President Arias Spends
An Average of ˘104.000
Month On Cellular Phone
Use
How much does the
president spend on
cellular telephone
calls, you ask? ˘859.910
colones a year or
˘71.000 colones a month
on average.
However, Oscar Arias is
not the biggest user of
cellular telephone in
the government.
According to government
records, the vice-ministro
de la presidencia, José
Torres, is the all time
big spender, with an
2007 cellular telephone
bill of ˘1.257.645
colones or on average
˘104.000 colones a
month.
Torres explains that his
travels away from Costa
Rica and accompanying
the president is the
reason for the high
usage, saying that
roaming charges make up
most the cost. Torres,
however, has promised to
reduce his use.
The total amount spent
by the government in
2007 on cellular
telephones was
˘9.576.707 for the 45
public officials, that
includes assistants,
security details and
drivers.
In contrast, the
Asemblea Legislativa
spent ˘8.186.810 colones
last year for its 36
legislators of all
political parties.
According to ICE
statistics, Costa Ricans
in general spent on
average ˘10.196 a month
on cellular telephone
usage, 1/10 of what the
president uses.
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