More rain is compounding
Alma recovery efforts


Nearly two weeks have passed since Tropical Storm Alma vented her wrath on the Pacific coast and southern Costa Rica, but some communities remain cut off.

Heavy rains Sunday in the mountains compounded the problems. San José itself got 50 mms. (nearly two inches) between 5 and 7 p.m. Some mountain dwellers reported day-long rains. However there was little precipitation recorded on the Pacific coast.

The national emergency commission estimated that some 500 million colons, about $1 million, have been invested in the immediate needs of storm victims and communities. These include matresses, blankets, food, water, machinery contracts and the purchase of materials to fix washed-out roads.

Casa Presidencial said Friday that some 500 million colons more would be earmarked for humanitarian assitance in the budget that covers the second half of the year. Rodrigo Arias Sánchez, the minister of the Presidencia, was in San Isidro de El General over the weekend for a first-hand look at recovery efforts. That town and the larger canton of Pérez Zeledón were hard-hit by the storm.

In Pérez Zeledón, Parrita and Quepos government officials estimate that some 21,000 persons were directly affected. The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes is investing at least 180 million colons (about $348,000) in repairing area bridges.

The Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias said that in Pérez Zeledón only one shelter, the one at Campo de Exposición, was still in operation with 94 persons and that in Parrita area, just 18 elderly residents were being housed in the Iglesia Evangelista de Jericó.


Vice president promotes
vertical city development


Laura Chinchilla, the nation's vice president and a likely candidate in the 2010 presidential elections, wants to eliminate what she calls the urban segregation. She has proposed vertical city development to protect green areas.

Ms. Chinchilla's' ideas seem to be similar to housing projects for the poor.

She told the IV Congreso Nacional de la Construcción that development in the Central Valley has been chaotic and that a master plan must be created. She also proposed limits in the use of the ground.

She spoke Friday at the Hotel Real Intercontinental.

Ms. Chinchilla said the current government wants to reverse the social segregation and that it was developing policies for the construction of vertical casas de interés social, that is, public housing.

She said she envisioned the vertical growth of the city replacing deteriorating neighborhoods with inadequate public space.  This policy is being incorporated in the plans of the  Ministerio de la Vivienda, she said.


Canada Day is July 1

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I have to comment on the article about Canadians celebrating Canada Day.

I wonder if our expats forgot that Canada Day is July 1? Maybe they are having the party on June 29 cause its the weekend???  But Canada Day is on July 1.

Maybe you could check with our ambassador, but I have never considered Canada to have "broken away from the Britain's imperialistic clutches"  We became a dominion under the Commonwealth of countries which gradually became more of a figurehead term, much like the Queen is still a figurehead here in Canada. There is still a sporting event called the "Commonwealth Games" - something like 60 nations, I believe, of which the United States, of course,
is not a member (you guys DID break away and your Independence Day is July 4).

Anyway, I know you like to get your facts straight.  Don't know who gave you that info, but they didn't get the whole picture across or have they forgotten?? (I don't think so!). It's fine if they want the party on the date you mention, but it isn't Canada Day.

EDITOR'S NOTE: You are correct. The June 29 event is being held because of the weekend. And there is a U.S. Independence Day Event July 6, also on a weekend.