The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, October 30, 2003

HELP COMING: IMAS is donating relief funds to victims of last Sunday's fire.
TT/ Julio Lainez

IMAS Donates to Families
Affected by Fire
The Mixed Institute for Social Aid (IMAS) announced yesterday it is donating $19,600 to 33 impoverished families left homeless last Sunday by a fire that raged through the La Libertad squatter settlement in Pavas, destroying 45 humble houses.
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October 30

Chinese Film
Don't miss the excellent movie El Aroma de La Papaya Verde, tonight at 6 p.m. at the Calderón Guardia Museum in Barrio Escalante, 100 m. east, 125 m. north of the Santa Teresita Church. Info: 255-1218, 222-6392.

Art Contest for Emerging Artists
Interested parties should bring information on the theme, technique and materials to be used to the Teatro 1887 in the FANAL building, Av. 3, Ca. 15 in San José. Hurry up! Tomorrow is the deadline. Info: 223-3924, 221-2022.

Free-Trade Conference Series
Today's topic is "Negotiation on Market Access," a discussion by free-trade negotiator Fernando Ocampo, from the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade. Conference is in Spanish and begins at 7 p.m. in the Mark Twain Library at the C.R.-North American Cultural Center in Barrio Dent. Info: 207-7554.

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IMAS Donates to Families Affected by Fire

The Mixed Institute for Social Aid (IMAS) announced yesterday it is donating $19,600 to 33 impoverished families left homeless last Sunday by a fire that raged through the La Libertad squatter settlement in Pavas, destroying 45 humble houses.

IMAS President Fernando Trejos said the relief aid will be divided among the 33 families, while the government determines the immigration and eligibility status of five additional families.

The money will only be given to families who have a legal immigration status and who have children under 18, according to IMAS.

Of the 33 eligible families, 31 are Nicaraguan parents with Costa Rican children (children who were born here), while the other two families are Nicaraguan parents and children, according to IMAS.

The money is to be used for food, rent and other basic necessities, IMAS stipulates.

About 375 mostly Nicaraguan people were left homeless Sunday afternoon, when wind-fed fires tore through the tight-quartered squatter settlement, also known as "La Managüita."

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) this week opened five shelters in churches, community centers and gymnasiums to temporarily house 216 people left homeless, while the rest reportedly moved in with family members (TT Daily Page, Oct. 28).

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Powell to Review CA Disarmament

MANAGUA (AFP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will travel to Nicaragua next week to study advances made in the Central American disarmament initiative proposed last month by Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños at the strong suggestion of the United States.

The disarmament initiative, aimed at establishing a "reasonable balance" of armed forces in Central America, was agreed to in September by all of Central America's countries and Panama, during a Presidential summit in Belize.

Last week, Security Ministers from the region drafted a calendar to implement the disarmament accord.

Nicaragua, for its part, has agreed to destroy 2,000 surface-to-air missiles (SAM-7s) that its government purchased during the counter-revolutionary war in the 1980s.

Powell, who will be in Panama on Monday to celebrate the country's 100th anniversary, will stop in Honduras and Nicaragua on his way home to meet with government authorities to discuss the disarmament calendar.

The U.S. Secretary of State also is expected to discuss the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) being negotiated with the United States.

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