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58% of Transit
Police Vehicles Taken Off the Road!
Of the 177 Transit
police cars, only 75 have their marchamo paid. The rest, 102 vehicle are
being taken off the road temporarily.
And, according to a report by the Spanish daily La Nacion, the majority of
ther 102 vehicles don't that the technical revision certificate that is
demanded of all vehicles in circulation.
The report says that many of the patrol cars used in the Transit operatives
in the first days of this year, that confiscated and fined a total of 1.973
plates, did not compy with law.
Ignacio Sánchez, a Transit Authority official, said that the units that
don't have the marchamo paid need repairs but cannot be done due to an order
by the Comptroller's office that the vehicle repairs must be paid by the
MOPT - Ministry of Public Works and Transport - and not the Consejo de
Seguridad Vial (Cosevi), which has paid for the repairs in the past.
Sales to Canada increase
Costa Rican exports to Canada increased by 28 percent in the year 2002, as
compared to those in 2001, therefore recovering the upward trend they had
missed the three preceding years.
This recovery is a source of great hope for local producers, particularly in
the agriculture sector, to which the leading exports correspond, 64 percent
of the overall figure, according to a survey by Costa Rican Development
Initiatives Coalition chairman Tomas Duenas.
The imports from Canada also increased by 31 percent, but they are mainly
from the industrial sector, 93 percent, as compared to 36 percent in the
Costa Rican exports.
Devaluation at 10.5 percent
The rate of exchange
closed at 419.01 colones per dollar for the year 2003. The figure is 10.5
percent larger than the closing rate for the year 2002.
Central Bank sources asserted that this rate of devaluation corresponds to
the monetary policy that the Bank had defined for the year 2003.
Record Reserves at Central Bank
The Central Bank's reserves of hard foreign currency reached a record $1.9
billion at the end of the year 2003.
The reserves, mainly dollars, were boosted along the year by an increase in
economic activity, which in turn promoted exports, and nourished the arrival
of foreign currency. The final figure surpassed by far the $1,530 million -
$34 million more than in the year 2002 - that the Central Bank expected to
reach in 2003.
Exports to Central America
The Costa Rican exports to Central America increased by 13 percent in 2003,
as compared to sales to the region in 2002.
According to figures from the Foreign Trade Promoter, as of last October,
Costa Rican exports to Central America had reached $780 million, while they
amounted $694 in the same period in 2002.
Even though it will take some time before the actual figure is established,
projections point to $938 million worth of Tico exports to the neighboring
nations. According to analysts, the economic reactivation experienced by
most Central American countries played a key role for the increase in Costa
Rican sales.
The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) set at 3 percent the
increase in the economies of Honduras and Panama; while Guatemala is
expected to reach a 2.4 percent and Nicaragua 2.3 percent. El Salvador is
expected to experience the least growth, at 2 percent, while Costa Rica
would have the largest increase, 5.6 percent in overall exports, 4.4 percent
if the electronics industry is not included.
'Join Us and Break New World
Record'
MOTORBIKE enthusiasts are being
invited to take part in the ultimate road trip by joining a world-record
breaking couple in a journey from Alaska to the southern tip of South
America.
Kevin and Julia Sanders, from Bermuda Terrace in Arbury, UK, completed
the 16,000 mile trip last year in just 35 days - taking 12½ days off the
previous record.
They already held the Guinness world record for the fastest circumnavigation
of the globe by motorcycle.
Now they are looking for 15 like-minded bikers to repeat their route on a
four-month ride in August 2005.
"We had such an amazing time we just want to be able to share with other
motorcyclists the fantastic riding opportunities and culture the Americas
have to offer," said Julia.
"I don't think many people really consider South America as a travel
destination. A lot of bikers have travelled to Europe but we're finding that
many want to do something different."
The journey will start in Anchorage, Alaska, and continue through Canada,
USA, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
Panama, Ecuador and Peru before ending in Chile or Argentina.
But the Guinness world record route will be slightly adapted to enable the
group to see some of the continent's incredible natural wonders and
archaeological sights, such as the Yucatan area of Mexico.
It is also likely to include a trip to the Grand Canyon, bear-watching at
Fish Creek and a visit to Machu Picchu.
Julia, 36, who rides pillion with motorcyle instructor Kevin, 38, said:
"Hopefully, the fact riders will be travelling a Guinness world record route
with double the number of Guinness world record bikers should give them an
added buzz.
"It will be like an extreme holiday but we're only taking people who've had
riding experience and are looking for a new challenge.
The ride is open to bikers who have clocked up more than 10,000 miles or
have a minimum of three years' experience. |
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Rica Foods: $12.5M change in
control
Miami-based Rica Foods said shareholders on Monday sold more than
three-quarters of the company's issued and outstanding stock to a company
owned by a Costa Rican corporation. Shares closed down 10.62 percent.
The producer and marketer of poultry products and animal feed said Calixto
Chaves, its chairman, president and chief executive officer; Monica Chaves;
Jose Pablo Chaves; Comercial Angui, a company in Costa Rica; and other
shareholders sold a total of 9.93 million shares, or about 77.2 percent of
issued and outstanding common shares, to a company called Avicola Campesinos
for about $12.5 million in cash.
Rica Foods said based on information Avicola provided it, Avicola appears to
be owned by Costa Rica-based Tenedora. Rica Foods is the parent company of
the largest poultry producers in Costa Rica, Corporacion Pipasa and
Corporacion As de Oros, which supply about 62 percent of the total Costa
Rican poultry market.
Rica Foods said its board allowed the stock transfer, in part because about
$6.9 million in stock sale proceeds went to satisfy Calixto Chaves' debt to
Rica Foods and about $1.95 million in proceeds went to settle litigation.
The company also said Calixto Chaves and a Rica Foods board member, Jorge
Quesada, have, at various times, personally guaranteed Rica Foods would
repay various debts.
Rica Foods also noted, to buy shares, Avicola on Dec. 15 took out a $12.5
million loan with Servicios Bursatiles Internacionales Sociedad Anonima, a
Panamanian corporation. As security for the loan, Avicola pledged the
shares.
The 52-week high was $1.58 on Dec. 1. The 52-week low was 50 cents on Oct.
13.
US launches program of fingerprinting, photographing foreign visitors
The United States launched a new
program aimed at enhancing border security on Monday, fingerprinting and
photographing visitors from most countries.
The new entry procedures, or US-VISIT, took effect at 115 airports and
cruise ship terminals at 14 seaports. They are not yet effective at land
borders.
"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our government's commitment
to securing our nation while upholding America's ideals about freedom of
travel and the spirit of welcoming foreigner visitors," said Tom Ridge,
secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, while officially launching
the program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.
US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors traveling to the United States
on a visa have their two index fingers scanned and adigital photograph taken
to verify their identity at the port of entry.
Homeland Security and law enforcement officials will use the information to
check instantly against the national digital database for criminal
backgrounds and any terrorist lists.
The Homeland Security Department said in a statement that by using
biometrics technologies, the program expedites processing at borders while
enhancing security. "It is easy for travelers to use, but hard for
terrorists to avoid," Ridge said.
Authorities have turned up 21 people on the FBI's criminal watch list for
such crimes as drug offenses, rape and visa fraud, since a test of the
program started on Nov. 17 at Hartsfield-Jackson, Ridge said.
The system will gradually replace a controversial paper-based system
effective since the Sept. 11 attacks.
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