Donation from China is indeed for discretionary use, says Chinchilla

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – September 28^th, 2012 – The saga continues. President Laura Chinchilla confirmed today that the $8 million donated by China would be used for the national police Academy, because it was her decision to do so.

The President said that during negotiations with China, her government was given the right to establish priorities for the use of the money, and that at her direction the funds will be used for the construction of the National Police Academy.

In an article published on Inside Costa Rica yesterday, Enrique Castro, Foreign Minister, was quoted as saying that a ‘communication’ error led his government to believe that the funds were for discretionary use.

However, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Roverssi, stated today that there is no confusion whatsoever, and that it will be the Costa Rican government who decides what the donation will be used for, and that it carries no conditions.

The President stated that nothing has changed in regards to what was announced when she returned from the Asian country, and added that part of the funds will be used to reconstruct the schools which were damaged by the earthquake in Nicoya.