Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 13,  2003

TOYOTA PRIUS: New hybrid car could be on sale here before the end of the year. -AFP

Pacheco Defends CAFTA
As civil society leaders begin to plan a massive protest against the first round of Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) talks, scheduled to occur here in San José later this month, President Abel Pacheco yesterday took advantage of his weekly national radio address to defend the regional free-trade initiative with the United States.
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 Electric Car Refueling Station
To Be Build This Year
As the national oil refinery (RECOPE) asks Ticos to consume less gasoline at the pump, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) announced plans to open the country's first electric car refueling station, allowing users to consume nothing at the pump.
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Calderón Reelected to Board of Trustees of
Florida International University
Former Costa Rican President (1990-1994) and Social Christian Unity Party leader Rafael Angel Calderón Jr. is in Florida today to accept his reelection to Florida International University's Board of Trustees.
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Night Canopy Tour
Including music, lights, concert by Pimienta Negra concert, Wed., Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m., Waterfalls Canopy Tour 10 min. out of Jacó heading towards San Jose. Info: at Waterfalls Canopy Tour, 643-3322 or 392-4718.

Tortuga Island Tour
Take adventage of the summer day a visit this nice isle in the Pacific, all included, low season rates. Info: 362-7502.

Residents Association
Invites the community to join them to its Adventure visiting the Fiestas de Palmares renowned for the largest Tope (3,000 horses parade) in all of Costa Rica and making a stop first at Los Angeles Cloud Forest, Jan. 16. Reservations at 233-8068, 221-2053.

Pacheco Defends CAFTA

As civil society leaders begin to plan a massive protest against the first round of Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) talks, scheduled to occur here in San José later this month, President Abel Pacheco yesterday took advantage of his weekly national radio address to defend the regional free-trade initiative with the United States.

The President noted: "We already have free-trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Chile and the Dominican Republic and nothing bad has happened to us; only good things."

Before passing the microphone to Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos, who recently returned from the first round of preliminary talks in Washington, D.C., Pacheco stressed that free-trade allows small and medium-sized Tico businesses to access larger markets, and ultimately will help in the fight against poverty.

Trejos added: "What we are looking for in the free-trade negotiations with the United States is to improve and clarify the laws that protect our trade to the country that buys the most of our exports."

Trejos stressed that all sectors of civil society will be included in a consultation process, adding: "The Foreign Trade Ministry is open to attend any form of consultation from any social or business sector interested in the process."

Pacheco concluded the tag-team radio address asking Costa Ricans to be patient and peaceful.

"At this moment, there is no reason for certain groups to threaten with strikes, protests and violence, when at this moment we haven't even [started the negotiations]."

Don't miss this Friday's TT print edition for more on civil society's reaction to trade talks.

Electric Car Refueling Station
To Be Build This Year

As the national oil refinery (RECOPE) asks Ticos to consume less gasoline at the pump, the National Power and Light Company (CNFL) announced plans to open the country's first electric car refueling station, allowing users to consume nothing at the pump.

Engineers from the institution's electric transport department could not specify how much the station would cost or when it would begin operating, but were optimistic that it would start before the end of 2003, reported the daily La Republica.

The CNFL hopes opening of the station will motivate car companies to begin selling electric vehicles in Costa Rica. To promote electric cars, the Environment Ministry (MINAE) has proposed making them exempt from import taxes during 2003.

However, before electric cars begin operating on a wide scale, certain changed will be necessary. For instance, to refuel, electric cars require a 220-volt electrical current, most Tico homes use 110-volt currents.

In general, electric cars have lower running costs. A study conducted by the CNFL showed that it costs between ¢5 to ¢10 to power an electric car one kilometer, significantly less than the ¢26 it costs to cover the same distance using gasoline.

However, electric cars do have a downside. A full energy tank is only enough to cover about 80 kilometers, half of what average fuel-based cars can cover. This limitation rules-out the possibility of using electric cars on long journeys outside the city. Also, fully recharging a car's battery takes 15 hours.

Purdy Motors is currently testing-out Toyota's Prius electric car and is hoping to begin selling it sometime this year. Autos Xiri could begin importing electric Peugot vehicles as early as March.

Calderón Reelected to Board of Trustees of
Florida International University

Former Costa Rican President (1990-1994) and Social Christian Unity Party leader Rafael Angel Calderón Jr. is in Florida today to accept his reelection to Florida International University's Board of Trustees.

According to a university press release, Calderón was nominated to the post by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in accordance to a new constitutional amendment that reconfigured the way Florida public universities are governed.

Under the new system, the release states "each university retains a local Board of Trustees that works with a statewide Board of Governors to steer the institutions, and all appointments to the new Board of Trustees require Senate confirmation."

Calderón Jr. is the only former Latin American President to sit on the Board of Trustees.