President Arias
Announces The
Elimination of Toll
Booths
Costa Rican president,
announced following a
cabinet meeting held in
Pacayas, Cartago, the
elimination of toll
booths on the autopistas
General Cañas, Próspero
Fernández, Florencio del
Castillo, adn the
carretera a Limón. The
move is eliminated the
congestion at the toll
booths in an effort to
save on gasoline
consumption.
According to the prez,
the toll booths provide
a source of revenue of
¢4.3 billion colones,
however, the amount of
gasoline wasted by
vehicles daily due to
congestion caused by the
toll booths is much
higher than the tax
revenue generated.
"I will see which is the
easiest mechanism to
eliminate the toll
booths. If it is by
decree, it will be
easiest and will be
done. I can only hope
there is no legal
stumbling block for the
removal, because it is
convenient for the
country. If there is a
legal obstacle, I am
sure we can overcome
it", said Arias.
Taking a shot at
legislators, the pres
said that if the law has
to be changed to
eliminate the tolls, it
will never get done, as
the Legislative Assembly
"is very difficult to
come to agreement on
anything".
Arias said that the
state will lose a source
of revenue, but the move
is good for all Costa
Ricans and the national
economy.
The president added that
the Conavi would be
compensated for the loss
in revenue and would be
asking the Ministro de
Hacienda (Revenue
minister), Guillermo
Zuñiga, to find a way to
ensure the funding for
the road maintenance
programs the toll booth
revenue is used for.
President Arias also
took a moment to confirm
that his Bruno Stagno,
ministro de Relaciones
Exteriores (Foreign
Affairs) and the
ministro del Ambiente
(Environment), Roberto
Robles, left on Friday
for Maracaibo,
Venezuela, to take part
in the Petrocaribe
meeting. Accompanying
the ministers is the
president of the state
refinery, the Refinadora
Costarricense de
Petróleo (Recope), José
León Desanti. Costa Rica
is taking part in the
meeting as an observer.
Arias added that today
he will be meeting with
legislative deputies of
the Liberación party to
learn of any proposals
they have substitute the
program to subsidize
diesel fuel prices, a
proposal before the
Legislative Assembly
that is having a tough
time getting the
required approval.
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