The Tico Times Online Daily Page

SOCCER SMILES: Costa Rica's new National Team soccer coach, U.S. citizen Steve Sampson, is ready to take the Ticos to greatness.
Story in today's TT print edition.
TT/photo Julio Laínez

I Anniversary of the Best Western Coco Verde Hotel and Casino:
Starting today at 5:30 p.m., free bocas and drinks until 7:30 p.m. for all, 50% off our regular room rate on Friday. On Oct. 19, free ticket to Octoberfest at Monkey Bar with accommodations at hotel. Oct. 31, Halloween Costume Party and Costume contest, cocoverd@racsa.co.cr

Alice in Wonderland
Puppet show by Salvador Solís, including buffet lunch and children’s music before the show, Sun., Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Spanish Cultural Center, Av. 13, Ca. 31, tel. 257-2919.

Nursery Home
Fri., Oct. 18, 6 p.m., food court of the Multiplaza Mall, Escazú, prices include, a motorcycle, tickets to U.S. by American Airlines, stays at national hotels, gifts, 289-8984, www.multiplazamall.com

U.S. Turns up Heat in Anderson Case
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff
As a three-judge panel continues to deliberate on U.S. "taxman" Keith Anderson's appeal to overturn his already-approved extradition to the United States, defense lawyer Moisés Vincenzi is crying foul this week, after obtaining a letter from U.S. Ambassador John J. Danilovich reminding Supreme Court President Luis Paulino Mora how important the case is to the United States.

The letter, dated Aug. 23, warns the Supreme Court that Costa Rica would receive a black eye from U.S. media if Anderson is freed. It also stresses that a decision to uphold Anderson's controversial Costa Rican citizenship would be considered by the U.S. as a "clear violation of the terms of the Extradition Treaty."

"The Embassy is communicating with the Attorney General's Office and the Civil Registry to find a solution to [Anderson's citizenship]," Danilovich notified the Court.

Vincenzi views the letter as undue U.S. political pressure on the Costa Rican courts.

"What is this, a political process or a judicial process?" he demanded. "Has Costa Rica become a colony of the U.S?"

The Embassy, however, claims the letter is "part of standard procedures in extradition cases such as this."

Responding to faxed questions from The Tico Times, the Embassy said: "The Embassy serves as the conduit for communications between the U.S. judiciary and the Costa Rican judiciary, and in that role not only presents extradition requests but also seeks to ensure compliance with the terms of the extradition treaty in force between the U.S. and Costa Rica."

Anderson, the 62-year-old founder of Anderson's Ark & Associates, was arrested here Feb. 9 at the request of the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly defrauding the U.S. out of $28 million. The U.S.' request for extradition based on charges of defrauding the U.S. and money-laundering through bankruptcy fraud were approved June 24, but are being appealed on claims the decision violated due process (TT, Oct. 11).

The case was further complicated when Anderson, while incarcerated in San José's San Sebastián Jail, was approved for, and then instantly stripped of, Costa Rican citizenship (TT, Aug. 23).

While the appeals court has until -- at the very latest -- early next week to decide on Anderson's fate, Vincenzi claims Danilovich's letter has given him more reason to file additional appeals with the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV).

"If the proceedings go the way they should, then we have to accept the decision; but as long as due process is violated, we continue to get more ammunition to appeal," he told The Tico Times this week. "And this letter is not just giving us additional bullets, this is a cannonball."

Vincenzi insists the case is far from over.

"They think this case is ending, but we are just beginning to fight," he said.

C.R. Shortens School Year
By Fabian Borges
Tico Times Staff

President Abel Pacheco and Education Minister Astrid Fischel announced this week that next year's public school year will last 174 days, not 200 as had previously been announced.

The reason for the decision was primarily financial, Fischel admitted. It would be impossible for the government to finance all the Education Ministry's programs, while at the same time pay teachers the ¢21 billion ($56 million) bonus they demanded in exchange for working the full 200 days, she said.

"We lack the resources necessary to pay the bonuses, and at the same time meet all of the country's education goals," Fischel explained. "Opting for a 174-day school year at this time will allow us to dedicate more resources to priority programs."

By not paying the teacher bonuses, she added, the Education Ministry will have a ¢11 billion ($29 million) surplus, which will be used primarily to pay for scholarships, school busing and school-lunch programs for low-income children.

The additional funds will also be used to repair damaged school infrastructure and improve English, math and computer courses.

"It's better to have a 174 quality school days for every student, rather than 200 not-so-good school days for only a few students," Pacheco said.

The decision violates a previous agreement, in which all Central American countries committed to 200-day school years. Next week, Fischel will travel to meet with other Central America Education Ministers to explain Costa Rica's situation and request a "temporary suspension" of the agreement.

Of the six countries that originally signed the agreement, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama have school years shorter than 200 days.

C.A. Strengthens Efforts to Crackdown on 'Sex Tourism'

To help crack down on sexual predators coming to Central America to exploit children, Immigration directors from throughout the isthmus met this week in Nicaragua to ratify a Costa Rican initiative to create national and regional databases of foreign sex offenders.

"This plan will allow us to reject foreigners coming into our countries to abuse our children," said Costa Rican Immigration director Marco Badilla. "To help identify these people, we will use resources available to us, such as INTERPOL and other official and unofficial sources."

The new plan also calls Immigration police to be educated about children's rights, in attempt to undo an "adult-centered" culture that often ignores the problems of minors, Badilla explained.

According to the Immigration directors, foreigners coming to Central America with the intention of exploiting children have resulted in a criminally organized "sex industry," featuring sex tours and the distribution of Internet pornography.