|
Cabinet Appointments Expected
this Week
Two
names that are heading the list
of replacements at Hacienda and
Comercio Exterior, are virtually
unknowns in public life.
A report by
the daily Spanish newspaper, Al
Día, says that sources close to
the government say the decision
to replace Revenue (Hacienda)
Minister, Alberto Dent and
Exterior Commerce (Comercio
Exterior) Alberto Trejos, has
practically been made and an
announcement is expected this
coming Tuesday.
Federico Carrillo Zürcher, a
lawyer and economist, is
expected to be named to the
Hacienda post.
Zürcher is a former head of the
Bolsa Nacional de Valores (stock
exchange) and currently
president of the Consejo Técnico
de Aviacion Civil (CETAC).
Antonio González Sanz will be
named to Comercio Exterior.
Currently, Sanz, is the
permanent representative in
Costa Rica for the United
Nations Commission on Human
Rights (Comisión Derechos
Humanos de la ONU).
Dent resigned at the beginning
of last week following the
government's agreement with
truckers and protestors, that
began a wave of resignations by
other Ministers, including the
surprising resignation by
Minister for the Presidency,
Ricardo Toledo.
The Presidency post still
continues vacant. Lineth Saborío,
the First Vice President of
Costa Rica is being rumoured to
take over the job.
President Pacheco still has to
fill the posts at Ministerio de
Obras Publica y Transporte (MOPT)
vacated by Javier Chaves. A
possible candidate is Lorena
López, the current Vice Minister
at the MOPT.
CCSS Opens Hotline
The
Caja Costarricense del Seguro
Social (CCSS) wanted to hear
from the Costa Rican public what
it knew about the Finnish loan,
so it opened a special telephone
line so that accusations can be
made against public officials.
The CCSS gave the job to David
Valverde, to get more
information about those
currently being investigated, as
well as any new complaints.
However, all the calls received
so far are complaints about the
CCSS's services and
irregularities at public clinics
and hospitals.
CCSS officials say that
people are not calling to make
accusation fearing reprisals.
CCSS officials say all calls are
strictly held in confidence.
Callers can call 295 2073.
Smoking in Public Places May
Soon be Put Out
An
initiate can soon become law,
that will prohibit smoking in
public places.
Those behind the initiative say
that second hand smoke affects
those around smokers and should
be banned from public buildings.
The new law would ban smoking on
buses, taxis, the workplace,
restaurants and retail stores.
Presently, two out of every 10
Costa Ricans smoke. Cigarettes,
though prohibited from being
sold to minors, can be purchased
everywhere. Corner stands in
downtown San José sell
cigarettes individually or in a
pack of 10 or 20.
|
