The Tico Times Online

MONEY TALK: Central Bank President Eduardo Lizano urges congress to approve fiscal reform measures before IMF gets here. Story below.
TT/Photo Julio Laínez

Surfrider Costa Rica Meeting
Surfers don’t miss it. Tomorrow at 7 p.m., at The Bakery in Dominical, info@surfridercostarica.org

Canatur Starts Nature Classes
Today Canatur opens its course Artropodus Natural History, for intermediate level students. At 8:30 a.m., at InBio Park in Santo Domingo, Heredia. Info: Call Priscilla Hurtado, 244-0690, ext. 755, phurtado@inbio.ac.cr

Cycles Art Show
Tito Oses opens tonight his exhibit with 11 acrylics trying to show different cycles of the human life, representing peace - war, day – night, rich – poor. At 7 p.m., at the National Gallery, in the Children’s Museum, west end Ca. 4, 236-0914.

Study: Corruption is here to Stay
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff

Almost half of all Ticos living in the Greater Metropolitan Area claim that corruption has gotten worse in the last four years, and 80 percent are pessimistic that it will ever be eradicated, according to a study conducted by the Universidad Nacional.

In a demographically balanced phone interview with 600 Costa Ricans, the corruption study revealed that 92 percent say they have "little" or "no" tolerance for corruption, yet 23 percent admit to paying "mordidas," or illegal bribes to public officials.

Ticos blamed each other for fostering a culture of corruption, with 66 percent answering that society has a very high tolerance for corruption. But less than 10 percent answered that they put up with it.

Asked as to who benefits from corruption, most Ticos answered: "high-ranking government officials." The political parties got the worst grade, with 77 percent of Ticos saying they were "very corrupt."

Following close behind, were government ministries (70 percent), the Legislative Assembly (65 percent), municipal governments (63 percent), the Judicial Branch (56 percent) and the Executive Branch (54 percent).

Despite the pessimism, Ticos gave the administration of President Abel Pacheco good marks for its commitment to combat corruption. Sixty percent said corruption will diminish or stay the same during the next year, thanks to Pacheco's efforts.

IMF will Evaluate Costa Rica
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will send a delegation here in November to perform a "routine" evaluation of Costa Rica's economy and release a report on the country's risk-assessment classification, said Central Bank President Eduardo Lizano during a press conference Friday.

Lizano claims that if congress is able to pass the fiscal reform proposals by next month, the Central Bank could report to IMF an anticipated lowering of the fiscal deficit by two points for 2003.

Lizano urged congress to approve the fiscal plan, stressing that it would have a positive affect on the economy and could improve the country's risk-assessment classification. If the proposals are not passed, he warned, Costa Rica would keep its unsatisfactory ranking.

The IMF reports have been a source of controversy in past years, due to recommendations that the government reduce public spending and privatize the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).

An initiative to privatize ICE in 2000 was met by nationwide protests, which forced the government to abandon the project.
-AFP

OIJ Officer Killed in Police Operation
A Friday morning police operation to prevent the alleged kidnapping in Pococí, Limón, ended with one gang member and one Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) officer killed, reported the daily La Nación.

Officer José Rafael Gómez, 40, was shot to death by members of a gang, when police responded to a phone call by a landowner reporting that three men were on his property and allegedly trying to kidnap his son. The men had reportedly made another kidnap attempt the week before.

One gang member was killed in the shootout, while the other two escaped into the mountains. The two remaining men, thought to be a Nicaraguan and a Costa Rican, are reportedly armed with Ak-47s and pistols.

Police have been provided with sketches of the two suspects, and more than 100 officers are reportedly involved in the manhunt.

Gómez, who worked 18 years for the OIJ, was buried yesterday. Family, police officers, OIJ director Jorge Rojas, and former OIJ director and Vice-President Lineth Saborío attended the funeral.