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Visitors Day at La Reforma
Though Sunday is the only
visiting day at Costa Rica's
jails, La Reforma which is house
to two former presidents -
Miguel Angel Rodríguez
(1998-2002) and Rafael Angel
Calderón (1990-1994) - altered
the rules for visiting hours for
these two men, who are kept
separate from each other and
from the other prisoners,
allowed family visits for them
on Saturday.
Television channel 7's "Telenoticias" reports that Gloria
Bejarano, Calderón's wife and two daughters came to visit, bringing
the former president essential needs while he is in custody.
Bejarano refused to talk to reports, telling Telenoticias
that she understands the work the reports are doing, however, this
is a very difficult time for the family.
Minutes later, former president Rodríguez, who spend his first
night, Friday night, in the custody of La Reforma staff, received a
visit from his sister Blanca Rodríguez and his niece Maria de los
Ángeles Truque.
Rodríguez also spend some time with his lawyer Rafael Gairoud,
yesterday, who is still angry at the Superior Court judge's decision
and told reporters that he still not clear why the judge ordered his
client locked up.
Being Rodríguez's first day behind bars, he also got a full medical
checkup by the prison doctor, a standard procedure for all inmates
at the prison, who later confirmed that the former president is in
good health.
La Reforma is the country's largest prison and has become very
famous, making history for housing two former presidents at the same
time and for basically the same reason - corruption.
Calderón is being accused of accepting payments in the Fischel-Caja
scandal, that involved us$39 million dollars in a loan from the
government of Finland to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)
which awarded a contract to the Corporación Fischel to purchase
medical equipment for the health system.
Rodríguez is being accused of receiving payments form his former
friend and Housing Minister during his administration from money
coming from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel, who was
awarded a us$149 million dollar contract to provide cellular service
in Costa Rica. The prosecutor's office is also investigating a multi
million dollar payment by the government of Taiwan to Rodríguez
personally while he was president.
The two former presidents, who once occupied the spacious Casa
Presidencial and lived in luxurious homes in upper scale
neighbourhoods - Rodríguez moved from Costa Rica shortly after
leaving the presidency, to teach in the U.S. - now live in cells
that are 3 metres by 6 metres.
The cells occupied by the former presidents are in a prison block
separate from the other prisoners and provide security and privacy.
In total 8 prisoners could be housed in the the block, however, it
is currently occupied by two.
Justice officials say that the La Reforma is the most secure place
for the two former presidents, for their own safety and personal
security.
Price
of Milk Going Up Tomorrow
Prices in Costa Rica continue to escalate. This week,
gasoline prices went up by ˘3.5 colones for each litre of gasoline,
bringing the price of gasoline to record highs.
Now comes word that beginning tomorrow, November 1, the price of
milk and dairy products will also go up.
Milk producers sent a press release saying that a litre of
homogenized milk will go from ˘227 colones to ˘240 colones, while
the milk with a long shelf life will jump from ˘340 colones to ˘360
colones. The long life milk is identified by the typical blue
packaging.
Though no prices were disclosed for other dairy products, milk
producers say that the increase in cost of production and associated
processes are the cause.
Residents Want Plaques and
Monuments of Former Presidents
Removed
A group of residents
from San Carlos, La Fortuna,
have begun a movement to show
their anger at the current
political scandals that have
engulfed Costa Rica.
The group, made up of
professionals, farmers and
housewives, are making two
requests from their local
council. One, is to remove all
plaques and monuments in and
around municipal property,
including the main building of
the municipal offices that
honour the former presidents
Rodríguez, Calderón and Figueres
Olsen.
Residents want the municipality
to act fast, beginning with
Monday to heed to their request.
The other petition that
residents of the San Carlos area
is for the government to closely
review the financial
arrangements made for the
construction of the new highway
from San Carlos which will tie
in with the Interamerican
highway to make the San José-San
Carlos trip in a shorter time.
Several legislative deputies
have offered support to the
community of San Carlos in their
actions.
Annual Telethon a Success
Anyone who happened
to be on Avenida Segunda near
the Teatro Melico Salazar in the
last 24 hours found the Avenue
closed off and traffic rerouted
while the "Cadena Mayor" -
annual telethon - took place
inside.
Costa Rican, as well as
international artists took part
in the annual event that was to
have collected some ˘60.000.000
colones, however by 10pm last
night, the press office for the
First Lady, said that more than
˘185.000.000 had been donated.
Costa Rica will be host to Miss
Teen International 2004
Candidates for the beauty
contest will be arriving in
Costa Rica from all over in the
next few days, with most making
their arrival on the 3rd and 4th
of November and will be staying
at the Hotel & Villas La Condesa.
The fashion show will be held on
Saturday the 6th of November at
the La Condesa, followed by an
auction to benefit charities.
Young women from all over,
including Australia, New
Zealand, Thailand, Vietman,
Russia, Portugal, France and
many other countries will
compete on November 12 for the
selection of the Miss Teen
International 2004, which will
be held at the Planet Mall in
San Pedro and will broadcast
live around the world. |
