Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 05,  2003

WOMAN BEHIND THE SCENES: Lineth Saborío entrusted with another post. TT/AFP

Odio Named Judge on International Criminal Court
With 60 votes in her favor, former Vice-President and ex-Environment Minister Elizabeth Odio yesterday was named one of seven new Judges on the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague.
(Click for more)

Saborío Given Another Job
In his latest Cabinet reshuffling, President Abel Pacheco yesterday named Vice-President Lineth Saborío Planning
Minister, replacing Rina Contreras,
who holds the post of Presidency Minister
 and was filling the post on a temporary basis.
(Click for more)

Pacheco Getting Press Shy
Following his recent fall in the opinion polls, President Abel Pacheco told reporters yesterday that he is going to reduce his contact with the national press so as not to "overexpose" himself.
(Click for more)

Casting for Costa Rican Movie
Producciones Astarté and Centro de Cine invite wannabe actors to try out for roles in the upcoming Costa Rican movie "EL CAMINO DE SASLAYA."

The company is looking for Nicaraguan women, men, girls and a man of any nationality 60-65, a professional actor 30-35, a handsome Costa Rican man 35-40 , an extroverted Tica girl 11-14 and a Tica woman 30-45 with can play a suffering role.

Those interested in a roll should show up Feb. 8-9, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. to Centro de Cine 100 m. north of INS.

Story Telling at Library
"Pancita the story-telling pet of Librería Internacional" is entertaining kids with the story "Sombreros Cocodrilos," at 3:30 p.m., at the library in Multiplaza, Escazú. Info: 201-8320.

Dancing the Best Cumbia
Learn to dance Costa Rica's "jumpy" version of Cumbia to the tunes of Yaguaré Group at 9 p.m., at Castro’s Bar, Barrio México. Info: 253-7334.

Odio Named Judge on International Criminal Court

Judge Odio

With 60 votes in her favor, former Vice-President and ex-Environment Minister Elizabeth Odio yesterday was named one of seven new Judges on the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague.

Despite Odio's tiff with President Abel Pacheco, who refused to nominate her for the position because of the poor job he felt she did as Vice-President and Environment Minister under President Miguel Angel Rodríguez (1998-2002), Odio managed to become the third highest vote-getter of all the international candidates vying for the post. She eventually turned to neighboring Panama for official nomination (TT Daily Page, Jan. 10).

"This is a triumph for a person who has fought hard for the rights of women," said Sonia Picado, president of the Costa Rican-based Inter-American Institute of Human Rights. "Elizabeth represents the cause of human rights and, with her strong and dedicated character, we are convinced that governments [around the world] will feel more compelled to fulfill their humanitarian obligations."

"Congratulations to doña Elizabeth Odio for her personal triumph, which all Costa Ricans are celebrating," echoed Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar.

Odio currently serves as a member of the Inter-American Human Rights Institute's Directive Council. She served as vice-president of the special tribunal in charge of judging war crimes committed in the Balkans and for 20 years served as a member of the work group in charge of drafting the United Nations Optional Torture Protocol.

The International Criminal Court was created July 7, 2001. Judges, according to the protocol, must be qualified in human-rights work, international law, and must be recognized for their strong moral character as well as integrity and impartiality.

The eleven remaining judges will be elected today in the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Saborío Given Another Job
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

In his latest Cabinet reshuffling, President Abel Pacheco yesterday named Vice-President Lineth Saborío Planning Minister, replacing Rina Contreras, who holds the post of Presidency Minister and was filling the post on a temporary basis.

Saborío -- Pacheco's jack-of-all-trades-- said she will try to revitalize the seemingly under-worked Planning Ministry (MIDEPLAN) by transforming it into a managing institution that will serve as a link between various other government institutions, helping them to better coordinate their efforts and make better use of their resources.

"This administration's main focus is on social issues; our primary goal is to reduce poverty and create more development opportunities," Saborío explained. "We've decided to include MIDEPLAN as a central part of that effort."

Saborío's words came as a surprise to some observers, who still haven't figured out what exactly the Planning Ministry has done during the first nine months of the Pacheco administration.

"Through the Ministry's coordination and planning, we will eliminate the duplication of functions and reduce wasteful and unnecessary spending, making the most efficient use of the limited resources we have," said the hardest-working woman in government.

Recognized for her strong organizational and leadership skills, Saborío claimed that inter-institutional coordination and communication have dramatically worsened over the last 12 years. Eliminating this problem will be her top priority as Planning Minister, she said.

The Planning Ministry has three main branches: Development Analysis, Institutional Modernization and International Cooperation.

The Development Analysis branch will be charged with evaluating different regions' specific needs, weaknesses, strengths and how each government institution can help them.

The Institutional Modernization Branch has the task of revising other institutions' plans and procedures and proposes reforms aimed at eliminating duplicity of functions.

The International Cooperation branch, meanwhile, attempts to make the most efficient use of the international aid the country receives, distributing it among institutions involved in social development programs.

Saborío also plans to continue the process of decentralizing development programs, by transferring coordination functions to the regions where development projects take place and possibly reopening the Ministry's regional branches, which were closed down during the Rodríguez Administration (1998-2002).

Saborío replaces Contreras, who last December replaced Danilo Chaverrí, who resigned after a falling-out with Pacheco.

During the first nine months of this administration, Saborío has served as Vice-President, Justice Minister, head of the Social Affairs Council, head of the National Security Council, and has coordinated flood-relief efforts in the eastern province of Limón. She previously served as director of the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ).

Along with her new job, Saborío will continue to fulfill her duties as Vice-President and head of the Social Affairs Council.