[dailyarchive/2004_09/Week3/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September, 15 2004
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CELEBRATING Freedom: Ticos celebrate the 183 rd anniversary of Central America's independence from Spain today with parades through most towns in the country. |
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Country Celebrates
Independence Day
Celebrations of the 183 rd anniversary of Costa Rica's independence from Spain began earlier this week and culminate today with parades throughout the country.
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Immigration Bill
Advances in Congress
A bill to reform the country's immigration law moved forward yesterday when Patriotic Bloc congressman Humberto Arce withdrew 40 reform motions he had presented. The withdrawal allowed members of the Permanent Commission on Government and Administration to advance the bill.
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Company Denounces
Phone-Card Fraud
The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) this week reminded people not to give their phone codes to unknown callers.
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September 15
Happy Independence Day!
Costa Ricans around the country celebrate Independence Day today. Activities include student parades with marching bands, cheerleaders, and lots of flag bearers.
China Imperial Circus
This acclaimed show features acrobatics, stunts, a lion dance and more, at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today at the Palacio de los Deportes in Heredia. Info: 221-4820, 835-0213.
Piano Concert
Concert performed by members of the Superior Institute of Arts, 8 p.m. at the National Theater, Av. 2, Calle 3 in San José. Info: 257-0863.
Edited by Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
Country Celebrates Independence Day
By Sonia Cordero
scordero@ticotimes.net
Celebrations of the 183 rd anniversary of Costa Rica's independence from Spain began earlier this week and culminate today with parades throughout the country.
The Independence Torch, representing Central American freedom, arrived on this side of the border Monday when Nicaraguan Minister of Education Silvio de Franco passed the flame to his Costa Rican counterpart Manuel Antonio Bolaños at the Peñas Blancas border crossing.
The torch continued its relay from the northwestern province of Guanacaste to Cartago, the former capital of Costa Rica east of San José, where it was handed over to President Abel Pacheco last night.
Following tradition, citizens around the country paused to sing the Himno Nacional at 6 p.m.
School children also shared their own freedom lights last night, marching around their communities with faroles , lanterns in the shapes of accordions, traditional-style houses and the national seal.
Independence Day activities continue today with student marching bands and parades. The Ministry of Public Education has again requested, as it did last year, that students wear appropriate clothing – not mini-skirts – for the parades.
Guatemala proclaimed independence from Spain on behalf of all Central America with the Guatemalan Independence Act, signed Sept. 15, 1821. Costa Rica heard the news in mid-October. At the time, Guatemala was the capital of the Spanish colony that included the five Central American countries and southern Mexico.
Immigration Bill
Advances in Congress
A bill to reform the country's immigration law moved forward yesterday when Patriotic Bloc congressman Humberto Arce withdrew 40 reform motions he had presented. The withdrawal allowed members of the Permanent Commission on Government and Administration to advance the bill.
“I withdrew them (the motions) because after comparing them with the text I don't have big changes, and with some of the others we have reached an agreement,” Arce said in a statement released by the Legislative Assembly.
Other motions presented by other legislators, of which there were more than a dozen, were processed and approved.
Some of the proposed immigration changes have created concern among members of the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR), who say it may make residency status unattainable for foreigners who don't receive a large pension or who are unwilling to invest large amounts in the country (TT, June 11).
Company Denounces
Phone-Card Fraud
By Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) this week reminded people not to give their phone codes to unknown callers.
ICE said in a statement that inmates at La Reforma maximum-security prison outside Alajuela, west of San José, have been tricking people into giving them their phone-card codes.
Callers claiming they are ICE representatives tell their victims they have won a contest and the only thing they need to do to claim their prize is confirm their code for 199 cards.
According to an ICE customer service representative, the origin of some of the calls has been traced to the prison.
ICE said in the statement that none of its personnel is authorized to ask for phone card information, and that it is not offering any contest or prizes.
For more information call ICE's customer service number, 800-220-9220, Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
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