Costa Rica Celebrates
187 Years of
Independence Today
Costa Rican president,
Óscar Arias Sánchez,
believes that the
independence that is
being celebrated today
is an incomplete victory
due to the many social
problems affecting the
country today.
The
presidential comments
were made at the end of
the cabinet session that
were held in Cartago,
the "Vieja Metropoli"
(Old Metropolis).
"Today we celebrate 187
years of independence,
but out independence is
not a complete victory.
Every child that sells a
cellular phone cover at
a streetlight, instead
of being in school,
chains us. Every youth
who buys crack, at the
local corner, escaping
going to high school,
chains us. Every worker,
who does not find work
to allow them to live a
dignified life for not
having gone to school,
chains us. To have a
future of freedom, the
people must first secure
a knowledge of this and
there are still many
people for whom that
this is simply a
chimera", said Arias.
The president made an
appeal to the
population, so that
together, we can bring
the best ideas so that
our country can enjoy
genuine independence.
The Independence Day
celebrations continue
this morning beginning
at 10am in the Parque
Nacional - downtown San
José- where high ranking
government officials,
supreme court justices,
the diplomatic corps,
church leaders, students
and the general public,
will come together in
celebrating Costa Rica's
187 years of
independence from Spain.
Needless to say, today
is a legal holiday in
Costa Rica as all
government offices,
banks and most
businesses are closed.
Open for business,
however, are all major
supermarkets, malls and
large retailers, cashing
in on a pay weekend.
|
