The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, May 12, 2003

REVOLUTIONARY ROCK: Legendary Mexican rockers Mana performed a concert last night in Alajuela to promote their new album "Revolucion de Amor." Bassist Juan Calleros plays in front of the image of Zapatista spokesman, subcommandante Marcos.
AFP/TT

PAC Demands Transparency in CAFTA
As the trade-negotiation teams from Central America and the United States meet in Guatemala this week to begin the fourth round of free-trade talks, lawmakers of the Citizen Action Party (PAC) are warning that they will not vote on the eventual trade pact (CAFTA) if the Ministry of Foreign Trade does not make public the documents being discussed in the negotiation rounds.
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May 12

Talk to an Actress
THe Spanish Cultural Center invites everyone to a talk with Spanish actress
Cuca Escribano who worked in the productions "Solas" and "Yerna" and is
currently working in the movie "Caribe," by Costa Rican Esteban Ramírez.
Tonight at 7 p.m., Av. 13, Ca. 31. Info: 257-2919.

Last Days for Art Show
Last week to visit the exhibit by Priscilla Bianchi, Guatemalan Quilt Artist
Designer, which is open through May 16 at the Calderón Guardia Museum, Av.
11/13, Ca. 25, Barrio Escalante. Info: 222-6392, 255-1218.

Flamenco Night
Enjoy a wonderful Flamenco show at Jazz Cafe in San Pedro. Also, Bernal
Monestel will present his World Music and a happy hour 6-9 p.m. Reserve at
253-8933.

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PAC Demands Transparency in CAFTA
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

As the trade-negotiation teams from Central America and the United States meet in Guatemala this week to begin the fourth round of free-trade talks, lawmakers of the Citizen Action Party (PAC) are warning that they will not vote on the eventual trade pact (CAFTA) if the Ministry of Foreign Trade does not make public the documents being discussed in the negotiation rounds.

The eight remaining Citizen Action deputies announced Friday that they will abstain from voting on the CAFTA agreement, which will eventually have to be ratified by Congress, because Costa Rican citizens have been excluded from the trade talks and denied access to the trade-agreement drafts.

The minority lawmakers said that their votes will be contingent on the government approving several legal projects to protect the agricultural sector, guarantee health and ensure that Costa Ricans have access to credit to buy land, among other conditions provided in the eventual free-trade agreement.

The Patriotic Voting Bloc - the four deputies who defected from Citizen Action last February - have not yet said if they will condition their vote similarly.

Meanwhile, trade negotiators from Central American and the U.S. are meeting today in Guatemala City to kick off the fourth of nine rounds of trade talks scheduled for this year.

Anabel González, head of the Costa Rican trade negotiation team, said that the Central American delegates are expecting an answer from the U.S. regarding the request to eliminate agricultural subsidies made during the last round of talks (TT Daily Page, April 1).

The U.S. reportedly has sent a delegation of 250 people - the total number of delegates from all five of the Central American countries - to the forth round of negotiations.

The Guatemala talks will also be attended by some 500 business leaders from Central America and the U.S.

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Plague of Chayules Threatens Shark Population

A recent insect plague on the Rio San Juan, separating Costa Rica and Nicaragua, has gotten so bad in recent weeks that it is now threatening the existence of the Tora shark -- the only species in the world that has adapted to fresh water - according to the Nicaraguan Environment Ministry.

The plague of chayules - a relative of the Mayfly that lives its entire life in one day - is reportedly so thick on the Rio San Juan that it has actually depleted oxygen levels in the water and is now posing a threat to the river's sharks and other wildlife, according to a new ministry report.

The study found that the bodies of the dead and decomposing insects floating on the river's surface has resulted in a reduction of oxygen levels by 1.2 to 1.8 points - lower than the required oxygen levels needed by many species for survival.

A Tico Times reporter who recently visited the area likened the insect plague to a "sandstorm in the desert," adding that, after the nighttime swarms: "by daybreak, most collapse into a sawdust-like pile of green fluff on the sidewalks, stairs and porches" (TT, May 2).

The Environment Ministry's study of chuyules began last week, following the discovery of dead sharks, crabs and shrimp.

The Tora shark is already threatened with extinction due to shark hunters in the Rio San Juan and Lake Nicaragua.
-AFP

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U.S. Pedophile Suspect Arrested

A 76-year-old retired U.S. military serviceman identified as Wayne Alden Davis, of Pennsylvania, was arrested in the western suburb of Escazú last week for suspected involvement in the sexual exploitation of minors, according to a Casa Alianza press release.

Davis, who reportedly has lived in Costa Rica for the last five years, was discovered to have numerous nude photographs of young girls and boys in his apartment. Police also reportedly confiscated a computer, several firearms and various "sex toys."

Police were tipped off about Davis from a 14-year-old girl, who provided testimony against the alleged pedophile, according to Casa Alianza.

Davis is currently being held under house arrest after paying a $2,500 bail, according to the release. Police are investigating.

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