March planned to protest
big hike in legislative salaries


Unions and others are planning a march a week from today to protest a plan by lawmakers to raise their salary 60 percent.

The current salary is 2.5 million colons or about $4,940. The proposal, which has the backing of the bulk of the legislature is to raise the amount to 4 million colons or about $7,900.

With the new salary, lawmakers would lose certain perks like a gasoline allotment. There are 57 legislative deputies. Already they have voted to put the bill on the fast track.

The Partido Acción Ciudadana has come out against the proposal. The Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos y Privados also has come out against the measure. The union said that many of the lawmakers come from private business and that they would continue to receive money from these sources while they serve.

The proposal, however, would require full time attention to legislative business.  For example, lawyers could not work with clients.

Union leaders also raised the issue of the current economic situation many workers face.

Acción Ciudadana cited what it said was a high deficit generated by the Óscar Arias Sánchez administration and that the country needs a complete fiscal overhaul.


Ms. Chinchilla in Spain
for summit and negotiations


President Laura Chinchilla is in Spain today at the summit of heads of state of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union.

At the same time negotiations are reaching an uncertain end as diplomats try to construct an accord of association, basically a trade treaty.

The treaty has been in the works for two years. Ms. Chinchilla said that she sees the agreement as a priority in economic reactivation and for generating more jobs, according to Casa Presidential. She has met with negotiators and interested parties from Costa Rica who are watching developments closely.


Tourist jumped by robbers


A Milwaukee, Wisconsin, man learned about Costa Rica's crime problem the hard way and on his first 24 hours in the country.

The man Scott Boese, a first-time tourist, was jumped by robbers early Saturday on Avenida 9 near the Instituto Nacional de Seguros building. He needed stitches to repair a damaged lip. The crooks took his passport, so he said he plans to visit the U.S. Embassy today to get travel documents. The consulate at the embassy does not have weekend hours.


Arizona law will protect
all citizens in that state

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

Just a thought about the state of Arizona's new law that is being reacted to by many non-Arizona residents.

1) This law is for Arizona. It is for their protection and was conceived by and passed by the government that represents the majority of people in Arizona. It was introduce as a means of protecting all Arizona citizens against illegal elements that have invaded the state. The law as it is written does not target any group but frankly most people that will be approached are Latino (not a lot illegal immigrants from Sweden in Arizona).

As for the people that say no state should check for residence status, I will remind you that immigration policies are in place to protect legal residence and to stop over burdening of the infrastructure (hospitals, schools and other social service structures). Most of the illegals in the U.S.A. are good, hard working people just looking for a better life or to help families in their home countries, and my thoughts should in no way be construed as a blemish on their character, morals or their intentions. But if they are here illegally that is a crime, and they should be removed. This country has a legal process for entering, and it should be followed.

On a personal note I don't think that children born to illegal immigrants inside the U.S.  or any other country should be granted citizenship. This is just a personal peeve.

Back to Arizona's new law, I am glad that I have not read any negative comments from the good people of Costa Rica. This is important especially since all the Latin American country that I have been in stop individuals and check ID and visas very regularity. Any complaint would be hypocritical, and indicate a biases against a group of citizen making laws that they feel protects themselves.

Albino Vargas shows the 29-page case he and other union leaders are seeking to bring against Óscar Arias and former government ministers.

The minister of Trabajo validated the new board.

Limón dockworkers could get up to $90,000 each depending on their length of service.

Under Costa Rican law a criminal case can freeze other actions until it is resolved. So the union allegations, if accepted by a prosecutor, could stall letting the ports out on concession.

If the prosecutor rejects the allegations, the union leaders still have the option of filing the criminal case and prosecuting it themselves.