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A.M.
Costa Rica
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Published Monday, July 25, 2016, in Vol. 17, No. 145
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San José, Costa Rica, Monday, July 25, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 145
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Pilgrimages
to Cartago begin in earnest
By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
Thousands of the faithful got an early start over the weekend for their annual pilgrimage to Cartago. The weather was great, and traffic police blocked off one lane of the Florencio del Castillo highway for walkers. Down in Coto Brus about 100 residents began their hike which is taking them through much of Costa Rica, according to an announcement from the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles. Church officials said the pilgrimage would be 268 kilometers or about 167 miles. These are not the pilgrims from the furthest distance. Some have started their hikes in other Central American countries. Although persons of every religious inclination are welcome to pay their respects to the statue of Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles, basilica officials said they would prefer that no pokemons show up. These mythical creatures are part of the current fad of Pokemon Go. Using geolocational technology, the cartoon characters show up at designated spots on a player’s smartphone. Basilica officials said that the Conferencia Episcopal has not authorized mixing the religious festival with the smartphone game. They urged pilgrims to show respect for the Virgin Mary. In her manifestation as the Lady of the Angels, she is the country’s patroness. Pilgrimages to Cartago will continue all week with a spike Sunday and a week from today. The major religious event, a Mass, is at 9 a.m. Aug. 2, which also happens to be a national holiday. Six held in motor vehicle irregularities By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
Judicial agents have detained three traffic officers for mishandling accident investigations. They also detained three individuals who were involved in those cases. One woman was detained, and the Judicial Investigation Organization said that she prevailed on traffic officers to misstate the circumstances of an accident so the mishap would be covered by her insurance. The allegation is that she had her name substituted as the driver of the vehicle in place of that of her son who had been drinking. In another case, traffic officers overlooked the apparent drunk condition of a motorcycle driver who had been involved in an accident, said judicial investigators. In the third case, a tow truck driver negotiated a 226,000-colon bribe so an officer would release a drunk driver in another case, said the judicial agency. That is about $414, the same as the traffic fine would be in the case. The Judicial Investigating Organization has a special section devoted to such traffic crimes. National Guardsmen attack weeds for kids By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
Members of the New Mexico National Guard are in training at the Escuela Nacional de Policía in nearby Murciélago, but they were able to take off for a day to clear land where a school is to be completed. The soldiers are members of the First Platoon, 919th Military Police Company, based in Farmington, New Mexico. The state and Costa Rica have a long-running assistance agreement, in part because some of the National guard members speak Spanish. The chopping of weeds took place on the grounds of the uncompleted school at Cuajiniquil, said a release by the National Guard. Workers began building the school 10 years ago, but stopped for financial reasons, said the release. Some 154 local students are instructed in one large room elsewhere. The clearing of the property is in anticipation of construction work starting again soon, said the release. Quakes rattle central Pacific coast By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
A flurry of lesser tremors followed a 4.1 magnitude earthquake Sunday night some 15 miles north of Savegre, Quepos on the central Pacific coast. There were at least three more lesser, felt quakes over the next two hours. The Red Sismológica Nacional estimated the magnitude at 4.2 while the Laboratorio de Engineer Seismic said 4.1. The quake appears to have been felt moderately as far south as San Isidro de El General and as far east as Turrialba, said the Laboratorio. Teen shot to death in Herradura By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
A 17 year old died overnight Friday in Herradura. The Judicial Investigating Organization said that his body was found Saturday morning in the Cañablancal section of the community on the central Pacific coast. Death was due to a bullet in the chest, agents said. The individual who was not named lived in the area.
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A.M. Costa Rica Third News Page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Monday, July 25, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 145
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| In
the midst of crisis, immigration agency gets a new
director |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The immigration agency has a new director at a time when the
To say that the country’s immigration system is in disarray would be an understatement. After more than 8,000 Cubans spent time in the country with temporary visas on their way to the United States, thousands of Africans also managed to gain entry. |
Although
Cubans who arrive by land are welcomed in the United
States due to a Cold War law, the Africans are not. Thousands are reported living in camps along the Costa Rican border with Nicaragua. There also are reports of traffickers moving dozens of Africans each day through Nicaragua even though the government there had closed the border to them officially. The Africans cross Costa Rica’s southern border illegally, too, but with the help of locals. Sources have told A.M. Costa Rica that some are pretending to be black residents of Costa Rica with the appropriate fake passports and cédulas. The central government seems confused as to what to do even though some African countries have agreed to repatriate their citizens. The ministry said little more about Ms. Yockchen’s background, except that she is 41, worked in processing documents in the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería and that she has worked within the ministry since 2008. An online source said she had a master’s degree in business administration. |
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A.M. Costa Rica's Fourth News page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Monday, July 25, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 145
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| Researchers
directly link alcohol to seven types of cancers |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
New research links alcohol with seven types of cancer. Writing in the journal Addiction, researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand say alcohol has a causal association with cancer of the oropharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and female breast. While there has been evidence of an association between alcohol and cancer, the study claims it is causal, meaning it directly causes cancer. The study was large, taking into account 10 years of global data collected by groups such as the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. |
The risk
of cancer from alcohol is largest among heavy drinkers,
but affects both light and moderate drinkers as well. According to the study, alcohol was responsible for 5.8 percent of all cancer deaths in 2012. "We know that nine in 10 people aren't aware of the link between alcohol and cancer," Jana Witt of Cancer Research UK, who did not contribute to the study, told The Guardian newspaper. "And this review is a stark reminder that there's strong evidence linking the two." And if you’re thinking that a little wine may help fight cardiovascular disease, this new study finds that the “evidence that moderate drinking provides protection against cardiovascular disease is not strong.” |
Here's reasonable
medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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Colorado S.A. 2016 and may not be reproduced anywhere
without permission. Abstracts and fair use are permitted. Check HERE for details |
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A.M. Costa Rica's Fifth news page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Monday, July 25, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 145
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resigns over email scandal By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
The head of the U.S. Democratic Party resigned Sunday on the eve of the party's national convention set to affirm former U.S. secretary of State Hillary Clinton as its 2016 presidential nominee. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, head of the Democratic National Committee, quit the post amid a furor over leaked emails that show party leaders mocked and criticized the upstart campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, while he was waging an unexpectedly tough challenge to Mrs. Clinton for the nomination. Ms. Wasserman Schultz, a U.S. representative from Florida, was expected to officially step down at the end of this week's convention in Philadelphia. Sanders had demanded that Ms. Wasserman Schultz resign after WikiLeaks disclosed nearly 20,000 emails from Democratic Party leaders over the last year and a half. After her resignation was announced, he issued a statement saying, "Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race." In a CNN interview, the Vermont senator called the comments in the emails outrageous, but said he was not shocked by them. He added, "It's what we talked about six months ago, that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was opposed to my campaign." As news of the emails emerged, Ms. Wasserman Schultz told associates she would neither speak at the convention nor preside over it. Later she announced she would resign as chairwoman. Mrs. Clinton issued a statement saying, "I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership. There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans." President Barack Obama issued a statement of his own, saying, "Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country. Her critical role in supporting our economic recovery, our fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans will be a hallmark of her tenure as party chair." The convention opens today in Philadelphia, known as the City of Brotherly Love. More than 5,000 delegates are among the 50,000 people set to attend the gathering. Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook suggested that Russian state actors stole the emails and released them as the Democratic convention was convening in an effort to help Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, but he offered no proof. The Trump campaign called Mook's assertion a joke. After the long Democratic fight for the nomination, Sanders endorsed Mrs. Clinton and is speaking today at the convention on her behalf, as is first lady Michelle Obama. Sanders said he will "do everything I can to make sure" Trump does not win the November national election to pick the successor to President Barack Obama. A fixture on the American political scene for decades, Mrs. Clinton is headed to the party's quadrennial convention after naming Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her vice presidential running mate. Republicans, over months of contests throughout the country, picked Trump over 16 other challengers, many of them seasoned politicians. That made the billionaire real estate tycoon and one-time television reality show host the first major U.S. party presidential nominee in more than six decades to claim a major party's nomination without previously having been elected to any public office. Trump and Mrs. Clinton both are viewed unfavorably by more than half the American electorate, polls show, with Trump more so than she is. She holds a slight edge in national political surveys over Trump, three and a-half months before the election. Since turning his attention away from his Republican presidential primary opponents and toward Mrs. Clinton, Trump has labeled the presumptive Democratic nominee crooked Hillary. But in an interview aired Sunday on CBS TV's "60 Minutes," Mrs. Clinton asserted she will not engage in the kind of insult fest she said Trump seems to thrive on. Instead, she said her campaign will focus on the kind of dangerous, risky leadership that a Trump presidency would bring. Mrs. Clinton and veep pick campaign at Florida rally By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia campaigned together for the first time Saturday, sounding an optimistic message of hope in the future, in contrast to the past week's Republican Party convention, where many speakers warned the United States is in decline. Mrs. Clinton introduced Kaine to a crowd of cheering supporters in the state of Florida, saying she and her choice for vice president will offer a very different vision for America, one that calls for building bridges, not walls, a jab at Republican Donald Trump's call for building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. "Senator Tim Kaine is everything that Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," Mrs. Clinton declared. "He is ready to step into this job and lead on day one. And he is a progressive who likes to get things done." Trump had no campaign appearances Saturday but spoke out in a series of tweets that appeared to be aimed at dividing Democratic voters, especially over economic issues. The Republican candidate labeled Kaine a job killer for his support of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal. The partnership trade deal was strongly opposed by Mrs. Clinton's opponent during party primary elections and caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders. President Barack Obama warmly welcomed Kaine to the Democratic ticket for November's general election. The senator from Virginia is a true progressive who will make a great vice president, Obama said in a fund-raising appeal sent out early Saturday. "You just can't find anyone with a bad thing to say about him." Mrs. Clinton said the Democratic Party convention beginning today in Philadelphia will emphasize that embracing diversity makes America great, and she portrayed Kaine as a fighter for minorities and the impoverished. She and Kaine spoke to a huge crowd in Miami at Florida International University. Many of those present were Hispanic, and Kaine displayed his fluent Spanish, acquired when he worked in Honduras during a break from law school. Standing beside Mrs. Clinton, Kaine told the crowd, "We're going to be 'compañeros de alma' in this great 'lucha' ahead.'' Kaine introduced himself to the Florida voters, speaking about his family, his values growing up and his career as a mayor, governor and U.S. senator. Known as a staunch Roman Catholic, he said his family embraces "faith, family and work" as its main values. Trump, meanwhile, sent a text message to his supporters declaring that Obama, Mrs. Clinton and Kaine were the ultimate insiders, members of the Washington establishment that many American voters say they strongly oppose. Trump implored his supporters not to let Obama have a third term, another of his campaign themes depicting Clinton's policies as indistinguishable from those of the two-term president, who will leave office in January. Kaine told Democrats Saturday that Trump is a callous businessman who leaves a trail of wrecked lives wherever he goes. Mrs. Clinton said her running mate supports tighter restrictions on guns and equal rights for women, including the right to make their own decisions about abortion. She also hailed his record in support of equal rights for gay and transgender people, as well as immigration reform. Explosion kills one man near Nuremberg, Germany By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
An explosion in the German city of Ansbach near Nuremberg has killed a suspected bomber and injured 10 other people. Police said a man died in the blast late Sunday. It was the fourth violent incident in Germany in a week and came as the country is still on edge after the killing of nine people by an 18-year-old Iranian-German gunman in Munich on Friday. The blast in the town of Ansbach prompted the evacuation of more than 2,000 people from a nearby music festival, police said. "We assume it was a deliberate explosion," a Bavarian Interior Ministry spokesman said. Police offered no immediate details on the individual killed or those injured. Munich killer spent time in psychiatric treatment By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
German investigators say the teenage gunman who killed nine people Friday in the Bavarian state capital of Munich received psychiatric treatment and planned the mass shooting for more than a year. Eighteen year old David Ali Sonboly received inpatient treatment in 2015 for two months before getting outpatient care, said Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors' office. In addition to suffering from depression, the suspect had fears of contact with others, Steinkraus-Koch said Sunday. Sonboly, who killed himself after the attack, did not target specific people nor is there evidence the shootings were politically motivated, Steinkraus-Koch said. Bavarian investigator Robert Heimberger said the killer took photographs when he visited the site of a previous school shooting in the southwestern German town of Winnenden. Heimberger said Sonboly probably bought his illegal weapon on the internet and added that he was an avid player of shooting video games. Guns are tightly controlled in Germany, and authorities are investigating precisely how the killer obtained the Glock 17 handgun used in the attack. Bavaria's top security official says Germany's military should be able to intervene in crisis situations like Friday night's shooting rampage at the Munich mall. The mass shooting has senior German officials calling for a review of the country's gun laws. "We must continue to do all we can to limit and strictly control access to deadly weapons," said German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. Friday's attack took place four days after a 17-year-old Afghan refugee attacked passengers with an ax and a knife on a train in the German city of Wuerzburg. The teenager wounded four people before police shot him dead. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack. In late June, a masked man opened fire at a German movie complex in the western town of Viernheim, near Frankfurt, wounding several people. Special police officers shot him dead and freed several hostages. Support for U.S. gun laws reported to be on the increase By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
More and more Americans are in favor of tougher gun laws, but are pessimistic that lawmakers will do anything soon to bring about changes, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents support stricter laws, while most favor nationwide bans on the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, such as the AR-15, and on the sale of high-capacity magazines holding 10 or more bullets. Results also broke down along partisan lines. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats polled said they support stricter gun laws compared to 41 percent of Republicans. The percentage of Americans who want the tougher laws is at the highest since the pollsters began taking the gun survey in 2013, about 10 months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in Newton, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six educators. A majority of the respondents said they favor a national approach to gun laws rather than a jumble of state and local regulations. Less than half of those polled, however, said they did not think lawmakers would enact tougher gun laws in the coming year. The poll results revealed that Americans are not feeling safe and are concerned they or a relative will be a victim of gun violence. The Associated Press-GfK poll was conducted July 7 to 11, shortly after the nightclub massacre in an Orlando nightclub that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, and the fatal shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota by police at point-blank range. Most of the interviews took place after the sniper attack in Dallas, Texas, that killed five police officers. However, the level of concern about being victimized is not uniform. The poll says non-whites are significantly more likely to be very or extremely concerned about being victims of gun violence. More wildfires threatening southern California homes By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Two large wildfires are raging in southern California, threatening thousands of homes and forcing evacuations. Firefighters are battling a blaze near the city of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest that has charred 88 square kilometers, while about 500 kilometers to the north, another fire is burning in the majestic Big Sur region. Authorities on Saturday found a body outside a home in Santa Clarita, and detectives are trying to determine whether that person was killed by the blaze or something else. The area was one of several neighborhoods ordered evacuated as the fire raged through bone dry canyons and ranch lands. Fire officials say more than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames threatening about 1,500 homes and 100 commercial buildings. "It's not a one direction type of fire,'' said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the Angeles National Forest. "It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. It's doing what it wants.'' The fire also forced the evacuation of Bengal tigers, a mountain lion and other animals from a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. Northward on the Central Coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a blaze in rugged mountains north of Big Sur. The fire poses a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated. Jury convicts father and son in Costa Rica cocaine case Special to A.M. Costa Rica
A federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, returned a guilty verdict Friday against Gregorio and Angelo Gigliotti for their operation of a transnational cocaine trafficking operation that stretched from Italy, to Queens and to Costa Rica. Gregorio Gigliotti, 60, was also convicted of possessing a stash of firearms in connection with the operation. When sentenced by U. S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Gregorio Gigliotti faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and Angelo Gigliotti, 36, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. The verdict was announced by Robert L. Capers, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Evidence presented at trial, including court-authorized wiretaps and physical surveillance, revealed that Gregorio Gigliotti, together with his wife, owned and operated several businesses in New York City that were used to facilitate their narcotics-trafficking operation, including Cucino Amodo Mio, an Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Corona, Queens, and Fresh Farm Produce Export Corp., an import company. Their son, Angelo Gigliotti, played the role of Gregorio’s trusted assistant, including handling the drug trafficking operation when Gregorio was out of the country. In October 2014, law enforcement intercepted a shipment of cassava that was shipped to the United States from Costa Rica and bound for Fresh Farm Produce Export Corp. in New York. The shipment was found to contain approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine secreted inside cardboard boxes of cassava. Earlier, Gigliotti’s wife traveled to Costa Rica with more than $360,000 in cash that she delivered to the sources of supply. In September 2014, Franco Fazio, a relative and Italian national, traveled from Italy to New York and then to Costa Rica to deliver another $170,000 in cash to the sources of supply. In December 2014, law enforcement intercepted a second shipment of cassava bound for Fresh Farm Produce Export Corp. in New York that had also been shipped from Costa Rica and seized approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine secreted within the cardboard boxes of the produce. Prior to the arrival of this shipment of cocaine, Fazio had made two additional trips to Costa Rica to meet with the sources of supply. The Gigliotti defendants were arrested on March 11, 2015, in New York. The charges in the indictment against co-defendants Eleonora Gigliotti and Franco Fazio remain pending. Chris Froome again wins Tour de France race title By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
British cyclist Chris Froome successfully defended his Tour de France title Sunday, and has now won the multi-stage race three times in the past four years. The Kenyan-born Froome held a lead of more than four minutes over Frenchman Romain Bardet heading into the 21st and final, largely ceremonial stage in Paris. He pedaled across the finish line side-by-side and arm-in-arm with his Sky teammates. They finished in the back section of the peloton in which 169 riders were all credited with the same time behind stage winner Andre Greipel of Germany. The cyclists covered the 113 kilometers, starting in Chantilly, with the traditional ending on the Champs Elysees after nine laps around the center of Paris in two hours, 43 minutes, eight seconds. Greipel edged world champion Peter Sagan of Slovakia at the line in a sprint finish. Norway's Alexander Kristoff was third on Sunday. The 31-year-old Froome's total time for the three-week tour was nearly 90 hours. Bardet was runner-up, 4:05 behind, and Colombian Nairo Quintana was third, 4:21 in back of Froome. "It's like the first time. It's amazing. Every time it's special," said Froome. During the trophy ceremony he spoke to the crowd in French, saying, "Thanks for your kindness in these difficult times. You have the most beautiful race in the world. Viva le Tour. Vive le France." Froome rode a special yellow bike to match his yellow leader's jersey, helmet, gloves and shoes. His teammates, rather than their usual blue stripes on their jerseys, had yellow stripes on Sunday, as well as yellow handle bars. Knowing he had such a comfortable lead riding at the start of the final stage, Froome shared both beer and champagne with his teammates. |
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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contents
of
this Web site are copyrighted by Consultantes Río
Colorado S.A. 2016 and may not be reproduced anywhere
without permission. Abstracts and fair use are permitted. Check HERE for details |
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| A.M. Costa Rica sixth news page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Monday, July 25, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 145
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Here's betting on
warm-weather kiwis
Yesterday was transplanting day for the kiwi fruit. Although they had been quite happy in their pots, they are now of a size to leave home and fend for
Planting things that need a cold snap is tricky. Blueberries, one of our favorites, needs cold in order to set fruit, although there is a new variety somewhere in Florida that is said to produce without one (if only I could get my hands on some seeds or cuttings), and I heard a rumor that a vivero near San Jose had some plants. I have hope. Back to my kiwi. For the past three years, I have been using the area under the mango tree as a depository for grass clippings, dead branches large and small, chicken manure, and general detritus all of which has melted down into a few inches of very rich soil. All that was necessary was to rake off the larger twigs and undigested leaves, move them to the side to continue mulching, and scrape up beautiful soil. There were worms everywhere, both earthworms and red wigglers. I set the wigglers into the mulch pile and carted the soil and earthworms to the planting site. A nice big hole, a lot of my good soil, a careful spreading of the roots, and the first kiwi was in the ground. While I was occupied, my gardener was up a tree, literally. He had climbed up into the old mango in search of fruit for us to share, but he was also doing some cleaning up. Although the old mango had somehow escaped the matapalo problem of my citrus trees, it is being used as a platform for bromeliads and orchids. Armando sent down a shower of mangos and followed it up with other things he cleaned off the tree. I watched Armando for a minute or two, then went back to my newly planted kiwi. Turned out that my Shepherd had decided that freshly turned earth and a fuzzy leafed plant were just what he needed as a spot for a nap! Bad dog! I spent the next few minutes making a twig and branch fence around the kiwi. Next time, I will pay closer attention to the dog.
Plant of the Week
The Crossandra infundibuliformis or firecracker flower, is a fantastic low grower for garden borders. I love this one for its coral color, but yellow, red, and even turquoise are available. Plant in full sun but move to partial shade if it fails to thrive. Propagation is from seeds, which explode when ready like a firecracker, or from cuttings. If you would like to suggest a topic for this column, simply send a letter to the editor. And, for more garden tips, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arenal-Gardeners/413220712106845 |
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From Page 7: Casa
Presidencial rendering
This is a sketch of the proposed $53
million marketBids to be
sought for $53 million market
By the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
Bids will be sought in a few days for the $53 million wholesale market in Sardinal, Carrillo, on the Pacific coast. Casa Presidencial said that there will be two bid requests. The first is to build the center, and the second is to inspect the project as it goes up. Government officials outlined the timetable last week while President Luis Guillermo Solís toured the province of Guanacaste. The bulk of the money will be borrowed from the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica, and the bank requires close inspections. Winners of the bidding are expected to be made known by the end of the year, said officials. Although such a big project might seem unusual on the Pacific coast, Casa Presidencial said that the market would benefit 400,000 inhabitants in 12 cantons and handle the goods of 17,500 producers. Officials also said they hope to create 500 jobs. |
