The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 6, 2003

PROPERTY owner: Julio Soto, a farmer from San Carlos, shakes the hand of Labor Minister Ovidio Pacheco during yesterday's symbolic transfer of more than 1,000 land titles to poor farmers from all over the country, at a ceremony at the Institute of Agrarian Development.
Tico Times/Julio Laínez

Mental Illnesses on the Rise
About 270,000 patients were seen in the country's public hospitals last year for mental illnesses, a number double that of four years ago, according to information from the Costa Rican Social Security Administration (Caja) published this week.
(Click for more)

Confusion Surrounds
Immigration Proposals
A proposed law that would dramatically change the requirements for those seeking residency under the pensionado and rentista categories in Costa Rica apparently is a surprise to Immigration Director Marco Badilla, who said he didn't know anything about a proposal by Social Christian Unity Party deputy Aída Faingezicht.
(Click for more)

Undocumented Immigrants Arrested
In a recent operation by the Special Immigration Police, 128 foreigners were arrested in the last few days in the provinces of Puntarenas, San José, Alajuela and Heredia, according to a press release from the Ministry of Government, Police and Public Safety.
(Click for more)

Country Nominated for Vice-President
of UN Human Rights Commission
The Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) of the United Nations has unanimously endorsed Costa Rica for the position of Vice-President of the 60th Human Rights Commission of the United Nations (CDH).
(Click for more)

November 6

Rock Concert Benefits Indigenous Kids
National rock bands Evolución, El Guato and Nada are performing in a concert to collect funds for the Bribrí indigenous children in Talamanca, 8 p.m. at the Children's Museum, Ca. 4, Av. 9 in San José. Info: 258-4929.

Theater at the University
Don't miss the play "Muerte y Vida Severina," today and tomorrow at 8 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m., at the Fine Arts Theater at the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro. Info: 207-4271.

XVII Grano de Oro Painting Contest
Open to all adult artists; works must be delivered today 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Herradura Hotel. Awards Ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Info: 232-5402.

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Mental Illnesses on the Rise

About 270,000 patients were seen in the country's public hospitals last year for mental illnesses, a number double that of four years ago, according to information from the Costa Rican Social Security Administration (Caja) published this week.

Psychiatric problems are one of the most common reasons for consultation in all the country's hospitals, exceeded only by cases of general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics and gynecology, according to Eliseo Vargas, executive director of the Caja.

Principal mental illnesses in this country of 3.8 million inhabitants are schizophrenia, depression, nervous disorders and breakdowns related to the use of drugs and alcohol.

Six of every 100 Costa Ricans suffer from depression, and 7,108 people were admitted into care last year for disorders linked to depression and alcoholism, said Victor Navarrete, assistant medical director of the Caja.

Women are most affected by depression. A total of 821 female patients were admitted into care last year, compared to a total of 450 male patients for the same condition that year.

Horacio Solano, Caja medical director, said that although it is difficult to quantify such information, it is likely that 40-50% of the medical visits in the country are rooted in psychological conditions.

During the National Psychiatry Round, held on Oct. 30-31 in San José, it was agreed that young people need the most attention for psychological disorders. In 2002 alone, 48 youth between the ages of 10-17 committed suicide, almost a fifth of the total number of suicides in the country for the year.
-AFP

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Confusion Surrounds Immigration Proposals
By Tim Sparkman
tsparkman@ticotimes.net

A proposed law that would dramatically change the requirements for those seeking residency under the pensionado and rentista categories in Costa Rica apparently is a surprise to Immigration Director Marco Badilla, who said he didn't know anything about a proposal by Social Christian Unity Party deputy Aída Faingezicht.

Faingezicht's proposal, under review by the Legislative Assembly's Permanent Commission of Government and Administration, was published in the official government daily La Gaceta on Oct. 28.

It would hike monthly minimum incomes from $600 to $3000 for pensionados and raise rentista monthly minimums from $1000 to $6000.

Badilla said the Immigration Department is working on another law which would eliminate rentista status entirely.

Read Friday's TT print edition for full story.

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Undocumented Immigrants Arrested

In a recent operation by the Special Immigration Police, 128 foreigners were arrested in the last few days in the provinces of Puntarenas, San José, Alajuela and Heredia, according to a press release from the Ministry of Government, Police and Public Safety.

The foreigners, all with expired visas or no documents at all, were from China, Columbia, El Salvador, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. Most have been deported or are in the process of being deported.

Costa Rican authorities are urging foreigners to carry their documents with them to assist police in their efforts to enforce Costa Rica's immigration law.

In the case of tourists who fear losing their documents to thieves, authorities recommend photocopying relevant documents and leaving the originals in their hotel safe.

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Country Nominated for Vice-President
of UN Human Rights Commission

The Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) of the United Nations has unanimously endorsed Costa Rica for the position of Vice-President of the 60th Human Rights Commission of the United Nations (CDH).

Ambassador Manuel Antonio González would represent Costa Rica in the position, which is up for election on Jan. 19, according to a press release from the Foreign Ministry.

Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Tovar said the unanimous endorsement "represents an honor and a recognition of Costa Rica for its permanent dedication to the defense and promotion of human rights."

The UN Human Rights Commission, established in 1946, is composed of 53 countries in five regional groups, and is considered the most significant world organization for human rights issues.

Australia has been nominated by the Group of Occidental Countries to preside the Commission in 2004.

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