The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 29, 2003

TRANQUILO: Pacheco asks Ticos to participate in trade talks, not protest.
AFP/ TT

Government Promises Transparency,
Disclosure in CAFTA Negotiations
Following the first day of negotiations for the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and amid several protest marches by demanding participation in the talks, President Abel Pacheco and Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos yesterday promised complete transparency in the discussions.
(Click for more)

Tico Soccer Star Gets Car Jacked
Police are investigating several gangs in the San José area suspected of stealing automobiles, following this week's car jacking of Costa Rican National Soccer Team player Wálter Centeno, a police source told The Tico Times yesterday.
(Click for more)

Arts Festival is Back On
In a quick turnaround that should leave Costa Rican art lovers content, Minister of Culture Guido Sáenz told the Tico Times yesterday he has decided the prestigious National and International Festival of the Arts (FIA) is back on for September, after announcing last week that it would be canceled.
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January 29

Paper Airplanes
Paper Airplane Contest at 3 p.m., Librería Internacional, Multiplaza, Escazú, 280-2011.

Eastern Dancing
Aya Sofya Restaurant invites everyone to enjoy its famous belly dance, at 9 p.m. Info: 221-7185.

Caribbean Tunes at Café
Isidor Asch and MARFIL honor Bob Marley and Carlos Santana at 10 p.m. at Jazz Café, across from Banco Popular, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

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Government Promises Transparency,
Disclosure in CAFTA Negotiations
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Following the first day of negotiations for the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and amid several protest marches by demanding participation in the talks, President Abel Pacheco and Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos yesterday promised complete transparency in the discussions.

The administration is asking citizens not to march in protest, but instead to take advantage of the various information sources and participatory mechanisms that have been created to keep the public informed. A major protest march is planned for this morning in San José.

"The start of the negotiations has been slow. Right now, the parties involved are exchanging the basic information necessary to begin further negotiations," Trejos explained. "Nothing has been decided upon; this is a long process that is likely to take over a year to complete."

"Every sector of society needs to take part in this process by using the mechanisms the government has put in place to help citizens stay informed of recent developments and express their views on the issues," he added.

Since October, the government has organized a series of informal forums to allow various sectors of society to express their goals and expectations for the agreement, as well as address trade issues they think should be omitted from the negotiations.

Trejos is calling the forums "very successful," claiming that hundreds of organizations from every sector of society participated actively.

The government also claims it is working closely with exporters and producers, dividing them into 50 sub-groups and keeping them abreast of all advances in the negotiations.

By meeting with the smaller working groups, Trejos said, the government and civil society will be able to reach agreements on the country's official position regarding CAFTA.

Now that the talks have begun, Trejos said the government will start meeting with different sectors -- particularly farmers and workers' unions -- on a more regular basis.

"By meeting more often, we'll make sure everyone is aware of what's happening. Our goal is for the public to become informed on the matter; that way it will be possible to maintain an open and mature dialogue with all sectors of society through the remainder of the process," he explained.

Trejos also promised to meet regularly with other branches of government.

"I intend to go before the international affairs committee at least every two weeks to keep them informed on recent developments," he said.

He refuted protesters' claims that the government is withholding information relating the trade pact, adding that more than 3,500 pages of information are readily available at the ministry's Website. (www.meic.go.cr)

Pacheco, meanwhile, remains optimistic and convinced the country will benefit from CAFTA.

"I am very enthusiastic about the treaty," he told reporters yesterday. "We're negotiating something that could help the country overcome poverty once and for all.

"I guarantee there will be transparency and full disclosure of everything discussed and agreed upon during the negotiations," he assured.

Don't miss Friday's TT print edition for full CAFTA coverage.

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Tico Soccer Star Gets Car Jacked
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Police are investigating several gangs in the San José area suspected of stealing automobiles, following this week's car jacking of Costa Rican National Soccer Team player Wálter Centeno, a police source told The Tico Times yesterday.

Centeno, who plays club soccer in Greece for AEK Athens, was assaulted outside a relative's home in Tibás, north of San José, Monday night at 10:15. Four masked men reportedly driving a red Nissan Sentra forced the soccer player, his wife, and two young children out of a BMW at gunpoint.

The star midfielder had just returned to Costa Rica from Greece to play with the National Team in the upcoming Central American Nations Cup, which begins next month in Panama.

The stolen car has not been found, and border control police have been put on alert for all BMWs crossing into Panama and Nicaragua.

The police source, who wished to remain anonymous, said investigators are also waiting to see whether the gang contacts Centeno in attempts to extort money in exchange for his car.

Although there were no witnesses to the crime, police claim they are watching several suspects believed to belong to known car jack gangs.

Centeno, who had an assist in Costa Rica's first World Cup game against China, has become a fan favorite in Greece in recent months by netting two goals that resulted in two ties against the world's primer soccer club, Real Madrid.

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Arts Festival is Back On
By Amanda Schoenberg
aschoenberg@ticotimes.net

In a quick turnaround that should leave Costa Rican art lovers content, Minister of Culture Guido Sáenz told the Tico Times yesterday he has decided the prestigious National and International Festival of the Arts (FIA) is back on for September, after announcing last week that it would be canceled.

Sáenz originally opposed continuing the festival because of what he described as a "decrease in quality programs."

"The festival has lost its prestige, and people are not going as much anymore. So after several months of deep thought, I decided to close it," Sáenz said.

Festival organizers and Ministry officials, however, convinced the Minister to give the FIA another chance. He admitted to The Tico Times yesterday that he was persuaded by arguments to keep the festival going.

This year's festival will take place in the Caribbean province of Limón, with activities planned in Siquierres, Central Limón, Guápiles and possibly Puerto Viejo. Preparations for the 2004 international festival in San José have also begun.

To ensure event quality, Sáenz created a commission to work on both the national and the international festival, including representatives from the National Dance Company, San José's Melico Salazar Theater and the Culture Ministry. The festival will also have a new director and producer, who will be appointed in the near future.

"The solution is to give the commission time to improve the festival," said Sáenz.

Current festival producer Marianella Protti told the Tico Times last week she was vehemently against the decision to suspend the festival, because it has always had tremendous public participation and has never canceled any performance due to lack of interest.

"It has always been a very contemporary festival, with workshops, educational projects, the best Costa Rican artists and invited guests from all over the world," Protti said.

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27 Netted in Immigration Raid

Immigration authorities detained 27 more foreigners in San José Monday night, bringing the total number of those detained since Dec. 19 to 308, according to a ministry release.

Of those detained in the last immigration sweep, 11 are Nicaraguans, seven Colombians, five U.S. citizens, a Dominican, a Honduran, a Canadian and a Romanian.

No information was provided about the identity or status of those detained.

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OBITUARY

Mike Cassini -- Michael J. Cassini

Born 16 May 1949
Died 21 January 2003

He lived well and touched us all. Mike never met a stranger.

He leaves behind his first wife in St. John, USVI, Pamela Cassini, and in Playa Zancudo, his wife, Neidy Cubillo Chavarria and four loving children: Gravon, 15; Anna, 14; Dax, 8; and Kiesha, 5.

He also leaves his two sisters in Cincinnati, Ohio: Gail Cassini and Kay Caruso. A memorial service will be held in Chincinnati at Our Lady of Angels.

The memorial service in Playa Zancudo will be held on Thursday, January 30 at 4:00 p.m. at the home of Mike and Neidy.

--submitted by the Zancudo community.