The Tico Times Online

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: Starting today, highways in Alajuela, Santa Ana and Cartago will offer a new, voluntary ¢100 toll lane to speed up traffic. Many motorists have complained that it takes too long to dig out the correct change to pay the ¢75 toll.
TT/photo Julio Laínez

Conference and Films at Cultural Center
Mexican Cultural Center invites all to the World Premier of the movie Arenas Negras, followed by a round-table discussion with Marcel Sisniega, Oscar Castillo and María Lourdes Cortés. Moderated by Gabriel Retes. Center is located at Ca. 41, Av. 10. Info: 283-2333

Black Vives
Brad Schmidt and the band will perform rythm, blues, disco and soul. At 10 p.m. at Jazz Café, across from Banco Popular, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

Exploding with some Salsa
Explosion band is playing salsa, merengue and cumbia, rhythms tonight at 10 p.m., at Bar La Hacienda in the Kilates Complex, Tibás. Info: 236-7000.

U.S. Citizen Shot Dead in Playa Hermosa
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff

An early Tuesday morning altercation between two U.S. Citizens in the Pacific beach town of Playa Hermosa, just south of Jacó, ended with a one man being shot to death, according to a source at the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) in Jacó.

The victim, identified by police as 35-year-old Perry Hill, reportedly tried to attack fellow North American Scott Jones, a local business owner who defended himself by putting three bullets into Hill's torso and face.

Police told The Tico Times Tuesday night that the investigation is just beginning, and no motive has yet been determined. However, the OIJ investigator said, word on the street is that the fight was over a woman and that drugs may have been involved.

According to police reports, Hill was involved in a separate fight Sunday morning with another Gringo identified as David Feeny.

The Sunday fight also ended with gunplay, when Feeny fired several shots at Hill, but missed. Feeny was treated for injuries, then questioned by police.

The police say it is too soon to say if there a relationship between the two cases.

Street Kid Report Postponed Another Week
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff

Release of much-anticipated Casa Alianza- Child Welfare Office (PANI) report on street kids was again postponed this week, following President Abel Pacheco's departure to Guatemala Tuesday to address the Central American Parliament.

The study, which was conducted with an unprecedented new spirit of cooperation between the government and the outspoken private advocacy group, has been ready for the last three weeks. However, according to Casa Alianza Director Bruce Harris, the report is being reviewed by Pacheco's Cabinet and will be released following next Tuesday's weekly meeting.

Acting President Lineth Saborío, who is covering for Pacheco while he is in Guatemala, said the street kid study was the eighth topic on the Cabinet's agenda, and the Ministers did not have a chance to get to it.

Instead, yesterday's Cabinet meeting focused on drafting a declaration of support for President Pacheco, who is currently involved in a scandal over questionable campaign donations (see Friday's TT print edition for story).

Harris claims the delayed release of the report is not because it has been put on the back burner, but because Pacheco wants to be in town when it is presented to the nation.

"This has been a priority of the Pacheco administration," Harris told The Tico Times yesterday. "This [report] is his baby."

The Casa Alianza chief said it is better to wait another week before releasing the report, because Pacheco's presentation of the study will give it more clout.

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Pacheco Calls for Reforms to C.A. Parliament

Addressing members of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) yesterday in Guatemala City, President Abel Pacheco reiterated the reasons why Costa Rica does not want to belong to the regional organization, and called for reforms to the political body.

"I explained that Costa Rica is not willing to integrate politically," Pacheco told Casa Presidencial reporters following his address. "I explained that our country is not willing to finance the costs of Central American deputies; I explained that our country does not believe that ex-Presidents should be allowed to enjoy immunity."

Pacheco admits that calling for changes to these practices was a little intimidating at first, but says he was received "warmly and respectfully" by its members.

"I made them see that Costa Rica's interest is to get along well with all of its neighbors and arrive at regional agreements that will allow Central America to confront the challenges of globalization," he said.

Pacheco also addressed the eventual free-trade pact between Central America and the U.S., insisting that the region include environmental protection clauses in the document.

The Costa Rican President also urged PARLACEN to allow the Caribbean nations to integrate into the system, to give the small island nations more political power on an international level.