"Si" Vote Picking up
Momentum
According to the latest
Unimer poll, the "Si"
vote is gaining the
advantage for the
referendum on the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States - that is
just a little over a
month away.
On October 7, Costa
Ricans will be asked to
decide the future of the
trade deal and the
country with a simple "Si"
or "No".
The Unimer poll taken
between August 20 and 28
shows that 56% of those
polled would vote "Si",
while 36% said "No". The
same poll in July
indicated 51% and 42%
respectively.
The poll took into
account the decision of
1.238 Costa Ricans and
paid for by the daily
Spanish language
newspaper La Nación.
The results of the
latest poll also
indicates that
participation on October
7 will be well above the
required minimum of 40%,
with a 58% of Costa
Ricans over the age of
18 saying they will be
voting come referendum
day.
The results also
indicate 20% of the
voters intended not to
cast their vote and
another 20% are not sure
of they will vote or
not.
The "Si" vote represents
for many increase
employment, while the
"No" say the TLC will
increase poverty in the
country and will benefit
only the rich.
Costa Rica is a
signatory country to the
Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
between the countries of
Central America -
Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador, Nicaragua and
Costa Rica - and the
Dominican Republic with
the United States.
Costa Rica is the only
signatory country that
has yet to ratify their
respective agreement and
put it in place.
The decision if Costa
Rica will participate in
the trade deal is now in
the hands of the people,
who on October 7, will
be able to vote directly
in favour or against.
A minimum 40% of the
registered voters have
to cast their ballot for
the referendum to have
effect, otherwise the
trade deal will go back
to the Legislative
Assembly and the
politicians to decide
its future. |
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