More Cabinet Defections
While President Abel Pacheco continues to re-assure Costa Ricans that there is no crisis, Wednesday two more ministers resigned.

Javier Chaves, Ministro de Obras Publica y Transporte (MOPT) and Alberto Trejos, Ministro de Comercio Exterior (COMEX) decided to call it quits

Today's Stories: More Cabinet Defections Eliseo Vargas Ordered to Six Months Detention Pedophile Arrested CONCACAF SOCCER: Costa Rica Beats Canada Did you know?

President Abel Pacheco, with a pained look on his face, is accompanied by First Vice President, Lineth Saborío, in talking to the press about the latest cabinet defections. Ignacio Sanchez, Director of Transit, is expected to tender his resignation today (Thursday) following his boss's resignation yesterday.

Did you Know? That for decades Costa Rica had stood out for its relative stability and benefited from the most developed welfare system in Central America. Costa Ricans enjoyed one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and higher living standards than their war-torn neighbours. But since the mid-1970s rising oil prices, falling commodity prices and high inflation have dealt a punishing blow to its people, nearly one-fifth of whom now live in poverty. Also, with the end of the Cold War, Costa Rica lost its special appeal to the US, which once generously rewarded it for its allegiance.

Last week, Alberto Dent, Ministro de Hacienda (Revenu ) quit his post and only Monday of this week,  Ricardo Toledo, Ministro por la Presidencia (Presidency) three in the towel.

That brings a total of four ministers to leave the Pacheco government in less than two weeks.

Resigning also yesterday were Anabelle González, chief TLC negotiator and Gabriela Llobet, Vice Minister of Comex also left their jobs. The joined Trejos in making their announcement to the press.

Last week, Silena Alvarado, Vice Minister at Hacienda and Ronulfo Jiménez, economic coordinator followed Dent's departure

Yesterday's departures brings the total number of resignations from the Pacheco government since taking the helm in 2002, to 14.

Left from the original appointments are seven: Guido Saenz (Ministro de Cultura), Ovidio Pacheco (Ministro de Trabajo), Rodolfo Coto (Ministro de Agricultura), Rocio Saenz (Ministra de Salud), Rosalia Gil (Ministro Cond. de la Niñez),  Roberto Tovar (Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores), and, Rogelio Ramos (Ministro de Seguridad Publica).

President Pacheco says that this is "normal" government business. He re-assures the Costa Rican public that this is normal, ministers come and go in every government.

Pacheco said that in past presidencies there have been entire cabinet resignations.

Critics say the past changes were a result of the president calling for the resignations, however, in this case, it is the ministers who are choosing to leave without being asked.

Javier Chaves told a press conference that he is feels he has fulfilled his role and is simply advancing a decision that he had already made to leave this coming December.

He added that he leaves with no bitter feelings towards any colleague, including Ricardo Toledo, whom he had confrontations this past week over the agreement made with the strikers.

Chaves resigned his post, making the announcement at 5pm.

At 6pm. Trejos, in a separate press conference, announced his decision to abandon the Pacheco government.

Trejos said told the press that the president needs room to reshuffle his cabinet and we are making way for that. He said he is leaving satisfied of having made a contribution.

Trejos was one of the ministers close to the free trade agreement - Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - with the United States. He and his staff formed part of the negotiating team that led to the signing of the agreement.

President Pacheco appeared before the television cameras with First Vice-president, Lineth Saborío, with an attempted smile and happy face. However, his first look showed his true feelings, straining to keep the happy face while talking to the press.

He dispelled rumours that Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, president of the Central Bank, was also leaving his post. He assured that no out of this world is happening in Costa Rica.

Pacheco emphasized that he is used to dealing with touch situations. "I am not a fat cat... I am a working man", were some of his comments as he turned the stage over to Saborío, walking away with a pained and hurt look.

Eliseo Vargas Ordered to Six Months Detention
Eliseo Vargas Garcia, former president of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS), will spend the next six months in preventive detention.

The Fiscalia has asked for a year preventive detention against the man who is in the centre of the storm surrounding the Corporacion Fischel and a multi million dollar credit.

Walter Reiche Fischel is currently in preventive detention, along with Corporacion Fischel lawyer, Randall Vargas Pérez.

Former Costa Rican president, Rafael Angel Calderón, is also being investigated for his acceptance of $440.000 dollars from Fischel.

Vargas was sent to prison following his detention yesterday when he appeared before the Fiscalía de Delitos Económicos y Anticorrupción, del Ministerio Público, to give a statement. The Fiscalia had opened a case against the man for negociaciones incompatibles, enriquecimiento ilícito y cohecho - fraud, illicit enrichment and conspiracy.
 

Pedophile Arrested
The Unidad Contra la Explotación Sexual del Ministerio de Seguridad Pública under the direction of the Fiscalía de Delitos Sexuales de San José, arrested a 42 year old man identified only by his last name, Rodríguez, for having sexual relations with minors.

Rodríguez was arrested following a year long investigation when his house was raided by police. Police confiscated pornographic videos, sexual paraphernalia and 60 fotos of youths that definitely under the age of majority.

The fotos, according to police, have naked youths engaged in sexual acts with other youths, whose identity is now the object of a police investigation.

The man is an engineer is facing charges of having sexual relations with minors.

This year more than 20 have been arrested for the sexual exploitation of minors.

CONCACAF SOCCER:
Costa Rica Beats Canada
There was nothing disputable about Costa Rica's 1-0 win in World Cup soccer qualifying on Wednesday, effectively sounding the death knell for Canada's chances of advancing to the next round.

Literally seconds into the second half, the Costa Ricans sent a long ball from their side of the pitch to Canada's box, where half-time substitute Paulo Wanchope fought off Canadian defender Atiba Hutchinson, took the ball in the air, and pivoted a left-footed shot low and just inside the left post past keeper Pat Onstad.

Midway through the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, Canada has just one point from three games and trail Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

To have any chance of advancing, the Canadians will essentially need to win their three remaining games, including away matches in Guatemala and Honduras, and hope results elsewhere fall the right way.

Costa Rica (1-2) had opened the round with a 5-2 home loss to Honduras, and a 2-1 road defeat in Guatemala.

The top two countries in the group advance to the final round of qualifying in CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.