The Tico Times Online

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, October 01, 2002

DON'T BLAME US: Nicaraguans living here are unfairly scapegoated for Costa Rica's woes. Story below.
TT/ Photo Julio Laínez

October 01

For Women New and Old Comers
Join today’s Newcomers Club meeting which includes a talk on Decorating and Design with a fun and informative program presented by two outstanting interior designers. At 9:30 a.m. at Dee Fuchs home in Santa Ana Directions at 282-3646.
Watching Spain from Photo Show
Today 30 Spanish photographers open a display of their works in the show Fondos Para una Colección . The exhibit is open through Nov. 15 at the Spanish Cultural Center, Av. 13, Ca. 31, San José. Info: 257-2919.
Rally for Peace!
Silent Vigil against U.S. Intervention in Iraq
Wed. Oct. 2, 10:00 a.m. to noon in front of the U.S. Embassy in Pavas
All U.S. citizens welcome.

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Caribbean Campesinos Finally Get Flood Aid
Helping Caribbean campesinos get back on their feet following last May's coastal flooding, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central American Integration Bank yesterday donated a combined $75,000 worth of fertilizers and farming equipment to some 550 farming families that lost all their crops to Mother Nature

The monetary donation was based on an "exhaustive study" conducted by the Regional Emergency Commission of Limón, which assessed the cases of some 1,800 campesinos, according to a Ministry press release.

Those hit hardest by the flooding were campesinos growing plantains along the sides of rivers that swelled and drowned their harvests. However, other campesinos reported crop losses of bananas, squash, guanábana, rice, corn, beans, hot peppers, watermelon and cucumbers.

Meanwhile, campesinos belonging to the Chamber of Plantain Growers - which provides crops to international fruit giants Standard Fruit and Del Monte - will receive $3.5 million from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization to help re-cultivate 1,200 hectares of lost harvest.

Last May's flooding in the Caribbean and, to a lesser degree, in the Northern Zone, destroyed 40 homes, severely damaged infrastructure - including a bridge over the Turrialba River - and temporarily displaced more than 5,000 people (TT, May 10).s

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Study Looks at Nicaraguan Stereotyping
Negative stereotyping of Nicaraguans by Ticos may not be new phenomena here, but blaming Nicas for the deterioration of Costa Rica's public institutions and social development has kept the country from taking the self-critical approach that is needed to make much-needed reforms to the state.

This is one of the conclusions of a study on Costa Rican prejudices toward Nicaraguan immigrants conducted by the University of Costa Rica's Institute of Investigate Studies, according to an advanced copy of the study provided to the foreign press club.

According to study investigator Carlos Sandoval, Costa Ricans are quick to blame the influence of Nicaraguan immigrants for putting an unbearable strain on health and education institutions, instead of accurately diagnosing problems that have lead to the deterioration of these institutions over the last two decades.

Sandoval claims that a historical look at patterns of prejudice here reveals that anti-Nica sentiments often flair during periods of violence, crime or political instability, but that these societal phenomena are not necessary caused by an increase of immigrants.

As a result, he noted, "negative stereotypes reinforce an unreal image of the magnitude of Nicaraguan immigration. People talk about there being more than 1 million Nicaraguans living here, but the recent Census (which put the number at 300,000) showed them to be wrong."

While many Nicaraguans come here in search of economic opportunity, the myth that they have brought poverty to Costa Rica is also just that: a myth.

According to the Mixed Institute of Social Aid's (IMAS) database of the country's poor - known as SIPO - of the 534,910 people living in poverty here, 93.8 percent are Ticos and only 5.9 percent are Nicaraguans (TT, Nov. 30, 2001).

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More Officials to be Included in Nica Corruption Probe
MANAGUA (AFP) -The Attorney General's office announced it will present a case against at least 30 additional officials and lawmakers of the Liberal Constitutional Party for allegedly using questionable financing during the 2001 congressional and presidential campaign, according to an official source.

The accusations will reportedly "include elected officials and deputies from the current government [of President Enrique Bolaños]," said state prosecutor Julio Centeno.

No names have yet to be released, yet Centeno alleged that several officials of high political and economic power are on the list.

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