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More Jobs and Police Promised
For 2007
In a poll taken by the Spanish
language daily Al Día, Costa
Ricans are asking for stability,
health and work in 2007.
The daily reports that 2006 was
a good year for most Costa
Ricans, as it brought greater
employment opportunities and
better finances for many, giving
to hope that 2007 will do more
of the same.
Many of those interviewed by the
daily expressed pleasure with
the new government and optimism
for the coming year.
However, the official numbers
aren't as flattering as popular
sentiment. According to the
"2006 encuesta de hogares",
inequality continues to grow in
the country.
The poll, although shows a
growth of 2.4% in incomes over
the previous year, the amount of
growth was not equal on all
levels. For example, the income
growth in upper class was 8.6%,
while the growth in lower
classes was 0.1%.
According to the poll figures,
poverty reduced by 1%, from
21.2% in 2005 to 20.2% in 2006
and the work force increased by
2.3%, in real numbers meaning
42.887 more people with work.
Most of the Costa Ricans polled
want more economic stability,
new jobs, health and security
for 2007. Ministro de Trabajo (labour
minister), Francisco Morales,
said that the prority is reduce
inflation to a since digit, down
from the 11% that the Banco
Central (Central Bank) figure
for 2006.
For his part, the ministro de
Seguridad Pública, Fernando
Berrocal, promises more police
patrols and some new 1.300
police officers before the
middle of the year.
Only time will tell if these
promises will be kept.
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