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>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
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TODAY'S CONTENTS
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*News Digest

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NEWS DIGEST
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*Quake rattles valley

A 4.0 earthquake, blamed on a local fault, rattled the Central Valley about

6:32 a.m. Monday. The epicenter was placed in the vicinity of Aserrí, the

mountain town south of San José. No damage was reported. For some reason, the
USGS website does not list this quake.


*Company and Shareholders Establish $25,000 Fund and Will Match Customer

Donations

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To help victims

affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck South and Southeast Asia,

BETonSPORTS plc and its shareholders have started a relief fund with an

initial donation of $25,000. BETonSPORTS' employees have also begun a

collection that they will give to the fund. In addition, over the next 30

days, BETonSPORTS will match donations from its customers dollar for dollar.
According to David Carruthers, CEO of BETonSPORTS, "This fund will help

to provide the much needed medicine, clothing, food and shelter to those who

were affected by the tsunami." All contributions to the relief fund will

be distributed to UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and the International Red

Cross. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who are

dealing with this tragedy," said Carruthers.
About BETonSPORTS plc
BETonSPORTS plc, one of the world's leading online and telephone

sportsbook and casino operators, is committed to providing its clients with

the most value for their wagering dollar and quality customer service

capabilities. Headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica, the company is licensed

in the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, and has obtained a bookmakers

permit in the UK, where gambling has been a legal and respected tradition for

over forty years. At the peak of high season in the financial year ended

January 31, 2004, it employed over 1,600 employees in Antigua, Costa Rica,

the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom. The company trades under the

symbol BSS.L on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment

Market. BETonSPORTS.com has been ranked the number one sportsbook by a number

of leading industry organizations, including the Offshore Gaming Association

(OSGA), the International Sports Book Council (ISBC) and Insiders Football

Guide. Visit http://www.betonsports.com/ for more information.
Contact: David Carruthers
888-999-2387, ext. 1805
Quelle: BETonSPORTS plc


*More Than 6.000 Affected by Rain and Floods

The heavy rain keeps on falling in the Caribbean coast and flooding have now

forced the evacuation of more than 6,000. The Red Cross working hard to bring

relief to those affected now reports seven persons disappeared and one

death.

As of yesterday afternoon the number affected by the rain and flood

officially rose to 6.062 who are being housed in 62 temporary shelter,

waiting for the rain to end and the flood to subside.

The hardest areas are Sarapiquí, with more tan 2.000 affected, followed by

Talamanca and Siquirres. Sixaola, at the southern end bordering with Panama,

is completely cut off from any communications and water levels reaching the

roof of many homes.

Authorities are concerned about the spreading of disease, a problem that

easily and quickly spread as septic tanks spill out their content and wells

get contaminated. Health Minister, María del Rocío Sáenz, reminds of the

similar problem of a couple of years back in Matina. The spread of Dengue and

Malaria are the two main concerns.

The weatherman Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) says that more rain has

fallen on the area in the last 48 hours than for the whole month of January.

Residents who spoke to national television cameras said they can't recall

rains with such an intensity.

Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) has put in place a three point plan to

help those most affected: one, to priorited the evacuation and rescue of

those reported trapped by the waters; two, get food and fresh water to the

affected areas; and, three to attend to those housed in shelters.

You can help those affected by depositing your donation directly in the

following bank accounts:

- Banco Nacional 100-100-7
- Banco de Costa Rica 176-003-03 (colones)
- Banco de Costa Rica 204-6 (dólares)
- Banco Popular: 5000-8



*President Pacheco First in Line for Flu Shot

President Abel Pacheco leaving his home as usual yesterday morning made his

first stop at the office of his Ministra de Salud (Health Minister) María del

Rocío Sáenz Madrigal, to be the first of 235.000 to get his flu shot.

The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and the Ministerio de Salud

will cover the cost to vaccinate 235.000 seniors and 30.000 children under

the age of 5, those most at risk. The vaccination program will run into the

end of February.

The vaccination program is to avoid an outbreak of influenza that has

occurred in the country every 15 to 30 years. The last outbreak was in the

late 1960's.

According to CCSS head Dr. Alberto Sáenz Pacheco, the vaccination program

will also see a reduction of around 40% in the number of visits to the CCSS

clinics and hospitalization of those suffering from flu complications.



*Palmares Festival Starts Tomorrow. Police Warn About Drinking and Driving

Those attending the Palmares Festival beginning tomorrow are being warned by

the Transit Police - Don't Drink and Drive!

The Palmares Festival is perhaps the largest and most attended "festejos

populares" due to it's proximity to San José and many surrounding

communities. Residents of Atenas, Naranjo, Grecia, San Ramon prefer this

Festival over the one in San José which runs during the Christmas holiday.

The problem during the last several years has been the increase in driving

home after drinking. This year, the Transit Police are mounting one of their

largest campaigns to combat the problem and remind people of the effects of

being under the influence of alcohol while behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Transit police say they will have permanent control posts 24 hours a day

during the Festival, with more than 150 officers covering the routes to and

from Palmares.

Palmares is about 40 minutes west of San José and the Transit authority is

warning that if you drink, you will be walking home. No exceptions!



*Arias Presidential Campaign Will Kick Off Next Friday

The band is ready, the stage is set. Next Friday, at 6pm, at the Balcón Verde

in Sabana Sur, Óscar Arias, with fireworks in the sky, is set to make his

candidacy to the presidential elections next year official.

The exact details of the event are being kept a secret, but it marimba bands,

traditional dance and fold music will fill the area as the former president

and Nobel prize winner will kick off his campaign for the Partido Liberacion

Nacional (PLN) or Green party.

The event is more than just a reason to party, but to attract people in

support of the party and Arias. The event is open to anyone and everyone in

the country. Vivian Quesada, organizer of the event, told the Spanish daily

newspaper Al Día, that "the event is for a rescue of our traditions and for

those who want to believe again in democracy."

Asked on the cost of the event, Quesada was cautious in her answer, saying

only that the party is not paying for publicity, for buses to get people to

and from the event and will be counting the spontaneity of the day. "We are

not spending a nickel on the event", Quesada said.


*Will There Be a New GSM Service in Costa Rica?

That is the question that has no answer. Not for now, at least.

Last year, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), contracted the

Ericsson company to install a new GSM network in Costa Rica that would permit

an additional 600.000 cellular lines.

However, the project hit hard rocks when the Contraloría General de la

República (CGR) - the Comptroller's office - refused to approve the contract.

Then Comptroller, Alex Solís, who was asked to resign amidst allegation of

wrongdoing, said there were too many errors and citing the situation where

several key ICE managers met official of Ericsson privately in a Prague

hotel.

The refusal to approve the contract threw ICE into a tail spin, not being

able to handle the demand for cellular customers, with it's current cellular

networks of some 900.000 lines saturated.

The Ericsson company filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court (Sala IV)

who last month declared the contract valid, though it still needs the

approval of the Contraloría, which, with the absence of Solís, was expected

to be a done deal.

The Contraloría has 40 days to evaluate the court decision and give or deny

it's approval, which, according to ICE officials, will not be a cakewalk.

If the Contraloría does not approve the contract, ICE will have to begin the

new process of tendering bids for the installation of the network which is

valued at more than us$160 million dollars.

The Ericsson company, along with the French company, Alcatel, is being

investigated by ICE and Costa Rican authorities for improper conduct with

contracts it has completed.




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