The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, May 08, 2003

TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: Canopy tour industry could be at the end of its rope. Don't miss Friday's TT print edition for complete details.
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'Electronic Signature' Program Unveiled
Science and Technology Minister Rogelio Pardo this week unveiled the final version of the government's "Electronic Signature" program, which will eventually allow users to authenticate legal documents and commercial transactions with "computerized signatures."
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May 08

Cani Cross
Register today in the 7-km race for owners (musher) and their dogs connected in a leash. The four best times will be rewarded with ¢5,000-30,000 in Benneton products and baskets with products for the dogs. The race is Sun., May 11, 8 a.m., in Fossil Land, Patarra, Desamparados. Info: 288-1060.

Un Viejo Con Alas
Don’t miss this play about a mentally ill old man who surprises doctors, patients and a whole town with a supernatural act. Thurs.-Sun., through May 25, FANAL Theater, Av. 3, Ca. 15. Info: 257-5524.

Visit the Insect Museum
Learn about the more than 500 species of insects of Costa Rica. The Museum is open Mon.-Fri., 1-4:45 p.m., at the basement of the University of Costa Rica’s School of Music, San Pedro. Info: 207-5647.

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'Electronic Signature' Program Unveiled
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Science and Technology Minister Rogelio Pardo this week unveiled the final version of the government's "Electronic Signature" program, which will eventually allow users to authenticate legal documents and commercial transactions with "computerized signatures."

Electronic signatures are unique computerized codes made up of hundreds of thousands of numbers used instead of printed signatures to validate legal documents, money transfers and purchases.

Last year, a special commission of government ministries, the Judicial Branch and the National Lawyers' Association (Colegio de Abogados) was appointed to study the system and draft a bill for Congress. The bill is now under study and awaiting vote.

"We hope the bill will be treated as a top priority," Pardo said. "Once the bill is passed and the necessary technology is put into place, electronic signatures will have the same legal validity as signed papers. This will make all types of transactions faster and more convenient."

The system would be especially beneficial to the Judicial System because rural lawyers will be able to and present signed documents without having to travel to San José.

The National Archive and Civil Registry's functions will also be greatly simplified, the Minister promised. Electronic signatures could help to make the country's financial system more flexible and will make paying taxes easier, he argued.

Fifteen government institutions are already backing the proposal, Pardo said.

"Electronic signatures are an extremely safe way to validate documents. The signature codes are practically impossible to forge," he explained. "Special public and private entities will be in charge of certifying unique signatures for companies, consumers and lawyers. Eventually, the country's electronic signatures will be certified by other countries, making international transactions faster and easier."

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Accused Pedophile Linked to Costa Rica

A 75-year-old U.S. citizen arrested recently in Nicaragua for alleged corruption and rape of minors, was a frequent visitor to Costa Rica, according to a Casa Alianza press release.

Roy Adrian Wildman, a retired boat captain, was arrested in Granada, Nicaragua, when police discovered him with a 13-year-old girl in his house against her will. Immigration records show Wildman had been in Costa Rica on seven occasions during the last three years, raising concerns of pedophile links between the two countries.

"Casa Alianza fears that there is a relation between the sexual exploitation of children in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica," said regional director Bruce Harris. "In various cases investigated in Costa Rica, the [suspect] foreigner has fled the country and later gotten involved in illicit activities against children in Nicaragua."

Police who arrested Wildman reportedly confiscated 38 rolls of film, computer discs and videos containing child pornography. It is not clear if the videos were shot in Nicaragua or elsewhere.

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ICE Fines Alcatel

The Costa Rican Electricity and Telecom Institute (ICE) confirmed yesterday that it has fined the French company Alcatel $2 million failing to comply with its contract to install GSM cell-phone lines on time.

Alcatel in 2002 won concession rights to install GSM technology to cover 400,000 cellular lines. But by March 15, the company had still not completed the project, nor resolved problems with client's cell-phone reception.

The story broke in the daily La Nación yesterday, prompting ICE Alvaro Retana to confirm the report, adding that Alcatel is already working to correct the problems.

ICE's contract with the French company is for $150 million, financed by the Central American Integration Bank.
-AFP

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