A.M. Costa Rica top stories

Fuerza Pública claims success in central city cleanup

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:32:11 -0600

The Fuerza Pública chief for San José said Wednesday that his officers have made 5,600 arrests in the first five months of the year and significantly cleaned up the central city.

Trafficking being painted with a broad brush

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:31:36 -0600

When law enforcement officials and politicians talk about human trafficking, they seldom are very specific. But there is a big difference between an individual migrating voluntarily from one county to another and someone being forced against their will into slavery.

Organized crime bill gets first OK

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:42:36 -0600

Even though most Costa Rican officials agree the country does not have the resources to fight organized crime and despite concerns that the measure is not constitution, lawmakers passed the law against organized crime Tuesday.

Insurance system for vehicle repairs said to be flawed

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:35:44 -0600

Despite an electronic system to find parts for damaged vehicles, the Instituto Nacional de Seguros has been paying the highest price 80 percent of the time, according to the Superintendencia de Pensiones.

Coup authors have unifying effect on hemisphere

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:35:17 -0600

Government leaders meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, agreed Monday to put the pressure on the new regime in Honduras.

Expat's Golfito complex branded incorrectly as drug den

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:44:56 -0600

A New York man whose Golfito estate has been featured on television as a nest for drug smugglers is unhappy, to say the least.

Runaway mon gets to stay here

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:44:25 -0600

A court in San Ramón has ordered liberated a U.S. woman who is a felony suspect in an international child abduction case.

Post office will get a new color

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:42:39 -0600

Work has started on the main post office building, and the institutional green color will become tri-toned, although the exact shades have not yet been selected.

Milanes case on the slow track

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:41:12 -0600

The 527 investors who hope to get money back from Luis Ángel Milanes Tamayo have suffered another reverse.

Volcanoes seem to be behaving well

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:59:03 -0600

Inspections at two of the nation's most active volcanoes suggest that no major eruptions are likely soon.

Six firms get ok to offer telecom services

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:19:40 -0600

In what the head of the telecom regulating agency called an historic day, six companies have won the right to offer Internet and voice-over-Internet telephone services here.

Salary decision is 2 percent

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:19:06 -0600

Private companies will have to pay their minimum-wage employees 2 percent more starting July 1.

Gender inequalities are rampant

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:12:29 -0600

The inequities in Costa Rica's family laws are in large part the fault of men. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence where men now have little or no rights. Women are now in control in this country, and they know it. Some find expeditious ways of doing in their male companion.

Try to die during the week if you want a flag

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:12:03 -0600

The last honor that the United States government can bestow on a veteran is to provide a flag to drape the former warrior's coffin. Thanks to stubborn officials at the U.S. Embassy, a veteran in Costa Rica has to be buried on a weekday to receive the honor.

Mayan states were into commercial yuca production

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:35:06 -0600

An anthropology professor and his team have uncovered a manioc field one-third the size of football field buried under 10 feet of ash by the eruption of a volcano about 1,400 years ago that blanketed the Mayan farming village of Ceren in El Salvador.

Elections make nation vulnerable

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:27:44 -0600

The discovery of another load of cocaine with links to Costa Rica outline the dimensions of the problem. What is not as apparent is the pressures being brought on individuals and institutions as a result of the cocaine trade.

Employers better walk their workers home

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:23:10 -0600

The Sala Secunda supreme court for labor cases has found an employer responsible for the wellbeing of a worker up until the individual enters his home.

Three-day holiday on the way out

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:22:44 -0600

Lawmakers approved a bill on first reading Wednesday that would make July 25 a holiday and drop it from the diminishing list of three-day weekends.

Surprise! The Heredia line is in service

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:28:42 -0600

Transport officials seem to want to keep it a secret, but the Heredia branch of the valley rail line is in operation.

Rahab founder honored in Washington

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:28:06 -0600

The U.,S. secretary of State honored Mariliana Morales Barrios, the founder of the Fundación Rahab that cares for former prostitutes, in a Washington, D.C. ceremony Tuesday.

Study says pot can open body to cancer

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:34:51 -0600

An article being published this week in a chemical journal says that the favorite crop of some expats damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.

Tico credit card debt approaches $1 billion

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:33:53 -0600

Costa Ricans have borrowed heavily on their credit cards, and the estimate of total revolving credit debt is just short of $1 billion: $999,843,679, based on Monday's exchange rate.

Tourism institute wants to 'brand' the country

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:07:56 -0600

Faced with a tourism industry in distress and an erosion of the nation's worldwide image, government officials want to put a new face on the country.

Some Cartago regional treats

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:50:55 -0600

There is a lot more to the Provincia de Cartago than potatoes, and cooks of the communities will be out to prove this June 27.

There are ways to protect land in Costa Rica

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:09:40 -0600

Several would-be property buyers in Costa Rica expressed uncertainty Wednesday after reading about land invasions in the central Pacific resort areas. Their concerns have merit, but A.M. Costa Rica has been publishing for years ways for expats to protect their property.

Two decades of expat anguish on the central Pacific coast

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:16:31 -0600

Under the warm tropical sun near Playa Herradura on the central Pacific coast, two decades of lawlessness have flourished mostly ignored by officials elsewhere. This is the tradition of physically invading property and trying to steal it by occupying the tract.

There still is steady support for Calderón

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:16:04 -0600

AN ANALYSIS: In informal discussions with Costa Rican voters, former president Rafael Ángel Calderón emerges as a strong candidate.

Immigration tries to eliminate backlog

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:30:46 -0600

IThe immigration department has canceled all the cédula renewal appointments for foreigners from July 1 and after. Some of them were set for dates in 2011. Instead, the department is asking expats to make another appointment through the new system with Banco de Costa Rica for speedier service.

Living in harmony with critters

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:30:19 -0600

While reality TV producers search for creepy stuff to wow North American audiences, expats here generally take their critters in stride.

New bank rules putting a crimp in expats

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:10:31 -0600

The transparency phantom stalking clients back in 2005 was not as obvious as he is today. Now, Costa Rica is on its knees in front of the world, pleading for forgiveness for its tax haven practices and wanting to change. The country seeks to send a strong signal to the world it has done so.

Ms. Chinchilla seems to have unbeatable advantage

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:10:05 -0600

Laura Chinchilla appears to be the presidential nominee of the Partido Liberación Nacional.

Troubling report on China's efforts

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:37:00 -0600

A new report finds that five influential authoritarian states — China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and Pakistan — are actively undermining democracy within their borders and abroad. Their efforts to taint international development and subvert organizations that promote human rights are organized, sophisticated and well-resourced.

Oh, those delicious fruits

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:36:33 -0600

Delights from star fruit to guavas to the prickly guyabana and the delicate naranjilla are on the market now, and you can get your daily dose of vitamin C with little trouble.

Small hospital that helped vets closes down

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:11:36 -0600

The only Costa Rican hospital that did not require insured U.S. military retirees to pay upfront has closed. But supporters hope that a change of ownership will allow the facility to reopen next week.

Who needs term limits anyway?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:11:09 -0600

More left-wing Latin leaders seem to be following the Hugo Chávez game plan. Chávez is the Venezuelan president who won the right in February to run continuously for the presidency. Now Manuel Zelaya Rosales of Honduras wants to change the constitution there so he can run again.

Mrs. Clinton promises more support to fight drugs

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:26:48 -0600

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pledged new support to Central American and Caribbean allies to combat violent drug traffickers. Mrs. Clinton was meeting counterparts from across Latin America in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Guest editorial on import taxes for yachts

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:26:21 -0600

"I'm always promoting Costa Rica. Unfortunately many "Yates" have chosen to bypass Costa Rica entirely. No. 1 reason, crime of course. The No. 2 reason, after 90 days Costa Rica wants to bill you for the IMPORT Tax. So, many people just sail on by and never get to discover the beauty of Costa Rica nor the wonderful Ticos."

Web site evaluates customer service

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:31:48 -0600

A former top reporter for La Nación has started a Web site that seeks to report on and evaluate retail firms and organizations here.

Juvenile crime getting attention

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:26:30 -0600

The central government is taking notice of the wave of crimes being committed by juveniles, those under 18 years. Such crimes were up 22.6 percent in 2008. At a meeting Thursday heads of the various branches of government agreed to set up a committee to consider reforms in the juvenile law. Casa Presidencial called the topic complex and delicate.

As expected, Solís sweeps to nomination

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:25:31 -0600

Ottón Solís, as expected, scored an overwhelming victory Sunday to become the presidential candidate of the Partido Acción Ciudadana, which he founded. Turnout by party members was light, and the full totals are not known, but with 327 of 411 polling places reporting, Solís had 71 percent of the vote, the party said.

How about some green bananas?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:24:57 -0600

The culinary landscape of pre-conquest America lacked some of the foods taken for granted today. There was no sugar. That was imported by Columbus on his second voyage. The delicious mango did not grown here. And the banana did not come to the Americas until the 16th century. Even the ubiquitous rice plant is a colonial import.

At last! Airport deal finally approved

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:13:30 -0600

The nation's financial watchdog issued its approval Thursday for a Houston company to take over management of Juan Santamaría airport.

Some surprises in proposed U.S. tax law

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:27:53 -0600

Proposed U.S. legislation to restrict the use of so-called tax shelters would invoke the Patriot Act to punish firms that are deemed to be impeding U.S. tax enforcement.

Government going to Limón to push for private docks

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:27:16 -0600

The central government will hold its weekly cabinet meeting in Limón June 10 as a way of pushing forward it plan to privatize the cargo and tourist docks there and deliver them to a concessionaire.

U.S. citizen blamed in two contract killings

Thu, 28 May 2009 04:05:15 -0600

A U.S. citizen has been identified by investigators as the intellectual author of two contract killings. The killings were prompted by disputes over a franchise vending business that preyed on mostly older residents of the United States.

Action designed to keep out citrus disease

Thu, 28 May 2009 04:04:32 -0600

Agricultural officials took action Tuesday to protect the country from a bacterial disease that can cause serious damage to the citrus crops.

It's sort of like 'Gilligan's Island' but here

Wed, 27 May 2009 04:19:54 -0600

The U.S. network NBC plans to send 10 so-called celebrities here to brave the Costa Rican jungle and be afflicted on command by various tribulations delivered long-distance by viewers.

Memorial Day here will be Saturday

Wed, 27 May 2009 04:19:17 -0600

Monday may have been Memorial Day and a legal holiday in the United States. In Costa Rica, Memorial Day will continue to be May 30, which is Saturday this year.

Jobs for foreigners not aways what they seem

Tue, 26 May 2009 04:17:27 -0600

Too many — especially young people — take the bait and move to Costa Rica thinking they're going to earn big bucks teaching or by working in call centers. Only they get trapped earning very little and what they do receive is easily consumed by living expenses.

Sala IV rejects appeals over frozen accounts

Mon, 25 May 2009 04:29:17 -0600

Expats who have been annoyed, upset and angered at the prying demands of bank officials should not count on help from the Sala IV constitutional court.

The road to Nosara is worth the trip

Fri, 22 May 2009 03:58:25 -0600

A visitor really has to love Nosara to get there. The main route is a gravel, mostly dirt road bisected by runoff ditches and dotted with mud holes. Frequently in the rainy season only buses and large trucks can traverse the route.

Banco de Costa Rica will renew cédulas

Thu, 21 May 2009 04:30:59 -0600

Legal residents can now renew or replace their identity cédulas at 32 Banco de Costa Rica offices all over the country.

Environmental police shut down Del Monte pineapple facility

Thu, 21 May 2009 04:30:30 -0600

The Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo, the environmental watchdog, ordered Del Monte to close its pineapple production facilities in Siquirres Monday because of what it said were high levels of chemicals in the local water sources.

Slandering a judge draws four-year sentence

Wed, 20 May 2009 03:56:44 -0600

A woman who filed criminal complaints later determined to be false against a judge has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Head of supreme court wants committee to solve crime problem

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:13:08 -0600

The supreme court president wants Óscar Arias Sánchez to reactivate a citizen security commitee to weigh the problems of drug trafficking and juvenile criminals.

Customer rousted by Banco de Costa Rica

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:12:20 -0600

"I asked them why me with only $885 in my account when they should be concerned more with the criminals and those with huge amounts of monies being deposited. Apparently, this in accordance with the U.S. since last year, and they are just following protocol here."

The wonderful heritage houses of Costa Rica

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:11:52 -0600

These structures will get their chance to shine again in a painting contest sponsored by the Ministerio de Cultura, Juventud y Deportes. The ministry announced the contest Thursday.

Smokers are an endangered species

Mon, 18 May 2009 04:12:28 -0600

A proposed law against tobacco would, if passed, eliminate the Costa Rican tradition of street vendors selling one cigarette at a time to customers. The proposal also sets up a special tobacco tax of 100 colons per cigarette or cigar.

Power company gets Cariblanco plant back online

Fri, 15 May 2009 04:21:49 -0600

One turbine of the Planta Hidroeléctrica Cariblanco went into service Wednesday night six month sooner than originally planned.

Ancient builders to get recognition

Fri, 15 May 2009 04:21:21 -0600

The architects will not be around to receive the designation, but the American Society of Civil Engineers soon will bestow on the ancient ruins of Guayabo the title of international heritage of civil engineering.

Employers might have to ante up to Caja for tips

Thu, 14 May 2009 04:29:41 -0600

That 10 percent mandatory tip that is added to the bill in restaurants and some bars is not now considered part of an employee's salary. But there is a movement in the Asamblea Legislativa to do so.

Coastal dwellers united to push for revised maritime zone

Thu, 14 May 2009 04:29:09 -0600

Residents who believe their coastal communities are being destroyed by the country's maritime law are taking to the streets in front of the Asamblea Legislativa today.

Boston choir members are the Typhoid Marys of swine flu

Wed, 13 May 2009 04:15:25 -0600

A Boston youth chorus is being considered something of Typhoid Marys and getting the blame for spreading swine flu in Costa Rica. But it is far from clear if the chorus spread the flu or if members were themselves flu victims.

Getting the U.S. passport for foreign-born children

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:17:06 -0600

Many expats who have built families with a Costa Rican want to get their natural or adopted offspring a U.S. passport. Some believe that since they are U.S. citizens the right to pass on U.S. citizenship is automatic. It is not. However, it does not need to be a daunting task either.

Hydro project reported back on track

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:16:40 -0600

A major project to construct a new dam also was the victim of Alma. The Instituto Costarricence de Electricidad and its contractor had to evacuate about 1,100 workers from the Pirrís hydroelectric project May 29 because of the storm, which then inflicted costly damage to the construction. The work suffered a major setback.

Those revolving prison gates

Mon, 11 May 2009 03:47:48 -0600

The way Costa Rican judges apply the concepts of conditional liberty or pre-trial detention is enough to make an expat's head swim.

Thousands expected to use Heredia train

Fri, 08 May 2009 03:33:58 -0600

Government officials are expecting about 94,000 persons a month to take a trip on the new San José-Heredia line. And they said there will be 42 trips a day on the 9.67-kilometer (6-mile) route.

U.S. says Costa Rica did not follow through on turtles

Fri, 08 May 2009 03:33:10 -0600

The U.S. State Department blames Costa Rica’s ineffective enforcement mechanism for the new ban on importing shrimp.

New devices suggest future of online readership

Thu, 07 May 2009 03:47:30 -0600

What will online reading be like in a few years?

Road deaths not linked to alcohol

Thu, 07 May 2009 03:47:03 -0600

Traffic officials are calling the new alcohol law a success even though 12 more persons died in the first four months of 2009 than did in 2008.

Helicopter was on a drug flight, officials report

Wed, 06 May 2009 04:07:07 -0600

The security ministry has been hit with another scandal with the disclosure that a former aviation employee was piloting a helicopter containing at least 347 kilos of cocaine.

Obama targets expats and U.S. companies abroad

Wed, 06 May 2009 04:06:37 -0600

President Barack Obama said Monday he wants to crack down on U.S. companies and wealthy investors who avoid federal taxes through offshore business dealings. Obama unveiled a plan that aims to boost U.S. tax revenue by $210 billion over the next 10 years and preserve American jobs.

U.S. will try to counter influence of China, Iran and Russia

Tue, 05 May 2009 03:38:53 -0600

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Obama administration is working to improve relations with Latin American leaders, in part, to counter the growing influence of China, Iran and Russia. Clinton says it is not in U.S. interests to shun countries in its own hemisphere.

The epidemic that killed children

Mon, 04 May 2009 03:42:29 -0600

While the world waits to seen how the swine flu epidemic plays out, some expats are old enough to remember another plague: polio.

Nicoya expat wounded in home invasion

Fri, 01 May 2009 04:34:27 -0600

Another expat faced armed home invaders on the Nicoya Peninsula. The expat, identified as William Hinton White, 56, suffered two bullet wounds in the confrontation.

Expotur says it brings in $80 million each year

Fri, 01 May 2009 04:33:47 -0600

Expotur, the tourism marketplace that is scheduled in two weeks, brings $80 million into the country each year, organizers say.

Decree empowers health officials to take actions

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:38:47 -0600

The president and the health minister issued an emergency decree Tuesday that gives officials the power to impose quarantines and other measures to stop the spread of the swine flue virus.

Calderón puts himself forward as presidential candidate

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:37:58 -0600

The country had the unusual opportunity Tuesday to see a former president register again as a candidate with his political party at the same time his corruption trial was continuing not far away.

Swine flu alert has a big impact on tourism

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:16:35 -0600

Regardless of the impact of swine flu in Costa Rica, the tourist industry is bound to suffer as health officials all over the world encourage people to stay home.

Lawmaker wants to outlaw plastic bags

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:15:57 -0600

At least one lawmaker wants to prohibit the use of plastic bags in Costa Rica. He is Alexander Mora of the ruling Partido Liberación Nacional, who has introduced a proposed law to do just that. The measure would prohibit the importation, sale and production of plastic bags.

Getting U.S. citizenship for the foreign spouse

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:10:20 -0600

In many cases the Costa Rican counterpart, whether it be a wife or a husband, does not want to live here but wants to live in the United States and, most importantly, wants to be a U. S. citizen. Some even believe it to something of a prize they need to win to be happy and constantly pressure the expat to repatriate — go back to the United States to live — so they can get their citizenship.

500-unit adult living complex planned for Santa Ana

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:09:54 -0600

The $60 million senior living project is fully permited and ready to go. Associates say the ground breaking on the seven-hectare (17-acre) tract may be as soon as July.

Thieves cut up historic bell

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:59:11 -0600

Investigators finally have located the historic church bell that was taken by thieves Feb. 8 from southern Costa Rica. The 400-pound bell was cut up in pieces on the floor of a private home in Pocora, Provincia de Limón.

Final draft of immigration bill mostly pretty good

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:58:37 -0600

Under a new immigration law that is on the verge of passing, pensionados can obtain residency for themselves, a spouse and children under 24 years with an income of $1,000 a month. Rentistas will be able to obtain residency for their spouse and minor children for the new monthly income requirement of $2,500.

Dutch long-time expat murdered near Cóbano

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:24:46 -0600

Three masked bandits forced their way into the home of an expat early Wednesday and killed him when he resisted.

Echandi styles himself as Plan B

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:24:13 -0600

While ex-president Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier observes the daily developments in his corruption trial he probably also is mapping out the strategy for his presidential reelection. Meanwhile, a man who is not even representing Calderón's political party, Unidad Social Cristiana, is putting himself forward as "Plan B," in case Calderon is convicted.

Government back again with weapons bills

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:39:29 -0600

The executive branch said Tuesday that it had submitted a new gun control measure to the legislature for approval.

Hikes in expat monthly income needs confirmed

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:38:58 -0600

A legislative committee drawing up a new immigration bill has established income requirements for rentistas at $2,500 a month and for pensionados at $1,000 a month.

How can the U.S. change its image?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:04:03 -0600

The handshaking and photo opportunities are past, and the hemisphere's leaders have left Trinidad with the hope that the U.S. image in the Latin word will improve.

Psychological harassment targeted

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:03:29 -0600

A legislative deputy said Monday that she will submit a bill in the current session that seeks to avoid psychological harassment in the workplace.

With a year to go, we assess Arias' second term

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:02:11 -0600

The free trade treaty ratification and the world economic crisis seem to be the defining factors in the presidency of Óscar Arias Sánchez. Both situations have hampered him in completing his agenda.

Metal school restoration begins

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:01:42 -0600

Saturday was the International Day of Monuments and Historic Sites, so Costa Rica announced that work soon will begin on restoring the Escuela Metalica, the downtown school that is made mainly of metal.

Legislators want to hear details of Golfito scandal

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:28:22 -0600

Legislators acted Thursday to hear from those law enforcement officials who let 320 kilos of cocaine slip through their fingers last month.

Teatro Nacional getting a roof job

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:27:24 -0600

The job will not be the most visible restoration project in San José, but the culture ministry is giving the go ahead for a major restoration of the cupola of the Teatro Nacional.

10 dealers and traffickers get pardons

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:21:33 -0600

Even if you do the crime in Costa Rica, you may not have to do all the time. The Consejo de Gobierno, the president's cabinet, has pardoned 10 persons. All of them were in prison for drug crimes, including two who were convicted of trying to smuggle drugs into a penitentiary.

Yes, we have many traditional foods

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:19:32 -0600

The gallito you get can be a chile relleno (a filled pepper), an almuerzito de repollo (cabbage), tortas de huevo con cebollin (a scallion omelette) a barbudos (string bean omelette), a canellones ticos rellenos de carne (pasta stuffed with meat) or an enyucada with beef as well cheese. The last is meat or cheese wrapped in yucca and deep fried.

This is the week to get or renew your license

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:54:06 -0600

One of the real deals for expats is the ease of getting a Costa Rican driver's license. Assuming that the expat already holds a valid, unexpired license from North America or Europe, the whole process should not take more than a few hours.

Changes afoot at data collection firms

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:26:05 -0600

A few years ago data reporting was new to Costa Rica. The major players in the market were Datum.net, Cero Riesgo S.A., Protectora de Crédito Comercial S.A., and Trans Union Costa Rica. Today the same companies still are in the market. What is interesting is the increasing role they play in providing credit, localization and employment reporting to companies, lawyers and financial institutions.

Police nab 140 in Judas night confrontations

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:25:30 -0600

Youngsters went wild Saturday night and early Sunday. Fires broke out in Santa Ana and several communities in Heredia. Police detained 140 persons.

Firemen face another big blaze

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:06:34 -0600

For the second day in a row, Costa Rican firemen faced a massive blaze. The fire Wednesday was in a saw mill and adjacent lumber yard in Pueblo Nuevo de Alajuela.

Changes cited in proposed residency requirements

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:06:05 -0600

An immigration Web site is reporting that changes have been made in a proposed bill that outlines rules for foreigners to get residency.

Coast guard docks and boats charred by fire

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:13:01 -0600

Fire tore through at least eight boats docked at the Costa Rican Guardacostas station in Puntarenas Tuesday and sent columns of black some into the air and into the surrounding neighborhood.

Central American immigration becomes a movie

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:12:38 -0600

"Sin Nombre," the film that won the Sundance Festival's awards for best direction and cinematography, has just opened in U.S. theaters and already has received rave reviews.

Boulevard seems to be a winner

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:26:04 -0600

The traffic and buses are gone now, except for a few delivery vehicles. And the full width of Avenida 4 and adjacent streets are filled with pedestrians.

No burro in San José

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:41:18 -0600

Jesus Christ was conspicuously absent during the Palm Sunday procession in San José, but there was a passel of apostles.

Archive seeks to preserve national memories

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:40:48 -0600

The Archivo Nacional is seeking nominations for the Memory of the World Programme that seeks to preserve documentary heritage that reflects cultures.

Wall Street legend eyes investments here

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:55:59 -0600

The latest entrant to the Costa Rican real estate market is Wall Street's Henry Kaufman, famous since 1957 when he took over the largest bond specialist unit of the New York Stock Exchange.

Del Monte facility gets the once over

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:54:49 -0600

Environmental inspectors — some 20 strong — descended on the Finca Babilonia in Siquirres Wednesday. The operation is owned by Del Monte, but it did not take inspectors long to find something amiss.

Another Gringo spot bites the dust

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:26:19 -0600

Another downtown Gringo institution is fading from view, a victim of rising prices and perhaps lower patronage.

A bit of sarcasm on the current news

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:25:53 -0600

O.K., the ballots are in for the first (and perhaps last) weekly genius award from A.M. Costa Rica. The award goes to the persons who or institutions that distinguish themselves as being in dire need of having their brain fixed.

Time to take advantage of mornings

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:27:35 -0600

Now life will change. No more lingering in bed until 6:30 a.m. Every day becomes a race against the rain. Depending on location, figure a heavy thunderstorm every day between 1 and 2 p.m.

Moth turns out to be a bug with a legend

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:27:06 -0600

The moth pictured Tuesday really is a bug, called machaca in Costa Rica. There is an interesting, sexy tale about the bug, too.

What kind of strange bug is this?

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:09:26 -0600

Initially identified incorrectly as a moth, this is a peanut-headed bug called machaca in Costa Rica.

What happened to missing expat?

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:45:59 -0600

Craig Snell left his computer on when he left his home in Ostional. He also left his wallet, passport and credit cards within the dwelling. He left his dog and did not provide any extra food. That was 40 days ago, and he has not been seen during that time.

Judges can do no wrong, Sala IV seems to say

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:45:19 -0600

The Sala IV, in it decree, told the inspectors' office that to investigate a judge they had to investigate his or her performance in the execution of their duties — like do they show up for work on time — but not to meddle with their application of the law.

For how long will the presses roar?

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:44:52 -0600

The question that remains in the air is: Will Internet reporting have the same effects on political corruption and misdeeds as the current paper product? On such a question democracy hangs.

Judiciary is the victim of a drug heist

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:12:47 -0600

The entire judicial and law enforcement apparatus of the country suffered a black eye early Thursday when armed men, as if on cue, showed up at the judicial building in Golfito and took 320 kilos of confiscated cocaine.

Twin festivals include protection of spheres

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:12:20 -0600

There are two big festivals starting today in the southern zone, and the Municipalidad de Osa will take advantage of the events to sign an agreement with the Museo Nacional to provide more protection for the stone spheres found in the canton.

$40 million theme park planned for Parrita

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:19:55 -0600

A development firm said Wednesday it had finished a concept project to advance plans for a 302-hectare adventure theme park near Parrita.

Municipality joins with church to promote Semana Santa

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:45:36 -0600

For the third year in a row, the Municipalidad de San José is working with the Catholic Church to observe Semana Santa.

Refurbishing of Cartago tourism sites completed

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:01:48 -0600

Three tourist sites, including the 17th century church ruins in Ujarrás, have been refurbished and made accessible for the handicapped in a program spearheaded by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo.

City tree that knows the calendar

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:01:10 -0600

One does not have to go far to find beauty in Costa Rica. This roble de sabana tree has blossomed even though it lives in a concrete jungle on a corner where desperate men pile cardboard for recycling each afternoon.

Sunday was a day for horses

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:05:49 -0600

The municipality's first horse parade did not do much for beer companies, but horse lovers had a treat Sunday.

Semana Santa approaching quickly

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:05:22 -0600

Easter is less than three weeks away, and that means expats will have just this week and next to conduct official business with the government.

Arias seeks ties with Cuba

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:22:58 -0600

President Óscar Arias Sánchez formally announced Wednesday that Costa Rica would resume diplomatic relations with Cuba after a 47-year rupture. Arias made the announcement on the anniversary of the Black Spring crackdown in Cuba six years ago when 55 activists and independent journalists were arrested.

911 a little slow on response

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:37:51 -0600

Costa Rica's 911 emergency telephone service has an automatic answering system. That revelation came Tuesday as the flames from a field fire climbed up the wall of a neighbor's home and shot 45 feet into the air.

More bike routes going in

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:23:00 -0600

The transport ministry has started construction of three bike routes. Two are in Puntarenas and one is in Limón.

New law simplifies legal notification

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:04:11 -0600

One big problem with the Costa Rican legal system is notifying the parties to a criminal or civil court action. Hopefully, this difficulty has been solved with the revamping of the judicial notification law. Even the name has been changed to make it easier to understand.

Legal change would mean tax breaks for hiring women

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:27:55 -0600

Lawmakers have approved on first reading a change in the law that would give employers an income tax deduction if they give jobs to female heads of households.

New stadium to cost Chinese $10 million more

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:27:23 -0600

The new stadium being donated by the People's Republic of China will cost $83 million, some $10 million more than the original estimate, according to officials who participated in a ceremony marking the start of work.

Bilingual program seeks help from expat residents

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:11:34 -0600

Casa Presidencial has discovered a great resource right under their collective noses. Costa Rica Multilingüe, a program of the Presidencia, issued a call Wednesday for English-speaking volunteers who want to help adult Costa Ricans learn the language.

U.S. vice president plans a visit here this month

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:11:01 -0600

Casa Presidencial scheduled a 5:30 p.m. press conference of major importance Wednesday and then canceled it at the last minutes. The Presidencia said that the important event involved another country and that Costa Rica was going to make a joint announcement today. But the news leaked out that the big event is the visit of Joseph R. Biden, the 66-year-old vice president of the United States, at the end of the month.

Twin quakes felt in entire country

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:54:31 -0600

Two earthquakes hit the southern zone of Costa Rica Wednesday. The first was at 11:24 a.m. The second came at 3:04 p.m. Both were within the 5 to 6 magnitude range.

Police tightening efforts on Heredia buses

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:52:30 -0600

Fuerza Pública officers have been making spot checks of buses and bus stops mainly on routes that involve Heredia.

Stop the presses! They had a great experience

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:37:33 -0600

Each day A.M. Costa Rica receives letters critical of Costa Rica. The Internet discussion lists are frequently negative, too. So it is with delight that the editors publish this missive from a Canadian couple who not only enjoyed their trip but are able to comment authoritatively on dental tourism.

Beach residents finally upset about maritime zone rules

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:08:09 -0600

Residents of beach towns are organizing and plan to present a proposed law to legislators that will trump the existing maritime restrictions.

Tamarindo landmark goes up in flames

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:04:36 -0600

Sparks from a brush fire ignited the thatched roof of one of Tamarindo's leading restaurants, and the subsequent fire leveled the establishment.

Government still hopes to get a convention center

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:04:05 -0600

Costa Rica still hopes that a private company builds a new convention center here. The nation's convention proposal suffered a setback when the government of Taiwan scrapped a $25 million planning project as Costa Rica severed diplomatic relations in favor of the People Republic of China in June 2007.

Former investor pledges $10,000 to find Enrique

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:55:21 -0600

A self-described once-foolish investor has pledged $10,000 to the Luis Enrique Villalobos reward fund. He is Hank Guichelaar of Longview, Texas, who is known to fellow investors are the author of a newsletter on the Villalobos financial crash.

Electronic tolls for Autopista del Sol

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:54:37 -0600

Autopista del Sol will announce today a system of electronic toll collecting that is designed to reduce the wait by motorists at toll booth.

Arias to sign financial disclosure law

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:19:44 -0600

President Óscar Arias Sánchez is scheduled to sign today a law against terrorism and money laundering. The measure has been promoted as a way for the country to stay a member of the Egmont Group, a 20-year-old an informal organization of countries designed to fight money laundering. But the law is much more.

Investor begs Enrique for money

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:19:16 -0600

"All the little investors, like me, that only wanted to better their retirement and are not looking to make tons of money, only to have enough to get by on! If he would only return the money of the small investors, people with under 100,000 dollars so we can retire and pay our bills."

All that unfinished business

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:59:02 -0600

Life in Costa Rica today is similar to the circus juggler who has multiple balls up in the air at one time. There is a file cabinet full of unfinished business.

Pure theater leads to man's eviction

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:59:37 -0600

The abuse of Costa Rica's domestic violence laws is touching everyone, even senior expats. One 71-year-old man — who is blind in one eye — was thrown out of a home last week in a theatrical production put on his wife's daughter from another relationship. The man's wife wants the house they once shared.

Portable potties for Parque Manuel Antonio

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:59:10 -0600

The tourism institute will donate 120 million colons to keep Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio open. The money, about $214,000, will be used to construct new toilets and a treatment plant at the park.

Cahuita, Puerto Viejo lose city status

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:37:21 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has stripped Cahuita and Puerto Viejo of their status as cities and reaffirmed the principle that no one there could acquire rights in the maritime zone after 1977.

Whooops! A multi million math error

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:36:52 -0600

The administrator of the nation's roads paid an amount six times more than it should have for private contractors to clean highway gutters, said the Contraloría de la República Thursday.

Rights report has a few words for Costa Rica

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:12:35 -0600

As is usual, Costa Rica came in for some criticism when the U.S. State Department released its annual human rights survey of the world.

Villalobos figure Keith Nash is dead

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:11:42 -0600

Observers of the Costa Rican scene have seen another chapter close in the saga of the Brothers Villalobos. Canadian Keith Nash, who is generally credited with being a factor in the downfall of the ponzi scheme, has died at 96, according to a Canadian newspaper.

Manuel Antonio park needs some help

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:08:33 -0600

A critical e-mail by a supporter of Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio lambasted the business community there for inaction. But the message generated support and a renewal of a donation pledge for the endangered park.

Sailboat race can be big boon to tourism

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:08:01 -0600

The tourism institute will invest $500,000 in promotion to attract tourists to Limón in November for the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre, a race across the Atlantic by sailboats.

Legendary characters having tough time

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:03:41 -0600

Modern life has pretty well taken the sting out of the old legendary creatures whose main goal was to keep Costa Ricans on the straight and narrow. And the poor ghosts are having self esteem problems.

Heredia ready to begin massive public works project

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:02:56 -0600

Heredia's utility company will invests $180 million in a sewage treatment plant and some 500 kilometers (311 miles) of collector lines to services eight of the province's 10 cantons.

Pre-Columbian bird figures in new exhibit

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:02:25 -0600

It may come as a surprise to animal lovers that the bird with the most representation in recovered examples of pre-Columbian sculpture is not the parrot but the vulture. And that appears to be true throughout the archaeological history of Costa Rica

Country's exports take a dip

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:23:39 -0600

The good news is that January exports to Canada increased 9.7 percent over the same month in 2008. The bad news is that total January exports from Costa Rica were $600.6 million, a number which represents a 19 percent decline from the same month the year before

Medical tourism gets central government support

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:47:17 -0600

The country has put its support behind health tourism. A decree published Wednesday pledges the executive branch to simplify and speed up the process of giving approval to firms involved in this type of tourism.

Latin Americans tremble over Stanford

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:46:48 -0600

Havoc and panic stemming from fraud charges against U.S. billionaire Allen Stanford have spread to Latin America, prompting several governments to swing into action. The man at the center of the banking and investment scandal turned up in Virginia Thursday and promptly was served with legal papers showing his assets have been frozen.

Flooding from melting Antarctic could be much worse

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:37:43 -0600

New estimates of sea level rise suggest inundations could be worse than anticipated. The report is not good news for Costa Rican coastal dwellers who have been warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to expect a maximum sea level rise during the next 100 years of about 1 to 4 inches.

Watch out for those fake checks

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:37:05 -0600

The fake check scammers have moved up the sophistication scale.

Costa Rica tries to stems several levels of crime

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:02:51 -0600

Times was when Colombian drug lords and leaders of the paramilitary forces traveled to a recreational area near Santa Ana for vacation. They felt safe and far removed from the daily struggle in their home country.

Trafficking can be internal with higher penalties

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:07:48 -0600

Within the citizen security initiative passed twice by the legislature this month is a legal change that tightens up Costa Rica's prohibition against human trafficking. For the first time, the legal change covers the trafficking of persons inside the country, noted the Ministerio de Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Pública Monday. Now only trafficking of persons across national borders can be prosecuted.

Arias pushes two bills to transform tourism

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:07:18 -0600

The executive branch put its weight behind two measures Monday that are designed to strengthen tourism in Costa Rica. The first is a general law of tourism and the second is a measure to promote rural tourism.

An option for the much-traveled loverboy

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:20:41 -0600

The free sexual atmosphere of Costa Rica can have negative consequences when sex tourists and expats inadvertently create offspring and then either turn their backs or leave not knowing what they have done.

PriceSmart will end use of plastic bags

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:19:36 -0600

PriceSmart in Costa Rica will stop putting shoppers' purchases in plastic bags March 2, the company said.

Arias empanels tax fraud task force

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:09:30 -0600

Some 17 agencies of the government agreed Thursday night to study and create a plan to reduce tax fraud.

Top appeals court upholds process of rapid justice

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:10:55 -0600

The Sala III high criminal court has thrown out a challenge to the flagrancia process for criminals caught in the act or nearly so.

Central American salamanders appear to be vanishing

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:10:31 -0600

The decline of amphibian populations worldwide has been documented primarily in frogs, but salamander populations also appear to have plummeted, according to a new study in Central America.

Environmental police set the agenda for 2009

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:06:50 -0600

The nation's environmental tribunal will turn its attention to the many pineapple fields in the Caribbean and northern zone in its first sweep of the year.

We ask lawmakers to give hard look at immigration bill

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:08:25 -0600

AN EDITORIAL: The paragraph should be changed so that there is no chance the the law will be interpreted to mean retroactivity. Otherwise, at best, there will be a extensive litigation on this point. And who knows how the Sala IV constitutional court will decide.

Sala IV leans on immigration over appointment delays

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:30:28 -0600

A period of 15 days is reasonable for the immigration department to issue renewal and replacement residency cards know as cédulas, the Sala IV constitutional court has ruled.

Gasoline prices do a turnaround

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:56:58 -0600

The nation's price regulating agency is blaming the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip for an increase in the local gasoline prices.

Taxi drivers and competition come to an accord

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:30:00 -0600

Taxi drivers, their competitors and others in the transport industry met for nearly eight hours Wednesday to create what the Presidencia is calling an historic accord.

First part of citizen security measure gets initial approval

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:39:14 -0600

The Asamblea Legislativa Tuesday passed on first reading the initial citizen security bill, part of a package that contains revisions to the immigration law. The bill that was passed received strong support among lawmakers.

Paragon chairman promises to finish infrastructure

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:47:32 -0600

Despite what he calls a tough situation, the chairman of Paragon Properties of Costa Rica, S.A., renewed his promise Monday that he would complete the infrastructure on the company's many projects here.

Dos Pinos in trouble again over pollution

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:47:06 -0600

Dos Pinos, the milk company, is in trouble with environmental inspectors again over discharges from its El Coyol plant.

Find your property without leaving your chair

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:40:14 -0600

Here is a great tip for expats to find property with Google Earth when a real estate sales agent provides them with a "catastro" or a plat map of a parcel. Google Earth has come a long way in the last several years. Back in 2005, there was very little high-definition photography available for Costa Rica, but today there is much more and it is very impressive.

Arias rescue plan draws mixed reviews

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:39:48 -0600

Proposals by President Óscar Arias Sánchez to shield the country from effects of a world economic crisis got mixed reviews Union leaders have expressed concern while business executives called the ideas a good start.

Refund of some down payments may be elusive

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:59:25 -0600

The nation's real estate market is grinding to another crisis as developers find they are unable to perform on their promises. In beach towns and in the Central Valley condo buyers gave money to developers as down payments in anticipation that a building would be erected. Now many structures do not exist or stand unfinished, and the buyer's legal problems are just beginning.

Arias rescue plan has 29 points

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:58:34 -0600

President Óscar Arias Sánchez presented his 29-point stimulus and rescue plan to the country Thursday night. The president's proposals depend heavily on borrowing, including a $500 million infusion for the Banco Central. Many of the proposals already have been discussed and some have already been approved. The rescue plan appeared to be an integration of what the administration has been doing for months. There were some new items.

Murder cases up nearly 25 percent in 2008

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:09:53 -0600

Murders took nearly a 25 percent increase in 2008, according to statistics reported Wednesday by the Judicial investigating Organization. In 2007 there were 349 murders in the country. In 2008 there were 435. That is an increase of 86 murders or 24.6 percent.

Gates worries about Iranian infiltration here

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:08:42 -0600

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told senators Tuesday that although much attention was given to Russia's recent courting of some Latin American countries, he is more concerned about new activities of Iran in the region.

New Orleans on the Pacific

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:35:59 -0600

Mardi Gras is coming to Esterillos Oeste. The central Pacific Krewe of Sirena is planning a parade Saturday, Feb. 21, starting at the local plaza at 2 p.m.

Obama has to wrestle with Latin drug flow

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:51:44 -0600

Along with other responsibilities, President Barack Obama is assuming control of the decades-long struggle to stop illegal drug shipments into the United States from Latin America and elsewhere.

Sewer plan includes biogas production

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:27:48 -0600

The country will try to produce biogas to generate electricity as a byproduct of its proposed sewer plant.

Sports fishermen get together

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:27:21 -0600

Just a month after its country’s fisheries agency passed measures protecting its sailfish and other sport fishing resources, Costa Rica has formed the first national sport fishing federation representing the interests of its anglers and the sport fishing tourism industry.

Villalobos creditors redeemed

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:55:56 -0600

Now it turns out that most of the world was a big ponzi scheme. The $1 billion dropped with Luis Enrique and Oswaldo Villalobos appears to be peanuts compared with the $50 billion loss attributed to Bernard Madoff.

Country seeking $1.5 billion in loans

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:55:27 -0600

The nation is assuming nearly $1.5 billion in new debt under plans from the Arias administration.

More effort urged on policing maritime zone

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:23:31 -0600

The tourism institute is creating a new section to inspect and exert control in the country's maritime zone. A new study by the Contraloría General de la República gives the institute eight months to have the inspection system working.

Watchdog for Río Térraba

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:23:02 -0600

Four municipalities have joined forces to protect the Río Grande de Térraba in the south Pacific coast.

Clothes no barrier to public access, court says

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:30:17 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has come down strongly on the side of those who want to be creative in the way they dress.

More stuff in the sky

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:29:50 -0600

Two unexpected images showed up in a Jan. 8 photograph of traffic on the Próspero Fernández highway. The images reinforce the belief that something is traveling through the skies above Costa Rica.

A positive story about a U.S. visa request

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:13:02 -0600

Many expats would like to travel to the United States with friend to show them around. If their friend goes about the process the right way and can prove true ties to Costa Rica, he or she probably will get a visa. They have a better than 75 percent chance to do so. The expat also should do a bit of homework and ask the friend the right questions to see if they do have what it takes to get a United States visa. The embassy's Web site is a wealth of information regarding the visa process.

How Martin Luther King and the rights movement changed democracy

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:12:26 -0600

King and the U.S. civil rights movement of which he is the most prominent figure are far more than simply the enfranchisement of a minority.

Sardinal-Coco water line delivered a setback

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:17:35 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court has ruled against the Sardinal-Playas del Coco water pipeline.

Unhappy readers seek to censor el Diario Extra

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:11:10 -0600

Unhappy readers seek to censor el Diario extra

Two shocking photos in El Diario Extra have generated a wave of condemnation and calls for newspaper censorship.

http://www.amcostarica.com/011609.htm#32

Trees get a pardon

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:55:41 -0600

There was general dismay when the transport ministry said it would chop down a line of trees along the north side of the old road to Escazú in Sabana Sur. The ministry and the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad said the current two-lane highway would be widened and that the trees would have to go.

Plaza de la Democracia almost finished

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:55:17 -0600

Officials abruptly canceled a reinauguration of the Plaza de la Democracia this week in keeping with the national mourning over the Cinchona earthquake. However, work continues on the site in downtown San José.

Flurry of quakes causes more concern

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:32:31 -0600

A flurry of earthquakes Monday night and Tuesday morning signaled the presence of yet another fault in the vicinity of the Volcán Poás, and residents of the area, already reeling from Thursday's 6.2 magnitude shock are nervous.

Papagayo marina open for business

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:31:57 -0600

Peninsula Papagayo has opened Phase I of Marina Papagayo with 180 slips capable of accommodating private crafts ranging from sport fishing boats to mega-yachts, the marina said in a news release.

Nation in mourning for five days

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:16:55 -0600

The preliminary estimate of the damage inflicted by Thursday's earthquake is $100 million, Casa Presidencial said Monday. The death toll rose to 17 with the recovery of three more bodies in the community of Cinchona. And the president declared five days of national mourning through Friday.

Costa Rica leads Latin nations in freedom

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:16:18 -0600

The status of freedom in nearby countries is exactly what one would expect. A survey released Monday by Freedom House gave a failing grade to Cuba and so-so evaluations for Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Colombia. Costa Rica continued its top evaluation as a electoral democracy.

Expats join in to help their neighbors

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:22:52 -0600

Expats are coming to the aid of those who suffered damage in the Thursday earthquake.

Quake fast becoming a national tragedy

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:14:50 -0600

What appeared at first to be another routine earthquake has fast become a national emergency. The Cruz Roja said Thursday night that more than 300 persons have been injured and that 15 persons have died. Individuals remain trapped in workplaces, vehicles, buses and hotels, and some will have to be airlifted to safety this morning.

Costa Rica hit by major quake

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:36:27 -0600

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit north of the Central Valley this afternoon at 1:21 p.m. and set streets and buildings in motion. There were injuries. The quake endured for at least 20 seconds and was followed by a number of aftershocks, some of which were felt.

The realities of the real estate markets

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:35:57 -0600

Those in the business are quick to say the Costa Rican real estate markets to emphasize that there are no universal truths to the current economy.

Heredia train fares lack approval

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:06:41 -0600

There may be a little hitch in the government's plan to begin rail service to Heredia in mid-February. The nation's rate-setting agency said Tuesday that the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles, which runs the trains, has not yet applied for approval of fares.

Another special day for kids

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:15:00 -0600

If you thought that Christmas was long past, you are selling short the Catholic culture of Costa Rica. Today is a special day, el Día de los Reyes Magos.

U.S. food and drug police opening office here

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:14:30 -0600

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be opening a regional office in Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy said Monday.

How lawyers justify their pay

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:23:52 -0600

Many times going to see a lawyer in Costa Rica is like taking a science lesson. Sometimes they tend to make any discussion about the law or a legal matter very complex. They love to write out lengthy descriptions of legal procedures on blackboards or whiteboards.

Free trade treaty a maze for the average expat

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:21:01 -0600

Individual expats who seek to import goods under the new free trade treaty with the United States and other Central American countries face a bewildering process.

A.M. Costa Rica posts significant gains over 2007

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:36:08 -0600

A.M. Costa Rica served up 16.6 million news and advertising pages to 691,986 unique readers in 2008, statistics at the newspaper's Web site show. The readership reflects an 17.6 percent increase over 2007

Lucky streak ends for San Pedro man

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:35:41 -0600

The 56th time is a charm, according to the Fuerza Pública in San Pedro de Montes de Oca. Finally after 56 arrests last year alone, a man has been put behind bars.

Traffic conviction not enough to void residency

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:45:33 -0600

A foreign woman has avoided being expelled from Costa Rica because the Sala IV constitutional court found that a conviction after a traffic accident does not warrant canceling her immigration status.

Get ready for a year of campaigning

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:50:09 -0600

In 2009 the attention of those expats interested in politics will turn to Costa Rica because national elections are the first Sunday in February 2010. That means the bulk of the campaigning will take place in 2009.

Volunteers are putting up weather stations all over

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:49:31 -0600

A retired physics professor is creating a network of weather stations connected by Internet to cover all of Costa Rica. The plan is to complement the national meteorological institute’s limited coverage and to aid in disaster planning.

Astute consumers needed at Zapote festival

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:29:32 -0600

Anyone who goes hungry to the Fiestas de San José better bring money. Although kids rides and some other services are inexpensive, purveyors of food do not seem to have been filled with holiday spirit.

Street robbery — up close and personal

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:29:06 -0600

Along the street in the commercial district, shoppers were out in force. The day was Saturday, the second day after Christmas, and the stores promised big sales. Some pedestrians were returning from the Desamparados carnival and changing buses in the center of the cantón.

Environmental police say their work is up 50 percent

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:16:08 -0600

The Tribunal Ambiental Administrativo reported that it handled 50 percent more cases in 2008 than in 2007.

Famous tall ship put in to Limón

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:15:36 -0600

The classic four-masted bark Sea Cloud sailed into the Port of Limón this week. The 316-foot long windjammer sailed up the coast from Panamá with it's compliment of 30 sails billowing with a 20-knot wind at her stern.

Path cleared for free trade treaty on Jan. 1

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:24:05 -0600

U.S. President George Bush issued a proclamation Dec. 23 to implement the Central American Free Trade Treaty with Costa Rica.

Professor and her recorder talk to the birds

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:07:50 -0600

Birds use song systems to communicate about mating and reproduction, territorial boundaries, age and even overall health. Sandra Vehrencamp studies them to decode which elements convey such essential information. With colleagues in the Bioacoustics Research Program at Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, she studies birds in such natural habitats as Costa Rica, Colombia and Bonaire.

Chief prosecutor comes to aid of runaway mom

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:07:18 -0600

The nation's chief prosecutor has interjected himself into the case of a U.S. woman being extradited to face a federal charge of international child abduction.

It is possible to make a difference

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:39:49 -0600

"When this author arrived with his family 36 years ago, Costa Rica was truly a paradise. It has a good chance to be so again. It will just take time as with all evolution. This writer is dedicated to making a difference with the help of A.M. Costa Rica, and this dedication will continue well past the New Year."

Allegro Papagayo tries to reduce its fine

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:03:48 -0600

The operator of the Allegro Papagayo was in environmental court Thursday seeking to reduce a claim for some $224,000 by the government because the hotel ran sewage into the Golfo de Papagayo.

Russia interested in Nicaraguan canal

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:03:14 -0600

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev expressed interest in a Nicaraguan proposal to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with a new canal. The project could include the Río San Juan that runs along Costa Rica's northern border.

The secret drug war continues

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:10:43 -0600

Despite the pretensions of peace and tranquility, a hidden war rages in and around Costa Rica. Only infrequently do signs of this battle come to light. Wednesday two separate incidents illustrated the situation. In the Golfo Dulce a presumed drug fastboat turned up adrift with 25 bullet holes in the hull.

New traffic law is coming after New Year's

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:10:15 -0600

Those caught driving drunk New Year's morning will not face the stiffer penalties of the new traffic law. The law was signed by President Óscar Arias Sánchez Wednesday, but it will not take effect until 10 working days after it is published in the La Gaceta official newspaper.

Immigration bill likely to be put off until new year

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:22:40 -0600

A proposed bill that would change the current immigration laws probably will not see discussion in the legislature until next year.

Christmas dish is more expensive

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:21:18 -0600

According to the unreconstructed Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every 25th of December.

Tourism institute seeks 2 millionth tourist

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:43:45 -0600

Optimistic tourism officials are getting ready to welcome the person they are calling the 2 millionth tourist to the country for 2008.

The official Christmas lubricant: Guaro!

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:43:17 -0600

Eggnog may be the seasonal drink elsewhere, but in Costa Rica the universal lubricant is cane liquor or aguardiente. The government monopoly Fábrica Nacional de Licores, makes the product that is a favorite of many family gatherings, alcoholics and casual tipplers.

Age thrown out as critierion for mortgage

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:33:51 -0600

Folks who may never live to see their mortgage paid off can still get one, the Sala IV constitutional court has ruled.

Sick kids will get a colorful mural

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:33:19 -0600

Sick youngsters at Costa Rica's famous Hospital Nacional de Niños will be getting a brightly colored early Christmas present from some of the best artists in the country.

Jet Blue plans a daily flight starting in March

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:20:24 -0600

Jet Blue Airways, which opened a hub for Latin America in March at Orlando, Florida, said Wednesday it would begin flights to San José March 26.

Trace molybdenum vital to rain forests, study says

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:19:59 -0600

A team of researchers led by Princeton University scientists has found for the first time that tropical rain forests, a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem, rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive growth. Most of the nitrogen that supports the rapid, lush growth of rain forests comes from tiny bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into fertilizer in the soil.

Gringo arrested here will face 450 U.S. complaints

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:19:29 -0600

Law officers, acting on a U.S. warrant Tuesday, captured a U.S. citizen wanted to face multiple charges of fraud. The man is suspected of being one of nine persons who ran a series of scams from Costa Rica that collected up to $13 million from customers in the United States.

New tax pushed for witness and victim protection

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:19:03 -0600

Lawmakers discussing ways to finance protection of witnesses and victims seem to have come to an agreement that a new tax is needed. They will suggest that a tax be imposed on the interest from bonds issued in foreign currencies.

Long holiday starts Dec. 19 for many

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:22:23 -0600

The vacation for public employees will be about 16 days this year, thanks to Christmas and New Year's Day being on Thursdays.

Art museum will be closed for repairs for a year

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:21:55 -0600

The Museo de Arte Costarricense closed its doors Monday to begin a year-long, 350 million-colon restoration and repair job. The museum is in the former international airline terminal on the east side of Parque la Sabana

Tax time details for expats

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:57:51 -0600

Here is the help one needs for this year's tax season. Most expats hold their Costa Rican assets in a company. Whether it be a sociedad anónima or a sociedad de responsabilidad limitada — also known as an S.R.L. or in Gringo speak an L.L.C. — expats have tax obligations like Costa Ricans. However, most expats use inactive companies to hold the assets, and tax obligations are different for active and inactive companies.

How to rewrite the Constitution expat style

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:57:17 -0600

The Arias administration is making moves to change the nation's Constitution because officials think that the current document makes the country ungovernable. Administration officials have not said what they have in mind, but here are some suggestions from the expat point of view

How to control mildew and mold

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:03:58 -0600

Many suggestions on what to do about a major tropical problem.

U.S. mother here says she will seek refugee status

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:03:32 -0600

A U.S. woman facing a federal charge of international child abduction said Thursday she is seeking refugee status in Costa Rica. If granted, Costa Rica would decline to extradite her to face the U.S. charge.

Downtown will get a vivid reminder of Nazi horror

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:52:47 -0600

The Dutch government is donating a statute of Holocaust victim Anne Frank, the young German girl who hid with her family in a Dutch attic until discovered by Nazis during World War II.

Administration wants to rewrite Constitution

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:52:09 -0600

The Arias administration is pushing constitutional reform as a way to change what officials see as the ungovernability of the country.

Don't count on that atm machine late at night

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:55:38 -0600

Banco Nacional, despite full time advertising and promotional employees, likes to surprise its customers. Instead it was the ministry that said Tuesday that the bank will be closing down its automatic teller network at 10 p.m. Friday and every day afterwards until 5 a.m. the next morning.

Administration will restructure intelligence unit

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:55:08 -0600

The minister of the Presidencia said Tuesday that the time has come to put what has been known as the nation's secret police under clear controls.

Milanes creditors are getting restless

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:00:47 -0600

Investors who lost their money with Savings Unlimited are getting restless because former fugitive Luis Ángel Milanes Tamayo has been free here for more than five months, and their money seems as far away as ever.

Boyeros and their bueyes brave heavy rain

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:13:10 -0600

San José's 12th annual oxcart parade, known as the entrance of the saints, is nothing to sneeze at, admitted Arturo Arrollo, a 70-year-old oxcart handler, or boyero, from Atenas. The parade, which kicks off Christmas festivities in the capital, is a showcase both for boyeros and their massive oxen. The animals pull delicately painted, brightly colored traditional oxcarts from Paseo Colón to Avenida Segunda, a highway usually occupied by taxis and buses belching black smoke.

Immigration bill on Arias priority list

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:02:57 -0600

The executive branch has placed a new immigration bill on the priority list for the Asamblea Legislativa in the so-called extraordinary session that begins Monday.

Damage at $77.3 million, and Sixaola is evacuated

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:02:15 -0600

The preliminary damage report from more than a week of flooding is in, and the national emergency commission has a preliminary figure of 42.3 billion colons or about $77.3 million.

The heritage of a Latin American Thanksgiving

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:12:52 -0600

I was a Pilgrim. I had to wear a squat, black cardboard hat with an ugly buckle in the middle. Thanksgiving stinks, I thought.

Developer on Pacific faces $2 million in environmental damages

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:12:22 -0600

In the first environmental case involving projects cited this year along the Pacific, the nation's environmental court says a conservation district is seeking $2,124.509 in damages against Hermosa Vista, a 60-hectare (148-acre) development 15 minutes south of Jacó.

Assembly committee votes out immigration bill

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:14:43 -0600

A legislative committee unanimously reported out a new immigration bill that would jack up dramatically the income required by of foreign residents.

Transit bill advances in legislature

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:14:16 -0600

The full legislature gave initial approval Tuesday to a rewrite of the nation's traffic laws that contains stronger penalties.

Christmas season officially starts Sunday

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:24:00 -0600

Sunday marks the official start of the Christmas season in San José. The kickoff will be highlighted by the traditional Entrada de Santos y Boyeros, which is a procession of carretas pulled by bueyes with santos aboard.

Caribbean coast and elsewhere still taking a hit

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:23:29 -0600

Costa Ricans in the Caribbean and northern zone are waking up today to the eighth straight day of rain. About 4,000 of them are in shelters because of heavy flooding and rivers running out of their banks.

The Caja wants to sign you up

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:39:05 -0600

How to handle employees and their paperwork represent continuing problems for expats. An article on domestic employees produced a great deal of interest. Many persons wrote and said they were not legally registering their employees and did not have workers compensation for them either. Some expats asked if they needed to cover themselves as well. Everyone that wrote still is confused

Caribbean coast weathers another disaster

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:38:37 -0600

The Caribbean coast is taking it on the chin again with rains and flooding spawned by a cold front. Some 32 communities have been affected, and up to 2,100 persons are in shelters, according to the Cruz Roja,

Fraud suspect close to Arias raises a cloud over police agencies

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:41:36 -0600

High government officials and police supervisors are dumbfounded that the No. 2 man in the Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad is accused of using his position and inside knowledge to advance a long-running check fraud scheme.

Legislators give final OK to $15 tax on air tickets

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:41:08 -0600

Legislators passed for the second and final time Thursday a $15 tax on every air ticket to Costa Rica purchased outside the national borders. The same vote also results in eliminating a 3 percent tourism tax on hotels and other temporary housing vendors.

Amnet says it will pull out of metro area

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:50:30 -0600

Amnet, the cable television company, appears ready to surrender its franchise in the Municipalidad de San José rather than put its lines underground.

New drivers have to know about gears and clutch

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:49:54 -0600

Those who hope to pass a driving test now have to do so by using a vehicle with a manual transmission. The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte said Wednesday that a decree has been published in the La Gaceta official newspaper prohibiting test-takers from using automatic transmission vehicles.

Real estate business moves from bonanza to prudence

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:37:33 -0600

The Costa Rican economy is expected to surmount lower real estate activity that will last well into 2009, said representatives from a Costa Rican real estate association during a Tuesday conference on the future of Costa Rican real estate.

Frogs fare badly with chemical mix

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:36:59 -0600

The decline of some frog species in Costa Rica may be related to pesticides and herbicides. That is suggested by the reports of two recent studies.

Costa Rica is no. 10 in hosting U.S. students

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:12 -0600

Costa Rica hosted 5,383 U.S. students in 2006-2007, a slight drop from the previous year, according to statistics available on the Web site of the Institute for International Education.

Alguinaldos are a form of stimulus plan

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:36 -0600

The world economy may be dragging, but Costa Rica will soon see an incentive payment of its own, a traditional one. Fast approaching is the time when employers have to come up with the aguinaldos for their workers.

Costa Rican officials all agog over Chinese president

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:07:14 -0600

What is just a tropical layover for the president of China has become a defining moment for Costa Rica.

Legislature decides to slap another tax on tourists

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:25:58 -0600

The Asamblea Legislativa approved on first reading Thursday the administration's $15 a head tax on tourists. The measure also would repeal the 3 percent tax on hotel stays and other purchases in tourist-related businesses.

Justice is a do-it-yourself project here

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:24:24 -0600

Justice can be a do-it-yourself occupation in Costa Rica. Or at least some situations can illuminate the reluctance of judicial employees to seek justice.

Desdemona is naughty in Dominical

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:23:59 -0600

Although a new reading of the play by the Dominical Little Theatre group uses only three microphones and some dramatic lighting for staging, theater group founder Monica Perez said most of the play's bawdy humor remains.

Quick committee approval seen for immigration draft

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:58:52 -0600

A new draft of the nation's immigration law was accepted as a substitute Tuesday by the legislature's Comisión Permanente de Asuntos de Gobierno y Administración. Olga Marta Corrales Sánchez, the president of the committee, said that the bill is a consensus, and she hoped that the committee would approve the bill, No. 8487, and send it to the full legislature next week.

Escazú mayor told to clean up community

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:58:22 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court ordered Escazú to clean up its act after residents complained of too many empty lots piled with garbage and producing sewage.

Legislature ready to give final approval to treaty bill

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:13:14 -0600

Lawmakers are expected to vote this morning on the last piece of implementing legislation needed to bring the country into compliance with its promises under the Central American Free Trade Treaty.

What is a little robbery among friends?

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:12:45 -0600

It's midnight on a Sunday, and there is a guy in a motorcycle helmet pointing a six-inch knife at my boss. I'm standing a few feet away with my mouth wide open, because even though I have walked home late at night through crime-happy neighborhoods in Colombia, Madrid and that infamous gangster rap stronghold in East Bushwick, Brooklyn, I am only just now witnessing for my first honest-to-God stickup.

Some citizens are fighting back and winning

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:44:34 -0600

People are tired of losing money in Costa Rica. They are fed up with flushing it down the toilet due to the mistakes made by the Registro Nacional and other government entities. They are also disgusted with the bulling around they get from administrative offices.

Report says that Sardinal has enough water to share

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:43:54 -0600

A government commission reported Sunday that there is enough groundwater in Sardinal to allow for continued construction a controversial pipeline. The information was based on studies conducted by the national water company, the environmental ministry and an agency that studies the risks of construction related to the water industry.

Officials maneuver to keep Costa Rica solvent

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:34:34 -0600

The economy was at center stage Thursday as President Óscar Arias Sánchez outlined the executive branch's commitment to lessen as much as possible negative impacts on the country.

Not everyone is happy with Obama victory

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:22:32 -0600

For conservatives in Costa Rica's expat community, the future was not looking rosy after Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Tuesday presidential election.

Embassy bash is a celebration of democracy

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:19:44 -0600

At the end of the U.S. Embassy's election night party, the sound that filled the room was not cheers or wild applause, but the thud of empty wine bottles being dumped into garbage cans. TV wires taped to the floor with grey masking tape were yanked loose. The giant, flat white screen that projected CNN's announcement that Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois had become the president-elect of the United States was hauled down and folded away.

Tribunal Ambiente lists investigations

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:19:21 -0600

Twin sweeps by the environmental watchdogs resulted in 15 development projects being frozen and 18 more under investigation in the Cantón de Osa.

A tree that grows in Central America!

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:46:24 -0600

A special tree here helps scientists assess climate change issue.

Some expats feel they were blindsided by draft law

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:45:42 -0600

Some expats reacted with surprise Monday when they learned about a proposed rewrite of the nation's immigration laws that would mean pensionados and rentistas would need to show a lot more financial depth.

Draft law would jack up residency requirements

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:06:16 -0600

The Arias administration has come up with a rewrite of its proposed immigration law that jacks up financial requirements for pensionados to $2,000 a month and for rentistas to $5,000.

Criminality not good for turtles either

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:05:47 -0600

The Parque Nacional Tortuguero, a breeding ground for four species of turtle, receives about 75,000 visits from the creatures each year. However, the park lacks the security needed to face threats from poachers and narcotraffickers operating in the area, according to the manager.

Bandits sacked home of missionary family

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:23:10 -0600

A Canadian-Costa Rican family endured five hours at the hands of home invaders who even pulled a gun on the 82-year-old bedridden grandmother.

Arrests made in horrific casino murder case

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:22:46 -0600

The director of the judicial police said Friday evening that his agents have detained two men and a female minor in the murder Tuesday of a hotel casino worker and the shooting of her sister and work companion. This is the case of the three women abducted as they left the White House Hotel casino.

http://www.amcostarica.com/103108.htm#31

It's time to get divorced!!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:12:06 -0600

The constitutional court has done away with two marriage rules that have caused pain and suffering for hundreds of expats and Costa Ricans. The rules are those that required a three-year wait after a marriage for the couple to obtain a divorce. A second section, also thrown out, required a two-year wait for a couple to get a legal separation.

Organized crime bill is reported out of committee

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:11:32 -0600

A legislative commission Wednesday reported out a proposed law that is designed to attack organized crime. A short time later the Poder Judicial announced that the proposal contains all the revisions sought by Francisco Dall'Anese Ruiz, the nation's chief prosecutor.

Nation horrified by murder of casino worker

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:29:49 -0600

Violent crime took center stage again Tuesday after bandits attacked three young women in a car in Escazú, killed one and distributed the victims in three different parts of the western metro area.

Increase still predicted for Latin exports

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:27:59 -0600

Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean are on track to grow at an estimated 23 per cent this year, despite the global financial crisis, according to a report released Monday by the United Nations office for the region.

Can it be true? The transition is starting?

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:51:47 -0600

For many, the sweetest sound is the phrase "I love you." But in October in Costa Rica the three little words that caress the ear is "Dry season's coming."

Employers upset by stranglehold on credit

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:51:06 -0600

The organization representing the nation's employers Monday demanded the loosening of credit by the Banco Central and the county's other financial institutions and said that 20,000 workers already had lost their jobs.

Three dangerous errors expats make hiring domestic help

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:38:16 -0600

So many expats make the same mistakes with domestic workers in Costa Rica. Usually their intentions are good. Nevertheless, from the outset of the work relationship most start it off on the wrong foot, giving workers a reason to go to court. Why should they wait to be fired upon by the domestic staff? They should fix the mistakes. It is easy to do.

Environmental tribunal investigates 14 of 16 projects

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:37:42 -0600

Of 16 projects inspected by the nation's environmental watchdogs in the Cantón de Osa, 14 have come under investigation.

A.M. Costa Rica endorses John McCain

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:17:11 -0600

America does not cut and run. American finishes what it starts, including efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. American does not sit down with second-rate authoritarian dictators. American does not whimper and beg pardon from the world for being great.

Reporter sees what acupuncture is like

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:16:46 -0600

"I show up to my appointment late. It's pouring rain as usual, and it's the last day of my period and I am feeling cranky. I visit Eugene Mc Donald, who graciously agreed to give a demonstration at his Escazú office. He's been licensed in Florida, and the walls of his office are covered in framed certificates. He smiles a lot, gives me three business cards and asks me whether I would like some grape juice."

Forbes tells world about property problems here

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:17:01 -0600

\Real estate here took another hit this week as Forbes, the U.S. publisher of authoritative business magazines, posted an account of Costa Rican property ownership problems.

Minimum wages are going up

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:16:28 -0600

The minimum wage employers must pay their workers is going up 7 percent Jan. 1, but the increase is much less than employee negotiators sought. Workers sought more than 16 percent.

Chief prosecutor opens a case against Arias

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:23:40 -0600

The nation's chief prosecutor stepped into the open pit gold mine controversy Tuesday and announced he was opening an investigation against President Óscar Arias Sánchez and the environmental minister.

Osa sweep focuses on luxury projects

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:24:39 -0600

Government enforcers of environmental laws closed down nine construction sites in the Canton de Osa Monday, and inspections elsewhere are scheduled all this week.

Trees put the brakes on gold mine

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:39:37 -0600

The controversial open pit gold mine in northern Costa Rica has suffered a new setback because the Sala IV constitutional court froze work there to determine if the firm would be allowed to cut down trees.

Environmental police visiting Canton de Osa today

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:38:31 -0600

The environment minister will be among those who overfly the Canton de Osa today to draw attention to what they say is damage to the land.

Fast cash deals are very profitable . . . for the lender

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:13:25 -0600

Is the credit crunch putting a crimp in your lifestyle? Help can be found on most any electric pole in San Jose.

Law that protected just women is unconstitutional

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:24:18 -0600

The Sala IV constitutional court in a split vote overturned two key elements of a law designed to protect women in a decision released Thursday.

An expat named Garfield

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:23:50 -0600

Long time resident Garfield George Wagner a familiar imposing presence in the Gringo bar circuit is gone. "Field," as he was know by his family, was highly visible for years in the San Jose's Downtown scene. Locals will well remember the immaculately groomed, 6-foot, 4-inch, bigger-than-life guy with the perfect tan, big toothy smile and long blond pony tail.

Criminals swiftly go through court system to freedom

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:55:40 -0600

The judiciary's swift justice process whisked three more individuals through court and onto the streets Wednesday. That followed by a day the first conviction of a criminal under the program. He got out of jail, too.

Neighbors get 20 years for killing a thief, but robber walks

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:28:04 -0600

Two separate but significant cases played out in the Costa Rican courts Tuesday. In one case, five persons who had attacked and fatally injured a man who was ransacking a vehicle each got 20 years in prison for aggravated homicide. The second case was the first of the rapid justice officials promised for persons caught red-handed committing a crime.

New Osa radio station was a long time in coming

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:27:34 -0600

After three years of wrestling with contractors, some inconveniently placed mangrove trees, and that infamous Tico attitude towards time, the expat-themed radio station Radio Pacifico Sur is making some waves across San Buenaventura. But owner and DJ Stephen Petretti now has a warning for other aspiring Gringo entrepreneurs: the bureaucratic struggles in Costa Rica are not to be underestimated.

The president complains about faults in the system

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:40:40 -0600

Every expat businessman and developer can identify with the nation's president and his brother, who are now complaining about the obstacles confronted by those who would move the nation ahead.

Museum education program sidesteps racial issues

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:40:11 -0600

In an effort to make Costa Rican history come alive for the Youtube generation, the Museo Nacional is now featuring dramatic historical tours of the museum's exhibits, hoping that the interactive field trips will complement what students are learning in the classroom.

He fought long and hard with little official help

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:40:51 -0600

After four long years of fighting hard in the courts in Costa Rica, an expat saved his property investment. He thought all hope was lost, but in his case justice prevailed. Last week the expat had what was stolen from him returned: A mortgage fraudulently canceled by property thieves and an attorney gone bad.

'Latin idol' hopes dashed

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:12:00 -0600

Costa Rica's Latin American Idol finalist María José Castillo came in second last night at the end of a two-hour, commercial-filled spectacular on Sony Television..

Tribunal orders Banco National to reimburse Internet victim

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:11:11 -0600

In a Thursday decision that may set a groundbreaking precedent for other cases involving Internet fraud, a court ruled that the Banco Nacional must pay damages to a man after money was stolen from his bank account via the Internet.

King of Jordan planning to make a visit here

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:10:20 -0600

Jordanian King Abdullah II begins Oct. 19 a Latin American visit that will include Costa Rica.

Kentucky governor launches battle against Internet gambling

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:20:46 -0600

Online gambling operations in Costa Rica have been blindsided by the governor of the U.S. State of Kentucky who is trying to seize control of some 140 Internet domains.

Ice hockey in Heredia?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:20:15 -0600

The hockey program at the Castillo Country Club emerged in 1997. El Castillo Knights have since gone on to win a tournament in Cuernavaca, Mexico, received praise from Canadian Ambassador Neil Reider and hosted the Vancouver Flying Pirates.

Sugar cane crop endangered by fungus

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:20:37 -0600

Lawmakers Monday asked the central government to declare an emergency in the Pérez Zeledón and Buenos Aires regions because of the fungus disease orange rust.

Tax collectors change the rules

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:20:06 -0600

The nation's tax collecting agency just made a change in its rules that will mean more paperwork for businesses and individuals.

Some uncomfortable history rears its head

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:21:38 -0600

However, before the performance — a dance originating from the Santaría religion, originally performed by “Caribbean witches,” as Ms. GRACE Fernández put it — she wanted to remind the audience of a little bit of uncomfortable history.

María José makes it to the finals

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:10:57 -0600

The country is flying high because María José Castillo will be one of two finalists next week on "Latin American Idol," a television reality show based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Taxi fares are going up but not by much

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:13:54 -0600

Higher taxi fares go into effect Thursday if the plans of the price regulating agency are accurate.

It's not just the boomers who are coming here

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:39:10 -0600

Thanks to Costa Rica's lax immigration policies, waves of mortgage brokers, Wall Street hotshots and bankers are even now getting their travel plans together. Dominical is much more inviting than Club Fed. Tamarindo sure beats the local county lock up.

Convicted priest agitates for his radio show

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:13:23 -0600

They say there are no guilty persons in prison. That is never truer than in Costa Rica where those convicted of high crimes can appeal to the court of public opinion via Web pages, radio shows and even pocket calendars.

Costa Rica gets yet another extension for free trade OK

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:12:58 -0600

When it comes to ratifying the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the clock keeps running out on Costa Rica. The country got another break Tuesday when its trading partners agreed to reset the clock and approve another extension.

Heredia girl makes Ticos proud

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:47:54 -0600

There were no medals from the 2008 Olympics, the last World Cup soccer effort was a disaster, and the Nobel Prize is a bit dusty. But that is all forgotten because the hopes of Costa Rica are hanging on the sweet sound of a 17-year-old Heredia girl. She is a finalist in "Latin American Idol."

Forest that birds love has a broad sidewalk

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:47:26 -0600

Finca La Selva is a world-renowned destination for tropical biologists and a tourist destination as well. Visitors can sample the forest with a guide or stay overnight to be there at dawn when activity is best.