The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 5, 2004

SUPPORT from Canada: The Canadian government announced yesterday it would endorse former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez' candidacy for Secretary General of the Organization of American States.
Tico Times / Julio Laínez

Canada Endorses Country's
Candidate for OAS Secretary
The government of Canada, through its embassy in Costa Rica, announced yesterday it would endorse former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez' (1998-2002) bid to become Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Costa Rica's Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.
(Click for more)

Police Seize More
Assault Weapons
Costa Rican police seized a shipment of 52 high-caliber weapons and munitions that originated in Nicaragua, Security Minister Rogelio Ramos announced yesterday.
(Click for more)

February 5

Seminar on Customer Service
Learn how to improve your company's customer service, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Centro de Capacitación Ángel Nieto, Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce. Info: 286-3807, 221-0005.

La Calle de la Gran Ocasión
Theatrical production about the different relationships of a couple, begins at 8 p.m. Feb. 5-8, 12-15, Sala Vargas Calvo, behind the National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 5 in San José. Info: 222-1875.

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Canada Endorses Country's
Candidate for OAS Secretary

The government of Canada, through its embassy in Costa Rica, announced yesterday it would endorse former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez' (1998-2002) bid to become Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Costa Rica's Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.

The decision, according to Canadian Ambassador to Costa Rica Louise L. Leger, was prompted by the bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between the countries, shared values of democracy and human rights and the personal traits of the Costa Rican candidate.

"With profound respect and gratefulness we accept this important support, which helps to consolidate the candidacy of Miguel Angel Rodríguez," Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said.

The decision comes one day after Rodríguez' only official opponent, former Chilean Foreign Minister José Miguel Insulza, announced he was dropping out of the race.

Rodríguez has secured the support of 22 countries including Uruguay, Colombia and the 15-member Caribbean Economic Community (CARICOM).

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Dengue Fever
Reaches New High

Costa Rica last month had the highest incidence of the mosquito-transmitted dengue fever since 1999, recording more than double the cases compared to January 2003, the Costa Rican Social Security System said Tuesday.

Health officials have announced a promotional campaign of vigilance to avoid a greater spread of the illness.

In January, 420 cases of dengue were registered in the country, more than double those in the same period last year, which was the highest increase observed in the last four years, according to official statistics.

Last year 19,701 cases of dengue were registered, the highest number since the sickness reappeared in the country at the beginning of the last decade.

Transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti mosquito, the sickness causes fevers, gastrointestinal problems, headaches and muscle pain. The hemorrhaging variety, which affects those who have already had classic dengue, can be fatal if not treated in time.
-- AFP

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Police Seize More
Assault Weapons

Costa Rican police seized a shipment of 52 high-caliber weapons and munitions that originated in Nicaragua, Security Minister Rogelio Ramos announced yesterday.

Police on Tuesday confiscated 48 AK-47 assault rifles, two UZI machine pistols, a G-3 sniper rifle and an RPK machine gun, along with munitions for all the weapons, near Port Soley, in the eastern portion of the province of Guanacaste.

Three Ticos and one Panamanian were detained during the operation. The suspects were caught at 10 p.m., just 200 meters away from a loading dock where they had recently finished transferring the weapons from a barge that had sailed from Nicaragua, according to police.

Officers from the Northern Police Command and the National Intelligence and Security Directory (DIS) worked together during the operation.

"For several weeks DIS personnel have been carrying out a series of investigations oriented toward illegal arms traffic originating in Nicaragua with a destination of a neighboring country to the south," Ramos said.

According to the Public Security Ministry, each suspect could face up to eight years in prison.

The announcement of the bust came as former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias gave a speech about the tangible impact of the arms trade in the world.

"I argue that arms commerce exacerbates and prolongs war, criminal activity, ethnic violence, destabilizes emerging democracies, and increases military budgets to the detriment of public health, education and basic infrastructure," Arias said.

Arias gave the speech at the inauguration of the annual meeting of the project director of the Arms Commerce Treaty (TCA), which began yesterday in San José.

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Wednesday October 26, 2005