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27 Oct 2005

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, January 28, 2004

MISSING: Police yesterday asked for help locating this man, identified as U.S. citizen Monegain Barestan Lamont, who has been missing since Dec. 23. Investigators from the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) said anyone with information about the whereabouts of the 55-year-old Illinois native is encouraged to call OIJ at 277-0342 or 277-0345.
Photo courtesy of OIJ

Government Creates New
Domestic Violence Commission
After a recent wave of domestic violence-related deaths in Costa Rica, government officials yesterday announced the formation of a special commission to deal with the problem of domestic violence, specifically against women and children.
(Click for more)

Trejos: CAFTA Will Not Hurt
Country's Social Security System
Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos yesterday responded to claims that the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States, which Costa Rica successfully finished negotiating on Sunday (TT Daily Page, Jan. 26), would lead to the demise of the Social Security System (Caja).
(Click for more)

New Ombudsman in Limón
Receives Nearly 1,600 Complaints
In its first year of operation on the Caribbean slope, the regional branch Ombudsman's Office in Limón handled nearly 1600 complaints, according to Ombudsman José Echandi.
(Click for more)

January 28

Free Presentation of Harry Potter Movies
Get information on the fifth book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," and enjoy two shows, one at 10 a.m. in French, and the other at 4 p.m. in Spanish, at the Librería Francesa, Av. 1, Ca. 5/7. Info: 223-7979.

Caring for Farm Animals
Workshop teaches people of all ages how to take care of farm animals, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Simón Bolivar Zoo, Av. 11, Ca. 7 in San José. Info: 256-0012.

Fair in Nicoya
Fair includes rides, horse exhibits and more, Jan. 28-Feb. 2. Info: 666-7171.

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Government Creates New
Domestic Violence Commission
By Steven J. Barry
sbarry@ticotimes.net

After a recent wave of domestic violence-related deaths in Costa Rica, government officials yesterday announced the formation of a special commission to deal with the problem of domestic violence, specifically against women and children.

"We have embarrassed ourselves before the world and before God," said President Abel Pacheco. "We need to put an end to this situation that has gone on incubating. The hour of decision has arrived."

Pacheco said the problem is not just one for the government, but for all of Costa Rica.

"This will not be solved by means of a law, but by a series of mechanisms," the President said.

The commission will include Justice Minister Patricia Vega, Education Minister Manuel Antonio Bolaños, Health Minister Rocío Sáenz, Public Security Minister Rogelio Ramos, and representatives of the Catholic Church, the Supreme Court, the Women's Defense Office and other government entities.

The commission will have 30 days to come up with a plan for domestic violence "prevention, repression and attention."

One of the commission's responsibilities will be to recommend changes to the text of the proposed "Penalization of Violence Against Women" law, which has been in Congress for the past four and a half years (TT, Nov. 28, 2003, Jan. 9) The law would create additional sentences for crimes already established under penal codes when committed against women.

The first concrete measure the government will take, according to yesterday's announcement, is to notify the Public Security Ministry each time a person accused of domestic violence is released from prison.

Last week, the problem of domestic violence was thrust into the spotlight again after a man shot four of his children, his pregnant partner, and himself in the La Carpio neighborhood west of San José. The most recent slaying was that of 23-year-old Rocío Gómez, on Sunday.

Last year, the Security Ministry received about 10,000 calls each month related to domestic violence, and detained about 35,000 people for incidents of domestic violence, Ramos said, adding that 4,000 police officers will receive additional training to deal with such calls.

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Trejos: CAFTA Will Not Hurt
Country's Social Security System
Fabián Borges
fborges@ticotimes.net

Foreign Trade Minister Alberto Trejos yesterday responded to claims that the Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States, which Costa Rica successfully finished negotiating on Sunday (TT Daily Page, Jan. 26), would lead to the demise of the Social Security System (Caja).

"There will be no changes in the way Caja purchases existing generic drugs," Trejos said during Tuesday's weekly cabinet meeting. "Neither will it affect how new drugs become generic."

Last week, the Costa Rican Doctors' and Surgeons' Association warned that CAFTA's intellectual property rights chapter would "noticeably affect Caja and lead to the creation of transnational [drug production and distribution] monopolies."

This week, representatives of two of the country's largest workers' unions spoke out against CAFTA, arguing it would destroy the Costa Rica's social institutions (including Caja) and leave thousands of poor and middle-class Costa Ricans unprotected (TT Daily Page, Jan. 27).

These groups claim that by imposing stricter intellectual property rights, CAFTA will make it more difficult for Caja to purchase cheap generic substitutes of patented drugs. This, they argue, would increase Caja's operating costs and eventually will drive it out of business.

Trejos considered the claims unfounded. Patents on new drugs, he said, would continue to last 20 years -- the length of time the country had already agreed to under the World Trade Organization (WTO). He noted that, on average, it takes pharmaceutical companies eight years to develop a drug after the original patent expires.

"Less than 10% of Caja's budget is used to purchase drugs," he said. "The institution buys about 450 different types of drugs. About 10 additional new drugs are added to this list each year. The patents on the majority of drugs the institution purchases have already expired. Caja will continue to be able to buy generic substitutes of those drugs. Drugs with active patents make up only a small fraction of the total budget the institution spends on drugs."

Trejos also said CAFTA includes several clauses that protect Caja and give it the power to take the necessary actions during "public health emergencies."

Central America also succeeded in striking down U.S. proposals to allow the patenting of new diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures, he said.

Health Minister Rocío Sáenz agreed Caja has nothing to worry about with CAFTA. "We consider the agreement was fair and adequate," she said. "We are more than satisfied with what was negotiated."

The economic growth CAFTA is likely to bring, Trejos argued, will directly benefit Caja by increasing the revenues it receives from the mandatory dues workers pay the institution.

"Caja is a sacred institution for us. It's part of the Constitution," Trejos said. "It's an institution this man [President Abel Pacheco] and my father fought for. The institution is protected."

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New Ombudsman in Limón
Receives Nearly 1,600 Complaints
By Robert Goodier
rgoodier@ticotimes.net

In its first year of operation on the Caribbean slope, the regional branch Ombudsman's Office in Limón handled nearly 1600 complaints, according to Ombudsman José Echandi.

Of those, nearly 1,100 were against public institutions, such as health and labor services and local government entities, and about 500 were against private parties.

The regional branch of the Ombudsman's Office in Limón, which opened on Jan. 29, 2003, will hold a public hearing Thursday during business hours in the city's Vargas Park, in front of the Municipality.

"This is an effort to bring the Ombudsman's Office closer to the people, to find solutions to the problems they have with public administration in their own community, and to decentralize services to the benefit of the users," Echandi said.

Some of the most important cases handled to date include complaints about the refusal of the Municipality to close a landfill, which may require legal measures, and complaints about unmarked lanes on the main roads of Limón - a problem which should be rectified in the beginning of next month, according to Echandi.

To file a complaint in the Atlantic region, call the Ombudsman's Office at 758-0789.

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Thursday October 27, 2005