The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 13, 2003

MORE GREENS TO PROTECT THE GREEN: Increased funding for Environmental Services Payment will help keep Costa Rica green.
TT/Tim Rogers

Another 9 -Year-old Pregnant
Another nine-year-old girl tested pregnant this week after allegedly being raped by her 42-year-old Nicaraguan father in the mountain community of Aserrí, southeast of San José.
(Click for more)

Environmental Services
Gets $500,000 Gift
Costa Rica's Environmental Services Payment program received a $500,000 boost this week from the U.S.-based green group Conservation International.
(Click for more)

Pacheco Inaugurates Rural Clinic,
Promises More Social Aid
During the inauguration of a new public health clinic in the squatter community of Los Guido in the southern San José district of Desamparados yesterday, President Abel Pacheco promised more funding for social programs and creation of a new vocational university for students from underprivileged families.
(Click for more)

June 13

Concert and Photo Show by TT Staff
Come tonight to Café Expresivo to the debut performance of TT staff members, featuring Weekend Editor, Suzanna Starcevic and writer Meg Yamamoto playing folk music; and Scott Brennan displaying a fabulous photo exhibit. The show is at 8 p.m., Café Expresivo is in Barrio Escalante, 375 m. east of Santa Teresita Church. Info: 278-6069, 224-1202.

Azteca Festival
Take your children to the Children’s Museum tomorrow and let them learn about this great culture through special activities, games, and surprises. Sat., June 14, 10 a.m., Ca. 4, Av. 9. Info: 258-4929, ext. 122.

XX International Karate-Do Seminar
Martial arts fans won't want to miss an interesting seminar by Sensei Manabu Murakami, 6 Dan S.K.I.F. world champion in Kata and Kumite and several-time champion in the Japan Open. Also featuring Sensei Shadi Brazi, 6 Dan Shotokan Houston and representatives of Mexico, Panamá and Nicaragua. Fri.-Sat., June 13-14, Sport Center, 1 km. west of Hipermás, Heredia, 25 m. west, 100 m. south of Cepillos Arco. Info: 262-9398.

Return To Top Of Page

Another 9 -Year-old Pregnant
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Another nine-year-old girl tested pregnant this week after allegedly being raped by her 42-year-old Nicaraguan father in the mountain community of Aserrí, southeast of San José.

The young victim's mother called 911 June 3 and reported her husband had raped her daughter, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Police responded to the call and arrested the husband, who has been sentenced to three months of preventive prison.

The girl was taken to the health clinic and underwent tests, which this week revealed that she is pregnant. The Tico Times was unable to contact the girl's mother this week.

The young victim, whose name is protected because she is a minor, is the second nine-year-old to be impregnated this year. Another Nicaraguan rape victim, dubbed "Rosa," grabbed international headlines earlier this year when her parents and doctors determined she should undergo an abortion Feb. 20 save her life.

The abortion debate raged and spilled across borders when the Nicaraguan Catholic Church reportedly attempted to excommunicate the young rape victim, her parents, the doctors who performed the abortion and everyone else involved in the procedure (TT, Feb. 21, 28; March 7).

It is not yet known if the most recent rape victim will also seek an abortion.

According to government statistics, one of every five pregnancies is of a teenager, and 40% of infant moralities occur in cases of adolescent mothers.

To help teenage mothers, the Mixed Institute of Social Aid (IMAS) this week launched a new $1.2 million phase of its job-training campaign called "Building Opportunities."

The campaign, started in 1999, plans to help 3,000 young mothers or mothers-to-be with job training, information and life organizational skills. Since the initiative began, "Building Opportunities" has assisted 16,000 adolescent mothers, according to an IMAS release.

Return To Top Of Page

Environmental Services Gets $500,000 Gift
By David Boddiger
dboddiger@ticotimes.net

HAPPY CUSTOMER: More funding for protected areas is good news for Howlers in the Osa Peninsula.
TT/Tim Rogers

Costa Rica's Environmental Services Payment program received a $500,000 boost this week from the U.S.-based green group Conservation International.

Distributed over the next three years, the money is earmarked to help protect forest in the Osa Peninsula, and partially forested, mixed agricultural-use land in the Pacific Amistad and central Pacific Conservation Areas.

According to an agreement signed this week by the National Forestry Finance Fund (FONAFIFO) and Conservation International's Southern Meso-American Program, the non-profit group will also provide technical support, environmental education and soil conservation training to local agro-industry producers and community groups.

Environmental Service Payments, created by law in 1997, are intended to provide landowners financial incentives to conserve forested areas and protect water sources, reduce greenhouse gases and protect the country's biodiversity. However, some environmental groups have criticized the program by saying it helps finance the nation's logging industry.

The law allows for partnerships between governmental institutions, private foundations and non-governmental organizations. According to FONAFIFO spokeswoman Yesenia Valverde, Conservation International has collaborated with the Environment Services Program for the past three years.

During the signing of the agreement, the World Bank also announced the donation of 10 new pick-up trucks to be used by both FONAFIFO and officials of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) in the state-protected regions of Amistad Caribe, Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula.

Last March, FONAFIFO opened seven new offices adjacent to SINAC in Palmar Norte, Guapiles, Amistad Caribe, Nicoya, San José, Sarapiquí and Huetar Norte.

Return To Top Of Page

Pacheco Inaugurates Rural Clinic,
Promises More Social Aid

PACHECO cuts ribbon at new clinic.

During the inauguration of a new public health clinic in the squatter community of Los Guido in the southern San José district of Desamparados yesterday, President Abel Pacheco promised more funding for social programs and creation of a new vocational university for students from underprivileged families.

Calling his administration a "humanitarian government," Pacheco promised $40,000 to improve the country's hospital infrastructure in addition to the $25,000 earmarked for the new clinic.

"This clinic is for residents from on of the most vulnerable zones in the country," the President said. "This is proof that we are governing for the most humble."

Pacheco also promised an additional $31,250 in housing bonds and $42.5 million in education funding in the form of busing, scholarships, classroom construction and new lunchrooms.

Return To Top Of Page