A.M. Costa Rica top stories

The narcos venerate Saint Death

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:46:56 -0600

There is a lot more to some of those fantasy statutes that are on sale in the malls and in specialty shops. One type is generating some concern. Wedged in among the dragons and skulls one frequently finds a statue that represents death. It's all there, the scythe, the black or crimson robe and sometimes a rosary or a crystal balL

There is an art to sketching criminals

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:46:08 -0600

The victim trembled with fear as she recalled the face of the man who raped her. And as the police sketch artist gave form to the face of the criminal, beginning with his hair, then his eyes, then his mouth and chin, the victim began to cry as she found herself again staring with terror at the face of her assailant.

About those people sleeping on the sidewalk

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:27:54 -0600

Freedom in Costa Rica also means the right to lay down and take a nap in a door way or even on a busy street. There are sections of town where the presumed homeless gather to sleep under cardboard boxes or a soiled blanket. Tourists frequently ask without an answer why police do not carry off such individuals.

Public employee unions plan general strike Feb. 15

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:27:30 -0600

Public employee unions have designated Feb. 15 as the day for a general strike to protest what they said is an insulting pay hike decreed by the central government. The day is a Wednesday.

Government has Web site to promote tax plan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:53:58 -0600

According to the central government it is common that a tax increase generates predominately negative reactions among the public. That was the essence of the response to a survey that said that three quarters of the public opposes President Laura Chinchilla's tax plan.

'Tourism to learn' is a growing concept

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:53:22 -0600

New research suggests that major growth in the travel, leisure and tourism industry in the coming century may be possible as more people begin to define recreation as a learning and educational opportunity – a way to explore new ideas and cultures, art, science and history.

Turrialba's neighbors meet in the shadow of the volcano

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:36:19 -0600

An active volcano can really bring together a community. That is what happened Friday when experts met with residents around the Volcán Turrialba.

BBG continues to collect complaints

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:00:31 -0600

A U. S. telecommunications firm continues to generate complaints from customers who make international phone calls. Some of the unhappy customers placed calls from Costa Rica and were charged up to $50 for a five-second call abroad. The country's main telephone service, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricity, has signed another 10-year contract with the the firm.

Murders decrease, but some other crimes are up

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:00:08 -0600

Judicial Investigating Organization statistics show what authorities are calling positive, decrease in homicides on a national level. But the numbers also demonstrate other areas where police have been unsuccessful in curtailing incidents of crime, such as assaults and home invasions, both which increased in 2011.

Frequent visitor extols Costa Rican warmth

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:40:59 -0600

A GUEST EDITORIAL: I feel compelled to write to you about the time my family and I spent recently in Costa Rica. This past Christmas and New Year’s my husband and I and our three children (ages 13-20) lived two weeks of joy, fun and tragedy. Throughout our vacation and the extreme range of unexpected adventures we experienced, the Costa Rican people showed warmth, compassion and poise.

Escazú hostages thought they were going to die

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:51:48 -0600

The nightmare began with a doorbell ring from the outside gate of the rental property, something not uncommon in the upscale neighborhood of tenants Tom Sweeney and his coworker Jeannette Álvarez. After death threats, violence and a hostage-style standoff with police that lasted nearly five hours, Sweeney was firmly aware that the man for whom he had opened the security gate was there for anything but a cordial house call.

Swine flu appears to be on the increase

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:51:19 -0600

In Costa Rica there has been an increase an H1N1 cases since the end of last year that has resulted in one fatality. That news comes from the Vigilancia de la Salud in Costa Rica and the Ministerio de Salud.

Two expats held hostage in botched home invasion

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:10:01 -0600

A bold daylight home invasion in Escazú turned bad Monday when a neighbor notified police. The result was a five-hour hostage situation in which two U.S. citizens were at the mercy of four gunmen, some of them with criminal records.

Police move to rescue Limón

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:09:42 -0600

The security ministry has shifted 250 more officers to Limón to halt a wave of violent crimes that had taken place since the first of the year.

Six iguana saved from the stew pot

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:42:19 -0600

The scene could have been from a Federico Fellini movie. A bit bizarre and maybe full of hidden meaning.

Embassy mum on voiding Tico's U.S. visa

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:41:47 -0600

U.S. government employees at the Pavas embassy have declined to explain why a vice consul summarily canceled a Costa Rican's visa and left him without a way to complete a business trip to Florida.

Summary judgment at the U.S. Embassy

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:40:06 -0600

A Costa Rican seeking a passport for his American-born daughter lost his own U.S. visa when a Pavas embassy diplomat stamped it “canceled” as the climax to a disagreement.

Two beers and you're drunk!

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:32:01 -0600

Lawmakers want to stiffen the drunk driving section of a revised traffic law so that an average male drinking two beers within an hour could qualify as drunk.

Environmental group cheers rejection of gold mine

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:31:39 -0600

Environmentalists expressed their pleasure Wednesday after the nation's environmental watchdog refused a request to allow the Bellavista gold mine to reopen.

Turrialba: No imminent danger of eruption, scientists say

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:29:33 -0600

The ash plume that shot up from the peak of the Turrialba volcano Thursday did so because a new vent had opened in the southwest flank of the west crater, according to scientists at Universidad Nacional.

Costa Rica's chronicler of the 19th century

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:29:13 -0600

The Archivo Nacional says it has received complete control over the existing notebooks of José María Figueroa Oreamuno, a chronicler of the lives and times of 19th century Costa Rica.

Readers respond to property fraud editorial

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:30:36 -0600

Readers have responded to an editorial Monday that suggested legal fixes to reduce property fraud in Costa Rica.

Registro and foreign ministry are jammed

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:04:02 -0600

The Registro Nacional is flooded with customers, in part because the agency has suspended part of its online service. Meanwhile, there are crowds in the street at the offices of the foreign ministry where overseas documents are certified.

Expat gets a minor victory in 16-year fight over properties

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:56:52 -0600

An expat and his Costa Rican lawyer prevailed this week in a criminal case that was the latest development in a long-running saga over disputed properties on the Central Pacific coast.

New terminal now in service at Liberia airport

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:56:29 -0600

The new, $35 million passenger terminal at Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia went into service Thursday, and the first persons to have the advantage of the new building were identified as U.S. tourists.

High court throws out another traffic fine

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:32:36 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has through out another traffic fine, this one related to fixed traffic signals.

This is pay raise week

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:27:30 -0600

Minimum wages went up Jan. 1, but most employees will not see the increase until payday at the end of this week. The increase is 3.17 percent over the salary paid in the last half of 2011.

Tourism operators see a 4 percent hike in occupancy

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:27:07 -0600

The tourism chamber said that hotel occupancy during the last half of December was 4 percent higher that the year before. The chamber based its report on a survey of hotel operators.

Perpetual tourists find border visa OKs are inconsistent

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:37:13 -0600

The ability to continually renew a three-month visa in Costa Rica is a lifeline for many perpetual tourists here. But with official attitudes toward the practice changing and immigration agents granted large amounts of discretionary power, entering the country can be like rolling the dice: A person can land anywhere between zero and 90.

Pacas are where you can get a deal on clothes

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:36:54 -0600

The high prices of clothes in Costa Rica may come to a shock for most tourists, especially those coming from other parts of Central America where costs are far lower. But there is a secret to bargain retail shopping in this country, and that is to go to tiendas de ropa americana.

Obama to campaign against outsourcing

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:04:22 -0600

The White House will kick off a campaign this week to keep jobs at home and encourage business leaders not to outsource to places like Costa Rica.

Virtual oxcart tour set up by museum

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:03:54 -0600

The Museo Nacional has put together an Internet slide who that could be titled “Everything you always wanted to know about bueyes but were afraid to ask.”

U.S. Embassy payment triggered a probe

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:35:23 -0600

The U.S. Embassy admitted Thursday that a payment from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to members of Costa Rica's tax police triggered investigations.

Quake responders here dismiss Brazilian prediction

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:35:02 -0600

A flurry of small earthquakes south of San José has generated concern among residents. And that concern was amplified because a Twitter account that claims to be from a Brazilian earthquake forecasting team suggested a more powerful quake was on the way.

There may be many more women with defective implants

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:32:24 -0600

One of Costa Rica's leading plastic surgeons said Wednesday that the use of low-grade breast implants by physicians without specialized training may mean that there are many more women in Costa Rica with potentially defective devices than health official estimates.

Here's why we have earthquakes

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:31:58 -0600

Exactly 100 years ago, on Jan. 6, 1912, Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the public for the first time. At a meeting of the Geological Association in Frankfurt's Senckenberg Museum, he revealed his thoughts on the supercontinent Pangaea, which broke apart and whose individual parts now drift across the earth as today's continents.

More than 400 women here have suspect breast implants

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:51:56 -0600

Adolfo Ortiz, vice minister de Salud, estimated Tuesday that more than 400 Costa Rican patients received the foreign Poly Implant Prostheses, more commonly known as PIP. Worldwide hundreds of thousands are believed to have the implants. Ortiz said his calculations were based on figures provided to him by the distributor of the French-made product here in Costa Rican.

Immigration knew British suspect was a danger but let him in anyway

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:51:32 -0600

The brutal murder of a Czech tourist near the Nicaraguan border last week may have exposed key flaws in Costa Rica's international security policies and control of its own borders. The day before the murder, the principal suspect, English citizen Alfred Saunders, passed freely from Nicaragua to Costa Rica through a checkpoint in Peñas Blancas, despite have been pegged as potentially dangerous by the International Police Agency, known as INTERPOL.

What can the government do to stem the red ink?

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:34:28 -0600

The year opens with President Laura Chinchilla in México with her husband and son and with lawmakers on vacation until Friday. Meanwhile, the national deficit continues to increase.

An explosive new year

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:41:54 -0600

A quick glance at the sky Saturday around midnight clear showed that Costa Rica is a long way from controlling the sale of explosive fireworks.

Mafia figure back in the U.S.

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:41:35 -0600

Another clue to Mafia influence in Costa Rica came to light last week with the extradition of Frank Cetta, a trusted member of the New Jersey wing of the Lucchese crime family.

A Tico New Year's

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:25:01 -0600

How to celebrate the New Year Tico style? That is a frequent expat question this time of year. Costa Ricans know that there is no party like a Tico party! Here's how.

We don't need no stinkin' permit!

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:43:27 -0600

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and don't forget the chain saw. For it is the season to do all those construction jobs while municipal inspectors are on vacation.

50 years of photographer's work is on display

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:43:06 -0600

"My first click with a camera taught me that with the flick of a finger you can catch a scene that can be remembered many years later," said Francisco Coto. And he did that many times.

Legislature gave final OK to corporate tax

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:43:26 -0600

Before they broke for a Christmas vacation, legislators approved a new tax on corporations, President Laura Chinchilla plans a formal ceremony this morning to sign the measure. The event will be complete with the signing of the national anthem, flags and talks by top security minister officials.

Tope comes to town

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:43:00 -0600

Whether big, little, black, white, brown, spotted or otherwise, the theme in San José Monday was horses and their equine-loving aficionados who filled the downtown streets of Paseo Colón and Avenida Segunda in the annual parade.

Motive unclear in murder of ex-Limón businessman

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:29:28 -0600

A former Limón businessman who still had interests here has been gunned down in Colombia by hit men. The dead man is James Perry Edwards, a former resident of that Caribbean community. At the time of his death he was the operator of Industrial Maintenance Divers, a professional diving firm that repaired undersea cables and pipelines and did general diving work. He had operated a shipping business there.

Interpol listing makes drunk driving suspect an international criminal

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:28:52 -0600

The European media promoted to international criminal status the founder of a silicon breast implant manufacturer. He is Jean-Claude Mas, the 72-year-old founder of Poly Implant Prothese. He was in the news because his company was shut down and the French government said that the breast implants were more likely to leak than other brands.

Aguirre mayor accused of recruiting minors for porn production

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:09:03 -0600

Investigators detained the mayor of Aguirre and an accomplice Wednesday on allegations of human trafficking and embezzlement following an investigation into sexual exploitation of minors and misuse of government resources.

Bankers warn of internet fraudsters

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 01:08:36 -0600

Costa Rican bankers are issuing a warning about Nigerian Internet fraud. At the same time, fraudsters have contacted A.M. Costa Rica again with the goal of placing a display advertisement.

What to do after Christmas dinner

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:22:52 -0600

Christmas Day, after handing out toys to youngsters under the tree, Costa Ricans and expats have the chance to get in a ring with a 1,400-pound unhappy bull.

And there is more suspected corruption

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:22:33 -0600

Investigators have detained suspected drug traffickers in a marijuana smuggling ring and government employees supposedly acting as co-conspirators. The Judicial Investigating Organization detained the suspects during raids Tuesday.

Six traffic officers suspected of taking bribes

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:22:07 -0600

The Judicial Investigating Organization detained traffic policemen Monday morning on the allegation that they were extorting drivers who they pulled over and asked them for bribes in place of facing a hefty fine.

About that electric car

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:21:10 -0600

The real history behind the U.S. Embassy's electric car.

What Costa Ricans will do with their Christmas bonus

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:20:43 -0600

"They gave me 400,000 colons and I paid to have a new septic tank installed. I spent 200,000 on the manual labor and the rest on materials. It was a necessity and a good investment.

Spam is down, but sophistication is up

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:47:53 -0600

Spam email has declined, according to international sources, but the evil messages are becoming more sophisticated.

Costa Rica lacks rules on heavy metals in rice

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:47:29 -0600

Rice can harbor harmful amounts of arsenic, and in Costa Rica there is no requirement that rice is checked consistently for that toxic metal, according to a spokesman for the health ministry. The spokesman agreed that that there should be a testing, but could not confirm that there was any.

At least they are not pigeons

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:44:26 -0600

Giant, painted doves are taking over the public spaces of San José. The invasion of fiberglass doves is reminiscent of Cow Parade that placed 130 creatively colored, life-sized statues in the metro area.

Are you a missing Milanes investor?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:44:00 -0600

There are 68 persons who contracted legal services to recover funds from Luis Milanes who cannot be located to receive their money. That is the report from Gina Renault, herself an investor, who has taken on the chore of trying to locate missing litigants. We list names.

Two cops snagged in strange kidnapping case

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:31:01 -0600

A strange kidnapping case that centers on Escazú got stranger Wednesday. This is the case that resulted in the arrest of two Colombians over the weekend and the discovery Tuesday of 44 fragmentation grenades and sniper clothing at their homes. Wednesday two police officers from a special tactical unit were linked to the case.

Robberies are the crime of choice

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:51:50 -0600

The crime of choice may be robbing pedestrians. Overall the number of reported pedestrian robberies has risen since last year. Despite an effort of law enforcement to saturate urban areas with police officers, the only thing that appears to have slowed the trend in robberies during this year was copious amounts of rain in November. Except November, every month in 2011 had more reported incidents of this type than the same month in 2010.

U.S. Embassy buys an electric car

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:51:11 -0600

The U. S. Embassy in San José has bought a fully electric Mitsubishi MIEV to add to its fleet.

Most expats need not worry about DIMEX

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:02:55 -0600

Legal pensionado, rentista and permanent residents are included automatically in the new banking identification system if they have renewed their cédula within the last five years.

How about those toys that annoy?

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:02:45 -0600

The headache does not usually end with figuring out how to pay for all the kid's toys. For most parents, with the right family members and friends, it is only the beginning.

http://www.amcostarica.com/121311.htm#32

Annual parade is full of color

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:30:59 -0600

Fuerza Pública officials report that revelers did less damage this year during and after the popular Festival de la Luz parade.

Milanes victims beginning to get some money

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:04:12 -0600

Some Savings Unlimited investors have begun to receive checks or bank deposits as a result of a deal negotiated between the casino owner's lawyers and lawyers representing investors.

Constitutional court protects all wetlands

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:03:48 -0600

Wetlands are part of the national heritage whether the individual tracts have been declared as such or not, according to the Sala IV constitutional court.

Police staff sidewalks to children's museum

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:14:10 -0600

For big events around San José, law enforcement officers are taking the saturation approach to public safety, patrolling the crowded streets equipped with body armor, guns and batons.

80 percent of police calls are domestic violence related

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:13:47 -0600

Domestic violence disputes are some of the most dangerous calls to which Fuerza Pública officers respond, Such calls also are time consuming.

Tourist chamber cuts a deal on proposed value-added tax

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:35:42 -0600

The national tourism chamber has negotiated a special deal with the central government to phase in over three years the 14 percent value-added tax that is being considered by the legislature.

Mexican author warns of a possible bloody future

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:35:22 -0600

If the government of Costa Rica doesn't want to see the country become little Mexico, officials better get serious about prosecuting criminals and protecting its citizens. That was the message of a visiting criminal lawyer and author from Mexico. He warned his audience against letting national security measure fall by the wayside.

Monument looking for a home

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:49:17 -0600

Museo de Arte Costarricense officials have vowed to restore a classic monument, the Monumento al Agricultor at Parque al Agricultor, but they say they want to keep the statue at the museum instead of returning it to the park in Alajuela when it is done.

Chinese checking out he infrastructure

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:48:52 -0600

Some 20 Chinese experts are in Costa Rica exploring the possibility of donating money to improve the nation's infrastructure.

Clearing surgical backlog estimated to take six months

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:52:43 -0600

Anesthesiologists and a physician's organization finally reached agreement with the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social that will seek to reprogram nearly 3,000 surgeries over the next six months. These were the surgeries that were canceled because of the strike.

Cops pour into streets for annual Christmas effort

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:08:27 -0600

One of the most profitable times for Costa Ricans can also be one of the most dangerous. Beginning in December, the doling out of traditional Christmas bonuses, called aguinaldos, for workers and the spike in tourism activity fills the cash registers of local businesses and streets with easy targets for thieves and criminals looking to capitalize.

Country tightens rules for expats and financial transfers

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:34:46 -0600

Government oversight will tighten for foreigners looking to participate in Costa Rica's banking system when a form of identification is extended becomes a requirement next year for certain electronic transactions.

Reality clashes with state department take on prostitution

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:34:20 -0600

As A.M. Costa Rica has reported in the past, U.S. officials and even Costa Rican law enforcement officers lump human trafficking activities together. Human trafficking, under the U.S. definition, includes forced labor, slavery and a couple of Colombian girls who prostitute themselves in Costa Rica seeking a better life.

Gold mine developers lose their high court appeal

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:43:33 -0600

The Sala Primera of the Corte Suprema de Justicia, acting as an appeals court, has upheld a lower court decision that cancels a concession to construct an open pit gold mine for Industrias Infinito.

U.S. gives $200,000 for border controls on prostitutes

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:43:14 -0600

The United States ambassador signed a $200,000 grant to a prostitution rehab center in San José Tuesday.

The economic cost of crime computed

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:54:05 -0600

Costa Rica may be one of the safest places to live — at least for criminals. That conclusion is according to a statistical analysis of crime in the country which calculated high rates of impunity among violent and non-violent transgressors. And that impunity is not only threatening the safety of people in the country, a report asserts the situation also is damaging the nation's economic well being.

Bill seeks to shield concession holders from high payments

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:53:38 -0600

Lawmakers are trying to create some protection for individuals and companies holding concessions in the maritime zone.

One map too many spells trouble

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:37:14 -0600

This is the time to have a trusted surveyor second check to see if there are overlaying maps on any property owned in Costa Rica. If there are contradicting maps, the uncertainty could soon cause big trouble.

Foundation seeks to create a Guayabo museum on wheels

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:36:52 -0600

Public school students have few chances to visit the Guayabo National Monument, a pre-Columbian city that has been praised for its engineering. So the Turrialba-based Tayutic Foundation is trying to bring a bus to Costa Rica and set it up as a mobile museum.

John Lennon is newest statue in city

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:19:32 -0600

John Lennon now sits in the Plaza de los Artes in San José, albeit in bronze statue form.

Legendary bar in Pavones leveled by fire

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:19:11 -0600

Fire demolished the legendary Bar and Restaurant La Esquina del Mar in Pavones Wednesday. This is the structure that Dan Fowlie rebuilt in 1976 and served for years as the local gathering spot for locals, expats and surf-seeking tourists.

Costa Rica still the safest but with troubling trend

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:13:04 -0600

Government statistics show Costa Rica remains one of the safest Latin American and Caribbean countries in which to live, but there is a recent rising trend in overall incidents of crime and homicides.

Former pastor here pens a book for expats

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:12:40 -0600

A book written to provide encouragement and support to those who live overseas has been released in print and electronic versions. “Singing the Lord’s Songs in a Foreign Land, Biblical Reflections for Expatriates,” was written by Kenneth D. MacHarg, a pastor who has served seven international English-language congregations in five countries, including in Escazú.

Insistent government + Stubborn parents = Tragedy

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:23:36 -0600

A long-running impasse between health authorities in Puriscal and stubborn parents over the administration of vaccines to their children may have led to a fatal horseback ride in which a foreign-born teen died.

Government orders anti-poverty board to quit

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:23:07 -0600

The president has asked for the resignation of directors of the southern zone anti-poverty agency. This is the Junta de Desarrollo Regional de la Zona Sur that manages the Depósito Libre Comercial in Golfito.

Turkey is not cheap

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:13:59 -0600

Need a quick turkey to complete the Thanksgiving menu? This is a pricey purchase in Costa Rica even though the turkey was a traditional food of the pre-Columbian peoples.

Report suggests that professionals dodge taxes

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:13:23 -0600

Some 63 percent of the professionals who filed a tax return in 2010 said they had no income. That was a report from the Contraloría General de la República, which studied six years of tax activity involved lawyers, accountants, veterinarians, medical professionals and architects. The report was released Tuesday.

Casino bill drops licensing on owners and employees

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:31:51 -0600

A legislative committee has approved and passed to the full Asamblea Legislativa a bill that would tax casinos and gambling call centers, but the redrafted measure avoids regulations of ownership and employees.

Crucitas scandal strengthens opponents

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:31:15 -0600

Allegations that a magistrate slipped the draft of an appeals decision to the developers of an open pit gold mine have galvanized the opposition.

All tamales are not created equal

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:53:49 -0600

As the end-of-the-year holidays approach, different countries begin to prepare their comida tipica, and for Central America the popular dish is the tamal.

Expat languished in hospital with broken bones during Caja strike

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:53:27 -0600

A quick trip to the AM/PM left Ed Hansen, a former policeman from Atlanta, stranded for days without necessary medical attention in Hospital Calderón Guardia while Caja Costarricense medical staff members were on strike.

Report of dry season's arrival was premature

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:45:04 -0600

The nation's weather service now says that the increase in the strength of La Niña will prolong the shift from the rainy to dry season two to three weeks. The prediction is a change from the Nov. 1 summary when the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional said that everywhere but in the south Pacific, the onset of the dry season would be delayed this year from five to seven days at least.

Former magistrate officially a suspect

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:43:41 -0600

The Poder Judicial said Wednesday that the nation's chief prosecutor had summoned a former Sala Primera magistrate to appear to give statement. The case is the one of the Las Crucitas gold mine when someone leaked the draft of an anticipated high court decision.

Project to verify property boundaries faces appeal

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:49:39 -0600

A citizen's group has filed a Sala IV constitutional court appeal against a $92 million program that was supposed to establish accurate property lines in the country.

Costa Rican finances floating in paper

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:49:21 -0600

Deficit spending and the proposal to raise taxes have put Costa Rica on the world stage. An column in Sunday's edition of The Wall Street Journal compares fiscal policy in Costa Rica to the situations in Greece and Argentina.

Something for everyone in poverty report

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:22:04 -0600

A new report on employment and poverty was more fodder for the spin doctors. Competing economic interests had their own views.

Country seeks more European trade links

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:21:46 -0600

The Council of Ministers from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland met, in Geneva, with representatives from Costa Rica, Honduras and Panamá, the Minsterio de Comercio Exterior said Monday.

Tourism chamber says value-added tax would be heavy blow

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:14:16 -0600

The national tourism chamber finally has come out with a negative opinion on the proposed tax package. The organization, the Cámara Nacional de Turismo, said that the proposed 14 percent value added tax would be a heavy blow to tourism wholesalers who make international deals two years in advance. They would have to eat the tax, the chamber said.

Suspect held in Kimberley Blackwell murder

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:56:56 -0600

nvestigators have made an arrest in the murder case of Kimberley Blackwell, 53, who was beaten savagely and shot at her isolated home on the Osa peninsula last February.

Book fair inaugurated

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:56:27 -0600

Outside the Antigua Aduana traffic runs along Calle 23 and people wait for their buses while inside dozens of folks busily prepare for the XII Feria Internacional del Libro inside the recycled building.

Tax proposal would affect real estate

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:00:00 -0600

The Chinchilla administration tax proposal now being considered in the Asamblea Legislative will have a major effect on the construction and real estate markets, two sectors that still are struggling to recover from the economic downturn.

Baby volcanoes seen as tourist attraction

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:59:42 -0600

A field of seven small volcanoes in the vicinity of the community of Agua Zarcas do not appear to be a threat and, instead, could be a tourist draw.

Survey outlines values that make Ticos Ticos

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:13:54 -0600

A new survey paints Costa Ricans as distrustful of others, generally satisfied with their life but confronting criminality. The survey also shows that most Costa Ricans think they can make ends meet with their family income. They do not believe the government functions for their best interest, yet they are strong supports of democracy and reject authoritarian leaders. About a quarter of Costa Ricans said that the distribution of wealth in the country was just.

Veteran's Day will be marked Sunday

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:13:34 -0600

The Commonwealth Remembrance Day and the United States Veterans Day, Nov. 11, will be commemorated Sunday at the 5 p.m. service of the Escazú Christian Fellowship at the International Baptist Church located in Guachipelin, Escazú.

Duty-free store turns out to be a bargain

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:49:01 -0600

Liquor is a holiday stable, and buying bottles at the duty-free stores inside Juan Santammaría airport is cheaper by far than purchasing them inside the country. And that includes Costa Rica national liquor.

Expat may have been victim of deadly bacteria

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:48:36 -0600

After taking a brief trip to Panamá, an American citizen living in Costa Rica returned to San José and died a week later under what his good friend is calling mysterious circumstances, possibly due to a deadly form of pneumonia found in the neighboring country.

The year is a bad one for swimmers, Cruz Roja says

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:54:13 -0600

With two months remaining in the year, the number of water-related deaths in the country have already surpassed by a large margin those from 2010, marking what local authorities are calling an unusually dangerous year for swimmers.

Professor Hoopes skeptical about Mayan calendar doomsday

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:53:51 -0600

John Hoopes, the University of Kansas anthropologist and Maya scholar, and his students are watching predicted doomsday dates such as 11/11/11 and Dec. 21, 2012, with considerable skepticism.

Tourism would be exempted in tax plan, minister says

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:47:59 -0600

The central government plans to exempt tourism from the value-added tax proposed in the current tax reform package. That was the word from Fernando Herrero, the minister of Hacienda, in testimony before a special legislative committee studying the proposals. The minister did not give details, but his ministry said that the changes to the pending law would be presented officially this week.

Feasibility study approved for urban tram

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:47:39 -0600

San José municipal officials are taking a serious look at the possibility of an urban tram system in the heart of the city to address the ever-growing problem of congestion.

Nicoya quakes probably did not presage the big one

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:40:38 -0600

Experts say they do not believe that the earthquake at the mouth of the Gulf of Nicoya Wednesday was an indication of a much large event that has been long expected.

Transition to dry season on the way

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:51:12 -0600

The official word has come from the weather experts. The notification is what expats and would-be tourists have been awaiting. The country has begun to enter the transitional phase between the rainy season and the dry, although that may not be obvious from the weather Tuesday.

Transatlantic race getting under way

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:50:41 -0600

The Transat Jacques Vabre is supposed to be well under way today by midmorning here. The starting time is 3 p.m. in Le Havre, France. This is the 10th edition of the cross Atlantic boat race and the second to have Limón, Costa Rica, as a finish

Tourism chamber cites decline in visitors

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:12:00 -0600

The national tourism chamber has expressed its concern because it said tourists visits are off 3.9 percent in the third quarter of the year. The chamber said that the country probably will not reach its goal of a 5 percent annual increase over 2010.

City mansion gets a makeover

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:11:38 -0600

When someone thinks of Costa Rica, old buildings may not be the first idea that comes to mind. But workers at the Centro de Patrimonio of the Ministerio de Cultura believe the national heritage, much of it stored in historical landmarks, can play just as important a role as beaches, volcanoes, and cloud forests in bringing in tourists.

Halloween not universally appreciated

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:04:00 -0600

While many American tourists and expats nursed their hangovers Sunday morning and recalled the more notable costumes from the Halloween revelry the night before, many Costa Ricans were dreading the aftermath of the horrifying holiday. At least that was the case at the Cementerio del Obreros in San Jose.

Resistant bug in Panamá is moving north

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:33:59 -0600

A long-running wave of drug resistant bacterial infections in nearby Panamá may have been detected in Costa Rica. However, health officials here have yet to address the issue in public.

Mr. Sloth gets a real name, sort of

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:33:34 -0600

Readers have spoken and by a narrow margin the nameless promotional sloth will be called Slo Mo.

U.S. expat snagged as hydroponic marijuana suspect

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:29:16 -0600

Investigators detained a a U.S. citizen from Heredia as the climax of a marijuana-growing investigation. The Judicial Investigating Organization raided a hydroponics setup in San Antonio de Escazú not far from the local cemetery. They said they found a controlled growing environment complete with air conditioning. They also found a quantity of dried marijuana.

State has claim to all those archaeological pieces

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:28:54 -0600

Costa Rica has been defined in three major archaeological areas: El Gran Nicoya, the Central Region and El Gran Chiriqui. The design and style of artifacts from each region are as difference as the geography. However, the one similarity for every gold, stone or jade pre-Columbian artifact is they all belong to the Costa Rican government.

Presidents blame First World for storm damage

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:36:48 -0600

Presidents and ambassadors from countries devastated by recent rains blamed the industrialized nations Tuesday and said developed countries had a moral obligation to pay and to reduce climate change. Among those signing the surprising document was Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica.

Decision against open pit gold mine to be reviewed

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:36:22 -0600

The Sala Primera has agreed to hear the appeals of a lower court decision against the Las Crucitas mine. The appeals accepted were from the government, the gold mining firm Industrias Infinito S.A. and the Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservación, which support the mine. Also accepted were appeals from Asocrucitas, a group that opposes the mine.

President pushes her tax plan

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:35:35 -0600

President Laura Chinchilla said Monday that the country cannot postpone cleaning up its finances if it hopes to maintain for the next 10 years the social right and guarantees it has created.

Got a gripe? Take it to the legislature

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:35:10 -0600

With drums banging and discourses through a megaphone, demonstrators gathered at Castillo Azul Monday. That's the center of the Asamblea Legislativa on Boulevard del Museo Nacional and Avenida Central.

Chief prosecutor going soft on drug possession

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:01:46 -0600

The country is becoming more drug friendly because prosecutors cannot handle the load of individuals detained with small amounts. The fiscal general, Jorge Chavarría, outlined the procedure in a meeting Friday with other top law enforcement officials. The procedure appears to have been enforced for nearly a year without public disclosure.

Expat group campaigns against new tax law

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:01:14 -0600

American Citizens Abroad, a Geneva-based expat group, is organizing a campaign to repeal U.S. tax legislation that the organization says will destroy the lives of average, honest and hard working Americans no matter where they live.

Dixon family continues to press for more investigation

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:22:46 -0600

The Dixon family is back in town in their so-far futile pursuit of information on their missing son and brother. The family is scheduled to meet with Jeremy Browne today. He is the British minster of State who happens to be visiting Costa Rica. They have been unsuccessful in their efforts to get Costa Rican investigators to issue a formal request for help from the British police, something international diplomacy requires.

About that new I.R.S. rule that affects expats

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:22:21 -0600

Individuals who are required to file federal tax returns, and who have financial assets in Costa Rica will soon face a new requirement coming in IRS Tax Form 8939. The latest drafts of the form and its instructions have been published on the Web site of the Internal Revenue Service. Foreign banks will also be obligated to assist the IRS in the hunt for financial assets under the requirements of federal law known as FATCA signed by President Barack Obama March 18, 2010.

Costa Rica dismisses claim of Calero kidnapping plo

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:08:20 -0600

With the Nicaraguan presidential elections little more than two weeks away, the Ortega administration there is stirring the pot over the Isla Calero. The Nicaragua general of the armies, Julio César Avilés, revealed Wednesday what he claimed was a plan by Costa Rica to kidnap Sandinista youth who are supposedly doing environmental work in the disputed zone.

Day of the masks is what Halloween is called here

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:40:00 -0600

A quick tour of local shopping centers shows that the celebration of Halloween is no longer foreign to Costa Ricans. There is, however, a similar national tradition that is pure Tico, and that is the Día Nacional de la Mascarada.

Name that sloth

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:50:26 -0600

There were 64 suggestions for naming Mr. Sloth, who appears in the Costa Rican promotional video on Facebook.

A way to stay on the right side of the Caja

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:38:31 -0600

The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social known to most in its abbreviated form as CCSS or just the Caja is out in force to collect money owed to the institution. Many companies owe the Caja money. Some try to play games with the system, so they do not have to pay. Here is a bit of background and a company structure that most expats and Ticos alike to not know about which can be used to avoid the game playing.

Bus trip to bars attracts official attention

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:37:50 -0600

The idea appears to be sound. Keep the drunks off the road by putting them on buses and bringing them around to local bars.
The first stop was at Bar La Nena in Montes de Oca. The problem did not begin until the buses unloaded at Viva La Vida Bar & Kitchen in a Pavas industrial zone not far from the U.S. Embassy. About 100 police officers, social workers and others in official capacity also showed up.

Milanes seeking deal that includes home detention

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:08:24 -0600

Most of the investors in his failed Savings Unlimited high-interest operation have chosen to make a deal with him. Now only a handful of persons are continuing to press the criminal case, and lawyers for Milanes are expected to make another deal today with all but one of the victims.

Downtown tourism office now in Banco Anglo building

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:07:42 -0600

On Avenida Central, almost a block west of the Plaza de la Cultura, in the old Banco Anglo building, is the Oficina de Informacion Turistica. There are no signs outside identifying the office, but just inside the door to the left sits the office of Nelson Torres Sánchez.

Readers are anxious to name Mr. Sloth

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:42:22 -0600

The tourism institute sloth seems to bring out the best in readers. And it also brings out a little sarcasm. With just two days to go in the Name the Sloth contest, readers have submitted words that seem to make a lot of sense.

New television station will have news in English

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:42:01 -0600

The Central Valley is getting a new television station, and it will be offering a five-minute news summary in English each weekday night at 10 p.m., the news director said Wednesday.

Lawmaker outraged by tax reform pact

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:34:19 -0600

The tax reform agreement between the president's party, Partido Liberación Nacional, and the Partido Acción Cuidadana isn't settling well among a few representatives in legislature, according to a vocal member who spoke Tuesday afternoon. The assembly leadership had to cut him off.

New museum exhibit treats signs of power

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:33:59 -0600

The temporary exhibit ¨Investiduras, signos de poder¨ opened Friday at the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. The exhibit examines a common theme in the different historical moments of most societies: what members are or want to be, through dress or decoration of their bodies.

Investigators blame jealousy for murder

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:36:12 -0600

Investigators say that a love triangle, whether real or imagined, is at the center of the motive for the murder of an Argentine businesswoman in Playa Hermosa near Jacó Sept. 18.

Expat loses gun permit because of decree

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:35:47 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has declined to rule on the facts of the case of a pensionado resident who was stripped of his 10-year-old right to carry a firearm by a presidential decree.

Final word for Gringos who seek Tico citizenship

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:29:59 -0600

U.S. citizens who seek Costa Rican nationality because they have lived a sufficient time in Costa Rica still have to promise to give up their U.S. citizenship.

Tourism chamber backs promotional plan

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:29:36 -0600

The national tourism chamber said it backs the strategy that the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo is using to generate marketing contacts on Facebook. The institute announced a program Thursday to give away about 250 trips for two or more to Costa Rica though February.

Tourism institute places $6.4 million bet on social media

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:42:43 -0600

The tourism institute has adopted a three-toed sloth as a mascot for a $6.4 million promotional scheme that will give away 80 free trips for two and hope that the recipients say good things about the country on the social networks.

Tax officials say they want to help you

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:42:16 -0600

Small taxpayers can choose to have their income tax advance payments made monthly to avoid a big expense at Dec. 15, the tax deadline, said Francisco Villalobos, director of the tax collecting agency.

Hurricane experts predict double the activity

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:49:38 -0600

Hurricane experts are predicting double the normal hurricane activity in the Caribbean basin form now until the official end of the season Nov. 30. The prediction comes from Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray at Colorado State University. They said the increased activity would be the result of a combination of La Niña conditions in the Pacific and warm Caribbean basin sea surface temperatures.

Tourism chamber wants more Chinese and Russians to visit

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:49:15 -0600

he Cámera Nacional de Turismo wants more visitors from China and Russia. The chamber is asking the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo to push to eliminate the need for visitors from those countries to have pre-approved visas.

A modest proposal for balancing the national budget

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:14:24 -0600

The country is missing a good bet that would balance the budget and provide many social benefits. In keeping with the tradition of $600 automatic traffic fines, the central government just has to institute a program of fines for crimes.

Quake may have awakened Rincón de la Vieja volcano

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:14:02 -0600

Volcano scientists used a video made by a guide to estimate that the Volcán Ricón de la Vieja produced a column of vapor from 750 to 900 meters high Sept.16. That's from 2,460 to 2,952 feet.

Waiters and waitresses want extra tips under the table

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:39:29 -0600

Waiters and bartenders, unhappy that tips are now considered salary, are taking action to keep some money off the books. In some downtown restaurants, waiters and waitresses tell patrons to pay additional tips in cash instead of including a gratuity with the price of a meal on a credit card slip.

Caja study commission declines to suggest hike in rates

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:39:06 -0600

The ailing Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social needs a new board of directors and should clamp a lid on hiring, according to a committee set up to study the nation's medical service provider. The committee also said Monday in its report that the Caja can be salvaged without raising the amount of money employers and employees have to pay as social charges each month. However, it also suggested that the legal foreign residents in Costa Rica as rentistas be assessed a monthly amount based on a monthly income of $2,500.

Not much for expats in new immigration regulations

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:39:16 -0600

The executive branch finally has published regulations to support the immigration law that went into effect March 1, 2010. The regulations cover the finer points in enforcing the law, and the bulk of the 29,338-word document addresses technicalities. Few of the 365 sections address items of importance to expats.

Illegal still was stop of the line

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:38:52 -0600

The image generated by the words “illegal alcohol still” probably involves a couple of rednecks armed with shotguns sitting around a coil of copper up in the hills. There might even be a coon dog sleeping in the shade. Not so in Coronado. When judicial agents accidently stumbled on a guaro operation Friday, there was plenty of stainless steel, a bottling assembly line and even a brand name, Apache.

Rincón de la Vieja volcano waking up

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:52:24 -0600

The Volcán Rincón de la Vieja appears to be waking up after a 13-year nap. The Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica reported small eruptions in the crater lake, evidence of thermal activity there and the death of fish in nearby rivers. The volcano threw out some material Sept. 16 that appears to have affected fish as much as 18 kilometers (more than 11 miles) downstream, the observatory said.

Tax collector expecting your money today

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:52:00 -0600

Today marks the end of the fiscal year in Costa Rica. Most corporations and individuals adopt the traditional fiscal year and pay income taxes Dec. 15. As A.M. Costa Rica pointed out Sept. 20, today also is the last day to pay an estimated advance amount on 2010-2011 income tax.

Good and bad news about Pacific turtles

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:52:24 -0600

Conservation International says the leatherback turtles in the east Pacific Ocean that nest on the western beaches of Costa Rica are among the 11 most threatened populations in the world.

Road agency gets money for its wish list

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:52:05 -0600

The nation's road agency is in the process of getting a $340 million loan from the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica that will finance major steps to improve Central Valley traffic.

Quick approval sought for new taxes

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:31:45 -0600

Legislators voted Tuesday to put the new tax plan presented that morning on a fast tract to passage. Some 43 lawmakers voted in favor of that plan which mainly limits the time each member of the Asamblea Legislativa can speak on individual amendments.

Teatro Nacional going pink to fight breast cancer

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:31:23 -0600

The Teatro Nacional will be bathed in pink light starting Thursday night in support of the Movimiento Rosa, which encourages early detection of breast cancer.

Limón getting a centralized judicial complex

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:27:41 -0600

The Poder Judicial will inaugurate Friday its new $7.6 million judicial center in Limón. The 6,158-square meter, five-story building will bring all the services of the courts under one roof, the Poder Judicial said.

Justice minister seeks OK for ankle bracelets for prisoners

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:26:44 -0600

The executive branch is seeking to get legislative approval for the use of ankle bracelets in part to solve the problem of crowded prisons.

There are plenty of phobias to worry about

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:55:31 -0600

Those who live in Costa Rica often hear from friends and relatives who want to know about the bugs and sometimes the snakes. Their vision of the country is a bit skewed by Indiana Jones movies and television. This is one topic that turns gray the hair of tourism operators. So it might be comforting to know that a recent survey showed that only 32 percent of the Costa Rican population admitted to any type of phobia, including snakes and bugs.

The holiday will be Oct. 17

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:55:11 -0600

There is another three-day holiday coming. The Consejo Superior of the Poder Judicial is the latest entity to rule that workers in that branch of government should take Monday, Oct. 17, off. The normal day to celebrate Día de las Culturas is Oct. 12, which is a Wednesday this year.

Activity reported at Isla Calero

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:53:28 -0600

Residents in northeastern Costa Rica are reporting more activity by Nicaraguan dredges in the vicinity of Isla Calero.

Many entities get a piece of speed trap fines

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:53:53 -0600

A handful of government entities from the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia to Radiográfica Costarricense S.A. are sharing in the speed trap windfall.

Constitutional court gives OK to corporate tax bill

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:17:00 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court ruled Wednesday that a legislative proposal to tax corporations does not violate the country's charter.

A page of observations on tramites

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:16:16 -0600

"Yesterday we received back five mottled books that are supposed to house various actas to be recorded by the directors, for the employees etc. plus a document of about 20 pages with several official looking stamps and flowery signatures on it. I was told that’s the dude the bank will need a copy of to open a checking account."

In search of the elusive personaría

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:47:14 -0600

The situation became what Costa Ricans call a calvario, named after the sufferings of Jesus on the way to the cross.

Someone sent environmental tribunal a message with bullets

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:46:52 -0600

Judicial investigators have confirmed that someone fired three bullets at the offices of the environmental tribunal in Los Yoses.

There is a surprise tax deadline in 10 days!

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:16:51 -0600

All individuals and company owners who expected to pay the 2010-2011 income tax next Dec. 15, might be surprised to find out that a quarter of the amount in due a week from Friday.

Long dead Nicoya residents will live again in museum exhibit

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:16:28 -0600

The Museo Nacional is putting together an exhibit that will display for the first time objects from the el silo archaeological site on the Gulf of Nicoya.

Highway mudslide snags at least one motorist

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:31:21 -0600

Another landslide on the Braulio Carrillo highway swept at least one vehicle off the shelf road and into the jungle below. The mishap took place about 6:30 p.m. between kilometers 27 and 35 of the troubled highway, Ruta 32.

Parrita adverture park takes a step forward

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:30:59 -0600

A theme park planned for Parrita has won approval from the plenary commission of the Secretaria Tecnica National Ambiental, the environmental watchdog for the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energia y Telecomunicaciones. This is a major hurdle for the project that was announced in March 2009.

Archive gives a glimpse of 150 years ago

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:47:01 -0600

Frequently expats will bemoan the loss of the old Costa Rica that they knew when they first arrived here perhaps 15 years ago. They have no idea. The Archivo Nacional has opened an exhibit that explores the process of Central American independence. The topic is relevant because Thursday was the Día de Independencia. The exhibit runs until Sept. 30 at the archives in Zapote.

Ms. Chinchilla says raising taxes is moral

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:46:38 -0600

President Laura Chinchilla described approval of her tax reform plan as a moral imperative in an independence day address., “We have the moral obligation for a political accord, she said. The conditions that our sons and daughters will grow in demand it. This is the most important challenge of our democracy: a social accord for the sustainability of the public policies to take this last push toward a Costa Rica developed for its bicentennial.”

High court interprets international child abduction treaty

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:08:01 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has determined the presumed interests of a child are superior to the country's obligations under the international treaty covering child abductions. This is the latest episode in the long-running legal battle by Trina Atwell and the custodial parent of the child, Roy Koyama of Missouri.

It's independence day

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:07:35 -0600

All over Costa Rica Wednesday night crowds gathered in public to receive the torch or liberty and sing the national anthem. Children showed off their homemade faroles, and more than one mother admitted to being up the night before to help put the finishing touches on the model street lanterns.

Three arrests made in murder of Canadian expat and employee

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:31:45 -0600

Investigators detained three men Tuesday in the double murder of businessman Jacques Cloutier and his long-time ranch hand.

U.S. fraud expert checking out Costa Rica

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:31:07 -0600

An international expert on fraud is visiting Costa Rica as part of research on the safety of foreign investments.

This is the season for sniffles

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:39:26 -0600

This is the time of year when nearly everyone is sick. Parents and school children are particularly vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.. The Ministerio de Salud notes a dramatic upswing in the number of cases of seasonal illnesses, and the Cruz Roja estimates that the average youngster will be have a cold six to 10 times a year.

A new telenovela has an expat appeal

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:39:05 -0600

“The English Teacher” has reached Costa Rica. The telenovela is likely to generate an appreciative audience not only of Costa Ricans but also of expats, just like “Yo soy Betty, la fea” did in 2001 and 2002.

Luxury home tax is now permanent

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:18:10 -0600

President Laura Chinchilla and the legislature have quietly removed an expiration deadline on the luxury home tax. The original law, No. 8683, contained a clause, Article 19, that specified that the tax would only last for 10 years. Many accepted the luxury home tax because of the expiration date.

Sept. 11, 2001, remembered here

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:17:47 -0600

U.S. Ambassador Anne S. Andrew correctly noted in her talk that citizens of 90 countries were among the victims of the four coordinated suicide attacks that day. She delivered her speech in Spanish and in English.

Traffic police have a real moneymaker

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:42:48 -0600

The country has what is commonly known as a cash cow. That's because at least 1,815 motorists do not read the newspapers or quickly forget what they read.

A million school kids will participate in independence day activities

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:42:21 -0600

Education officials expect students to receive the torch of independence Tuesday at the Peñas Blancas border crossing. The torch will be received from Nicaraguan students by Costa Rican youngsters in the presence of officials and others.

Sunday is a day to remember: Sept. 11

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:46:36 -0600

The official anniversary ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States will be Sunday in Sabana Norte.

Don't forget the kids on Children's Day!

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:21:18 -0600

Kids have a big day coming Friday, and adults better be paying attention.

Fugitive hid out for years on Nicoya's Pacific coast

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:20:55 -0600

A Virginia fugitive from a sex crime was able to hide out in Costa Rica for nine years because he was living on the distant coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Coast guard moves on shark finners

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:20:05 -0600

The Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas has intercepted two boats that appear to be involved in shark finning on the high seas. The coast guard said it also captured and is bringing to port an Ecuadorian boat originally though to be operated by drug smugglers. Instead, it carried shark products.

Downtown churches will be toured

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:19:30 -0600

Saturday Alliance Française plans a walk to the downtown churches, and Monday the French cultural organization released some 19th century photos of the various structures. They were taken at a time when oxen still ruled the streets of San José.

Going digital opens door to crooks

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:41:07 -0600

Expats and everyone else holding assets in Costa Rica should check the documents pertaining to their properties as soon as possible to be sure everything is in order. Asset thefts are on the rise because of the digitalization of documents throughout the country. The problem is that as the government institutions digitalize the workers are omitting important information from the original documents. One could wake up one morning and find the house stolen.

Bridge at Cambronero to open soon

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:40:43 -0600

Traffic officials report that a new bridge at Cambronero on the Interamericana Norte will be opened this month. Workers have been constructing it since January.

Law is supposed to reduce paperwork

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:15:38 -0600

The economics ministry is working on regulations to put into force a new law that is supposed to cut down on unnecessary government paperwork.

Monday begins the runup to high season

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:15:00 -0600

Monday is Labor Day in the United States, a legal holiday. For Costa Ricans, especially those in tourism, the day market the beginning of a tough month with the lowest number of arriving tourists for the year.

Prime suspect surrenders in Osa double murder

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:49:01 -0600

Investigators finally have made an arrest in the long-running case of two Austrians who vanished on the Osa Peninsula.

Tomorrow begins the patriotic month

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:09:39 -0600

Public buildings and some private ones are being decked out in Costa Rican flags and bunting because September is the patriotic month. This is the month that the anniversary of the country's independence is celebrated. This is the 190th.

Contract signed for new Limón port

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:09:20 -0600

President Laura Chinchilla and other officials finally signed the concession contract with APM Terminals for a $1 billion container port in Moín. The signing was Tuesday.

Fire station tax gets first approval

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:24:34 -0600

Fire fighters prevailed at the Asamblea Legislativa Monday when lawmakers passed on first reading a tax that will be used to build 32 more fire stations over the next 10 years.

Old time sugar cane presses remembered

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:24:15 -0600

Costa Rican historians are mourning the passing of the trapiche, the device used to squeeze the juice from sugar cane. A recent seminar revealed that at one time in the canton of Alajuela there were 60 trapiches, but now there is none.

Dominical lifeguards get a hero benefit

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:15:40 -0600

Dominical residents are planning to make sure their lifeguards stay on the job by means of a Feb. 13 benefit. That central Pacific community has had lifeguards on the beach since 1996. Recent economic conditions have created stress, so much so that the six-person lifeguard corps briefly staged a walkout. The situation there is typical of other beach communities.

How will Costa Rica neutralize volcano emissions?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:11:45 -0600

Costa Rica repeated its promise Thursday that it will become the first carbon neutral country by 2021. Vice President Alfio Piva told this to the U.N. climate summit in Cancún, México.

Telethon will go on

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:26:22 -0600

The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones has again asserted its authority over private events during election times. But it will allow the annual telethon to take place Dec. 3 and 4. The municipal elections are the same weekend.

Book fair has international dimension

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:06:31 -0600

Even Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, was there, at least in spirit. The Venezuelan Embassy was promoting the literature of the country under smiling posters of the president. This was the only booth that raised a large national flag.

Expat is suspect in marijuana-growing operation

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:14:06 -0600

Three men invaded the Heredia home of a Canadian and beat him up Thursday. But that was not the worst of it for the foreigner.

Opinion mainly negative on slippery banknotes

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:13:39 -0600

The Banco Central figured the country could save some money with plastic currency. So the 1,000 colons note is just that. An informal survey of Costa Ricans suggest that the plastic notes are not held in high regard. They are slippery and have a tendency to leap out of purses and pockets.

Jacó is off, off Broadway but with big plans

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:59:18 -0600

The location may be really, really off Broadway, but Jacó is getting a professional theater and a venue to match. The site is the new Oceans Center that will host “A Christmas Carol,” the uplifting musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell Dec. 20 to 30. The group Teatro Jacó said the hour-long performance will feature both the New York City award winning cast as well approximately 16 Costa Rican musicians and actors who will make their professional stage debut.

Can you believe a 119 percent interest rate?

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:37:26 -0600

Buying on credit is expensive anywhere, but in Costa Rica shoppers may face effective interest rates as high as 119 percent, according to a study by the economics ministry.

Corporate tax hits another bump in the road

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:42:01 -0600

A proposal to assess an annual tax on corporations ran into another problem in the legislature Tuesday. Juan Carlos Mendoza García, president of the Asamblea Legislativa, confirmed during Tuesday's afternoon legislative session that 12 lawmakers have signed a request to send the measure to the Sala IV for judicial review.

What goes on in the streets at night

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:41:41 -0600

Call them the army of the night or the midnight recyclers. They are the vast number of the country's poor who supplement their living by salvaging what they can from garbage. The mostly are invisible to the average citizen.

Fire fighters to demonstrate for approval of new tax

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:37:30 -0600

The nation's fire fighting agency, the Cuerpo de Bomberos, is poised to open 32 stations in the next 10 years. The only problem is money. That is why the fire crews will be demonstrating at the Asamblea Legislativa today in support of bill No. 17881 that would impose a 1.75 percent tax on all but the smallest monthly electrical bills.

Tax on corporations back to committee

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:37:07 -0600

As expected discontent with the proposed tax on corporations resulted Monday in the proposed law being sent back to a committee.

Seniors complex being planned west of town

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:38:05 -0600

In what is being described as still a concept, a seniors' community of perhaps 500 living units is planned west of Escazú. Developer José Luis Salinas, architect and president of Grupo Inmobilario del Parque, estimates that the concept may become a reality in about a year.

Osa crimes might be connected

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:37:37 -0600

Investigators are coming to the conclusion that a number of serious crimes on the Osa peninsula are related. That is in contrast to the original theories that a string of murders were motivated by unrelated events.

President critical of how bill was drafted

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:41:25 -0600

The president has vetoed a proposed law because the measure would generate confusion among citizens, was contradictory and demand excessive requirements, said Casa Presidencial.

Tico Times apologizes for scammer's full page ads

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:40:47 -0600

The Tico Times is apologizing to its readers for running a series of full-page ads offering half-price cell phones and Apple products.

Prosecutors crack down in three separate cases

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:16:30 -0600

Judicial police and prosecutors detained 19 persons in the vicinity of Puntarenas Centro on allegations of robbery, threats, extortion and drug trafficking. The Poder Judicial said 12 of the suspects are current police officers and that three were former police officers. One person detained was a priest from a Puntarenas church.

Mayor wants an urban forest

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:16:08 -0600

The Municipalidad de San José and Banco Nacional have kicked off a project to plant 50,000 trees of native species in the city over the next five years. And they plan is that bank customers will purchase trees for planting.

Ortega is at it again

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:40:06 -0600

Nicaraguan presidential elections are Nov. 6, so the Daniel Ortega administration is trying to drum up more patriotism. Members of his Sandinista youth movement have set up camp on the disputed Isla Calero in the face of an International Court of Justice prohibition.

Despite editors, buyers must be beware

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:39:37 -0600

Those who may have been trapped by a suspect full-page ad for cell telephones in The Tico Times have learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes newspaper publish material that is not correct or is fraudulent, usually by mistake. That has been true for nearly 170 years when the newspaper for the general public appeared.

Nigerians want you to buy their cell phones

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:02:34 -0600

Expats and subscribers elsewhere probably do not know that a full-page Tico Times newspaper ad marketing cell telephones and other electronic devices was placed by Nigerians who have a history of scams. The ad has run for at least three weeks on the back page of the English-language weekly.

Happy 10th birthday to us

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:22:38 -0600

A.M. Costa Rica today marks its 10th birthday of providing a free news service to expats here and those with an interest in this country everywhere.

Big project on Paseo Colón is a vote for optimism

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:51:40 -0600

A new high rise, Torres Paseo Colón, will be the tallest building in San José when workmen finish the remaining upper floors.

Harper visit here results in accords

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:51:10 -0600

The government of Canada will open a consulate in Costa Rica to provide visas to Costa Ricans who want to travel north. That was one of the developments that came Thursday from an official visit by Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister.

Two detained in murder of Osa hotel manager

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:50:42 -0600

Investigators have made arrests in the case of the murdered U.S. woman at her family's luxury hotel in Matapalo de Puerto Jiménez. As most friends and neighbors suspected, agents say the murder was an inside job. The victim was Lisa Artz, who was the resident manager of Casa Tres Palmas on the east shore of the Osa peninsula. She was suffocated July 20.

Tourism chamber wants more than just numbers

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:28:08 -0600

The national tourism chamber says that how long a tourist stays and how much each spends should be considered when assessing the state of the market.

Mayor, vice mayor and police chief in Jacó detained

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:27:34 -0600

Anti-corruption investigators raided the Garabito municipal building in Jacó Wednesday and detained four persons, including the mayor, vice mayor and chief of the municipal police. A fifth person, a lawyer, was detained at his office in Puntarenas.

Avenida 3 road work disrupts whole town

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:29:50 -0600

Christmas will be a merry one if the firm reconstructing Avenida 3 in the heart of the downtown finishes on time. Until then, the ripple from the section of closed road reverberates all over the city.

Ministry expects a flood of exoneration requests

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:29:30 -0600

Some 4,061 firms already have registered as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise and the first two categories will be exempt from the new tax on corporations approved on first reading by the legislature Monday.

Corporation tax moves closer to reality

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:55:08 -0600

As expected, lawmakers took action Monday on a plan to impose a tax on corporations to raise money for undefined security measures. The measure passed 39 to 5 on first reading.

Campaign launched against trafficking

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:54:45 -0600

The judicial police launched a campaign Monday to combat human trafficking. The campaign, No todo es lo que parece (“Not everything is what it seems”), is a joint effort with the International Immigration Organization.

How to protect against employee revenge

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:13:52 -0600

Today’s employee could be a company’s worst enemy tomorrow. If an employee turns, some will do as much harm as they can to their employer.

Park ranger still among the missing

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:13:24 -0600

Rescue workers and police are again dealing with the case of a young man who vanished from a national park.

Corruption fighters had a big week

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:24:04 -0600

This has been the week for corruption fighters to work overtime. Saturday agents detained three municipal officials in Golfito on the allegation that they sought a $75,000 bribe from two foreigners there to approve a maritime concession. Thursday agents detained five persons, including a guard, in the continuing investigation of the attempted May 11 prison break at La Reforma penitentiary.

Convention center promised for 2014

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:23:41 -0600

The Chinchilla administration expects to put into service a new national convention center at the beginning of 2014, according to Vice President Alfio Piva. He was speaking Thursday to the Cámara Costarricense de Hoteles.

Bandits working the night shift

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:38:05 -0600

The bold downtown robbers seem to be targeting hotels. Bandits robbed two such places in San José early Wednesday within an hour.

Liberación is the target at the legislature

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:37:37 -0600

When the Asamblea Legislativa meets in afternoon session the 57 lawmakers usually have from five to 10 minutes to express themselves on any topic. Because they are elected officials speaking in a political forum, they are protected from being sued or hit with a defamation charge.

Pilgrims treated to a rain of flower petals

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:36:56 -0600

True to their word, the Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea of the security ministry flew over the celebration at the Cartago basilica Tuesday and dumped 2,000 kilos of rose petals on the multitude gathered there for the Día de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. The aircraft was the fixed-wing Caribou that carries a heavy payload.

New Panamá Canal channel expected to be ready in 2014

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:36:37 -0600

Colossal is the best word to describe the dimension of the expansion works here. With an investment of $5.5 billion, the Panama Canal will soon have a third channel for the transit of much larger ships. Jorge Luis Quijano, the canal's executive vice president of engineering, says the canal is operating at full capacity and needs to expand.

Some ideas to raise money for the country

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:36:05 -0600

Clearly both Costa Rica and the United States are living far beyond their means, and some tough decisions will have to be made to maintain financial stability. Sucking $1 billion a year from the Costa Rican economy with new taxes probably is self-defeating.

Do you have to pay your employees for the holiday?

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:35:34 -0600

The labor law has two categories of holidays. One is called pago obligatorio. The other is pago no obligatorio. The only holidays or dias feriados in the second category are today, the celebration of the Virgen de los Ángeles, and the Dia de la Cultura, Oct. 12.

Suspect named in horrific Herradura arson murders

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:34:57 -0600

Investigators say it was an angry ex-boyfriend who put chains around two containers used as living quarters and killed the four persons who were sleeping inside.

Former president Echandi accorded a state funeral

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:34:13 -0600

Mario Echandi Jiménez, the man who is credited with mending the political wounds of Costa Rica's civil war, was buried with high honors Sunday.

Shootouts on the high seas over marijuana imports

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:33:53 -0600

Costa Rica has become a destination for at least Jamaican marijuana. That became clear over the weekend when two local boats were intercepted on the Caribbean coast in actions punctuated by gunfire. The boats carried marijuana imported from Jamaica, police said.

Police face mob to occupy two hotels

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:23:50 -0600

Police who responded to open up the Caribbean highway Tuesday met firebombs, rocks and burning tires at four locations. The Fuerza Pública said that 10 persons had been arrested.

Body photos on page one bring more criticism to La Extra

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:23:25 -0600

El Diario Extra, Costa Rica's version of a sensational tabloid, is in trouble again because it published a photo of a body on the front page.

Another prison sweep produces television sets

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:16:02 -0600

Televisions, frying pans and cell telephones are supposed to be prohibited in Costa Rican prisons. But somehow individuals managed to smuggle nine television sets, six fry pans and three cell phones into the Centro Penitenciario de Pérez Zeledón.

Someone must know something

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:15:40 -0600

In just a few days last August, the disappearance of Kim Paris from a hotel in Santa Teresa de Cóbano dropped out of the headlines. There was nothing new.

Two communities march against crime

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:31:04 -0600

Citizens in San José and San Ramón marched against criminality Sunday. In San José the march was organized by the family and friends of Alejandro Chacón, the 23-year-old motorist who was gunned down June 24 in San Pedro. In San Ramón about 100 persons marched to promote a specific anti-crime agenda.

Maybe we can call it a 'no arm bandit!'

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:21:14 -0600

Can't wait to lose money? If so, there is a robot waiting at many of the city's casinos that will do the job. At the speed of light.

U.S. woman murdered on Osa Peninsula

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:41:31 -0600

Someone murdered a 52-year-old U.S. woman on the grounds of her family's luxury tourist rental on the Osa Peninsula.

National mourning declared over deaths of teens

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:41:09 -0600

In an unusual decision, President Laura Chinchilla Miranda has decreed a period of national mourning from today through Saturday in response to the deaths of students in Orotina and in San Ramón. During this period the national flag will fly at half staff.

Four students die in San Ramón when car hits group

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:55:13 -0600

Four high school students died early Wednesday after a motor vehicle ran into a group of pedestrians in the public right-of-way in the San Rafael section of San Ramón.

Scientist get five new moth species from Costa Rica

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:54:48 -0600

Researchers find six new species of moths, and five are from Costa Rica.

Deal with Milanes depends on clear titles

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:34:03 -0600

The deal struck between former fugitive Luis Milanes and his Savings Unlimited investors is fast approaching a meltdown.

Coast guard acts to reduce slaughter of green turtles

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:08:49 -0600

The Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas is on patrol off the northern Caribbean coast to protect green turtles that are coming ashore now to lay eggs. The patrols have been reinforced after coast guard officers found a boat there the crew was harpooning the swimming turtles. The green turtle is in danger of extinction.

Hanna Gabriels among those now on stamps

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:08:19 -0600

The postal service, Correos de Costa Rica, has come out with a four-stamp set honoring outstanding athletes. The first day of issue was Thursday, but postal officials did not hold a ceremony until Friday.

Are you ready for a pilgrimage?

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:36:50 -0600

Only two weeks remain before Costa Ricans head for the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles in Cartago, and police officials are getting ready. The Fuerza Pública said Thursday that more than 1,000 officers will be involved in safeguarding pilgrims.

The wanderings of a loggerhead turtle

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:18:57 -0600

Filmmaker Nick Stringer follows a female turtle’s journey from a sandy Florida beach, across the Gulf Stream to Newfoundland to the Azores, back to the Caribbean and, years later, back to Florida. It's a years-long journey that only one in 10,000 loggerheads survives, putting the turtles' long-term survival at risk

Giant snails present a threat

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:18:27 -0600

Costa Rican agricultural officials say that the giant African snail would cause vast loses to the country's biodiversity if it ever got a foothold here. The snail also is a public health threat because of the diseases it carries, they said.

Complex web links Chávez, Iran, Hezbollah and drugs

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:00:20 -0600

The international drug trade in which Costa Rica plays a key transit role is part of a complex relationship between hostile nations and Muslim extremists with the goal of destroying the United States. That is the scenario outlined before a U.S. House subcommittee last week. Witnesses described a lengthy partnership of Venezuela, its Bolivarian supporters, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, Colombian drug producers and smugglers, Mexican cartels, the revolutionary governments of Iran and Syria and the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Northern zone is all shook up

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:59:53 -0600

Three earthquakes that registered better than 5.0 rattled the northern zone Tuesday afternoon. All took place within 40 minutes. Then a 4.1 magnitude aftershock hit less than an hour later.

The tax man commeth, and he's serious

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:18:15 -0600

The finance ministry is taking actions to increase collection of sales taxes and to crack down on those who understate income taxes. Once again the ministry, officially the Ministerio de Hacienda, plans a lottery. This time the lottery will offer prizes to those who use credit or debit cards in everyday transactions.

Avenida 3 is not the way to go

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:17:40 -0600

If motorists liked the Avenida 8 detours, they will love the one at Avenida 3. Work crews have begun to tear up that vital downtown artery. The street will be blocked for at least four month

Proposed tax will cost you one way or the other

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:31:14 -0600

There is a new tax on the horizon for all types of companies, including inactive ones, that could prove to be very expensive for expats living in Costa Rica. This tax is just another way to squeeze everyone, including expats. It will surely prove to be a deterrent to investing in the country.

A video to remind tourists to be alert

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:30:48 -0600

What can happen to a tourist here who does not pay attention to basic security precautions? That's the premise of a video produced by the U.S. Embassy here that seeks to promote vigilance.

Costa Ricans are getting more connected

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:12:49 -0600

Although President Laura Chinchilla has embarked on a bold plan to put Internet access and computers to use it all over the country, the government's service provide reported Thursday that 56 percent of the population use the Web and that 370,000 homes have connections.

Reader recounts a tragic experience with the Caja

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:39:36 -0600

A total failure to coordinate and manage her treatment robbed my wife of the chance to survive. There was on the part of some of the nurses a clear expression of not caring and a strong disdain for foreigners.

Presumed robber kills three women in Heredia

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:39:06 -0600

Someone broke into a clothing and shoe store in San Joaquín de Flores de Heredia Wednesday morning and murdered the two sisters who were the owners. A third woman found alive but died later.

Caja fighting to keep head above water

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:37:13 -0600

If the Caja were consistent, Casa Presidencial and the other main government agencies would be decked out in yellow tape. The Caja's employee union estimated Tuesday that the central government is behind 1 trillion colons or about $2 billion.

Have trouble figuring the new minimum wage? Here's the link!

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:36:46 -0600

The Consejo de Salarios decreed a 2.55 percent wage hike in the minimum wages this year, but it also decreed a 3.5 percent wage hike for low-wage earners. Expats are having trouble figuring out haw they should adjust the salaries of their workers.

Tourism operators expect nearly 60 percent occupancy over vacation

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:50:03 -0600

Tourism operators are anticipating an occupancy rate just short of 60 percent as Costa Ricans take advantage of the midyear vacation.

Uncertainty follows end of La Niña

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:56:31 -0600

Bill Patzert, a climatologist and oceanographer, likes to call the current Pacific weather situation La Nada. This is the puzzling period between cycles of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean when sea surface heights in the equatorial Pacific are near average.

Internet situation beginning to improve

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:56:02 -0600

Opening of the telecommunications market in Costa Rica is starting to provide real options for Internet consumers in Costa Rica. The biggest change happened earlier this year when Amnet cable decided to drop Radiográfica Costarricense S.A., the state-owned Internet provider, in favor of Navega as its Internet backbone provider.

Traffic restrictions suspended for two weeks

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 02:51:32 -0600

Traffic officials are listing the license plate restrictions for San Jose's downtown for two weeks starting Monday.

IBM to make major investment

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:24:03 -0600

IBM said Thursday that it would invest $300 million over the next 10 years and employee 1,000 persons to develop a technology information center.

President outlines internet for social ends

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:23:27 -0600

The central government announced its massive computer social program that will seek to hook up every corner of Costa Rica with wide band fiber optic Internet cable.

Tourism operators decry legal insecurity

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:47:28 -0600

Representatives of the tourism industry have called upon the legislature to take action to clear up some of the investment insecurity that comes from Costa Rica's enforcement of laws.

It's a great time to be in the coffee business

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:46:46 -0600

This is a great year for coffee producers. Prices for export grade coffee are at the highest point in years, and a family in Dota just sold one lot for $2,000 a quintal. Now come a report from the University of South Florida that says researchers there have found an as-yet unidentified component of coffee that interacts with the caffeine to protect against Alzheimer’s disease, and they urge people to drink more coffee.

The waves can set the weather pattern

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:08:08 -0600

For about eight months of the year, Costa Rica is under siege from weather patterns that form over Africa. These are the infamous tropical waves that bring clouds and rain. Sometimes they combine with home-grown weather instability to really drench the country.

Human trafficking report seems to lack evidence

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:07:36 -0600

\The United States downgraded Costa Rica and put the country on the so-called watch list in the annual human trafficking report released Monday.

An expert checks in on global warming

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:44:05 -0600

"In fact, I have found almost no scientists, in my recent studies, who do not harbour strong misgivings about the man-made warming hypothesis."

Coconut DNA harbors some surprises for scientists

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:43:29 -0600

So extensively is the history of the coconut interwoven with the history of people traveling that Kenneth Olsen, a plant evolutionary biologist, didn't expect to find much geographical structure to coconut genetics when he and his colleagues set out to examine the DNA of more than 1,300 coconuts from all over the world.

Inside report on the gold on the Osa Peninsula

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:48:48 -0600

The peninsula, on the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica has a hot humid climate and contains the richest biodiversity in the whole of Central America, especially within its Parque Nacional Corcovado. Unbeknownst to most foreigners, it has been one of Costa Rica’s largest and most prolific gold bearing regions since the 1930s. Its placer gold, at 21 karats, ranks as some of the world’s most pure.

New British ambassador is a two-for-one deal

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:48:13 -0600

The new ambassador is Sharon Isabel Campbell, a career diplomat. Her husband, Christopher John Campbell, has been named non-resident ambassador to Nicaragua. The embassy here also has responsibilities for the country to the north.

Robin Hood is a good model for the tax man?

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:05:28 -0600

Leaders of the nation's public employee union urged legislators Wednesday to adopt a so-called Robin Hood tax. Specifically the Asociación Nacional de Empleados Públicos y Privados lobbied for a tax on international financial transactions. The organization said that such a tax could raise $400 billion a year if assessed worldwide.

Hotels agree not to serve sailfish and marlin

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:05:06 -0600

The Billfish Foundation entered into an agreement with its conservation partner, the Costa Rica Sport Fishing Federation and four participating Hilton Worldwide hotels in Costa Rica, pledging to stop serving all sailfish and marlin.

Will Arenal go dormant?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:49:04 -0600

Is Arenal volcano running out of steam. That is the question on many lips, especially those of persons with a large investment in tourism in the La Fortuna de San Carlos area near the mountain.

Tax plan returns with some compromises

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:48:36 -0600

The central government sent a revised tax plan to the legislature Tuesday. The proposal contains some changes that are expected to attract more votes from lawmakers.

Here's where you can meet the new money

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:45:03 -0600

Pretty soon Costa Ricans will be saying una plastica when they mean a 1,000-colon bill. The new emission that is coming out this week is just one of two, but it is the only bill that is being made of a plastic material that is supposed to wear three times as long as the current cotton fiber paper.

Stolen boat found stripped in Limón

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:44:35 -0600

International diving operator Perry Edwards said his associates have been able to locate their stolen boat. The major problem was that crooks stripped the boat of all of it gauges, radio and its two outboard motors.

U.S. passport thefts and robberies on the decline

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:40:38 -0600

The stolen passport trend, which gave Costa Rica a black eye, appears to have peaked in 2007 and has continued to decline since.

Sámara residents seek more police in wake of tourist murder

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:39:32 -0600

Residents and business operators in the Pacific coast community of Sámara are organizing in an effort to seek better police protection there. The effort follows the murder of an Argentine tourist as she relaxed in an open-air hotel restaurant Thursday night.

Murder is the most recent and most serious scandal

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:23:57 -0600

The Laura Chinchilla administration is immersed in scandals today and not all of them are of the sexual variety.

Salary discussions under way

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:29:39 -0600

The twice yearly battle over the minimum wage has begun. The Consejo Nacional de Salarios eventually will fix the percentage of the wage increase that will take effect July 1.

Work begins on the Cartago passenger line

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:29:15 -0600

Work began Wednesday to clear the rail right-of-way from Curridabat to Cartago so that passenger service can resume.

President is now on a stamp

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:36:20 -0600

Correos de Costa Rica has come out with a new stamp commemorating the constitutional change that gave women the vote in 1949, and featured on the stamp is the leading women politician of today, Laura Chinchilla.

Autopista del Sol haled into environment court

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:35:56 -0600

As if Autopista del Sol did not have enough problems, the environmental enforcement agency has haled the firm and its executives into a trial for damage to the landscape.

Census seeks the missing residents

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:48:57 -0600

Despite legions of teachers working a week to count the Cost Rica population, the census agency fears some residents here remain uncounted.

High court absolves fiscal general

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:48:35 -0600

The Corte Suprema de Justicia has voted 21 to 1 not to punish the fiscal general, Jorge Chavarría Guzmán, in the case of Rodrigo Arias Sánchez.

Want to do business with the government?

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:51:25 -0600

One after another Costa Rican ministries, institutes and other agencies are turning over their purchasing procedures to the Sistema Mer-Link, an online project that is supposed to inject transparency into government acquisitions.

What factors keep expats in Costa Rica?

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:06:10 -0600

The front page is usually where crimes and other tragedies are reported. But good things frequently are overlooked because they are not news.

Agents follow up drug seizures with raids and arrests

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:05:33 -0600

Anti-drug agents Thursday conducted 15 raids as they followed up on discoveries of cocaine shipments discovered last April 29 and June 1.

Crooks rule the inlet in Limón

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:19:56 -0600

Armed men appear to have taken over a Caribbean inlet near Limón. They have threatened persons in boats and ordered them to leave the area. They have fired on the coast guard and police officers who beat a hasty retreat and seem to have forgotten about the incident.

Emergency officials will monitor dangerous slide sites

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:49:47 -0600

The national emergency commission has identified eight slopes that are in danger of becoming landslides in the Central Valley.

Government embracing gas exploration

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:49:11 -0600

A U.S. oil exploration company has survived 10 years of legal challenges against its concession, and now the government wants to become its partner.

Scientist predicts much hotter tropics

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:21:08 -0600

The tropics and much of the Northern Hemisphere are likely to experience an irreversible rise in summer temperatures within the next 20 to 60 years if atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, according to a new climate study by Stanford University scientists.

Exciting discoveries in Cartago prison

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:20:35 -0600

A surprise shakedown of the Centro Penitenciario Cocorí in Cartago produced a large quantity of weapons, including a piece of rebar several feet long honed to a sharp point.

Web site provides slick way to computer worker pay offs

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:17:47 -0600

Most expats in Costa Rica have experienced the problem of firing an employee or have one leave unexpectedly. One of the biggest headaches is calculating what is owed to them.

Lawmakers decline to stiffen criminal laws for juveniles

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:17:16 -0600

Lawmakers appear to have declined to include suspects younger than 18 years in the country's criminal code.

U.N. native expert uncovers simmering complaints

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:57:25 -0600

A United Nations expert sent to study the situation of the country's native peoples in the face of the El Diquís hydro project in southern Costa Rica says the government should address underlying issues affecting the native peoples in the country.

Professor has electronic eye on billfish

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:56:59 -0600

A fish whisperer from Miami came to tell Costa Ricans about a new tracking device for that darling of the sport fishing world, the billfish.

Security guard accidently kills U.S. student

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:04:03 -0600

A resort guard fatally shot a U.S. high school student visiting La Fortuna to study Spanish. The incident in which the guard appears to have mistaken the student guest at the La Cangreja Lodge for a prowler happened about 4 a.m. today.

Cell towers might provoke a backlash

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:03:24 -0600

A World Health unit's report classifying cell phone radiation as a possible cancer cause came at the wrong time for Costa Rica. Two companies that have been authorized to offer mobile telephone service are putting up more base stations. These towers are in addition to the many in service by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad.

Abducted baby found safe

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:46:46 -0600

The case of the stolen baby has had a happy ending. The tot has been reunited with parents and has been pronounced unharmed by physicians.

Archbishop and presidential candidate questioned by prosecutors

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:46:20 -0600

Two leading figures in Costa Rican society showed up at prosecutor's offices Tuesday to submit to questioning. One was Rodrigo Arias, the brother of the former president and a presidential candidate himself. The other was Archbishop Hugo Barrantes, the highest Roman Catholic churchman in the country.

Action promised on traffic law rewrite

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:09:14 -0600

Lawmakers promise that a revised traffic law will come to the floor of the Asamblea Legislativa for action within a week, and that the measure will contain penalties that are proportional to the offense and consistent with common sense.

Tourism chamber wants its proposals passed

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:08:30 -0600

The tourism chamber wants action from the Asamblea Legislativa, too. They join a line of organizations and individuals seeking passage of certain bills.

The continuing cost to U.S. servicemen

Tue, 31 May 2011 02:32:31 -0600

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, and editors thought they should remind readers of the U.S. servicemen who died in the last month in Afghanistan or Iraq.

U.S. expat loses appeal over citizenship rule

Tue, 31 May 2011 02:32:04 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has rejected an appeal from a woman in Playas del Coco who did not want to give up her U.S. citizenship in order to become a Costa Rican citizen.

Not every expat will be counted

Mon, 30 May 2011 02:05:56 -0600

Not every expat will be counted in the 2011 census that kicks of Monday. Local teachers are gathering the data, but only those expats who have been in the country six months or have the intention of being here that long will be asked to collaborate on filling out a census form, according to the government agency in charge.

Motorists face challenges during rainy season

Fri, 27 May 2011 02:04:50 -0600

Some crazy nuts will roar by at high speeds even when the visibility is just 15 feet. His brother is parked in the middle of the highway around the next curve.

British warn about missing tourists here

Fri, 27 May 2011 02:04:20 -0600

The British government has updated its travel advice about Costa Rica to note that eight foreign nationals, including one British citizen, have gone missing in the last two years with some related to criminal activity.

July Fourth will be different this year

Thu, 26 May 2011 01:53:36 -0600

The American Colony Committee is collaborating this year with Avenida Escazú for a July 4 celebration. That means the traditional morning picnic will not take place.

Milanes payout might be 18 percent

Thu, 26 May 2011 01:53:15 -0600

Most former investors with Savings Unlimited who have filed legal cases will get about 18 percent of their money back. That appears to be the conciliation deal worked out between casino owner Luis Milanes and most of the lawyers representing those who lost funds.

More gambling crackdowns

Wed, 25 May 2011 01:31:03 -0600

Federal officials unsealed two indictments Monday and said they had seized 11 bank accounts and 10 Internet domain names, including the well-known doylesroom.com poker site that was run from Costa Rica.

Those Texas bugs are just puny by comparison!

Tue, 24 May 2011 02:33:28 -0600

The San Antonio, Texas, Zoo has just acquired a giant Costa Rican beetle for display and a research project.

First Milanes proposal featured a fake letter

Tue, 24 May 2011 02:33:03 -0600

Savings Unlimited investors today are trying to put the finishing touches on a second conciliation agreement that will keep casino operator Luis Milanes out of jail. What many do not know is that the first proposal was suspected of being rife with fraud and identity theft.

Just lookin' for a home

Mon, 23 May 2011 02:08:24 -0600

Finding housing of prisoners has approached high frustration as the judiciary seeks to comply with or overturn a judge's order that two suspected international drug smugglers be transferred from cells to house arrest.

That quake was just 3 second long!

Mon, 23 May 2011 02:07:55 -0600

The quake that struck near Puriscal a week ago lasted just three seconds at the epicenter, but the time it was felt elsewhere depended on the composition and consistency of the soil, said the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica.

Tourism figures are a record

Fri, 20 May 2011 02:06:11 -0600

The tourism institute confirmed Wednesday that international arrivals were up just short of 8 percent in the first three months of the year.

Percentage of tourists from North America declined over the years

Thu, 19 May 2011 01:49:29 -0600

Over the last six years there has been a fundamental shift in the tourism market. The percentage of visitors from North America has declined while the percent of visitors from Central America and South American has increased.

New hot issue is home stay for drug suspects

Thu, 19 May 2011 01:48:55 -0600

Expats living in Sabana Sur might be getting two new neighbors. The pair are two Mexicans who are suspected to be principals in smuggling cocaine.

Schools show their best side with English and computers

Wed, 18 May 2011 02:50:49 -0600

Anyone with doubts that Costa Rican public education can deliver high-level programs should visit the Antigua Aduana today. There they will find the second day of demonstration mostly by more than 300 youngsters in primary and secondary school from all over the country.

Robbery advanced as motive for death of expat in Jacó

Tue, 17 May 2011 03:00:51 -0600

Investigators believe initially that two men found dead near Jacó early Friday were the victims of a robbery. However, they are checking into the background of both men for other motives.

Telephone scam took in $40 million, judiciary says

Tue, 17 May 2011 03:00:23 -0600

Telephone scammers here took $40 million from the vulnerable and the aged in the United States though an advanced fee lottery scam.

Hardly any damage from 6.0 quake

Mon, 16 May 2011 02:20:56 -0600

A moderate to strong earthquake took place at 4:47 p.m. Friday as Central Valley office workers were getting ready for the weekend. Many described the quake as scary because it endured for more than a minute.

Jail break was a carbon copy

Mon, 16 May 2011 02:20:33 -0600

The jail break attempt Wednesday was a copy of the successful 2006 flight from the same penal institution. In both cases there were vehicles provided by unknown persons awaiting the fugitives.

Jail break attempt leaves three dead

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:48:17 -0600

A fierce and prolonged firefight ended an abortive escape from the La Reforma maximum security prison Tuesday and freed 14 hostages. A prison guard held hostage and two prisoners died as a result of the firefight.

Fingerprint unit raided

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:47:52 -0600

The location is well known for expats who have sought residency. The first-floor location is in the Ministerio de Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Públicaacross the street from the Centro Comercial del Sur where fingerprints are taken.

Expats may find a silver lining in poker scandal

Thu, 12 May 2011 02:23:09 -0600

The situations involving online poker operations in Costa Rica continue to be confusing, but expats seem to be benefiting. The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the colon took a small jump, and several hundred bilingual potential employees are now in the job market.

Calderón declared guilty but will not do time

Thu, 12 May 2011 02:23:32 -0600

The Sala III high criminal court upheld, much of the case against former president Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier and his associates in a decision released Wednesday. But the court downgraded the allegations to one count of simple embezzlement and overturned the penalty of prison.

Expotur emphasis this year is cultural tourism

Wed, 11 May 2011 02:17:52 -0600

Expotur, the 27th annual tourism marketplace, kicks off Wednesday night, and this year cultural tourism are the watchwords. That culture is an integral part of tourism may seem obvious, but officials this year are promoting the concept as a valuable resource.

Country awaits decision on Calderón

Wed, 11 May 2011 02:17:28 -0600

As the so-called Caja-Fischel case approaches a final decision, The majority of Costa Ricans appear to believe that the Sala III high criminal court will uphold the lower court convictions.

Our opinion: Savings Unlimited victims should get a fair deal

Tue, 10 May 2011 02:15:03 -0600

But it would seem unfair after ruining so many lives, that Milanes should be the one calling the shots. He has not included those casinos in the offering to investors. Those are money machines. When he was collecting investments from those would become victims, he and his colleagues said the money would be used for casinos development. So it seems fair that the victims should get the casinos.

Coalition of established tourism groups seeks concrete action

Tue, 10 May 2011 02:14:38 -0600

A coalition of tourism organization has called on the Laura Chinchilla administration to take concrete actions over the next three years.

The rainy season is really here

Mon, 09 May 2011 02:32:27 -0600

The rainy season came in full force Thursday, and sections of the Caribbean and the northern zone are expected to get up to 17 centimeters or nearly 7 inches of rain over 24 hours, according to the national weather institute.

Credit card crooks bilked tourism agencies

Mon, 09 May 2011 02:32:00 -0600

Crooks came up with a new wrinkle on credit card theft that left tourism operators and agencies holding the bag.

Crime hits commerce hard

Fri, 06 May 2011 01:41:19 -0600

There are no accurate ways to estimate the cost of crime to Costa Rican society. When a crook rips up a few dollars worth of copper wire and darkens an entire neighborhood, the true cost is much greater than the repair bill.

Another tragedy in the Pacific surf

Fri, 06 May 2011 01:40:53 -0600

The news of deaths on the central Pacific coast was familiar. Shortly before noon rip tides swept away students who were in Costa Rica for a short visit.

Another study predicts drastic sea level rise

Thu, 05 May 2011 03:17:37 -0600

There is some more bad climate news for Costa Rica's coasts. A panel of arctic experts predicts worldwide sea level rise in the next 90 years of from .9 to 1.6 meters. That's from 35.5 inches to 63 inches.

Container port passes legal hurdle

Thu, 05 May 2011 03:17:12 -0600

The proposed super container terminal at Moín has passed another legal hurdle, according to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes.

Freedom of the press is for all now

Wed, 04 May 2011 02:01:06 -0600

The monopoly of the printed press and television has been broken. No longer do those who wish to express their opinions have to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars for equipment. A couple of hundred dollars in a computer and an Internet connection is all that is needed.

Big push for vaccinations kicked off

Wed, 04 May 2011 02:00:42 -0600

The country has embarked on a project to vaccinate 700,000 youngsters this month. The youngsters are getting shots against polio, rubella, measles and mumps.

The new digital Registro

Tue, 03 May 2011 02:13:56 -0600

There is nothing more frustration in Costa Rica than to go to a bank, government agency or some store for a company purchase and the clerk asks: “Do you have a personería jurídica?”

Memories rekindled of Sept. 11, 2001, here

Tue, 03 May 2011 02:13:33 -0600

Nearly 10 years ago when Muslim terrorists struck the United States, most U.S. expats in Costa Rica felt impotent. The nation was under attack, and the best citizens here could do was watch the tragedy unfold via television.

Agencies nudged to speed up approval processes

Mon, 02 May 2011 02:24:11 -0600

The central government took steps to speed up approval processes and eliminate certain regulations covering the importation of low-rick merchandise.