The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 23, 2004

ART in the park: Costa Rican sculptor Manuel Vargas brings a piece of wood to life yesterday during the First National Sculpture Symposium in the Central Park of Barva, just north of Heredia. The sculptures of more than dozen artists will be on display through Sunday. (See What's Doing, below).
Tico Times/ Alex Roach

Three Children Dead
After Domestic Incident
In a tragic case of domestic violence, a Nicaraguan immigrant shot four of his children and his pregnant wife and then killed himself in the La Carpio neighborhood in southeast San José, Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) officials said yesterday.
(Click for more)

Ecological Communities
Receive Blue Flag of Recognition
President Abel Pacheco yesterday presented the Ecological Blue Flag to 65 coastal and non-coastal communities who met a stringent set of requirements pertaining to water quality, waste management and environmental education.
(Click for more)

Costa Rica, U.S. Tackle Sensitive
Agricultural Products in Trade Agreement
Negotiators representing Costa Rica and the United States in bilateral trade talks this week in Washington D.C. were able to reach a final agreement regarding the different types of oils and oil-based products to be included in the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
(Click for more)

January 23

I National Sculpture Symposium
Thirteen artists in the park each create a sculpture out of wood (see photo, above), 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Jan. 23-25, Central Park of Barva, Heredia. Info: 237-3143.

Chinese New Year's Celebration
Celebration features concert with Chinese instruments, traditional dances, including the lion dance, traditional dress fashion parade, martial arts, tea ceremony, food by Tin Jo Restaurant, Sat., Jan. 24, 4-6 p.m., Sun., Jan. 25, 3-5 p.m. at Terramall on the road to Tres Ríos. Info: 385-6446.

Palmares Fiestas
Popular festival includes rides, carnival, tope (horse parade) and free pop music concert with Alex Sintek on Sun., Jan. 25, at noon in Palmares, Alajuela. Info: 453-1414.

Democrats Abroad Meeting
Includes a discussion on electronic voting by political commentator Hal Smith, Mon., Jan. 26, 11 a.m., Gran Hotel Costa Rica. Call Dorothy Sagel 249-1856, Ruth Dixon, 494-6260.

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Three Children Dead
After Domestic Incident
By Steven J. Barry
sbarry@ticotimes.net

In a tragic case of domestic violence, a Nicaraguan immigrant shot four of his children and his pregnant wife and then killed himself in the La Carpio neighborhood in southeast San José, Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) officials said yesterday.

When police entered the home about noon yesterday, they found the couple's 4-year-old and 11-year-old children dead near the entrance. The man, identified by the last name López, and his 7-year-old son were found dead on the matrimonial bed, police said.

Only Marta Alvarado - the man's wife - and his 9-year-old son survived. Alvarado, with two bullets in her abdomen, was taken to the Hospital México. Her condition was not known. The boy, with one bullet in his stomach, was taken to the National Children's Hospital in San José, where he is listed in stable condition, police said.

Authorities said the man, who used a .25-caliber pistol, left a note claiming the only party responsible for the incident was "the law of domestic violence."

Alvarado had a restraining order against the man for several months and according to the police, the couple had a history of domestic violence problems.

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Ecological Communities
Receive Blue Flag of Recognition
By Steven J. Barry
sbarry@ticotimes.net

President Abel Pacheco yesterday presented the Ecological Blue Flag to 65 coastal and non-coastal communities who met a stringent set of requirements pertaining to water quality, waste management and environmental education.

During the ceremony, held in the lawn of the Casa Presidencial in Zapote, representatives of each community were congratulated by Pacheco.

When the program first began in 1996, only 10 beaches qualified for the flag, which is flown in the winning communities in recognition of their ecological effort.

"This is a form of elevating our expectations in terms of the quality of life and promotion of an environmentally sustainable culture," Pacheco told recipients.

Later in his speech, Pacheco called for further environmental reforms.

"We should advance in the culture of recycling; in the adoption of habits that decrease unnecessary production of garbage; in the introduction of technologies and systems that decrease the emission of toxic gases," the President said. "It is a monumental and urgent undertaking."

The awards come after a year-long evaluation of 78 beaches and 13 non-coastal communities, of which 56 beaches and nine inland communities qualified for the award. Those awarded were categorized in a three-tier rating system.

Only Playa Blanca in Punta Leona, on the central Pacific coast, was awarded the highest rating of AAA. Nine beaches were awarded a rating of AA, and the remaining 46 were awarded a rating of A.

First-time recipients included one beach from Limón, six beaches from Puntarenas, four beaches from Guanacaste and six non-coastal communities.

To receive an A rating, beaches must score 90% or higher on an evaluation of sea-water quality, quality of water for human consumption, sanitary quality of the coasts, environmental education and security and administration.

To receive a rating of AA, beaches must score 100% on their evaluation and have signs warning of ocean currents when they exist, security patrols and lifeguards during high seasons.

For a AAA rating, beaches must complete the requirements for the AA rating and have a regulatory plan for protected areas, be handicap accessible and have showers and public restrooms.

A national commission with representatives from the Health Ministry, Costa Rican Tourism Institute, Water and Sewer Board and Ministry of the Environment and Energy is responsible for administering the award.

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Costa Rica, U.S. Tackle Sensitive
Agricultural Products in Trade Agreement
By Fabían Borges
fborges@ticotimes.net

Negotiators representing Costa Rica and the United States in bilateral trade talks this week in Washington D.C. were able to reach a final agreement regarding the different types of oils and oil-based products to be included in the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos and head Costa Rican negotiator Anabel González say they are confident the agreement is a sign that both countries will be able to resolve their differences by this weekend and successfully conclude CAFTA negotiations.

Wednesday night, both sides reached a definite agreement on oils. Costa Rica accepted a 15-year non-linear liberalization period (the rate of liberalization will remain stable during the first years and then increase during the final years) with an optional five-year grace period.

Negotiators also agreed on the volume of oil (soy, cotton, sunflower and corn) and margarine imports that must enter Costa Rica for the government to be able to apply emergency safeguard measures.

Safeguards are temporary and selective measures (such as increased tariffs, tariff quotas or quantitative restrictions) designed to slow imports and enable a particular domestic industry to adjust to heightened competition from foreign suppliers.

Unlike other trade remedies, safeguard measures do not require the finding on an "unfair" practice. In addition, the member imposing the safeguard measure must generally pay compensation to the country's whose trade will be affected by the safeguard.

"What we agreed to is in accordance with the goal the government established following meetings with representatives of the private sector," Trejos said.

Additional safeguards were also negotiated for tomatoes, carrots, peppers, corn, and several other agricultural products grown in Costa Rica.

Negotiators have also announced they are close to reaching agreements on the treatment U.S. imports of rice and potatoes will receive under CAFTA.

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Wednesday October 26, 2005