President Arias Says He
Plans To Help Those With
The Least In The Face Of
The Energy Crisis
Costa Rican president
recovered his voice
after weeks of heeding
to doctors orders to
rest his voice and not
speak, last night spoke
to all Costa Ricans on
national television,
giving his analysis of
the international energy
crisis and the impact on
Costa Rica.
"Man proposes and God
provides. A responsible
president plans for the
future, but must be
conscious that the
future can change at any
moment and has to be
prepared to face the
changes. At the
beginning of this
administration, the
international situation
was very different: our
enthusiasm for the
global economic climate
allowed us to reach high
levels, create jobs and
reduce poverty. During
the last several months,
however, the increase in
the price of oil has
generated uncertainty,
not only in Costa Rica,
but in all parts of the
world", said Arias.
Arias added that Costa
Rican does not live in a
bubble and is not
isolated from the rest
of humanity and is face
to face with the
international crisis,
telling his television
audience that what
happens in the United
States, the Arab world,
China, Europe and Latin
America affects Costa
Rica as well.
"To import fuel that
will be consumed during
this year we have to pay
double of last year.
Practically all the
funds we raised last
year thanks to tourism,
banana and coffee
exports, we have to
assign to purchase oil.
In the face of this
situation, some say that
each has to absorb their
loss without government
intervention. Others say
that the government has
to help out everyone
equally. As president I
have decided to help out
those who have the
least", said Arias.
Arias was clear that he
will not sacrifice
student scholarships,
senior pensions or stop
with the development of
more Ebais (clinics).
Arias said he would not
sacrifice housing
construction, nor music
schools nor community
centres, nor affect the
hiring of more police
and the support of
micro, small and medium
producers.
The president was
adamant that he will not
sacrifice any of the
social policies nor can
his government allow
that the effects of the
energy crisis be
distributed equally.
During his television
address the president
explained his actions of
the past several weeks,
including the subsidy of
diesel fuel prices, the
announcement by his
ministers of measures to
reduce gasoline
consumption and the
implementation of a
higher property on
owners of diesel fueled
passenger vehicles.
Arias added that in his
proposal to the
Legislative Assembly he
has included assistance
for the most in need and
farmers.
The president defended
his tax on passenger
diesel vehicles, saying
that these are luxury
vehicles not used in the
production process and
their owners are
typically less affected
by the crisis.
"There are already poor
Costa Ricans affected by
the situation and we
must think of them,
because in the hour of
sacrifice is when how
big the heart of the
people is measured",
were the president's
closing remarks.
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