Trade talks between Europe and Central America were back on track Tuesday despite a close call when a Nicaraguan delegate walked away from the negotiating table after asking his country to be left out of a particular deal.

The seventh round of negotiations between the European Union and five Central American countries, including Cost Rica, is taking place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras this week.

Nicaragua requested on Monday a cooperation fund with numbers “not feasible” for the EU, which prompted a disagreement on the first day of negotiations, the daily La Nación reported.

Sanitary norms, technical norms, customs proceedings and access to markets have been discussed so far. However, as of Tuesday afternoon, the dialogue regarding vital Central American products and their access to the European markets had not taken place.

“We haven't had the chance to tackle products emblematic to Central America such as bananas, sugar, meat, rice and rum, among other products,” said Roberto Echandi, chief negotiator for Costa Rica.

In addition, Central American delegates presented the EU a preliminary document on labor practices, which Echandi said is subject to change.

Agricultural goods make up the bulk of exports from Central America to Europe. On the other end, the European Union exports, for the most part, are comprised of manufactured products and services to Central America.

Costa Rica currently exports about $560 million to Europe and imports about $62 million.

“What is Europe going to do in order to meet the needs of Central America ?” Echandi asked. “That is the question of the week.”

Agents from Costa Rica's top anti-corruption prosecutor's office restricted access to the headquarters of the National Emergency Commission (CNE) Tuesday as they conducted an investigation following allegations of fraud from the Citizen Action Party (PAC) and other groups.

According to a press release from the Casa Presidencial, the commission and its president, Daniel Gallardo, have agreed to provide “all the assistance and collaboration necessary…to advance the investigation.”

The Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's office confirmed the raids but declined to say what – if any – specific documents the agents were searching for.

Gallardo, who will resign from the helm of CNE on April 13 for what he claimed were personal and health reasons, has been accused of awarding more than ¢3.7 billion (about $6.6 million) in contracts to two businessmen he was closely associated with prior to his appointment at CNE.

Political groups have also leveled accusations of negligent responses to the Jan. 8 earthquake that killed as many as 30 people.

Angered that the needs of many victims of the earthquake are still being ignored by the very agency created to address them, the PAC addressed a letter to President Oscar Arias Tuesday to make him aware of meager and unsanitary living conditions residents of the area continue to face.

Victims of the earthquake will protest at the Legislative Assembly Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Costa Rica President Oscar Arias lambasted other Latin American leaders Tuesday for starting what he called an “arms race” when their population's basic needs are not being met.

“If there aren't resources to attend basic needs, why the devil does Latin America need to buy planes, attack helicopters, more tanks and more missiles?” President Arias asked in an interview on Radio Monumental.

Arias said he raised this issue during his meeting Monday with Central American leaders and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. (See the April 3 Tico Times print or digital edition for coverage and analysis.)

“The bilateral aid given by wealthy countries to alleviate poverty in 80 percent of the planet's population, in Africa, Asia and Latin America, is $100 billion annually, but what they spend on weapons and soldiers is 13 times that and that seems immoral to me,” Arias said.

In this region Arias reckons the contradiction is clear. “In Latin America almost 200 million people live on $2 a day,” he said. Meanwhile, the region's governments spend “$50 billion on weapons and soldiers.”

San José residents had a rude awakening Tuesday from warm, sunny weather when a brief but potent rain storm broke through the dry season sky.

However, the rain did not mark the start of the rainy season, according to Eladio Solano, of the National Meteorological Institute (IMN). The rainy season in the Central Valley, where San José lies, is expected to begin sometime between May 6 and 10, he said.

Meteorologist Rosario Alfaro explained that low wind levels and high temperatures experienced Tuesday morning – up at around 26 degrees Celsius in San José – can quickly lead to clouds in the afternoon and possibly give way to rain, as it did Tuesday. She said rain for Wednesday is possible but not likely to be so heavy.

The transitional period into the rainy season, characterized by sporadic showers, is approaching. Solano said the transition can occur three to four weeks leading up to the season's starting date.

Meanwhile, southern Pacific residents have already begun bracing themselves for the drenching. If IMN's predictions prove right, that region, which includes the Osa Peninsula, will be launched into its rainy season sometime between Wednesday and Sunday.

The central Pacific, with towns such as Quepos and Jacó, will follow, between April 21 and 25.

The northern Pacific, including popular tourist spot Tamarindo, will likely see its rainy season begin between May 11 and 15.