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TODAY'S CONTENTS
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*Feature Article: Pacheco in More Trouble
*News Digest
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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*President Pacheco in More Hot Water
President Abel Pacheco continues to be on the heat seat following several
admitted irregularities over the receipt of a lifetime membership to a luxury
club in the Dominican Republic and free airline tickets by the TACA Group
airline.
Now, there is a question on how, Bernardo Martín Moreno, the president of the
Immobiliaria Somersen, a real estate company in Sevilla, Spain, came to be
Costa Rica's honorary consul in Sevilla. Moreno is also the president of the
Martín Robles foundation that dedicates time and money to art and culture.
In April of 2004, the President, accompanied by his wife and chief protocol
officer at Casa Presidencial, Jorge Arce, and former Tourism Minister, Rubén
Pacheco, travelled to Sevilla for a private vacation where they met with the
businessman.
In July of 2004, Bernardo Martín Moreno founds in Costa Rica the corporation
Somersen Costa Rica SA, of which he is president and Fernando Pablo Méndez,
another foreigner is vice-president.
In less than a month, Bernando sends a letter to director of the Golfo de
Papagayo (Guanacaste) expressing his intention for the Somersen company to
participate as a partner in the Enjoy Hotels and Resorts, who is represented
by former minister Rubén Pacheco.
The project, based on the representation by the former Tourism minister, is
to build a residential community, hotel and an 18 hole golf course.
And it is at this time that Bernardo Martín Moreno is named as honorary
consul in Sevilla, Spain, as it is listed in the Foreign Ministry's website
of official consuls. The naming of Bernardo was confirmed by protocol chief,
Jorge Arce.
Five months later, in December of 2004, President Pacheco decides to visit
Spain again for his holiday vacation to announce the introduction of his new
book "Poemas y cuentos" which was published free of charge by the Martín
Robles foundation, headed by Bernardo Martín Moreno.
So, now, Bernardo is not only a real estate businessman in Spain, but also in
Costa Rica who has expressed an interest for a state owned concession (the
Papagayo project is under strict government control) and is also the honorary
consul for Costa Rica in Sevilla.
Accompanying the president in the December trip is again protocol chief Arce
and former minister Pacheco, who will could soon be Bernardo's partner. And
the former minister, notwithstanding that he had resigned his post at
Tourism, was still participating in government economic consulting sessions
and as an assistant to the president.
The December trip is also when president Pacheco decided to head to the Grand
Cayman islands, where he spent Christmas, following his book launching in
Spain. And it is this trip that raised the question of the TACA flight that
took him from San José to Miami and back that was not paid for by the
president, but donated by the airline to the government.
In mid-January of this year, the powerful public workers union, ANEP, sends
president Pacheco a strong letter asking for explanations on the financing of
his book and the business at Papagayo.
The ANEP letter heavily criticizes the foundation that published the book and
the negotiations of Rubén Pacheco and his role in getting a government
concession at the Papagayo project.
Notwithstanding the letter, and that the ANEP in October of 2004 had charged
that there was influence peddling going on at Papagayo, President Pacheco
only defended his book publication, saying that it was the Ateneo de España
that promoted the book and arranged for the illustrations and the
publications, all at no cost and has said nothing about the rest.
The situation is starting to look bad for the president, because in March of
this year, records show that a new company was formed in Costa Rica -
Somersen Enjoy SA - with lists Rubén Pacheco as president of the corporation
and Bernardo Martín Moreno as chief operating officer.
Making matters even worse is that Jorge Arce, Pacheco's chief protocol
officer, and who accompanied him on both trips to Spain, maintains a
professional connection to Bernardo Martín Moreno.
Arce acts as legal counsel for the Spanish businessman.
Though his protocol chief assures that there is no conflict of interest
offering his legal services to the president of Somersen and the foundation
that published president Pacheco's book.
Arce also insists that he has provided no services with respect to the
Papagayo project and the concession and insists that the professional
relationship is new.
Rubén Pacheco defends the role of Bernardo as a good businessman, meanwhile,
the President Pacheco continues to duck the issue, refusing to make things
clear.
His press secretary, Carolina Murillo, advises that a statement will be made
soon by the president on the matter.
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*Arias Would Win the Vote But Not the Election, Poll Shows
A recent poll by Borge y Asociados, puts Óscar Arias, presidential candidate
for the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) clear ahead of his rivals with a
difference of some 17 percentage points.
The poll was taken between May 13 and May 20 with more than 400 adults from
all over the country interviewed. The results have a margin of error of 5
percentage points.
One of the questions put to the people was: who would you vote for if the
elections where held today? 46.1% said they would decline to cast their vote,
while 25.7% said they would vote for the Liberacionista (Arias).
Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), Ottón Solís got a 8.7% response, while
Ricardo Toledo, of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), a 5.6%.
Antonio Álvarez Desanti, of the Unión para el Cambio (UPC) got 4.1% and Otto
Guevara, of the Movimiento Libertario, was last at only 3.3%.
Notwithstanding that Arias would today win the vote from among those decided
to vote, he would not win the election, not reaching the required 40% of the
majority vote as spelled out in the Código Electoral - Elections Code.
Some experts say this election campaign will be very interesting, as most
candidates have no real identity to their parties.
This election a high number of young voters are expected to participate in
the election, who have no identity to a party or historic grouping of the
traditional politics for the "red" and "green" parties, the two parties that
have exclusively ruled politics in Costa Rica until the 2002 elections.
The scandals and accusations of corruption could also influence the vote, as
two former presidents (Calderón and Rodríguez) are under house arrest and the
current president on the hot seat over irregularities, belong to the same
party - the PUSC - and another former president (Figueres) has refused to
return to Costa Rica is for the PLN. For now, it seems that the Figueres
thing is all forgotten, but it could play a role in the election campaign
against the PLN.
*Buying a Used Car in Costa Rica Can be Tricky Business.
Making sure that the vehicle is mechanically sound, that all the accessories
work, there are no leans registered against the vehicle and that ownership
and registration is good are just part of a sound purchase
However, an additional requirement is needed - driving around to make sure
the vehicle you are intending to purchase is the only one on the road. Uh?
that the vehicle is not "twinned".
Such was the scope of an investigation by the Unidad de Robo de Vehículos del
Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) that took several months to
complete and came up with 15 "twinned" vehicles, which investigations believe
is only a small amount of the real number of duplicated vehicles circulating
on Costa Rican roads.
The investigation began in December when records show that several different
people were paying for the Marchamo - the he right of vehicle circulation
which is paid annually - for the same car and in more than one case at the
same time, leaving authorities to believe that there were two or more
vehicles circulating with the same license plate and original registration
documents.
"Twinning" is when two or more vehicles are circulating with the original
registration documents issued by the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS). The
documentation continues with the RTV, the annual vehicle inspection and the
ownership card issed by the Registro Nacional.
Investigators say that the 15 vehicles confiscate by the OIJ were purchased
by their current owners at a low price from uknowns who'se sales pitch was of
a distress sale. Sellers of "twinned" cars take advantage of those who are
looking for a "deal" on a used car and don't take the time for due diligence.
Authorities advise that before buying a vehicle they should double check the
vehicle's registration and purchase only from known persons (take down the
identification of the person selling the car, phone number, as much
information of the seller as possible) or from registered car lots, to avoid
losing money in possibly buying a "twinned" vehicle.
*Tamarindo Spoils Customers with Bank Offer
Banking, once the bane of every Tamarindo resident and tourist alike, is
about to spoil them with choice.
Four banks are currently fighting for locations in Tamarindo, and the
competition is heating up for offices in completed shopping centers.
BAC San José, Banco de Costa Rica and Banco Cuscatlán will all be moving into
Tamarindo to rival for a share of the financial services market, including
account management, loans and commission-based transactions.
Until now, Tamarindo and area residents have had to make do with a single
branch of the Banco Nacional to service all of their financial transactions,
as well as those of the thousands of tourists the town draws in, often daily.
In January, Banco de Costa Rica announced they would be opening a new branch
in Tamarindo in response to the 'exponential growth' in the volume of
business the town was generating, and following the success of their Flamingo
branch.
This week Edelberto Leal, Regional Chief for the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR),
confirmed the Tamarindo branch would open in August.
"We have the personnel but we want to do some further training," he says.
"They are qualified and bi-lingual and are mostly from Santa Cruz. We also
have a girl from Nicoya."
Mr Leal also confirmed BCR had found a location, but not the one it had
wanted.
BAC San José, the second largest private bank in Costa Rica and a subsidiary
of BAC International Bank, apparently beat them to the punch, recently
unveiling a branch in the newly-built Plaza Conchal in Tamarindo, much to the
chagrin of Mr Leal.
"I had been negotiating that space for a long time and it is the one we
wanted," he said. "Being a State bank we have to go through a process, but
private banks can make this decision quicker."
He confirmed that BCR will occupy another, larger space towards the back of
the shopping plaza.
BAC San José currently has 31 branches in Costa Rica. The Tamarindo branch
will be its second in Guanacaste, after Liberia.
The privately-owned Banco Cuscatlán has also confirmed that they will be
opening a new branch in Tamarindo, but would not reveal the location, nor a
scheduled opening date.
Regardless, the news of four banks where there used to be one, is likely to
come as good news for much of Tamarindo�s population.
In the past, even simple transactions such as cashing a check could take up
to an hour, with only three tellers to process the volume of customers filing
into the branch. Since Internet banking in Costa Rica is not yet equipped to
allow transfers between different banks, businesses were often forced to open
a second bank account, with the second branch up to 30 minutes away.
"We will have to wait and see," says Jorge Contreras of Client Services for
Banco Nacional in Tamarindo, in response to questions of the fresh
competition. " I am sure some people will go and experiment in other banks."
Banco Nacional, which since its arrival into Tamarindo in 1999 has had a
monopoly on the banking services in the area, is examining ways of
maintaining its share of business in the face of new competition, including
reinstating their loans service, which had ceased eight months ago.
"We have re-introduced loans for small businesses, for housing," confirmed Mr
Contreras. "This includes foreigners if they have residency, and can
demonstrate they are living here."
"Banco Nacional continues with the idea of expanding its services," he added.
"There was the possibility that we would move to a bigger space, but the
negotiations fell through. For the time being we are staying where we are."
*Pressured, Bolivian President Refuses to Resign
The administration of Bolivian President Carlos Mesa asserted he would
continue in his post, despite entrepreneurs, politicians, radical leaders and
even two insubordinate officers have asked him to resign.
Demands are ironically multiplying following two months of Mesa´s resignation
request to the Congress, which did not accept it.
Thus, he proposed to hold elections in advance to try to leave the
presidency, but once more, the entity turned down his decision.
On the issue, Presidency Minister Jose Galindo made it cleared that Mesa
would remain in the post until his mandate ends.
The president is governing and will govern until August 6 2007, as stipulated
by the Constitution, noted Jose Galindo in response to assessments by the
Bolivian Business Confederation and the Industry and Trade Chamber of the
city of Santa Cruz, which said Mesa should resign and call for advanced
elections if he is not unable to govern and re-establish order.
Members of the Nationalist Democratic Action Party, of former dictator Hugo
Banzer, and the National Union, of wealthy entrepreneur Samuel Doria Medina
considered Mesa´s resignation would resolve the situation.
On Wednesday, two officers who were expelled from the army for
insubordination also asked the current statesman to resign.
Congress President Hormando Vaca Diez (Social Democracy Party) only said Mesa
had to use his powers because the country faced a chaos.
Amid this panorama, the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, of ex president
Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, urged Mesa to call a state of siege, while
Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement to Socialism) leader Evo Morales expressed
his concern about stepped-up pressures for Mesa´s resignation, which he
considered that would not resolve the crisis.
Morales said the crisis could only be solved through a constituent assembly.
Meanwhile, people´s organizations informed their protests, which started on
May 16, would continue until next Monday, when more people will incorporate
to them.
Bolivians have been demanding to call to a constituent assembly and
nationalize or regain the hydrocarbon control.
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*News Digest
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NEWS DIGEST
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* Pacheco In More Trouble Over Gifts
President Abel Pacheco continues to draw fire over accepting gifts and
bonuses for personal use.
Earlier this week, the Internal Auditor at Casa Presidencial, Herberth
Villavicencio, reprimanded the President in a letter, for accepting a
lifetime membership for he and his wife by the government of the Dominican
Republic, contrary to the new law "Ley contra la Corrupción y Enriquecimiento
Ilícito" - the new anti-corruption law.
Yesterday, Telenoticias, the local television channel 7 news, reports another
Presidential indiscretion; this one dating back to December of 2004, when the
President and his wife travelled to Spain for a vacation and his book
opening.
According to the Telenoticias investigation, the president paid from his
personal pocketbook the flight from Miami to Madrid and Seville and back to
Miami at a cost of ¢1.061.855 colones (us$2.300).
The question, however, is how did the president get to and from Miami from
Costa Rica?
An investigation to answer that question reveals that TACA airlines did not
charge the President the San José - Miami - San José portion of the trip.
Telenoticias was able to corroborate the fact the the President used tickets
given to the government by the airline, valued at ¢270.000 colones (us$565),
for he and his wife for the vacation trip.
Mario Zamora, manager of TACA airline in Costa Rica, confirmed that the two
tickers were issued to the President and his wife, following news reports
that the President was travelling to Miami.
The airline customarily provides the government of Costa Rica, primarily the
Ministerio de la Presidencia and Aviacion Civil, free passage on it's
airline. Zamora was emphatic that the free tickets are issued to the
government and no particular person or for personal use, and based on a
regulation by Aviación Civil.
The value of the tickets exceeded the "salario base" rule of the new
anti-corruption law.
The "salario base" in December of 2004 was ¢167.800 colones (us$355) while
the value of the tickets exceed that, which meant the President was obligated
to have reported it.
President Pacheco explained that the December trip was a "completely personal
trip" and nothing to do with his official capacity.
The anti-corruption law, signed by President Pacheco himself, came into
effect on October 29, 2004, less than two months before the president
accepted the free flight.
Article 20 of the anti-corruption law is clear that any donations and gifts
received by a public official as a courtesy or diplomatic protocol are
considered property of the state if the value is over the "salario base".
This is the second time in a week that President Pacheco is in hot water over
his trips abroad.
*Proposed immigration bill ups rentista amount
An amendment to the proposed immigration reform law says that a husband and
wife seeking rentista status here must show a monthly income of $2,000. And
they must show an additional $500 a month for each dependent they bring with
them.
The immigration law is approaching a vote in the Asamblea Legislativa, and
the draft of the bill was made available by the legislative services
department of the assembly.
*Immigration Will Issue Passports,
Residency Cards with New Technology
The Costa Rican government will begin issuing new types of passports and
residency cards for foreigners next year in efforts to reduce forgery.
Immigration Director Marco Badilla says the current equipment for issuing
these documents – which was purchased five years ago – is “obsolete” and
“produces unsafe passports that are easily altered.”
Badilla said that in numerous cases, legal Costa Rican passports have been
stolen, their photos ripped off and the information changed.
With the new system, passports will have 42 laser-security strips, imprinted
with technology similar to that used in Belgium , which will make forgery
very difficult.
The official explained that during the past three years, Immigration
authorities have been notified of 300 altered passports and so far this year,
“we already know of 65 legitimate Costa Rican passports that have been
altered.”
Badilla said the new equipment to manufacture passports is in “acquisition
process” and will cost ¢1 billion (approximately $2 million).
The money will be provided to Immigration through an extraordinary budget
that must first be approved by legislators.
The new equipment will also be used in a pilot program for the manufacture of
visas by the Costa Rican consulate in Nicaragua , Colombia and Dominican
Republic , countries where fake visas have been issued to enter Costa Rica .
Costa Rican authorities will also modify residency cards for foreigners that
will also be issued using the new laser technology, Badilla said.
According to Immigration, one million Costa Ricans have passports – of which
750,000 are valid and the rest have expired.
*Earthquake in south
An earthquake with a magnitude of about 3.5 took place about 10 kms. (about 6
miles) south of Quepos about 2:20 p.m. Thursday. There were no reports of
injuries or damage.
* Prosecution Asks 2.080 Years Sentence For Sexual Abuse
Prosecutor Héctor Sáenz is asking a Siquirres criminal court for a sentence
of 2.080 years for a 68 year old farmer who is accused of sexually abusing
his step-daughter.
The man, only identified by his last name, Artavia, is charged with 208
counts of rape and sexual abuse, that began when the girl was six years old
and continued until she reached the age of 18, when she finally could leave
home.
The abused woman, identified by her last name Esquivel, is now 27 years old,
cannot erase the memories of her childhood and as a result of her ordeal now
suffers traumas in her marriage and daily life, telling the court in the
abuse trial that she "feels nothing" when she is with her husband.
The court also heard testimony how the man would threaten her with a machete
to re-enforce his words. "He would tell me that if I left the house, I would
be reading the news of how my mother and brother were killed", the woman told
the court.
The woman had complained of the abuses to her mother, who in turn would ask
her husband, who would deny any such actions. The mother said that she asked
her husband one time swear on the Virgen de los Ángeles. And as such they
visited the Basílica de los Ángeles in Cartago, where on his knees he swore
never to have abused his step-daughter.
At the trial, abused woman's sister also came forward and declared before the
court that she too had been abused by Artavia.
A court decision is expected this morning (Friday).
*Lack of Telephone Has Residents and Tourist Upset
When does it cost ¢4.000 colones (us$8.50) to make a local phone call?
Residents and tourists of Nueva Virginia, Los Ángeles y Caño Blanco, near
Siquirres, are upset because that is what it costs for them to make a local
phone call.
Not that the call is costly, it is the cost to travel to and from the only
public telephones in the area.
The shortage of telephone lines in the area means a trip by fishing boat to
barra de Paismina where the only the public telephones that serve the
community of 700, are located. A round trip to use the public phones cost
¢4.000 colones
The other option is to travel 6km to barrio Meryland, in El Carmen de
Siquirres, where the owners of the local grocery store have a telephone.
Mariana Campos, an employee at the Caño Blanco tourist office, says that
tourists to the area are very upset at the lack of a telephone, which means
they cannot call home to check in with family and friends.
ICE doesn't have an answer for the neighbours. The manager of the local ICE
office in Siquirres was too busy to answer calls.
*Insulza of Chile sworn in to head OAS
Jose Miguel Insulza of Chile was sworn in as secretary general of the
Organization of American States, at its headquarters.
The former Chilean vice president and interior minister was elected to the
OAS post on May 2, to succeed Miguel Angel Rodríguez,, who resigned to face
corruption charges in his native Costa Rica. Rodríguez served as president
of Costa Rica from 1998-2002.and is currently under house arrest.
Insulza assumed his post 10 days before the OAS annual assembly, to be held
June 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
US representative to the OAS Luigi Einaudi had held the position of acting
secretary general.
Insulza spoke in favor of a US-backed initiative to monitor Latin America's
democracies as he met for the first time with the press as secretary general.
"It is not about giving the governments a grade, but to be able to say with
deliberation that there are problems here, difficulties here, needs here,"
Insulza said, after an earlier speech in which he asked for the tools for
what he called the effective application of the OAS Democratic Charter, which
can impose sanctions on countries that stray from constitutional democracy.
"I do not like the word 'monitor' very much," he said, alluding to the US
plan, which envisions a democracy monitoring commission, which Venezuela
rejected immediately.
Insulza said his alternative, an "evaluation mechanism," should exist with
the understanding of member states that it would not intervene in their
domestic affairs.
Insulza, 61, has served as Chile's foreign minister and interior minister, as
well as being named vice president when President Ricardo Lagos was traveling
outside Chile.
He has held cabinet posts for a total of 10 years, longer than anyone in
Chile's history, despite a 14-year exile during Chile's military dictatorship
under
Augusto Pinochet 1973-1990.
It was while exiled in Mexico that he met his Mexican wife, Georgina Nunez.
=========================================
COSTA RICA DIGEST DISPLAY AD RATES
=========================================
This publication is designed to have one display add
between each article or section. Thus, the more
articles or sections we have per day, the more room we
have for advertisements. Advertisements are filled
on a first come first served basis, and prices vary
depending on placement and frequency. You must order
a minimum of 5 insertions with your order. If there
are no advertising positions available right away,
you will be placed on a waiting list and notified
when a spot becomes available. Please email us
at destinads@safe-mail.net for more details.
One final note, if you want to do a solo mailing
to the list, that is available on a limited basis
if we decide that your product or service has merit.
Email us at the above address for more details.
=========================================
COSTA RICA CLASSIFIEDS
=========================================
If you have a worthwhile, honest offering, please
email us. New subscribers get a free five line
ad for a month. If you have used up your free
ad, or would like to place another one, the low
price is only $1.00 per line per issue. we have
a min. ad of three lines and you must insert in
at least three issues. to submit your ad, please
email your ad to destinyads@safe-mail.net
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover,
e-checks, e-gold, evocash, netpay, pecunix,
e-bullion, Picpay, Moneybookers, and
Offshorearnings. We make e-commerce EASY!
=========================================
We give you hard hitting, timely, common sense articles and
news that the mainstream, or corporate media, either will
not or cannot give you. Several times a week we bring you
an up to date digest on what is going on in the world around
you.
At The Costa Rica Digest, we don't give you hype or BS or
"common knowledge" solutions, but we aim to give you
the cutting edge information you need. If you wish to
become a writer for us, submit your article[s] for
approval to costarica@destiny-worldwide.net. We cannot
pay for articles, but, instead, you may include a resource
box at the end of your article promoting your website
or product. We welcome submissions of all kinds to
make this a great publication for all to read!
=========================================
Find out about our OTHER Exciting E-mail groups on a broad
range of important topics. Subscription boxes for all of
them may be found here:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/boards.htm
The Restoration Website:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/
Destiny Central Success Resources
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
The Costa Rica Page --
The Fun, the Sun.... The business opportunity
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Your Safe, Secure, Offshore Payment Processor
http://www.offshorearnings.com
-----------------> Visit our Blogs! <-----------------
----> SuccessQuest http://successquest.blogspot.com/
----> The Real Truth http://destiny-worldwide.blogspot.com/
----> Costa Rica News http://costa-rica-news.blogspot.com/
=========================================
Enjoy!
John
=========================================
>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
=========================================
A publication of Destiny Worldwide Net
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
Also Visit the Costa Rica Page:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
=========================================
TODAY'S CONTENTS
=========================================
*We're BAACK!
*News Digest
=========================================
SO, YA WANNA MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
=========================================
Announcing Costa Rica's FIRST online, multimedia,
always up to date, and FREE retirement and tourism
guide! See us at:
---->http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER:
*Real Estate, mortgages [both lenders and borrowers needed,
Buyer's brokerage, Businesses for sale and opportunities,
all at: http://www.cr-realestate.com
*Insurance, Gold & Silver Exchange, e-commerce solutions,
innovative shipping solutions, and much more:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/business.htm
DESTINY WORLDWIDE -- THE SERVICES YOU NEED, AT PRICES YOU
CAN AFFORD!
=========================================
WE'RE BACK!
=========================================
After a short absense, with today's digest, we are
starting regular publication of the News Digest again.
Shortly, we may luanch a web based edition as well.
Lots of things have changed at the Costa Rica Page,
including our new online guidebook. You also need
to check out Costa Rica Real Estate, the most innovative
real estate service in Costa Rica by far. In addition
to real estate, we offer an exclusive buyer's broker
program, where we work for YOUR interests instead of
the seller's. Let our years of expertise and contacts
work FOR YOU!
We also have experts on hand in business consulting,
construction and development, legal issues, and much
more including Costa Rica's first MORTGAGE BROKERAGE!
If you are in investor, take advantage of the HIGH
LOCAL MORTGAGE RATES, without incurring any more risk
than you would back home, when done right. And if you
are a borrower, let us match you with an investor!
Contrary to popular belief, mortgages for foreigners
are NOT generally available in Costa Rica, and, for
the most part, even those banks that say they will do
it, generally will NOT in the end. And there is no
secondary mortgage market here in Costa Rica.
WE AIM TO CHANGE THIS!
You can access our online submissiton form for BOTH
lenders and borrowers at the Costa Rica Real Estate
site.
See this and many more new services being offered in the
notice in the box above this one.
Together, WE CAN MAKE COSTA RICA A HOME FOR ALL OF US
TO ENJOY!
John
=========================================
DISCUSSION
=========================================
Please send your discussion topics to our Costa
Rica discussion group. You will either get an
answer from us, or another helpful member of
the group, and really important issues will be
included in this digest!
Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
=========================================
NEWS DIGEST
=========================================
* Pacheco In More Trouble Over Gifts
President Abel Pacheco continues to draw fire over accepting gifts and
bonuses for personal use.
Earlier this week, the Internal Auditor at Casa Presidencial, Herberth
Villavicencio, reprimanded the President in a letter, for accepting a
lifetime membership for he and his wife by the government of the Dominican
Republic, contrary to the new law "Ley contra la Corrupción y Enriquecimiento
Ilícito" - the new anti-corruption law.
Yesterday, Telenoticias, the local television channel 7 news, reports another
Presidential indiscretion; this one dating back to December of 2004, when the
President and his wife travelled to Spain for a vacation and his book
opening.
According to the Telenoticias investigation, the president paid from his
personal pocketbook the flight from Miami to Madrid and Seville and back to
Miami at a cost of ¢1.061.855 colones (us$2.300).
The question, however, is how did the president get to and from Miami from
Costa Rica?
An investigation to answer that question reveals that TACA airlines did not
charge the President the San José - Miami - San José portion of the trip.
Telenoticias was able to corroborate the fact the the President used tickets
given to the government by the airline, valued at ¢270.000 colones (us$565),
for he and his wife for the vacation trip.
Mario Zamora, manager of TACA airline in Costa Rica, confirmed that the two
tickers were issued to the President and his wife, following news reports
that the President was travelling to Miami.
The airline customarily provides the government of Costa Rica, primarily the
Ministerio de la Presidencia and Aviacion Civil, free passage on it's
airline. Zamora was emphatic that the free tickets are issued to the
government and no particular person or for personal use, and based on a
regulation by Aviación Civil.
The value of the tickets exceeded the "salario base" rule of the new
anti-corruption law.
The "salario base" in December of 2004 was ¢167.800 colones (us$355) while
the value of the tickets exceed that, which meant the President was obligated
to have reported it.
President Pacheco explained that the December trip was a "completely personal
trip" and nothing to do with his official capacity.
The anti-corruption law, signed by President Pacheco himself, came into
effect on October 29, 2004, less than two months before the president
accepted the free flight.
Article 20 of the anti-corruption law is clear that any donations and gifts
received by a public official as a courtesy or diplomatic protocol are
considered property of the state if the value is over the "salario base".
This is the second time in a week that President Pacheco is in hot water over
his trips abroad.
*Proposed immigration bill ups rentista amount
An amendment to the proposed immigration reform law says that a husband and
wife seeking rentista status here must show a monthly income of $2,000. And
they must show an additional $500 a month for each dependent they bring with
them.
The immigration law is approaching a vote in the Asamblea Legislativa, and
the draft of the bill was made available by the legislative services
department of the assembly.
*Immigration Will Issue Passports,
Residency Cards with New Technology
The Costa Rican government will begin issuing new types of passports and
residency cards for foreigners next year in efforts to reduce forgery.
Immigration Director Marco Badilla says the current equipment for issuing
these documents – which was purchased five years ago – is “obsolete” and
“produces unsafe passports that are easily altered.”
Badilla said that in numerous cases, legal Costa Rican passports have been
stolen, their photos ripped off and the information changed.
With the new system, passports will have 42 laser-security strips, imprinted
with technology similar to that used in Belgium , which will make forgery
very difficult.
The official explained that during the past three years, Immigration
authorities have been notified of 300 altered passports and so far this year,
“we already know of 65 legitimate Costa Rican passports that have been
altered.”
Badilla said the new equipment to manufacture passports is in “acquisition
process” and will cost ¢1 billion (approximately $2 million).
The money will be provided to Immigration through an extraordinary budget
that must first be approved by legislators.
The new equipment will also be used in a pilot program for the manufacture of
visas by the Costa Rican consulate in Nicaragua , Colombia and Dominican
Republic , countries where fake visas have been issued to enter Costa Rica .
Costa Rican authorities will also modify residency cards for foreigners that
will also be issued using the new laser technology, Badilla said.
According to Immigration, one million Costa Ricans have passports – of which
750,000 are valid and the rest have expired.
*Earthquake in south
An earthquake with a magnitude of about 3.5 took place about 10 kms. (about 6
miles) south of Quepos about 2:20 p.m. Thursday. There were no reports of
injuries or damage.
* Prosecution Asks 2.080 Years Sentence For Sexual Abuse
Prosecutor Héctor Sáenz is asking a Siquirres criminal court for a sentence
of 2.080 years for a 68 year old farmer who is accused of sexually abusing
his step-daughter.
The man, only identified by his last name, Artavia, is charged with 208
counts of rape and sexual abuse, that began when the girl was six years old
and continued until she reached the age of 18, when she finally could leave
home.
The abused woman, identified by her last name Esquivel, is now 27 years old,
cannot erase the memories of her childhood and as a result of her ordeal now
suffers traumas in her marriage and daily life, telling the court in the
abuse trial that she "feels nothing" when she is with her husband.
The court also heard testimony how the man would threaten her with a machete
to re-enforce his words. "He would tell me that if I left the house, I would
be reading the news of how my mother and brother were killed", the woman told
the court.
The woman had complained of the abuses to her mother, who in turn would ask
her husband, who would deny any such actions. The mother said that she asked
her husband one time swear on the Virgen de los Ángeles. And as such they
visited the Basílica de los Ángeles in Cartago, where on his knees he swore
never to have abused his step-daughter.
At the trial, abused woman's sister also came forward and declared before the
court that she too had been abused by Artavia.
A court decision is expected this morning (Friday).
*Lack of Telephone Has Residents and Tourist Upset
When does it cost ¢4.000 colones (us$8.50) to make a local phone call?
Residents and tourists of Nueva Virginia, Los Ángeles y Caño Blanco, near
Siquirres, are upset because that is what it costs for them to make a local
phone call.
Not that the call is costly, it is the cost to travel to and from the only
public telephones in the area.
The shortage of telephone lines in the area means a trip by fishing boat to
barra de Paismina where the only the public telephones that serve the
community of 700, are located. A round trip to use the public phones cost
¢4.000 colones
The other option is to travel 6km to barrio Meryland, in El Carmen de
Siquirres, where the owners of the local grocery store have a telephone.
Mariana Campos, an employee at the Caño Blanco tourist office, says that
tourists to the area are very upset at the lack of a telephone, which means
they cannot call home to check in with family and friends.
ICE doesn't have an answer for the neighbours. The manager of the local ICE
office in Siquirres was too busy to answer calls.
*Insulza of Chile sworn in to head OAS
Jose Miguel Insulza of Chile was sworn in as secretary general of the
Organization of American States, at its headquarters.
The former Chilean vice president and interior minister was elected to the
OAS post on May 2, to succeed Miguel Angel Rodríguez,, who resigned to face
corruption charges in his native Costa Rica. Rodríguez served as president
of Costa Rica from 1998-2002.and is currently under house arrest.
Insulza assumed his post 10 days before the OAS annual assembly, to be held
June 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
US representative to the OAS Luigi Einaudi had held the position of acting
secretary general.
Insulza spoke in favor of a US-backed initiative to monitor Latin America's
democracies as he met for the first time with the press as secretary general.
"It is not about giving the governments a grade, but to be able to say with
deliberation that there are problems here, difficulties here, needs here,"
Insulza said, after an earlier speech in which he asked for the tools for
what he called the effective application of the OAS Democratic Charter, which
can impose sanctions on countries that stray from constitutional democracy.
"I do not like the word 'monitor' very much," he said, alluding to the US
plan, which envisions a democracy monitoring commission, which Venezuela
rejected immediately.
Insulza said his alternative, an "evaluation mechanism," should exist with
the understanding of member states that it would not intervene in their
domestic affairs.
Insulza, 61, has served as Chile's foreign minister and interior minister, as
well as being named vice president when President Ricardo Lagos was traveling
outside Chile.
He has held cabinet posts for a total of 10 years, longer than anyone in
Chile's history, despite a 14-year exile during Chile's military dictatorship
under
Augusto Pinochet 1973-1990.
It was while exiled in Mexico that he met his Mexican wife, Georgina Nunez.
=========================================
COSTA RICA DIGEST DISPLAY AD RATES
=========================================
This publication is designed to have one display add
between each article or section. Thus, the more
articles or sections we have per day, the more room we
have for advertisements. Advertisements are filled
on a first come first served basis, and prices vary
depending on placement and frequency. You must order
a minimum of 5 insertions with your order. If there
are no advertising positions available right away,
you will be placed on a waiting list and notified
when a spot becomes available. Please email us
at destinads@safe-mail.net for more details.
One final note, if you want to do a solo mailing
to the list, that is available on a limited basis
if we decide that your product or service has merit.
Email us at the above address for more details.
=========================================
COSTA RICA CLASSIFIEDS
=========================================
If you have a worthwhile, honest offering, please
email us. New subscribers get a free five line
ad for a month. If you have used up your free
ad, or would like to place another one, the low
price is only $1.00 per line per issue. we have
a min. ad of three lines and you must insert in
at least three issues. to submit your ad, please
email your ad to destinyads@safe-mail.net
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover,
e-checks, e-gold, evocash, netpay, pecunix,
e-bullion, Picpay, Moneybookers, and
Offshorearnings. We make e-commerce EASY!
=========================================
We give you hard hitting, timely, common sense articles and
news that the mainstream, or corporate media, either will
not or cannot give you. Several times a week we bring you
an up to date digest on what is going on in the world around
you.
At The Costa Rica Digest, we don't give you hype or BS or
"common knowledge" solutions, but we aim to give you
the cutting edge information you need. If you wish to
become a writer for us, submit your article[s] for
approval to costarica@destiny-worldwide.net. We cannot
pay for articles, but, instead, you may include a resource
box at the end of your article promoting your website
or product. We welcome submissions of all kinds to
make this a great publication for all to read!
=========================================
Find out about our OTHER Exciting E-mail groups on a broad
range of important topics. Subscription boxes for all of
them may be found here:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/boards.htm
The Restoration Website:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/
Destiny Central Success Resources
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
The Costa Rica Page --
The Fun, the Sun.... The business opportunity
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Your Safe, Secure, Offshore Payment Processor
http://www.offshorearnings.com
-----------------> Visit our Blogs! <-----------------
----> SuccessQuest http://successquest.blogspot.com/
----> The Real Truth http://destiny-worldwide.blogspot.com/
----> Costa Rica News http://costa-rica-news.blogspot.com/
=========================================
Hello all,
I am proud to announce the uploading of Chapter one and the forward of our new online guidebook, "So, Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica."
This is a multimedia guidebook, that will include both text and interviews with various people of interest. We hope to tape the first 2 interviews shortly, and to add approximately one chapter per week until we are finnished.
And, of course, since this is an internet based guidebook, the beauty is that we can CHANGE IT whenever we need to! That should prove to be quite an advantage over stodgy old print!
And, of course, this is being offered to you FREE OF CHARGE! We are supported by your patronage of those services and products featured in the book, some of which we make a modest commission on!
So, if you have a worthwhile product, service, tour, etc., of interest to people visiting or wanting to live in Costa Rica, please contact us and we will get right back with you.
So come on, join the fun! Read our online guidebook today, and once per week!
Here is the URL:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
ENJOY!
John
I am proud to announce the uploading of Chapter one and the forward of our new online guidebook, "So, Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica."
This is a multimedia guidebook, that will include both text and interviews with various people of interest. We hope to tape the first 2 interviews shortly, and to add approximately one chapter per week until we are finnished.
And, of course, since this is an internet based guidebook, the beauty is that we can CHANGE IT whenever we need to! That should prove to be quite an advantage over stodgy old print!
And, of course, this is being offered to you FREE OF CHARGE! We are supported by your patronage of those services and products featured in the book, some of which we make a modest commission on!
So, if you have a worthwhile product, service, tour, etc., of interest to people visiting or wanting to live in Costa Rica, please contact us and we will get right back with you.
So come on, join the fun! Read our online guidebook today, and once per week!
Here is the URL:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
ENJOY!
John
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