The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, March 07, 2003

EXCOMMUNICATE US: Spanish feminist group presents Vatican offices with 26,000 signatures of people asking the Catholic Church to excommunicate them as an act of solidarity with 9-year-old rape victim "Rosa." Story in today's TT print edition.
AFP/TT

Saprissa Rolls Out 'Purple Carpet' for New Owner
It takes money to make money.
And even though San José's Saprissa Deportiva was down to its last céntimos just weeks ago, the soccer club, feeling a little more confident due to its recent $4 million buyout by Mexican businessman Jorge Vergara, rolled out the "purple carpet" last night with a $50,000 welcome celebration for the team's new owner.
(Click for more)

March 07

Beauty Sleep: Provisional Name
Dance show by Vicky Cortés, Fri.-Sun., March 7-9 Teatro 1887, CENAC, Ca. 15, Av. 3. Info: 222-2974.

Blessing of the Animals
Sun., March 9, 11 a.m., Unity, Piedades, Santa Ana, pets should be registered by March 7. Info: 203-9018, 381-5147.

Bob Nieske Jazz Trio
From Brandeiss University, Massachussets, Fri.-Sat., March 7-8, Eugene O’Neill Theater, C.R.-North American Cultural Center, Ca. 37, Barrio Dent. Info: 207-7554.

Bolshoi Ballet "Don Quijote:"
More than 42 dancers, Fri.-Sat., March 7-8, National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 3/5. Info: 223-1960, 223-1086, www.conciertosinternacionales.com

National Boyero Day
Sat., March 8, 7:30 p.m., Campesino Music Festival; Sun., March 9, 9 a.m., Marimba Concert, Cultural Activities, 10 a.m., Oxcart parade from the Escazú Municipality to San Antonio; 12:30 p.m., Awards and raffles; 2 p.m., Marcarade and típico music, San Antonio, Escazú. Info: 228-5757.

Brazilian Carnival Dancing Night: Organized by the Brazilian Studies Center, Sat., March 8, Radisson Europa Hotel, next to La República Newspaper, Barrio Tournón. Info: 222-5753, 222-9160.

Cembalo Recital: Sat., March 8, 6 p.m., José Figueres Center, San Ramón, Alajuela. Info: 447-2178.

Dance Show ¿De Qué Juega Usted?
By Danza Universitaria group, celebrating its XXV Anniversary, Fri., March 7, 8 p.m., Teatro Montes de Oca, in front of Carlos Monge Library, University of Costa Rica campus.

Health Fair: Featuring sports, food tasting, until Sunday, March 9, Multiplaza. Info: 253-5518.

International Women’s Day Celebrations
Sat., March 8, 5 p.m., José Figueres Ferrer Center, San Ramón, Alajuela; Sun., March 9, 10 a.m.-noon, artistic shows, Juan Santamaría Park, Alajuela, 440-1022. Concert with women, trova, bolero, jazz, Sat., March 8, 8 p.m., Café Expresivo, 375 m. east of Santa Teresita Church, Barrio Escalante. Info: 224-1202.

LTG’s "Blithe Spirit:"
One of Noel Coward’s most famous plays, about a love triangle including a ghost, directed by Ann Antkiw, Through Mar. 9, Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2:30 p.m. Final Sunday matinee performance is a benefit for Comercio Alternativo organic product distributor, healthful and helpful environment education support. Blanche Brown Theater. Info: 289-3910.

Mexican Food Festival
Fri.-Sun., March 7-9, Más por Menos Supermarket, Metrocentro, Cartago. Info: 253-5518.

Orchid Exhibit
Through March 9, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Librería Internacional, Multiplaza, Escazú. Info: 280-2011.

Last Day for Literature Congress
Encounter with invited writers, Fri., March 7, 6:30 p.m., at Teatro 1887, CENAC, Ca. 15, Av. 3.

Return To Top Of Page

Dead Tico to be Repatriated from U.S.

The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday it is finalizing arrangements with the U.S. and Canadian governments to transport back to Costa Rica the body of 34-year-old Costa Rican citizen Marvin Giovanni Navarro, who died last Thursday after falling off a precipice along the U.S.-Canadian border.

The Foreign Ministry is also negotiating with airlines to try to reduce the repatriation cost, which was originally estimated at $7,500 to $11,000. The Lions Club of Orange Country, California, the Costa Rican community in Los Angeles and various Canadian organizations have reportedly already raised the money needed to pay for repatriation.

Navarro and another Costa Rican had been abandoned by a Salvadoran "Coyote" -- person hired to smuggle illegal immigrants into another country, reported the daily Al Día.

He had intended to enter the U.S. to work and save money to return to Costa Rica, get married and open a video-rental store. Navarro originally planned to enter the U.S. through the Mexican border, but changed his mind after hearing news reports of several Mexican immigrants who died of asphyxiation in a truck while crossing the border.

Navarro traveled to Canada last August and worked for a Costa Rican woman and her Canadian husband building a basement. He and a friend saved enough money to hire a "coyote" and cross the border into the U.S.

"They were going to cross through Toronto, but the 'coyote' was charging them $2,500," said Sara Ortiz, Navarro's mother. "A Salvadoran was willing to help them cross for $1,000."

They left Canada on Thursday. Once they made it into the U.S., the "coyote" abandoned the two Ticos, leaving them to cross the rugged mountainous terrain near Vedder Mountain in the dead of winter.

It was then that Navarro slipped and fell down the precipice. Local residents heard cries for help and contacted police. Using special binoculars, Immigration Police found them. The other man stayed with Navarro until police found them, despite knowing he would be deported if caught.

Navarro was pronounced dead as a result of the severe wounds caused by the fall and hypothermia.

Return To Top Of Page

Saprissa Rolls Out 'Purple Carpet' for New Owner
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

It takes money to make money.

And even though San José's Saprissa Deportiva was down to its last céntimos just weeks ago, the soccer club, feeling a little more confident due to its recent $4 million buyout by Mexican businessman Jorge Vergara, rolled out the "purple carpet" last night with a $50,000 welcome celebration for the team's new owner.

The rags to riches team threw a millennium-esq fiesta last night before a crowd of thousands of fans sporting the team's purple-and-white uniforms and packed into Saprissa stadium, where they were treated to music, dancing women, lights and all the hype money could buy.

The party was to celebrate what the team and its fans hope marks the beginning of a new era of success, following several years of disappointing performances. Saprissa, one of Costa Rica's most traditionally successful and popular teams, has not won a national championship in the last two years.

Vergara has already won the hearts of the team's faithful with his wallet and his promises to make the team the best soccer club in Costa Rican and Central America (TT Daily Page, Mar. 3).

The Mexican businessman also owns the Mexican soccer club the Chivas of Guadalajara.

Return To Top Of Page

Nicaragua Poised to Sell Carbon Bonds

Following Costa Rica's lead, the Nicaraguan government yesterday announced it is planning to sell greenhouse-gas mitigation certificates, or "carbon bonds," reported AFP.

"Carbon bonds" -- controversial certificates that reward developing nations for protecting their forests, which supposedly sequester carbon -- are sold to developed nations to offset high pollution emissions.

The program in Nicaragua is being promoted by the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and the Canadian and Dutch governments.

"There are many countries obliged to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and it costs a lot of money to do this," said Marina Stadthagen, director of Nicaragua's Clean Development Office. "For countries like Japan, reducing these gases costs fifty times what it would cost in Nicaragua. For this reason, Japan is going to buy carbon bonds instead of reducing its own emissions; Japan could be a big buyer for us."

Costa Rica began the carbon bond program in 1992, and has had mixed success (TT, July 2, 1999).

Return To Top Of Page

Court Orders La Nación to Pay
Central Bank $1.2 million

The Supreme Court this week upheld an earlier sentence ordering La Nación S.A., parent company of the daily La Nación newspaper, to pay the Costa Rican Central Bank $1.2 million to cover losses the institution incurred after allowing the company to exchange colones for dollars at an unauthorized preferential rate nearly 20 years ago, the daily La República reported.

The Court annulled an agreement reached over 20 years ago between the Central Bank's Board of Directors and La Nación which allowed the paper to acquire dollars below the regular exchange rate to purchase a new press.

The problem began during administration of President Rodrigo Carazo (1978-1982), while the country underwent its worst economic crisis in Costa Rican history and the supply of dollars was strictly rationed.

During the administration of Luis Alberto Monge (1982-1986), the incoming board of directors of the Central Bank concluded that the exchange was illegal and La Nación was asked to pay back the difference.

The matter was taken to court and for 20 years awaited resolution. Initially, the court had ordered La Nación to pay $2.5 million. The newspaper appealed and was able to reduce the amount by half.

During its last earnings quarter, La Nación earned $4.6 million. The amount it was ordered to pay represents nearly 20% of its earnings.

Return To Top Of Page