabajo, Casa Presidencial, the education ministry and the Ministerio de Hacienda.

Tuesday the public education ministry agreed to give a pay raise to certain educators, but Wednesday's demonstration made it clear that the strike will continue.

Praise for Garland Baker

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I want to commend Garland Baker on his very informative article in the Monday edition. I have been through a nightmare with bad tenants, was able to get them to leave before the three-year term expired with incentives (rent not charged), and had to renovate and fix up the whole structure due to incredible neglect. One of the renters is now wanted by the police, as I found out recently.

His distinction of social interest property is very critical and applies in my case as my house is close but less than this amount of $50,000. It is critical that absentee owners, who have bought a property for future use but are not yet able to use it and who intend to gain income, are aware of these facts, and his article has given me further information, that will make me very cautious about any further rental agreements with Ticos or foreigners.

Hotel has no political agenda

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:
 
A random call to an employee of a corporation, when the employee is not named and the corporation is, implies that said employee is a spokesperson for said corporation. This was not true in the case of a story printed in A.M. Costa Rica regarding opinions of random people with respect to the FARC [Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia] and its possible government connections published last week.
 
In the text regarding a call to an employee of Hotel California, the hotel name was mentioned and the speaker's name was not. Hotel California has no political views regarding the FARC, the president of Costa Rica or any other related topics. Our only political view as a business is the support of all government programs, initiatives or other  legislation that promotes what is good for tourism. We advocate road maintenance, water access, improvement of electricity and any and all improvements to the infrastructure that supports tourism. Apart from that, as a corporate entity, we have no other political agendas.
 
The opinion expressed in the article has nothing to do with Hotel California. It was the opinion of a receptionist who is, of course, entitled to her opinions. But she is not, nor has she ever been, a spokesperson for the hotel.