Minister for the Presidency, Ricardo Toledo Resigns
As we indicated yesterday, more government resignations were forthcoming, Ricardo Toledo, yesterday resigned his post as Minister for the Presidency, returning to the Legislative Assembly, to resume his role as a legislator.

Today's Stories: Minister for the Presidency, Ricardo Toledo Resigns Hacienda Vice Minister Also Resigns "Fischel" Scandal Continues Former President Calderón Ends his Seclusion from the Press More Blockades Possible Soon Did you know?

General Prosecutor, Francisco Dall'Anesse told the press that the Ministerio Publico did not question yesterday former president Rafael Angel Calderón, because it's not when he wants, but when we want. Calderón yesterday presented himself, along with is lawyer, to the San José courthouse, to be questioned on his involvement of corruption.

Did you Know? Coffee was brought into Costa Rica from Cuba by a Spanish traveller, Navarro, in 1779. Coffee beans are graded in various ways? In Costa Rica, coffees are graded as Strictly Hard Bean, Good Hard Bean, Hard Bean, Medium Hard Bean, High Grown Atlantic, Medium Grown Atlantic, and Low Grown Atlantic. Coffee beans from Colombia, however, are labeled as "Supremo" "Excelso", "Extra" and the lowest grade, "Pasilla".

Toledo was at the post since May of 2003, when he, as legislative deputy for San José, asked the Legislature for a leave of absence to take on the duties of the Presidential Ministry.

Toledo's departure is perhaps due to the events surrounding the agreement made on Aug. 31 with the protestors, following a week of blockades and marches.

Some feel that Toledo was the man behind the face of the government and the power behind President Abel Pacheco, shaping the policy direction of the current government.

Others, following the announcement, say that the government is being run by "strong" financial interests outside of the Casa Presidencial.

The resignation comes on the heels of last week's resignation by Revenue Minister, Alberto Dent, and Ronulfo Jiménez, coo-rdinador of the Consejo Económico (Economic Counsel).

The decision by Dent and Jiménez were a result from government's decision to give public employees and additional 0.05% increase in salaries for this half of the year, without his prior approval or consultation.

Rumoured to take over the job by Toledo are Vice President, Linnet Saborio and Minister of Security, Rogelio Ramos.
 

Hacienda Vice Minister Also Resigns
Silena Alvarado, Vice Minister of  Hacienda, also resigned her post yesterday, a week following the departure of her boss, Alberto Dent.

Alvarado was in charge of expenditures at the Revenue Ministry since May of 2002.

Alvarado had been sub-director of the Instituto del Café de Costa Rica (Icafé) and worked at the H.B. Fuller company for more than 20 years.

Her decision to leave the post is over the controversial 0.5% additional pay increase given to public employees in last week's agreement between the government and the protestors.

Alvarado is concerned that the government does have the ¢3.000 million colones it needs to meet the additional pay increase.

"Fischel" Scandal Continues
Channel 7, Telenoticias, is continuing to follow the money trail in the "Fischel" scandal, where it was uncovered on Saturday that for president Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier received $400.000 form Marchwood holdings, a company held by Fischecl president Walter Reiche and part of the funds from a Finland company that was to have purchased medical equipment for the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).

The latest revelation in the case is the issuing of a cashier's cheques by way of the BAC San José to the Purdy Motor Company, to buy the daughter of then CCSS president Eliseo Vargas, a Toyota Rav4.

The news channel investigation shows that on August of 2003, Marchwood paid $23.700 for a 2002 Toyota Rav 4, license plate no. 447931 and registered to te Andrea Vargas.

The National Registry records indicate that the red coloured car was then sold one week after the news broke that Eliseo Vargas was renting a house from a Fischel manager in the luxurious Parque Valle Del Sol estates in Santa Ana.

The house was also purchased by Marchwood Holdings, a Panamanian corporation that is controlled by Walter Reiche, president of the Corporacion Fischel, and who is currently in preventive detention at the San Sebastian jail.

According to records in the possession of Telenoticias, Marchwood paid $598.595 dollars for the house. Eliseo Vargas always maintained he rented the house, paying rent of $2.500 per month.

Former President  Calderón Ends his Seclusion from the Press
Following almost two days of reclusion, Rafael Angel Calderón, along with his lawyer, faced the press as he left his house Monday morning on his way to the San José courthouse.

Calderón, of his on volition, decided to place himself at the order of the Ministerio Publico, making himself available in the event they want to question him.

A San José in an extraordinary session Sunday morning placed an order against Calderón prohibiting him from leaving Costa Rica while an investigation against him is running.

Calderón continues to stress that the funds were "proper" and no wrongdoing was done on his part.

When asked by the press waiting outside of his home in Curridabat, east of San José, why the money was paid to a Panamanian corporation, Calderón stressed that the company had been purchased by him years before by his family.

Calderón refused the answer when he was asked if he had received public funds. His lawyer told the press that the subject is a matter now for the courts and his client (Calderón) would not comment publicly.

Calderón continues to stress that he not guilty of any wrongdoing and that his decision to visit the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Walter Molina, does not preclude any guilt on his part. He simply wanted to make himself available to the prosecutor in the case his has any questions, his lawyer said.

Former president and now Secretary General elect of the Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), Miguel Angel Rodríguez, expressed his sorrow for the events surrounding his friend.

Rodríguez said he faith in the judicial system in Costa Rica, while on his way to Washington D.C. where he will assume his new post on September 23.

Calderón, Rodríguez and President Abel Pacheco are of the same political party, Partido de la Unidad Socialcristiana (PUSC).

More Blockades Possible Soon
And when you thought it said and done, leaders of the Movimiento Cívico Nacional are again threatening to take to the streets for more protests, saying that the government has not lived up to it's promises with respect to Riteve.

The union leaders are questioning the announcement of last week, loosing the requirements for vehicle inspections done exclusively by Riteve.

Leaders are saying that the end to the Riteve monopoly and/or the annulment of the contract was one condition of their demands and that has not happened, nor feel it will.

No date has been announced if and when any new blockades or protests will take place, only saying that they will occur for sure.