The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September 11, 2003

TOUGH BANANAS: Independent producers not happy with Chiquita's counter-proposal.
AFP/TT

Tico Banana Producers Balk
at Chiquita's Offer
The nation's independent banana producers are balking at a proposal made this week by Chiquita Brands to purchase bananas from its contract producers for $3.50 per box, down from $5.40, according to Edgar Quiros, president of the National Chamber of Independent Banana Producers (ANAPROBAN).
(Click for more)

Government Promotes
Tropical-Fruit Exports
The Costa Rican government yesterday announced a new plan to support farmers who diversify traditional crops with tropical fruits, which have a greater international market value, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
(Click for more)

Honduran Deputy Convicted on Drug Trafficking Charges
RIVAS, Nicaragua (AFP) -- César Díaz, a Honduran deputy to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) arrested June 20 near the Costa Rican border crossing of Peñas Blancas for transporting more than seven kilograms of heroin in his truck, was sentenced to 10 years in a Nicaraguan jail yesterday on international drug trafficking charges.
(Click for more)

Venezuelan Exile to Head Home
CARACAS (AFP) -- Venezuelan opposition union leader Carlos Ortega, granted political asylum in Costa Rica last March, will return to Venezuela in the "coming days" to face an arrest warrant issued for him last February, according to a radio address yesterday by other CTV union leaders.
(Click for more)

September 11

Remembering Terrorist Attacks in U.S.
all are invited to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attacks in the U.S. Sept. 11, 2001 at a ceremony this morning at 9:30 at Parque Once de Setiembre, next to the American Chamber of Commerce Building in Sabana Norte.

No Classes
Proffesor Isaac Gustav Azar will not give tonight's class on Hebrew History nor We and the Bible at the Hebrew Cultural Center tonight . Info: 220-1421.

Film Proyection
Don’t miss tonight's film by Federico Fellini "Ocho y medio (8 y ½)," de Federico Fellini at 6 p.m., at the Videoteca of the Contemporary Art and Design Museum free entrance. Info: 257- 7202, 257-9370.

Photo Exhibit
Jonathan García tonight is opening his photo show Algo de Costa Rica, as part of the International Fotosetiembre Festival. The display is available for the public’s enjoyment through October 29 at Café La Bohemia, in the Melico Salazar Theater, Av. Ctrl., Ca. Ctrl./1. Info: 258- 4865.

Ballet Show "La Fille Mal Gardée"
The three-day presentation starts tonight by members of the Chamber Ballet Atelier and dancers from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Cuba. Ballet fans can go to the performance Thurs.-Fri, at 6 p.m., and Sat. at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Melico Salazar Theater, Av. Ctrl., Ca. Ctrl./1. Info: 232-9801.

Return To Top Of Page

Tico Banana Producers Balk at Chiquita's Offer
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

The nation's independent banana producers are balking at a proposal made this week by Chiquita Brands to purchase bananas from its contract producers for $3.50 per box, down from $5.40, according to Edgar Quiros, president of the National Chamber of Independent Banana Producers (ANAPROBAN).

The Cincinnati-based fruit company's counter-offer came one week after it announced a 10-week suspension of banana purchases from independent producers in Costa Rica, because of international over-production. The decision prompted independent producers to cry foul, claiming the suspension would force 15 local companies out of business, result in 4,000 workers losing their jobs, and cause an estimated $10 million in lost revenue (TT Daily Page, Sept. 3).

ANAPROBAN claims the suspension -- which is not being applied in countries where labor is cheaper, such as Guatemala and Colombia -- is a breach of contract by Chiquita. Independent producers who sell to Chiquita were required to sign exclusivity contracts with the company, Quiros explained.

As a result, it is very difficult for these independent growers to find other markets to sell to, especially during the second semester of the banana-producing season, when the demand drops, Quiros said.

The ANOPROBAN president yesterday charged that international over-production was caused by poor calculations by Chiquita. He said Costa Rican producers are now being "punished" for the company's mistake. The company is continuing to export bananas from its own plantations, and from contract workers in other countries.

The Tico Times was unable to reach Chiquita for comment yesterday.

Chiquita this week offered to purchase the fruit from Costa Rican producers for $3.50 per box to sell to alternative markets such as Russia, Quiros said. However, the production cost in Costa Rica is $2.50 per box, leaving growers with an insufficient $1 profit per box, he added.

Quiros admitted that some of the independent producers are already in a desperate situation and will most likely agree to the deal, but he said ANOPROBAN is working to keep the independent growers united.

Return To Top Of Page

Government Promotes Tropical-Fruit Exports

Carambola (star fruit)
TT/ photo

The Costa Rican government yesterday announced a new plan to support farmers who diversify traditional crops with tropical fruits, which have a greater international market value, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

"We are initiating a new project to promote tropical fruit production, that is, products that are not grown in U.S. markets," Agriculture Minister Rodolfo Coto said.

The aim of the project, which is supported by the private business sector, would be to decrease Costa Rican farmers' dependence on traditional crops such as rice, beans, coffee, potatoes, onions and tomatoes as the country prepares to the enter into a free-trade agreement with Central America and the United States (CAFTA).

The new, non-traditional tropical fruits promoted by the Agriculture Ministry include: guanábana, mango, guayaba, zapote, níspero, carambola (star fruit), papaya, anona, jocote, granadilla and naranjilla.

"We are going to continue growing traditional products, but we also want to diversify," Coto said.

The Minister explained that the diversification project is a "parallel initiative" to the free-trade talks with the United States, which also exports some of the same traditional agricultural products grown in Costa Rica, such as onions and potatoes. Once CAFTA goes into effect -- perhaps as early as next year -- many of Costa Rica's traditional exports will become less competitive in a saturated market, forcing the country to carve out a new niche, Coto explained.

The Minister said the idea behind the new tropical fruit export plan, which is supported by the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Trade, the National Council of Producers and the Banco Nacional, will help Costa Rican farmers avoid a "potential crisis" when CAFTA goes into effect.
--AFP

Return To Top Of Page

Honduran Deputy Convicted
on Drug Trafficking Charges

César Díaz gets escorted into court.

RIVAS, Nicaragua (AFP) -- César Díaz, a Honduran deputy to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) arrested June 20 near the Costa Rican border crossing of Peñas Blancas for transporting more than seven kilograms of heroin in his truck, was sentenced to 10 years in a Nicaraguan jail yesterday on international drug trafficking charges.

Judge Ivett Toruño handed the guilty verdict down Tuesday at midnight in the district of Rivas, 140 kilometers south of Managua. Díaz, 50, also was fined a minimum of $3,300 in damages.

Díaz allegedly had dealings with a heroin cartel that had been under investigation by Costa Rican police.

The drug-dealing deputy and two Asian men reportedly were transporting a shipment of heroin from Costa Rica to Nicaragua. When Costa Rican border police tried to stop him at the border, Díaz claimed diplomatic immunity, prompting authorities to call Security Minister Rogelio Ramos in San José to ask what to do.

Ramos said he authorized a search of the car, but when Díaz saw the police approaching, he pulled a gun and fired into the air as he sped off across the border, leaving behind the two Asian men traveling with him. He eventually was caught on the Nicaraguan side of the border after a high-speed police chase (TT Daily Page, June 23).

Three days later, Costa Rica police busted the heroin cartel here (TT Daily Page, June 24).

Return To Top Of Page

Venezuelan Exile to Head Home

TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC:
Carlos Ortega.
TT/AFP

CARACAS (AFP) -- Venezuelan opposition union leader Carlos Ortega, granted political asylum in Costa Rica last March, will return to Venezuela in the "coming days" to face an arrest warrant issued for him last February, according to a radio address yesterday by other CTV union leaders.

"Carlos Ortega will return to assume responsibility, but also to support the referendum [to remove President Hugo Chávez]," Manuel Cova, secretary general of the CTV union -- the nation's largest workers' union -- said in the radio address.

Ortega, one of the leaders of a 63-day strike aimed at toppling Chávez at the beginning of the year, is accused on charges of rebellion, conspiracy, treason and inciting delinquency.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ortega last February, prompting him to go into hiding and eventually seek asylum at the Costa Rican Embassy (TT Daily Page, March 27).

Return To Top Of Page