President Keeps Promises To Donate Salary
During a session of the Consejo de Gobierno (Cabinet meeting) yesterday held at the casa pastoral in El Llano de Alajuelita, president Oscar Arias signed an executive decree that officially allows him to donate his salary to the poor and old.

The donation of the president's salary of more than ¢4 million colones (us$7.700) per month was made public last year following a leak to the press, something the president said he had wanted to keep quiet.

The president of Costa Rica receives a monthly salary of ¢1.941.231 colones (us$3.769), plus ¢1.267.000 (us$2.460) for personal spending and ¢1.107.166 (us$2.150) for "confidential expenses".

When the new broke last year of the donation, Arias was only donating his personal spending portion, but then promised to donate his entire salary while in office, which expires on May 8, 2010.

The decree states that Hogares, associations and shelters that help seniors will be the major beneficiaries of the donation of his confidential expenses portion, while 50% of the balance of his salary will go to other associations helping the poor and the other 50% will be deposited to the president's account where he will personally decide who shall receive the donation.

President Arias said that he hopes that with his example to build a more just, solid and equitable Costa Rica with the support of all citizens, especially with more generosity by those who have the means.