Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 25,  2003

DANCING FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Traditional dancers help raise money for handicapped children. story below. TT/ Scott Brennan

Shipwreck Victims Brought to C.R.
The 13 crewmembers of a Belize-registered ship that sank 22 kilometers off the Cuban coast last weekend were rescued by a Colombian-registered Dole banana boat and brought safely yesterday to the Caribbean port of Limón, where they are being questioned by Costa Rican authorities, said Security Minister Rogelio Ramos.
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U.S. to Present CAFTA Proposal During 2nd Round Trade Talks
The official trade-negotiation teams for five Central America countries met with their U.S. counterparts in Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday to kick off the second round of negotiations for the proposed free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States (CAFTA).
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Felix Foundation Festival Raises
Funds for Handicapped Children
Dressed in traditional Costa Rican costumes and stepping to the country's lively folkloric music, a children's dance troupe from the Pacific beach town of Quepos last weekend danced for a good cause: to raise funds for the Felix Foundation, an organization that works with handicapped children in the area.
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Edu-Canada Fair
A fair for foreign students to study and live in Canada, 2:30-7:30 p.m., Hotel Barceló Palacio. Info: 273-3231.

Poetry Recital and Book Presentation
By Ana Istarú "Poesía Escogida," and Alejandra Castro "Hay Milagros Peores que la Muerte," 7 p.m., Mexico Institute, Ca. 41, Av. 10. Info: 283-2333.

Furniture Exhibit of Former C.R. President Alfredo González Flores
Last week!, Casa de la Cultura, north side of the Main Catholic Church, Heredia, 261-4485.

Shipwreck Victims Brought to C.R.

The 13 crewmembers of a Belize-registered ship that sank 22 kilometers off the Cuban coast last weekend were rescued by a Colombian-registered Dole banana boat and brought safely yesterday to the Caribbean port of Limón, where they are being questioned by Costa Rican authorities, said Security Minister Rogelio Ramos.

The ship, which was reportedly transporting 25 buses, suffered damage from high seas and sent out an SOS Saturday around 11 p.m., shortly before sinking. The banana ship responding to the distress call pulled the crew --four Panamanians, four Hondurans, two Colombians, an Ecuadorian, a Peruvian and a Cuban -- from the water.

Three of the rescued crewmembers needed to receive medical attention from the Costa Rican Red Cross for bumps and bruises, but the other 10 are reportedly in good health.

Immigration Director Marco Badilla acknowledged that five of the crew -- the Colombians, the Cuban, the Peruvian and the Ecuadorian -- would normally require special visas to enter the country, but said he would grant all 13 shipwreck victims temporary tourist visas based on humanitarian considerations.

Costa Rican authorities claim that none of the rescued crew has indicated he wants to remain here permanently.

The company of the sunken ship will pick up the tab for the victims' hotel rooms here and their flights home.

U.S. to Present CAFTA Proposal
During 2nd Round Trade Talks

The official trade-negotiation teams for five Central America countries met with their U.S. counterparts in Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday to kick off the second round of negotiations for the proposed free-trade agreement between Central America and the United States (CAFTA).

In the second round of talks, which will conclude on Friday, the Central American nations will learn the U.S.' proposed version of the agreement.

"During this round, the United States will issue a basic proposal that will include most of the areas of the agreement," said Salvadoran Financial Vice-Minister Miguel Lacayo. "This will allow Central America to establish a basic parameter with which to measure the U.S.' negotiation position."

Trade representatives from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica will study the proposals presented this week by chief U.S. negotiator Regina Vargo, and seek clarity on several aspects of the future agreement, Lacayo said.

Lacayo explained that Central American negotiators "would not issue" their own proposals during the Cincinnati round, but instead try to get a clear understanding of what exactly the U.S. is offering.

"Central America will draft its own proposal after we get to know the U.S.' proposal and evaluate it to see how it compares with the area's interests," Ayala said.

Central America will present its counteroffer during the third round of negotiations.

The first round of CAFTA negotiations were held here last month, as protestors took to the streets demanding transparency in the trade talks. During the first round, negotiating teams exchanged basic information and discussed general topics that were not identified as "sensitive issues" to any of the participating countries (TT, Jan. 31).

The Central American countries, at the request of the U.S., agreed to keep advances in the trade talks a confidential matter. Each country, however, is responsible for informing the public of general aspects of the negotiation.

The U.S. proposal is expected to include most of the treaty's topics, but will exclude issues pertaining to labor and the environment, Ayala said.

The official negotiators for the Central American countries are Eduardo Ayala (El Salvador), Anabel González (Costa Rica), Melvin Redondo (Honduras), Carlos Sequeira (Nicaragua), and Salomón Cohen (Guatemala).

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Felix Foundation Festival Raises
Funds for Handicapped Children
By Isabel de Bertodano
Tico Times Staff

KEEPING THE BEAT. TT/ Scott Brennan

Dressed in traditional Costa Rican costumes and stepping to the country's lively folkloric music, a children's dance troupe from the Pacific beach town of Quepos last weekend danced for a good cause: to raise funds for the Felix Foundation, an organization that works with handicapped children in the area.

The four-day fund-raiser festival at Quepos' Hotel California also featured a jazz concert on Saturday night, an art exhibition and a cooking competition. One festival highlight was a theater performance by the Maleku Indian tribe from northern Costa Rica, who performed a short play about man's corruption of nature.

The Felix Foundation is raising funds for a newly-opened center in Quepos where handicapped children can receive free therapy while their parents can be taught how to better cope with their children's disabilities.

The festival concludes today with more music and dance, as well as an auction of paintings by well-known Costa Rican artists.

For more information or to donate to the foundation, call 777-1234.

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