The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 4, 2003

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW: Pacheco bids farewell to Fischel (left) and introduces Toledo.
TT/Fabian Borges

Fischel Resigns, Strikes Continue
With the teachers' strike in full swing, Minister of Education Astrid Fischel resigned her post yesterday, citing unbearably intense pressure from the national press and uncompromising union leaders.
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Diver with 'Bends' Saved at
New Rural Clinic
Larry Heiskell of Key Largo, Florida, is being called a hero in the rural fishing community of Cuajiniquil de La Cruz, 45 minutes north of the Guanacaste capital of Liberia, after saving the life of a 15-year-old local diver who developed Decompression Sickness (known popularly as "the bends") last Friday.
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All Public Teachers Now on Strike, Fischel to Resign
As all of Costa Rica's teachers' unions -- totaling 60,000 public-school educators -- announced an indefinite strike yesterday in protest of continued salary irregularities, Education Minister Astrid Fishchel reportedly will hand in her resignation today.
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June 4

Learning a Bit More on Education
Everyone is invited to attend the Education Abroad Symposium, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Monteverde Institute. There will be refreshments and lunch. Info: 645-5053, 5365, 5219 (ext. 124).

Public Universities, What Do They Do?
Want the answer? Don’t miss the conference "The Role of Public Universities at the Beginning of the 20th Century," by Dr. Juan Ramón de la Torre, Dean of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, at 10 a.m., Clodomiro Picado Auditorium, Universidad Nacional campus, Heredia. Info: 237-5929, 277-3224.

Films and Videos for Science Fiction Lovers
Centro de Cine presents today at 6 p.m., "1984," directed by Bile August and writen by George Orwell. The Center is on Av. 9, Ca. 11. Info: 222-9329.

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Fischel Resigns, Strikes Continue
By Amanda Schoenberg
The Tico Times

With the teachers' strike in full swing, Minister of Education Astrid Fischel resigned her post yesterday, citing unbearably intense pressure from the national press and uncompromising union leaders.

Fischel was sixth Cabinet member to resign or be fired during President Abel Pacheco's year-old administration, and the third in one week. Presidency Minister Rina Contreras and Finance Minister Walter Bolaños stepped down May 27 (TT Daily Page, May 28, TT, May 30).

The Education Minister claimed she complied with the two agreements signed last month by government officials and union leaders, and insisted she did all she could to correct the persistent payment problems (TT, May 16,23, 30).

Although Fischel has repeated over the last two months that she would not resign over the payment snafus, she said yesterday that the "opportune moment" had arrived for her to leave her position.

"I wouldn't leave without resolving these things," said Fischel. "We did all we could, but our efforts were not recognized."

Fischel took a parting swipe at the national press for what she described as "distortions" and "sensationalism" in media coverage of her tenure as Minister. She argued that positive developments within the Ministry of Education consistently were downplayed by negative reports about issues such as teacher salaries.

Fischel also blamed union leaders for "not seeing beyond their short-term personal interests." She said some union leaders had actually confided to her privately that the work stoppage was unjustified because the Ministry of Education had complied with its promises to pay 99% of teacher salaries, but decided to strike anyway.

The Education Minister said her departure will help ease the tense educational climate of late and claimed a new administrator may have "more strength to face this unequal battle." She called the continuing teacher strike "unjustified," and warned strikers they are in danger of losing the pay increase promised for working an extended 200-day school year.

Undeterred, teachers planned to join Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) workers in a march from Parque Central to the Casa Presidencial today, beginning at 10 a.m (TT Daily Page, May 2).

President Abel Pacheco said he had not yet named a replacement for Fischel, who will remained at her post until June 15. Despite Pacheco's unfailing support of Fischel throughout her year-long term, he said he respected her desire to resign, calling her a "great Costa Rican."

"All human beings have their limits," said Pacheco. "Doña Astrid has been subjected to true torture."

Fischel planned to continue her work as a historian and professor, and hinted that she is considering authoring a book highlighting her side of this year's educational quagmire.

She also hopes to dedicate more time to her family and to "recuperate" from the intense media scrutiny of her personal and public life, she said.

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Diver with 'Bends' Saved at New Rural Clinic
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Heiskell puts the finishing touches on his Hyperbaric Chamber
photo/Larry Heiskell

Larry Heiskell of Key Largo, Florida, is being called a hero in the rural fishing community of Cuajiniquil de La Cruz, 45 minutes north of the Guanacaste capital of Liberia, after saving the life of a 15-year-old local diver who developed Decompression Sickness (known popularly as "the bends") last Friday.

Heiskell, vice-president of the International Institute of Oceanic Exploration, had just finished a two-year project building the country's first operational Hyperbaric Chamber Facility to treat divers infected with Decompression Sickness -- nitrogen bubbles that form in the blood due to prolonged submersion or rapid ascension when diving.

The $250,000 facility, paid for the Key Largo-based Hyperbarics International, was put to the test when a young local fisherman named Fabricio Caravaca got a severe case of the bends last Friday morning, after two hours of diving for octopus.

Fabricio, an untrained diver, was rushed by his parents to Heiskell's newly constructed facility. When he arrived, Heiskell, an internationally certified Hyperbarics Chamber Technician, determined that the young patient had developed a nitrogen bubble in his brain and his life was in serious danger.

"He either would have died or been severally mentally and physically impaired for life," Heiskell told The Tico Times yesterday. "He was in really bad shape; he could not walk, his eyes were going in different directions and he was all bent over."

Heiskell and his newly trained staff gave Caravaca pure oxygen and put him into the recompression chamber, which was adjusted to simulate the pressure of a 33-foot dive, Heiskell explained.

After an hour of treatment, including a "15-minute ascension," Caravaca emerged from the chamber "strong and clear-headed" to a large crowd of townspeople who had gathered to watch the test drive of the machine Heiskell had spent the last two years building.

Heiskell said an hour-long treatment in the recompression chamber in the U.S. costs $850, but he charged Caravaca's father only a "handshake."

"We couldn't have turned him down," Heiskell said. "If he had died, I would have been the Gringo from Hell. But now he should live to be a healthy old man, unless he crashes his motorcycle."

Heiskell said he saw the need to build Hyperbarics Chamber in Costa Rica to help save young and inexperienced divers who dive to pluck lobster and other shellfish off the ocean floor.

Heiskell said he thinks Caravaca was the first bends victim to be saved by Hyperbaric Chamber in Costa Rica, but claims there are about half a dozen other young men in town with symptoms of Decompression Sickness.

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Pacheco Names New Minister, Warns of Conspiracy
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

Pacheco smells a conspiracy
AFP/TT

President Abel Pacheco yesterday named ruling Social Christian Unity Party Congressman Ricardo Toledo his new Presidency Minister, replacing Rina Contreras, who was forced to resign of May 27 as a result of pressure from the Congress (TT Daily, May 28).

Pacheco also warned of an underground conspiracy working to weaken his government and destabilize Costa Rica.

"I admit there have been many sudden changes in this government," the President said. "Few governments have had to deal with conditions such as these - a worldwide recession, a war, a drop in the price of our exports, an increase in oil prices, terrible plagues, natural disasters, and now a series of unjustified strikes.

"The changes in my government have been caused by many reasons," he continued. "Sometimes, as with [former Education Minister] doña Astrid [Fischel], people can't cope with the constant public scrutiny associated with serving the country. Others, as a result of the economic crisis, have been forced to give up their altruistic government posts to take care of their own businesses [former Tourism Minister Ruben Pacheco]. Others, like [former Finance Minister] don Jorge Walter [Bolaños] are now suffering health problems as a result of the stress of governing."

In addition to these problems, the government has been faced with the resurgence of violent leftist movements, he said, adding that behind the current strikes lie the interests of groups who wish to destabilize the government.

"I don't know if Costa Rica understands what these strikes mean. The government has met all the promises it has made to the striking Costa Rican Electricity and Telecom Institute (ICE) and teachers' unions," he said.

"May God give us strength to face the problems that are coming our way," Pacheco added. "We hope to continue serving this country. On few occasions has the future of the country's democracy been in such peril. These unjustified strikes are a real threat to all Costa Ricans.

"There are evil and strange forces trying to destroy us," he warned. "Costa Rica beware!"

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