Costa Rica, US Resume Free Trade Talks
Costa Rica and the United States resumed the last round of negotiations on Monday in Washington, for the final version of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

The most difficult issues for the Costa Rican government are the opening of telecommunications and the social security systems, and some issues on textiles and agricultural products, for which better access of Costa Rican products to the US market is sought.

Some Costa Rica trade unions prepared protests against the eventual completion of negotiations because of the sensitivity of these issues for the country.

Costa Rican authorities say the agreement with the United States will come soon, although that will depend on both parties reaching an accord on their respective positions.

"The country must make a good FTA. Most of the things are ready. It is not that the world will end if we don't sign the accord, but Costa Rica will be better with it," said the Foreign Trade Minister, Alberto Trejos.

This is the last opportunity for Costa Rica, as the other Central American countries, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, completed their negotiations with the United States by the end of 2003.

The United States is scheduled to send the agreement with the Central American bloc to its Congress on Jan. 26, with or without Costa Rica included.

 

ICE Threatens Pressure is Government Signs FTA
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad - ICE (the national telephone and electrical power company) is again threatening sanctions in the event the government does sign the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

At the root of the discord is the opening of telecommunications services and insurance. The U.S. is insisting on these two points. However, the ICE union - a powerful group that has called on it's membership to streets on various occasions last year to protest the FTA.

The pressure will start when the FTA comes to be the Legislature Assembly for discussion, according to one union spokesperson.

 

Taxi Drivers Plan Protest
Taxi drivers are planning a peaceful protest this Wednesday to show their frustrations with the government in stopping 'illegal' or 'pirate' taxis.

Locally they are called 'piaratas'. They look like the 'legal' red taxis that provide the public service in Costa Rica, and may even use a taximeter or 'maria', but they do not count with the required taxi license to operate.

La Cámara Sindical de Taxistas issed an announcement that the protest is to make the public aware of the situation, that the government has no interest in regulating the industry.

Pirate taxis perform a valuable and needy services in smaller communities and in neighbourhoods where regular taxis will not go.

In places like Salitral in Santa Ana, west of San José, residents of the area cannot count on the 'red' taxis to come up the mountain on the rough roads. They  have no choice but to count on pirates.

The march is planned to start at 7am in the National Stadium in La Sabana, heading off to the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos, ARESEP, building only a few blocks away and then to the Legislative Assembly building in downtown San José.

 

Gasoline Price Hikes Announced
The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) yesterday approved a price increase of ¢6.30 colones per litre for super gasoline amd ¢5.90 colones per litre for regular and ¢4.80 colones per litre for diesel gasolines.

The price for gasolines is not set a ¢272.70 for super, ¢260.70 for regular and ¢192.20 for diesel. A full tank of gank - assuming a 45 litre tank - will cost ¢12.000 colones.

With the new rates in place converts the price for a US gallon of gasoline, at the current exchange rate, to about $2.60.

The regulating authority also approved prices increases in propage gas which is used in many homes for cooking. A 21.4 litre gas cylinder will not cost ¢4.256 colones.

The price increases were based on a request by La Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) - the national energy company, supplying all gasoline and propane gas products in the country - on the 5th of January.

Recope says the price increase is needed to offset an increase in international petroleum prices. The price increase is not official until it is published in the official newspaper La Gaceta, which is expected in the coming days.

This is the first increase for the year 2004. In comparison, the price for a litre of super gasoline in January 2003 was ¢228.60.

 

Seat Belt Law Delayed Again
A proposed law to amend the Traffic Laws to permit the mandatory use of seatbelts was sent to the Sala IV - the constitutional court.

The action suspends the second debate on the proposed law until the court makes a decision on the request of the legislators.

The proposed law would allow Transit Police to fine a driver and passenger ¢8.000 colones for the non-use of a seat belt by front seat passengers.

Twenty legislators from various parties sent the request to the Constitutional Court for their opinion on the law. A similar law is on the books, but several years back, the constitutional court struck down that law, saying it infringes on personal freedom.

The Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transports - MOPT - has been waging an active campaign to educate drivers to use the seat belts as well as lobbying legislators to approve the new law.

Signs, newspapers and television advertising and including the back of the "marchamo" all remind drivers that the use of seat belts saves lives according to studies.

The question before the court is clear up the constitutional issue of personal freedom. Does the mandatory use of the seat belt infringe on that freedom? Should not one have the choice since it only benefits the person making the choice?

A decision is expected within a month.