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Daily Edition: Vol.
VIII, No. 35 - San José, Costa Rica, September 17, 2002
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Mining Company
Objects
to Minister’s Comments
Representatives of a local affiliate company of Canadian-based Vennessa
Ventures mining company rejected statements published in last Friday’s
Tico Times, which claimed that a gold-mining concession granted for the
Las Crucitas project, near the Nicaraguan border, is in legal limbo
because of an appeal before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court (Sala IV).
(Click for more)
Highway Cops Crack
Down on Drunk Driving
From January to May 2002, there were 1,636 drunk-driving accidents and 136
car accidents caused by drunken pedestrians, the Council of Highway Security
reported Monday. According to transit officials, 533 alcohol-control police
operations this year have resulted in the ticketing of 4,101 legally
intoxicated drivers, and 1,903 drivers who were “pre-drunk” – a legal gray
area between sober and drunk (usually about two beers). A bill in congress
aims to reform the Transit Law, which, among other things, would eliminate
the legal condition of “pre-drunkenness.”
(Click for more)
Río Group Ratifies
International Penal Court,
Requests Other Nations to Approve It
During the 57th meeting of United Nations’ General Assembly in New York
last week, the Grupo de Río officially ratified the U.N. agreement on the
International Penal Court and requested other nations to do the same as soon
as possible, according to Foreign Ministry press release.
(Click for more)
Palmito
Exports
on the Rise
Costa Rica – the world’s largest
exporter of palmito, or heart of palm – has surpassed this year’s
exporting expectations thanks to increased purchasing of the product by
France, the United States and Spain.
(Click for more)
September 17
Conference "Sonic Pollution and Acoustic Plagues:"
The University of Costa Rica's School of Music Arts invites all to this
interesting conference by Dr. José Araya Pochet. At 4 p.m., room 107,
University of Costa Rica Campus, San Pedro. Info: 207-4271.
Guitar Concert
U.S. M.M. guitarist Patrick Kerber is performing a concert tonight at 7
p.m., at the auditorium of the University of Costa Rica campus in San Ramón,
Alajuela. Info: 207-4271.
Mining Company
Objects
to Minister’s Comments
By David Boddiger
Tico Times Staff
Representatives of a local affiliate company of Canadian-based Vennessa
Ventures mining company rejected statements published in last Friday’s Tico
Times, which claimed that a gold-mining concession granted for the Las
Crucitas project, near the Nicaraguan border, is in legal limbo because of
an appeal before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV).
Representatives of Vannessa’s Costa Rican subsidiary company, Industrias
Infinitos, S.A., met with The Tico Times to clarify that the only legal
impediment to the project is an appeal presented April 1 of this year by
environmentalists Carlos Murillo and Diana Murillo.
According to Jesús Carvajal, general manager of Industrias Infinito, the
appeal is similar to an earlier appeal presented by Diana Murillo. In a
letter dated April 12 of this year, and addressed to Sala IV magistrates,
former Environment Minister Elizabeth Odio – who headed the ministry when
the mining concession was approved in January (TT, Sept. 13) – defended the
concession, and pointed to a July 22, 1998 Sala IV ruling that rejected
Murillo’s earlier appeal.
Carvajal said little has changed between the two appeals. Since the Sala IV
had previously rejected Murillo’s appeal, the company official said he is
confident the Court will again reject the current appeal, paving the way for
an eventual go-ahead with project should SETENA approve the company’s
environmental impact study.
SETENA has not given an estimated date for this to happen.
Regarding the action taken by President Abel Pacheco while still a
legislative deputy to question the concession process, Carvajal insisted the
procedure, called a “Recurso de Reposición” in Spanish – which asks
for the concession to be repealed, is an administrative appeal handled
within the Environment Ministry, and cannot reverse the concession.
“Only a court can do that,” said Carvajal.
The company official insists President Pacheco’s June 5 moratorium against
open-pit mining does not affect the Las Crucitas Project.
See Friday’s TT print edition for all the details.
Highway Cops Crack
Down on Drunk Driving
From January to May 2002, there were 1,636 drunk-driving accidents and 136
car accidents caused by drunken pedestrians, the Council of Highway Security
reported Monday.
According to transit officials, 533 alcohol-control police operations this
year have resulted in the ticketing of 4,101 legally intoxicated drivers,
and 1,903 drivers who were “pre-drunk” – a legal gray area between sober and
drunk (usually about two beers). A bill in congress aims to reform the
Transit Law, which, among other things, would eliminate the legal condition
of “pre-drunkenness.”
Police say they will continue to look for drunk drivers and have identified
several areas to concentrate their operations: Desamparados, San Rafael de
Escazú, San Pedro Los Yoses, Rancho Guanacaste, Guadalupe, San Francisco de
Dos Ríos, Centro Comercial El Pueblo, Mall International, Cristo Rey, Atenas
and Cruce San Luis.
Of the 173 drunk-driving deaths reported in 2000, 162 were men and 11 were
women, according to government statistics.
Return To Top Of Page
Río Group Ratifies
International Penal Court,
Requests Other Nations to Approve It
During the 57th meeting of United Nations’ General Assembly in New York last week, the Grupo de Río officially ratified the U.N. agreement on the International Penal Court and requested other nations to do the same as soon as possible, according to Foreign Ministry press release.
Acting temporary president for the group, Costa Rican Foreign Minister
Roberto Tovar, spoke on behalf of the group, which is formed by 19 Latin
American countries.
“We
are very pleased with the results from the work we’ve carried out in San
José,” Tovar explained. “The Latin American delegates have come up with
substantial contributions.”
“We
recall the historic importance that creating a permanent international penal
jurisdiction to try those responsible for war crimes and crimes against
humanity will have,” Tovar said. “We request the nations that have not
adhered to or ratified the agreement to please consider doing so promptly.”
The group also released its final reports on the Strengthening of Extra-Conventional Mechanisms for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the United Nations and on the Development of Civil Society in Latin America.
Palmito Exports
on the Rise
Costa Rica – the world’s largest exporter of palmito, or heart of
palm – has surpassed this year’s exporting expectations thanks to increased
purchasing of the product by France, the United States and Spain.
Palmito exports have been in a slump since 1998 after Ecuadorian palmito flooded the market and caused the product’s international price to plummet. Several Tico were forced to close as a result.
Despite the fact that international prices for the product remain relatively low, exports increased 31 percent in 2001 compared to 2000. So far this year, the country has exported nearly $15 million worth of palmito.
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