Public Buses Continue
To Be A Menace Due
Minister Arias Rejects
Investigation of Housing Minister and
Defends ICE Chief
Costa Rica Slashes
2009 Economic Growth Forecast
Prospero Fernández
Construction To Further Bottleneck
Traffic in Escazú
REVAi Drives Into Costa Rica
This Semana Santa With "Three" Legal Holiday
Days
Minister Arias
Rejects Investigation of Housing Minister
and Defends ICE Chief
The ministro de la Presidenica, Rodrigo
Arias, in a press conference yesterday said
that the government will no pursue the
investigation into the "costozo almuerzo"
(expensive lunch) held by the former head of
the Banco Hipotecario de la Vivienda (BANHVI)
and which Housing Minister, Clara Zomer,
attended.
Arias said that is clear that the former
BANHVI head, Ennio Rodríguez, was
responsible for the lunch that cost more
than ¢627.000 colones at a swank Escazu
restaurant and paid for with public funds.
An internal audit of the BANHVI showed that
Zomer and 2 directors were investigated but
found no wrongdoing on their part.
Rodríguez stepped down from his post
following the news of the lavish lunch was
made public.
Arias, on a different subject, also defended
the use of a helicopter by Pedro Pablo
Quirós, president of the Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), paid
for by ICE, to stop at the private home of a
PAC legislator.
Arias said that it is unquestionable the
fact that the president stopped in between
flights inspecting the Cariblanco power
generating station, the area damaged by the
January 8 earthquake, as well as other
institution projects.
"Pedro Pablo has the full support of the
government", said Arias, who confirmed that
there will be no investigation, especially
after Quiros' announcement that the
Cariblanco generating station will be online
next month and not by the end of the year as
forecast, a savings to the institution of
some 20 million dollars.
However, ICE's board said there will be an
internal investigation. |
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