Arias Asks Legislators
For More Taxes Or More
Debt
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, in his May
1st report to the
Legislature, called on
legislators to approve
more taxes or for more
loans as the only way
the country can have the
financial resources to
meet its social demands.
Arias, who is entering
the second half of his
term, said that this is
the only way to face a
difficult year ahead as
the United States
economy goes into
recession, which will
mean a lower foreign
investment for the
country and a negative
impact on tourism.
"Recognizing that this
will be a difficult year
it is not a sign of
weakness but one of
responsibility", said
Arias during his 35
minute speech that began
at 7:00pm.
According to Arias there
are four urgent tasks
ahead for the
government: investment
in social programs (eduaction,
science and techonology);
national production
(more jobs and control
of the cost of living);
the fight against crime
and drugs; and to
strengthen its foreign
policies.
To achieve its goals the
president said there is
a needs for agreements
and not disagreements.
The president said that
there is a need for
ideas and not their
rejection without
proposing new ones.
Arias told legislators
that there is a need to
increase taxes or go
further into depth to
meet the social needs of
the country, like
increasing the budget
for education from the
current 6% of the gross
national product to 8%.
To boost national
production the president
urged legislators to
approve the Ley de
Capitalización del Banco
Central that would allow
the Central Bank greater
management of monetary
policies and a law that
would place a unique tax
on luxury homes. In
addition, the president
called on business to
embrace his policies.
To fight crime, Arias
urged legislators ot
approve the laws: the
Fortalecimiento de la
Seguridad Ciudadana
(strengthening public
security), the reforms
of the Ley de
Estupefacientes y
Sustancias Psicotrópicas
(drug trafficking laws_
and the Ley contra la
Delincuencia Organizada
(organized crime).
In addition, the
president stressed the
importance of approving
the new Ley de Tránsito,
which has been before
legislators for almost
two years, a law that
proposes to get tough on
drivers, especially
drunken and careless
drivers, with heavy
fines and possible jail
in case of fatalities.
Not A Word
During the May Day
celebrations not one
work was spoken by
president Arias and his
new security minister,
Janina Del Vecchio, on
the report published
Wednesday by the Spanish
daily La Nación on the
alleged connection
between Del Vecchio and
businesswoman, Anna
Moscarelli and her
relationship with the
Italian mafia.
See La Nacion
story here. |
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