The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 22, 2003

Will he or won't he? Salvadorian President Francisco Flores announced he will wait until June before deciding whether or not he will run for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).
AFP/TT Photo

Salvadoran President Undecided
About Seeking OAS Nomination
BELIZE (AFP) - Francisco Flores, President of El Salvador, announced during Friday's Central American Presidents' Summit in Belize that he would decide whether to seek the nomination for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) in June 2004, after his term expires.
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Crimes Against Children Increased This Year
The number of reported crimes against children in Costa Rica rose during 2003. During the year, the Child Welfare Office (PANI) attended more than 26,000 cases of crimes against children.
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December 22

World Music Show
DJ Dr. Leo and Ensemble Etniko are performing at 10 p.m. at the Jazz Café in San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.

U.S. Embassy Schedule for the Holidays
The U.S. Embassy announces it will be open Dec. 22-24, 29-30 and Jan. 2, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., but will be closed Dec. 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Info: 220-3939.

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INS President: Institution Needs Six Years
To Prepare for Open Insurance Market

The executive president of Costa Rica's state-run National Insurance Institute (INS), Gérman Serrano, said Saturday the institution is not afraid of the proposed opening of the country's insurance monopoly as part of the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States.

However, he said, the institution requires time to prepare for competition and a new legal framework that would allow it to compete. Otherwise, he warned, the institution would go bankrupt, the daily Al Día reported.

"The immediate opening of the monopoly would drive INS to bankruptcy," Serrano said, adding that the institution would require six years to prepare for competition.

The United States requested that Costa Rica open its public insurance monopoly during the ninth and final round of CAFTA negotiations. Costa Rican negotiators said they needed more time to study the matter, and did not conclude the negotiations last week as originally was planned.

Instead, they agreed to continue negotiations with the United States next month (TT, Dec. 19).

According to Serrano, INS, which has held a monopoly on insurance since 1924, will be ready to compete "after a process of drafting laws to regulate competition, which have yet to be proposed.

"When thinking about opening the market, laws, regulations, policies and market conditions need to be adapted," he explained. "Currently, INS operates in a closed market where it serves as a public monopoly. I can't see how anyone could consider opening the market immediately."

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Salvadoran President Undecided
About Seeking OAS Nomination

BELIZE (AFP) - Francisco Flores, President of El Salvador, announced during Friday's Central American Presidents' Summit in Belize that he would decide whether to seek the nomination for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) in June 2004, after his term expires.

"When I finish my mandate, I'll make the decision," Flores told reporters.

If he chooses to run, Flores will need the support of 18 of the 35 OAS member countries to be elected Secretary General. Political analysts say it is unlikely he would be able to obtain these votes unless he begins to actively campaign and lobby in the near future.

Flores did not mention former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez (1998-2002), who announced his candidacy in July. Rodríguez has assured he already has the number of votes necessary to become the next Secretary General of the OAS (TT, Dec. 19).

According to Costa Rica's Foreign Ministry, Rodríguez has the support of the 14-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

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Heredia Prison Burns Down After Riots

A riot started by five inmates at the Heredia prison Saturday resulted in a giant fire that ended up burning one of the prison buildings, the daily La Nación reported.

The fire began at 8 a.m. when the some of the prisoners piled up their cots and lit them on fire to protest the transfer of prisoners to the Gerardo Rodríguez Penitentiary in San Rafael de Alajuela.

The flames soon reached the ceiling and spread to the building's wooden supports. A dense cloud of smoke consumed the 94-year-old building, temporarily trapping inmates and the prison staff in charge of transferring them to the other prison.

Police used tear gas to control the situation and get the prisoners out. Prison staff and Heredia police officers worked together to move the inmates outside to the prison yard.

Following the incident, seven people - five staff members and two inmates - received medical treatment for smoke inhalation.

Later in the day, all the prisoners were transferred Gerardo Rodríguez in three buses followed by police vehicles.

The incident raises concerns about overcrowding in the country's prisons. The Heredia prison, which had room for a maximum of 120 inmates, housed 166 inmates.

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Crimes Against Children
Increased This Year

The number of reported crimes against children in Costa Rica rose during 2003. During the year, the Child Welfare Office (PANI) attended more than 26,000 cases of crimes against children.

During the year, PANI looked into 19,859 complaints of violations of the rights to children and adolescents, and investigated 6,821 cases involving at-risk children.

The institution's main focus this year was to combat drug-addiction, sexual abuse and the exploitation of minors.

During the year, PANI rescued 222 children that were living on the street or considered to be at a high risk of suffering sexual abuse and exploitation. Among those children, 99 received integral attention such as counseling, and 25 were placed under foster care.

Child Welfare Minister Rosalía Gil has stressed the need for major institutional reforms in PANI in 2004, including the creation of a special unit for preventing sexual abuse and exploitation of minors.
-AFP

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Wednesday October 26, 2005