The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 20, 2002

HELP ON THE WAY: Stauffer and attorney Pedro Irigonegaray visit Martin murder scene in Golfito.
TT/Tim Rogers

U.S. Senator Offers Assistance in Martin Murder
By Tim Rogers
More than a year and a half after the unsolved stabbing death of University of Kansas student Shannon Martin, the office of Kansas Senator Pat Roberts yesterday told Jeanette Stauffer, Martin's mother, that the Republican Senator will offer his assistance to help move along the investigation.
(Click for more)

Venezuela Crisis Could Hike Gas Prices
By Tim Rogers
The 15-day general strike in Venezuela, which has paralyzed oil exports for the last two weeks, has forced the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE) to request a 3% increase in gas prices and start looking into a contingency plan, according to a RECOPE press release.
(Click for more)

December 20

Concert at the Beach
Tatiana Gómez will delight guests and visitors at Villa Caletas Hotel next Sat., Dec. 28 at 5 p.m. Don’t miss this concert and enjoy some samba, blues, and soul. The hotel is in Puntarenas, 2 km., after Punta Leona. Info: 637-0505.

Animé Video Presentations
All at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Dec. 21-22, Vandread (For older than 13), at Children’s Museum, end Ca. 4. Info: 258-4929, ext. 124-125.

Christmas Concert
Café Chorale presents its "Concierto Especial de Navidad" and "El Mesías" by Handel, Fri., Dec. 20, at 8 p.m., and Sun., Dec., 22, at 5 p.m., National Auditorium, Children’s Museum, end Ca. 4. Info: 297-0335.

Laus Deu Choir in Christmas Concert
A must go! Dec. 22, 5 p.m., Auditorium at Santo Domingo, Heredia. Info: 237-4559.

Closing Recital of the Alajuela Conservatory
Sat., Dec. 21, at 6 p.m., Juan Santamaría Museum, Alajuela. Info: 441-4775.

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U.S. Senator Offers Assistance in Martin Murder
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Senator Pat Roberts

More than a year and a half after the unsolved stabbing death of University of Kansas student Shannon Martin, the office of Kansas Senator Pat Roberts yesterday told Jeanette Stauffer, Martin's mother, that the Republican Senator will offer his assistance to help move along the investigation.

Responding to a mass e-mail Stauffer sent to 250 friends and family asking people to call or write Kansas lawmakers to let them know they are concerned about the progress of a the murder investigation, Sen. Roberts' office contacted the bereaved mother to ask how it could help.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) also contacted Stauffer yesterday to say it would cooperate with the Senator's office, and regretted not having sent down investigators immediately after the murder.

"I find myself wishing that, more than a year ago, we had proceed with my initial idea to send KBI Special Agent Larry Thomas to Costa Rica on a fact-finding mission," KBI director Larry Welch said in an e-mail.

Peter Dorn, an aide to Sen. Roberts, told Stauffer his office would look into the case and would take action in early January.

The Tico Times was unable to contact Dorn or Roberts yesterday.

Martin, 23, was stabbed to death May 13, 2001, while visiting the southern Pacific port town of Golfito, where she had studied the year before on a KU study-abroad program. She was killed one week before her scheduled graduation from KU.

One Costa Rican woman is being held for her suspected role in the killing. Two Costa Rican men detained last July for their alleged role were recently let out of jail on a conditioned parole.

No suspects have been charged and there is still no trial date.

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Venezuela Crisis Could Hike Gas Prices
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

The 15-day general strike in Venezuela, which has paralyzed oil exports for the last two weeks, has forced the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE) to request a 3% increase in gas prices and start looking into a contingency plan, according to a RECOPE press release.

Costa Rica currently buys 60% of its crude oil from Venezuela, but due to the country's current political instability, RECOPE officials are now considering looking for new sellers, such as Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia and the United States.

The possible U.S. military attack on Iraq is also complicating world oil exports, the release said. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Venezuela is a member, could decide to cut oil exports in protest of a possible U.S. military campaign.

RECOPE keeps oil reserves in the event of crisis, and was able to smoothly ride out political instability in Venezuela last April, following the unsuccessful coup attempt against President Hugo Chávez (TT, April 19).

Under the 1980 multilateral petroleum rebate agreement called the San José Pact, Venezuela and Mexico are obligated to supply 11 Central American and Caribbean nations with 160,000 barrels of oil per day at favorable payment terms. Following a more recent surge in oil prices due to production limits imposed by OPEC in 2000, Chávez agreed to increase the amount of oil exported at preferential terms to the San José Pact countries by 80,000 barrels a day (TT, Sept. 14, 2000).

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V.P. Asks Ticos to Help Limón

Vice-President Lineth Saborío yesterday made an impassioned plea for all Costa Ricans to come together and help the recent flood victims in the Caribbean province of Limón.

"Government authorities cannot do this alone," Saborío said. "This is one of the worst problems we have had to deal with. We need people to help donate rice, beans, clothes and Christmas gifts for the children of the area."

Limón will host a televised marathon this Saturday to help raise funds and public awareness about the extent of the needs, Saborío said. The marathon will feature live music and other performances.

Of the 5,530 flood victims forced into shelters at the beginning of the month, all but 143 people have returned home, according to government statistics.

The Red Cross estimates that some 75,000 people were affected directly or indirectly by the flooding, as was 70% of the region's agricultural production.

The National Emergency Commission had donated 7,000 mattresses, 7,272 blankets and spent more than $400,000 on road repairs.

The Red Cross is accepting donations of non-perishable foods, towels, toiletries and personal effects. Cash donations can be made directly to Red Cross bank accounts:
100100-7 Banco Nacional (colones), 176003-3 Banco Costa Rica (colones), 204-6 Banco Costa Rica (dollars).

For info, call the Red Cross at 233-7033, ext. 2330 (food and other supplies), or ext. 2122 (monetary donations).

The CNE is collecting non-perishable foods at Supermarkets Más X Menos, Hipermás, Maxi Mercados and Palí. Monetary donations in colones to the CNE can be deposited in:
91100-3 Banco Costa Rica, 911-8 Banco Nacional.

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