Porteadores Waiting For White Smoke
The Porteadores - informal taxi drivers - have put on hold today's protest waiting the outcome of a meeting of the government, who is doing its best to avoid a protest similar to last week. However, the hold won't be for long, as patience grows thin.

Central Bank Now Offers Term Deposits
The Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) - Central Bank - on Monday last began to offer "term deposit" investments directly to the public, and in some cases at a much higher rate than what is offered by the banks.

Villalobos Update: Trial On Schedule For Feb 5
The Grupo UCCR reports in its newsletter that the planning session (pre-trial hearing) between the parties held Monday morning, as scheduled, took a little over an hour and that the trial date of February 5, 2007, was not changed as it might have been given the Villalobos change of lawyers late last week.

Tourist Tax Proposed, To Replace Existing 3% Hotel Tax
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) - tourism board - is supporting a proposal by the private sector to create a "Ley General de Turimso" (general tourism law), that, among other things, will increase financial resources to promote the country to the world.

Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador to Launch Joint Stock Exchange
PANAMA CITY, Panama. Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador on Monday signed an agreement to open a regional stock exchange in 2007.

"New" GSM Customers Will Be Billed Every 22 Days
If you are a cellular telephone subscriber of the "new" GSM service, there is a surprise in store for you.