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"NO" to Rise in
Telephone Rates
In this time of increases - taxi fares, electrical services,
bus fares and more - the ARESEP, the government body that regulates public
prices and services, has rejected a request by the Instituto Costarricense
de Electricidad (ICE) to increase telephone rates.
ICE had requested an increase in the rates of fixed and mobile telephones
that would have seen the cost of basic home telephone service go from ¢1.650
to ¢2.050, to ¢2.000 from ¢2.400 for commercial service and cellular service
go from ¢3.000 to ¢3.400 colones.
ICE had also asked for increase in the per minute use of cellular service to
go from ¢30 to ¢35 coloners for day service and from ¢23 to ¢25 colones for
nights following the first 60 minutes that is included in the basic rate.
The ARESEP confirmed it's decision to not allow any increases at this time
and reducing the cost of basic cellular service to ¢2.900 from ¢3.000 and
keeping the cellular telephone security deposit at ¢12.500.
The reduction in the ¢100 colones in the basic cellular service, according
to an official at ICE, seems like a punishment by ARESEP for ICE's failure
to provide good cellular service, especially in GSM type of calls, where
less that 65% of the calls connect the first time.
Transit Police to Get Tough on Driving While Using a Cell Phone
Thanks to a donation of 30 motorcycles by the government of
Spain, the Transit Police has made the decision to mount an intensive
campaign to stop drivers from making and receiving calls on their cellular
telephones while driving, save if they use a hands free device.
The law in Costa Rica prohibits a driver to have to hold in
arms a person (child) or any object that can obstruct the safe handling
of a vehicle and is sanctioned with a ¢10.000 colones fine.
In Costa Rica, driving while using a cellular telephone is a major cause
of traffic accidents. This year so far, Transit Police say they have
issued about 500 fines of ¢10.000 colones each to drivers.
However, the fines are not enough for drivers to stop the practice. This
is the resaon for Transit Police to use the donated motorcycles to force
drivers, who when they see a Transit official, quickly hide from view
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The plan calls for a special group of Transit Officials on
motorcycles to patrol the streets and whose main function is to follow
drivers who are intent on using their cells phones while driving and fine
them. Drivers will not be able to tell the difference between the Transit
officials and may find the motorized traffic official in their rear view
mirror pulling them over, even though they have hidden their cellular
telephone from view.
Transit officials say the use of cellular telephones while driving distracts
the driver and puts everyone in danger.
CONACAF: LD Alajuelense Lose to Quakes
The San Jose (California) Earthquakes defeated
Costa Rica’s LD Alajuelense 1-0 in the home leg of the CONCACAF Champions
Cup quarterfinals, but were eliminated from the tournament by a 3-1 total
goal margin. Alajuelense defeated the Earthquakes 3-0 in the first leg of
the series on March 17 in Costa Rica.
The Earthquakes started the match pressuring Alajuelense just seconds after
the kick-off when Richard Mulrooney sent a cross into the box from the right
side and Arturo Alvarez sent a blast just wide of the post. That would set
the tone of the night for the Quakes, who constantly bombarded the
Alajuelense net only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez’s
acrobatic saves and the crossbar two times.
Alajuelense, which earned its spot in the tournament by winning the 2003
Costa Rican league championship, moves on to face CF Monterrey (Mexico) in
the semifinals. CF Monterrey defeated FAS of El Salvador 4-1 Wednesday.
EARTH University in Costa Rica Receives The Lemelson
Foundation Planning Grant
With funding from The Lemelson
Foundation, EARTH University in Costa Rica is beginning to explore ways to
expand Lemelson’s Invention for Sustainable Development Program across Latin
America.
The grant enables EARTH to study the feasibility of creating a “hub and
spokes” network of academic, private sector, non-profit and governmental
institutions. The network would encourage and support invention and
innovation that improves the quality of life in Latin America. The new
partnership will enrich and complement EARTH University’s strategic goals of
expanding an entrepreneurial mentality in the region.
EARTH University is a premier, international agricultural university that
educates young leaders from over twenty countries throughout the Americas in
the agricultural sciences and natural resources so they can contribute to
sustainable development in the humid tropics.
The Lemelson Foundation, based in Portland, Oregon, uses its resources to
inspire, encourage and recognize inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.
The Foundation’s Invention for Sustainable Development Program fosters and
unleashes human creativity and invention to meet basic human needs and build
sustainable livelihoods for the world’s poor people.
According to Julia Novy-Hildesley, Executive Director of The Lemelson
Foundation, “Funding this feasibility study will allow our Foundation and
EARTH University to fulfill common goals. Both of our organizations are
interested in providing individuals with new opportunities to make direct
contributions to sustainable development in Latin America and around the
world.”
EARTH University President José Zaglul says that “EARTH’s partnership with
The Lemelson Foundation is a natural fit. EARTH University shares the
Lemelson Foundation’s vision and beliefs, understands the innovation
process, and possesses strong links to the communities it serves.” EARTH
already has established relationships with agricultural universities and
academic organizations interested in promoting sustainability and
entrepreneurship throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Later this year, EARTH will host an international symposium to a) identify
key institutions and mentors for a possible “hub and spokes” network and b)
develop a strategy for implementing an invention-based model of sustainable
development. Stakeholders from across Latin America will study whether a
“premier center” could serve as an effective “hub” with supporting “spokes”
across Central America and in the Andean countries of South America and
eventually extending into Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile.
By the end of the planning process, EARTH University and The Lemelson
Foundation envision a network for mentoring and awarding inventors and
innovators who develop new products and processes designed to benefit
society. The planners also hope to define a process for disseminating
inventions and innovations through viable businesses, NGO’s, governmental
programs and multi-lateral projects.
Group Helped Poor Communities in
Central America
Helping poor communities in Nicaragua
and Costa Rica made Indiana's Valparaiso University students Ying Jin and
Jessica Hatala realize they are making good career choices in the medical
field.
Jin, a 19-year-old sophomore, and Hatala, a 24-year-old sophomore nursing
student, spent their spring break working in medical clinics in the Central
American countries, along with about two dozen VU pre-med or nursing
students. The group left Feb. 28 and returned March 13. The students
traveled with chemistry professor Thomas Goyne and deaconess Diane Martin.
"It was a good way to get firsthand experience. We were diagnosing patients,
and we were able to practice medicine on a one-on-one level, a really simple
level. You do a lot of good," Jin said.
The students helped patients with what would be basic medical needs in the
United States. They distributed vitamins, helped with teeth cleanings and
did vision checks. Some patients had nutritional problems, intestinal
parasites or other "easily preventable problems," he said.
"The nursing students had more experience with patient care than the
pre-meds. We've all had clinical practice," Hatala said. "We did
assessments. We interviewed patients with our knowledge of Spanish or with a
translator. We made our preliminary diagnosis with a doctor who checked and
made sure we were right."
Students split into two groups and worked in 15 different clinics in the
countries. They worked from pre-existing clinics, or set them up in
buildings like churches or schools.
"Most people were very grateful to have medicine and help. Some people were
desperate for any type of medicine. They were very hospital," Hatala said.
One of the best moments of the trip for Jin occurred when he and his
classmates helped a woman with a compromised immune system, high blood
pressure and a vaginal infection. The students did not have the experience
to treat all the problems, so they pooled their money to send her to a local
hospital.
"She was really, really grateful. She said, 'God bless you all.' It was a
really touching moment. We made a huge difference," Jin said.
Working alongside a Costa Rican doctor made Hatala feel part of a team.
"This is what I want to do with my life. I want to work as a nurse in a
developing country and provide health care to those who can't afford health
care or it isn't provided to them," Hatala said.
The experience reaffirmed Jin's career hopes. He is a biology and chemistry
major at VU, and hopes to attend medical school at Loyola University in
Chicago.
"I'm very sure I'm going to go into medicine. I saw a lot of need there I
couldn't do anything about. I'd like to go back again sometime," he said.
"It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life."
Air Canada Continues Successful
Expansion to Latin America
Air Canada today announced that it willcontinue to expand its services to
Latin America with the introduction of
non-stop flights from Toronto to Caracas, Venezuela; Bogota, Colombia, and
Lima, Peru. Air Canada thus becomes the only airline offering scheduled,
non-stop service between Canada and these three South American countries.
The
introduction of these new routes comes less than four months after Air
Canada
inaugurated new services to Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica and Cuba.
In addition, effective July 1, 2004, Air Canada will boost its non-stop
flights between Toronto and Havana, Cuba to daily service operated with
Airbus
A319 aircraft. In the meantime, the carrier has introduced a larger Airbus
A320 aircraft on the route in response to customer demand for the popular
new
service launched only last December.
| "The addition of Venezuela, Colombia and Peru to Air Canada's growing
South American network will bring added convenience and access for travelers
and freight forwarders across our worldwide network," said Bill Bredt, Vice
President, Network and Revenue Management. "We are seeing an increase in
travel demand to and from South America as a result of a strengthening
economy
as well as the convenience of Air Canada's services for travellers impacted
by
U.S. government visa requirements when transiting via the United States.
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Our
recently launched services to Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica, in addition
to
our daily flights to Brazil, are performing very well, leading us to pursue
further strategic growth opportunities in Latin American markets. We also
recognize and thank Transport Minister Valeri's ongoing support in bringing
these new services online for the benefit of consumers."
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Colombia Gets
US Trade Talks Date
Colombia's president has said formal talks on a free trade deal with the
United States will begin on 19 May. Alvaro Uribe made the announcement after
a meeting with President George W. Bush in Washington.
Mr Uribe is also trying to secure more US funding and military aid to fight
drugs traffickers and rebels under the US-backed Plan Colombia.
The US on Monday praised Colombia for cutting production of coca, the raw
material for cocaine, by 21% last year.
The report by US officials seems likely to herald a further aid grant from
Washington, albeit with conditions attached, analysts say.
However, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogota says the US report sidesteps
the fact that coca production is up in Bolivia and that farmers in Colombia
are changing the nature of coca cultivation.
Under Plan Colombia, the US has already provided some $2.6 billion in
training and military equipment since 2000.
It is due to expire next year, and Mr Uribe now wants the Bush
administration to extend it until 2009.
"I have found in President Bush a huge level of understanding that we cannot
leave this fight half-way," Mr Uribe said after the Washington talks.
"Our main target now is not to focus on how to diminish terrorist activities
but how to eliminate terrorism for the peace of mind of the Colombian
people," Mr Uribe added, stressing his commitment "to finish with that
plague".
Mr Uribe's government says that the left-wing rebels and paramilitaries
involved in Colombia's 40-year civil conflict use drug money to finance
their operations.
But some members of the US Congress are concerned about Colombia's human
rights record.
Under Colombia's anti-terrorism laws, the military now has expanded powers
of search and arrest.
Announcing results from a US-sponsored fumigation programme, the US State
Department said there had been a "dramatic" decline in coca cultivation in
Colombia.
"Thanks to President Uribe's superb leadership, substantially less coca is
being grown in Colombia and real progress is being made against the scourge
of cocaine," said Robert Charles, Assistant Secretary of State for
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
But our correspondent says the US report glosses over the fact that
Colombian are changing the nature of coca cultivation.
They are sowing far smaller fields and moving deeper into the Amazon jungle
to avoid the attention of crop-spraying aircraft.
Venezuelan Justices Reject Ruling Accepting Recall Signatures
A chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court dealt a blow Tuesday
to opponents of President Hugo Chávez by overruling fellow justices on a
petition for recalling him from office.
The court's constitutional chamber struck down a ruling by the electoral
chamber, which had ordered election officials to accept 870,000 signatures
they had questioned.
Venezuela's opposition wants Chávez recalled and claims to have presented
more than three million signatures in December, more than the 2.4 million
required to hold a recall vote. But the National Electoral Council said
870,000 of the signatures cannot be deemed valid unless citizens confirm
them.
The opposition said that requirement created a logistics nightmare that
dooms the recall attempt.
In a widely expected decision, Chief Justice Iván Rincón said the petition
did not fall under the electoral chamber's jurisdiction.
The decision might not be final. Chávez opponents can appeal the ruling to
all 20 of the court's magistrates, but it was not immediately clear they
would do so. The high court is divided into several chambers responsible for
different areas of law.
Rincón defended the council's authority to reject signatures. ''The National
Electoral Council . . . is an autonomous and independent branch of
government,'' he said.
The vote would be the last chance for Venezuela's opposition to oust Chávez
at the ballot box before the next scheduled presidential election, in 2006.
Chávez, a leftist firebrand who was elected in 1998 and reelected in 2000,
alleges many signatures were duplicated or forged.
The Organization of American States and the U.S.-based Carter Center say
they have seen no evidence of widespread fraud.
The two groups have led efforts to bring Venezuela's political crisis to a
peaceful resolution after a failed 2002 coup and a crippling strike last
year that paralyzed oil production in the world's No. 5 oil exporter.
Opposition leaders accuse Chavez of becoming increasingly authoritarian and
dividing this South American nation along class lines.
Fujimori Delivers Paper to Peruvian Court to Defend Himself
Peru's ex-President Alberto Fujimori, now in exile in Japan,
has delivered a paper to Peruvian Supreme Court to defend himself against a
dozen charges of corruption and human rights abuses, top judge said
Wednesday.
Jose Luis Lecaros, the Supreme Court Justice, said Fujimori had sent the
defendant paper from Japan to the court via his attorney Raquel Cabrera
Bazan.
The Supreme Court has accepted the paper and set the date for ahearing,
which Fujimori himself is demanded to attend.
Fujimori fled to Japan, his parents' homeland, in November 2000and was
bestowed with citizenship although Peru had been all along asking for his
extradition.
Peruvian media reported that Fujimori's latest response to court charges
were aimed at paving the way for his participation in Peru's 2006
presidential elections.
If the court announces Fujimori with a verdict of no guilt, he can
immediately return to Peru to campaign for the presidency.
A political party "Si Cumple," which translates roughly to "he keeps his
word," newly formed by Fujimori's supporters, has been ratified to
participate in the 2006 elections by Peru's National Elections Board.
Fujimori, who was Peruvian President from 1990 to 2000 before resigning amid
political scandals, has been named as the "Si Cumple" party's candidate for
the 2006 elections.
Polls show Fujimori, whose support has been growing despite charges against
him, was consistently in the third or fourth place among potential
candidates.
In July, authorities presented Japan with a three-volume, 700-page
extradition request in the hope of bringing Fujimori home to face trial, but
the request was rejected by Japan.
Fujimori has been criticizing on his own Internet website the government of
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo and mocking prosecutors' charges against
him as political persecution.
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