Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 07,  2003

THE LONG ROAD: Francisca Gonzales, 89, and thousands of other Nicaraguan immigrants are fleeing hunger and poverty in the north. Many enter into Costa Rica illegally looking for work. -AFP

Massive Weekend Deportation of Nicaraguans
During a weekend roundup near the northern border, 441 undocumented Nicaraguans were detained and deported by Costa Rican authorities, Immigration announced yesterday.
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Central American Trade Grew in 2002
GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - Trade between Central American countries grew by 10% in 2002, reaching a volume of $3 billion, the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) announced yesterday.
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Red Cross Reports 45 Violent Deaths During Holidays
During its Yearend Special Operation, the Red Cross reportedly gave medical attention to 424 Zapote partygoers between Dec. 21 and Jan. 5, the last day of the yearend fiesta, according to the organization's press release. Most of those attended were people injured by the carnival rides, resulting in 52 injured patients taken to the hospital.
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Pacheco Appoints New Vice-Chancellor
President Abel Pacheco yesterday appointed Marco Vinicio Vargas the new Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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 Music Classes
Violin, piano, musical theory, open schedule, piano tutoring, Escazú. Info: 361-4713.

II Sunshine Run
Sat., Feb. 1, 3 p.m., 14 kms., all categories, including, dolphin tour, night tour to observe turtles, lodging, meals, live music, transportation, San José-Ostional-San José, Fri.-Sun., Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Info: 258-0809.

Japanese and Ikebana Classes
Registration, through Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m., Japanese Cultural Center, 300 m. North, 50 m. west of Pizza Hot, Paseo Colón. Info: 233-7176 (5-8 p.m.).

Massive Weekend Deportation of Nicaraguans

During a weekend roundup near the northern border, 441 undocumented Nicaraguans were detained and deported by Costa Rican authorities, Immigration announced yesterday.

According to regional police chief Edgar Hernández, most were impoverished campesinos who came to Costa Rica from all parts of Nicaragua in hopes of finding work harvesting sugar cane and beans.

Hernández said Immigration officials expect the massive flood of undocumented Nicaraguans to continue, and stressed that the immigration control operation along the Inter-American highway would continue throughout the week.

Each day, estimated hundreds of Nicaraguans cross the border illegally, easily slipping across the porous frontier in search of work.

Costa Rican Labor Minister Ovidio Pacheco announced last November that the Costa Rican job market was saturated and does not offer the same possibilities to Nicaraguan immigrants as it once did. Pacheco also noted that the Costa Rican agricultural sector is struggling, and cannot absorb a large number of Nicaraguan migrant workers.

Nevertheless, facing an estimated 74% poverty rate in Nicaragua, compounded by extreme hunger in the north of the country, many immigrants are apparently willing to risk deportation and a saturated Costa Rican economy and try their luck finding work here.
-AFP

Central American Trade Grew in 2002

GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - Trade between Central American countries grew by 10% in 2002, reaching a volume of $3 billion, the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) announced yesterday.

"The numbers show a sustainable growth rate averaging 8% over the last five years," said SIECA spokesman Haroldo Rodas, adding intra-Central American trade is especially important considering the region's traditional exports did not show any growth last year, while "non-traditional" exports grew by only 1% in 2002.

Rodas also noted the importance of the new Central American Trade Agreement, which has eliminated nearly 75% of all regional tariffs on 62 different products.

Red Cross Reports 45 Violent Deaths During Holidays

During its Yearend Special Operation, the Red Cross reportedly gave medical attention to 424 Zapote partygoers between Dec. 21 and Jan. 5, the last day of the yearend fiesta, according to the organization's press release. Most of those attended were people injured by the carnival rides, resulting in 52 injured patients taken to the hospital.

The Red Cross also reported 45 violent deaths between Dec. 24 and Jan. 5. Most were caused by automobile accidents. The youngest victim was six.

 

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Pacheco Appoints New Vice-Chancellor

Vargas swears in as Vice-Chancellor photo/Casa Presidencial

President Abel Pacheco yesterday appointed Marco Vinicio Vargas the new Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Alajuela native has worked in the Foreign Ministry since 1975, as well as served the Costa Rican government in Brazil, the United States and Belize, where he was Ambassador from 1998-2000, according to a press release.

Vargas, a lawyer, speaks English and Portuguese.

 

 

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