The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 24, 2003

CRISIS CONTINUES: Affects of Venezuela's strike felt in C.R.
-AFP

BID Loans C.R. $14.5 Million for CAFTA
Enrique Inglesias, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), will arrive in Costa Rica tomorrow to meet with President Abel Pacheco and loan the government $14.5 million to support the agricultural sector in its preparation for the regional free-trade agreement with the United States (CAFTA).
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Stargazers Await Comet's Arrival
The recently discovered comet passing earth may have a neat name, but viewing it from Costa Rica is going to be difficult.
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January 24

See Today's TT Print Edition for Full Calendar Listings

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Venezuela Strike Affects C.R. Plastic Prices

The Costa Rican Plastic Industry Association yesterday announced a 30 - 50% price hike in plastic prices due to the increase in crude oil prices caused by political crisis in Venezuela and a possible military attack on Iraq.

"Due to the prolonged strike in Venezuela, the world's fifth largest oil producer and third largest supplier of the United States, which makes 100% of the resins (used for plastics), there is a shortage in plastic," according to the organization's press release.

"We also have to prepare for a possible war between the United States and Iraq, the consequences of which would be catastrophic," the release reads.

The Association said it has to increase prices of plastic immediately to avoid the total collapse of the industry.

Meanwhile, thousands of Venezuelans loyal to President Hugo Chavez took to the streets of Caracas yesterday, as the general strike entered its 53rd day.
-AFP

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BID Loans C.R. $14.5 Million for CAFTA

Enrique Inglesias

Enrique Inglesias, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), will arrive in Costa Rica tomorrow to meet with President Abel Pacheco and loan the government $14.5 million to support the agricultural sector in its preparation for the regional free-trade agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

The BID is part of a network of international organizations supporting a Costa Rican-initiated projected called the "Integral Cooperation Agenda," which aims to provide technical assistance to various sectors affected by the free-trade agreement.

The Organization of American States, the World Trade Organization and the Latin American Economic Commission (CEPAL) also belong to the Integral Cooperation Agenda.

"The idea is to coordinate an assistance package to maximize the advantages of the free-trade agreement and take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring us," said Roberto Echandi, Costa Rica's ambassador to the CAFTA negotiations.
-AFP

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Stargazers Await Comet's Arrival
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

The recently discovered comet passing earth may have a neat name, but viewing it from Costa Rica is going to be difficult.

Known as NEAT V1 2002, the comet cannot be seen with the naked eye, only with binoculars or a telescope from an area with minimal or no background light contamination, according to Science and Space Studies Foundation (FUCES).

As the comet passes some 130 million kilometers from earth in late January and early February, it can be best viewed at 6:30 p.m. in the western sky between the constellations Pisces and Pegasus.

FUCES is leading private outings to the summit of Irazú Volcano this weekend and next for those who want to view the comet. The bus leaves from the UCR's San Pedro campus at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and returns at 9:30 p.m. FUCES will bring professional telescopes and binoculars, and the foundation's astronomers will give an informative talk.

The cost of the trip is ¢12,000. Call 262-7918 for more information.

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Female Cops Meet in Panama

PANAMA CITY (AFP) - More than 100 female police officers from Central American and the Caribbean islands met yesterday in the Panamanian capital for the first session of a three-day conference focusing on gender issues in police forces.

Referring to the participation of women in public security, Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, Latin America's only female head of state, said historical paradigms have changed, adding, "The role of women as housewives is now in the past."

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