Pothole Protest Sunk
The cold and rain yesterday kept many away from the "pothole" protest organized by the Movimiento Cívico Nacional (MCN) who called on all citizens to join them in front of the offices of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) in San José.

The MCN is protesting the poor conditions of the roads, the Riteve (annual vehicular inspection) monopoly and reduce taxes on gasoline products.

Expected to join the protest were taxi drivers, truckers and farmers were thousands to make their voice known to MOPT minister, Randall Quiros. However, only 100 or so people showed up.

The MCN had planned to make a lot of noise to let MOPT officials know they displeasure when an estimated 75% of the national roadway is in poor to bad state of repair. They had planned to deliver minister Quiros a written proposal.

Minister Quiros told the press later in the day that he received no such proposal or any type of written communications from the MCN.

Quiros, who has only months left at his post as a new government takes over in May, said that his Ministry is working on effecting repairs, however, financial constraints are impeding efforts.

By 12pm, the protesters went home. Fabio Chaves, secretary general of the Asdeice (workers union) said that yesterdays manifestations are only a "piquete" , a taste of what is to come.