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ASYLUM REQUEST DENIED. Costa Rica Tuesday rejected an asylum request made by four Honduran indigenous women on Monday, saying that “there was no credible evidence” to back up their claims of suffering political persecution.
Tico Times/AFP

First Results of Government Evaluation
Program Are In, Vice-President Pleased
Vice-President and Planning Minister Lineth Saborío Tuesday announced the first results of the Planning Ministry's (MIDEPLAN) government institution evaluation program. The program aims to monitor efforts by government institutions to accomplish specific goals and functions and improve the quality of the services they provide.
(Click for more)

Costa Rican Rejects Asylum Request
Made by Honduran Indigenous Women
Tegucigalpa, Honduras (AFP) - Costa Rica Tuesday rejected an asylum request made by four Honduran indigenous women on Monday, saying that "there was no credible evidence" to back up their claims of suffering political persecution.
(Click for more)

Feminist Film Festival
Tonight, "Thelma and Louise," April 10; "Memorias de Antonia," April 24; "Holly Smoke," May 15; "Camila," May 29, all at 6 p.m., atCalderón Guardia Museum, Av. 11/13, Ca. 25, Barrio Escalante. Info: 222-6392.

National Symphony Concert
Don't miss it! Tonight at 8 p.m., National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 3/5. Info: 221-5103.

Tropical Dancing Night
Yaguaré will be performing cumbia, salsa, merengue and more at Salón Monrío, Turrialba. Info: 253-7334.

First Results of Government Evaluation
Program Are In, Vice-President Pleased
Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Vice-President and Planning Minister Lineth Saborío Tuesday announced the first results of the Planning Ministry's (MIDEPLAN) government institution evaluation program. The program aims to monitor efforts by government institutions to accomplish specific goals and functions and improve the quality of the services they provide.

Each institution was required to give MIDEPLAN a report detailing how it performed its assigned tasks over the last year. A copy of the report was also sent to the Comptroller General's Office for evaluation. The Comptroller's Office has 30 employees working full-time verifying the information on the reports. After the verification is done, the report will be presented before Congress.

The program evaluated 796 distinct goals from 56 different institutions. Each institution was ranked according to how effectively it performed each goal using a scale ranging from excellent (accomplished the goal faster and more efficiently than required) to badly (failed to take steps towards accomplishing the goal).

Of all the goals the public sector had, 27% were accomplished excellently, 24% very well, 9% as good, 7% regular, 21% badly, and 12% did not apply.

Saborío was pleased with the initial results. "Despite it being a very demanding scale, most institutions performed well," she explained. "The evaluation's main purpose was to show us if we are moving in the right direction towards improving the way our institutions operate."

The Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT), the Presidency Ministry and the Public Housing Ministry (MIVAH) had the highest ranking among all government ministries. The Public Education Ministry (MEP) had a very high rating, but only one institutional goal (granting scholarships to underprivileged students) was evaluated. The Ministries of the Environment (MINAE) and Commerce and Industry (MEIC) had the lowest rating.

Among autonomous institutions, the highest rated were the National Housing and Urban Development Institute (INVU), the National Lottery, and the National Learning Institute (INA). The Financial Institutions Regulatory Agency (SUGEF) and public monopoly Internet provider RACSA ranked the lowest.

"Institution leaders and employees have shown a strong commitment to making the improvements necessary at each institution that will help us adapt our development model to the country's actual needs," Saborío explained. "The results show there is still room for improvement both in the performance of public institutions and in the methods MIDEPLAN uses to evaluate institutions."

Over the next year, MIDEPLAN plans to reactivate its regional and sectorial councils to improve cooperation between different institutions. To improve the public sector's efficiency and reduce unnecessary spending and duplication of functions, various institutions' budgets and plans will be integrated through Annual Operative Plans (PAOS) in 2004.

A change will also take place in which institutional goals MIDELPLAN will evaluate. "Before, each institution chose three or four annual goals that would be evaluated," Saborío explained. "From now on we will evaluate how the institution performs all the functions that are assigned to it. This eliminates the possibility that an institution will choose to report on only a few very successful programs."

The full 169-page report is available on the Internet at www.mideplan.go.cr.

European Parliament Ratifies Decision to Raise
Tariffs on Non-Traditional Tico Exports As of November

Brussels, Belgium (AFP) -- After just a few hours of debating the issue, the European Union's (EU) European Parliament yesterday voted to ratify an earlier decision by the European Commission to raise import tariffs on several Costa Rican and Colombian non-traditional export plants and fruits.

The tariffs, which are likely to have devastating effects on many local companies that cater to the specific needs of the European market, will go into effect Nov. 1.

Costa Rica and Colombia are part of the European Union's (EU) "Generalized System of Preferences" (GSP) program -- a unilateral concession that allows certain non-traditional exports to enter European markets tariff-free.

The products on each country's GSP list are evaluated regularly to see if they still meet the requirements for tax exemptions. If exports of a product reach a certain volume during three consecutive years, the product "graduates" from the program and becomes subject to tariffs.

Since mid-January, Costa Rican diplomats, foreign trade officials, former presidents and exporters have lobbied the EU in hopes of brining the down the proposed measure.

On Feb. 11 the European Commission voted to begin applying the tariffs on June 1. Costa Rica vowed to appeal the decision. Yesterday's decision by the European Parliament brings a definitive end to all hopes of stopping and delaying the increase in tariffs. (TT Daily Page, Jan. 15, 23, 28; Feb. 10, 23; Apr. 9; TT Jan. 31)

Several non-traditional exports, including pineapples, melons, ferns, and ornamental flowers will now face steep tariffs of 8% or more.

According to government estimates, the products affected by tariffs, particularly the pineapple sector whom currently generates $152 million yearly revenues, could lose as much as $300 million the coming year.

Exporters have in past said that the increase in tariffs would drive several companies out of business or would force them to move to another country, leaving some 10,000 workers, many of which are poor Nicaraguan immigrants and single-mothers, unemployed.

The European Parliament also voted to reject another proposal aimed at raising tariffs on Argentinean and Uruguayan exports. An amendment was made to the SGP regulations to exclude all countries that in recent years have suffered negative economic growth of 3% or more.

The EU's Foreign Ministers are expected to officially announce the new tariffs on April 14.