Nicoya City Council censures seismologist, says “speculation” hurt tourism business

February 13^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The City Council of Nicoya approved a motion by Domingo Arias Bonilla, a tourism operator, to issue a censure vote against researcher and seismologist, Jorge Marino Protti of the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVISCORI).

 

The vote of censure considers that statements made by Marino to the media have been based on “speculation” that the researcher has maintained for more than 24 years.

 

County mayor, Marco Antonio Jimenez explained that the measure is the result of Protti’s speculation that the September 5^th, 2012 Nicoya Earthquake was not, in fact, the “main event,” and the effect that such speculation had on area residents.

 

The mayor said that Mr. Marino “was venturing on his scientific knowledge,” ignoring the seismic reality of the country and instead focusing only on the Nicoya region.  The mayor said that Mr. Marino’s actions have “affected the economy of the region, as the economy is fundamentally based on tourism services.”

 

The mayor added, in part, that Mr. Marino “has gone beyond what is right.”

 

Other requests include that OVSICORI remove Marino Protti from any scientific studies surrounding the canton of Nicoya.

 

However, the director of OVSICORI, Victor Gonzalez said he flatly refuses the request.

 

“I really am sorry.  It is sad that a City Council that has not even bothered to ask for a report of what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, can come to an agreement like this, when it has been ignoring more than 20 years of work […] It is sad.  I really am sorry,” Gonzalez said.

 

Gonzalez stressed that there are no reasonable grounds for the request and the Council’s motion, and that Protti’s statements pose no risk.

 

Gonzalez said that in coming days he would issue his response to the City Council.

 

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