[dailyarchive/2004_11/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 16, 2004
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| HALF Full: Alterra Partners Executive Director Mónica Nagel (right) and General Manager Al Romeu tell the press operations at Juan Santamaría International Airport will continue as usual in spite of their company's loss in a multimillion-dollar dispute in an arbitration court against the Costa Rican government regarding Alterra's 20-year contract to operate and renovate the airport. |
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Airport Manager Says Renovation
Could Restart in Early 2005
Just days after losing a multimillion-dollar arbitration suit against the Costa Rican government regarding its contract to operate and renovate Juan Santamaría International Airport, management firm Alterra Partners announced yesterday it is not discouraged and the more than year-old dispute with the state may be resolved early next year.
(Click for more)
Legislators Take Stand
Against Shark Finning
A group of 35 legislators from different political parties have signed a letter to President Abel Pacheco urging him to create an executive decree to prohibit the practice of shark finning and control the foreign, predominantly Taiwanese, vessels that collect shark fins in Costa Rica waters and unload them on Costa Rican docks.
(Click for more)
Mother of Dissident Asks
Political Leaders for Help
LA HABANA, Cuba (EFE) – Clara Chepe, mother of Oscar Espinosa, one of 75 Cubans jailed since early 2003, has asked international leaders participating in this week's Latin American-Iberian Summit, being held in Costa Rica , to intervene on behalf of her son.
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November 16
Film La pasión de Juana de Arco (1928)
A movie (in Spanish) by Carl Theodor Dreyer, part of the film cycle “Recreation of Periods,” 6 p.m. at the Calderón Guardia Museum . Info: 222-6392.
Modern Dance Show
Performance begins at 7 p.m. , Teatro 1887, CENAC, Av. 3, Ca. 17. Info: 235-2591.
Trova Night
Luis Diego Solórzano will perform trova and Latin American music, 8 p.m. tonight at the Lizard Lounge, Centro Comercial Cocorí, Los Yoses.
Edited By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Airport Manager Says Renovation
Could Restart in Early 2005
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Just days after losing a multimillion-dollar arbitration suit against the Costa Rican government regarding its contract to operate and renovate Juan Santamaría International Airport, management firm Alterra Partners announced yesterday it is not discouraged and the more than year-old dispute with the state may be resolved early next year.
“Negotiations will continue. Meanwhile, it is very important for Alterra to continue managing the airport, as the high season is beginning,” Alterra General Manager Al Romeu said in a press conference yesterday. “The government has shown intentions of finding a solution within 60 days.”
Once a solution is found, the more than $100 million renovation of the country's main airport can continue, Romeu said. It will take at least one year to complete renovation of the terminal and boarding gates and equip the runway with emergency lighting (TT, Aug. 20).
Alterra, whose major partner is U.S. construction giant Bechtel, was awarded a 20-year contract with the government in 2001 to operate and renovate the airport, located northwest of San José near Alajuela.
In March 2003, a dispute between the parties began regarding the company's development and financing expenses. Because of the dispute, foreign banks that have provided financing for the renovation suspended the last $30 million of Alterra's $120 million loan until a settlement is reached.
Alterra halted construction, citing the lack of financing. Representatives from 10 banks that have provided previous financing were in Costa Rica last week to evaluate the status of the situation.
Romeu said he is confident a satisfactory resolution will be found within the 60-day time period established by Transportation and Public Works Minister Randall Quirós and Finance Minister Federico Carrillo.
An arbitration court on Friday rejected a case Alterra presented in July in July regarding the dispute. The resolution said Alterra's claim is not arbitration material. However, the court's findings did support what Alterra mangers consider certain facts in the case, according to Alterra Executive Director Mónica Nagel. These confirmations have given the company its positive outlook about the future of the contract as negotiations continue, Alterra representatives said.
The ongoing dispute involves $18.6 million in developing expenses Alterra claims it is allowed to collect through airport user fees (TT, May 7). A report in March 2003 by the Comptroller General's Office raised questions about the legality of many of these fees (TT, March 28, 2003 ).
Legislators Take Stand
Against Shark Finning
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
A group of 35 legislators from different political parties have signed a letter to President Abel Pacheco urging him to create an executive decree to prohibit the practice of shark finning and control the foreign, predominantly Taiwanese, vessels that collect shark fins in Costa Rica waters and unload them on Costa Rican docks.
Yesterday, Edgar Castillo, campaign coordinator for the Sea Turtle Restoration and Responsible Fishing Program (PRETOMA), told The Tico Times the letter has been sent to the Casa Presidencial and the organization expects an answer later this week.
The letter condemns “the capricious fishing regulations” of the Costa Rican Fishery Institute (INCOPESCA), and accuses it of “facilitating shark finning and evading all types of effective control on this practice, yielding irrational exploitation and the reduction of our precious marine resources.”
Castillo also alleged there are 15-30 secret boat landings at private docks per month, for which vessels do not obtain the required authorization from Customs inspectors.
“By law, the Customs director may authorize landing at a private dock in case of an emergency. This law is being stretched to allow these landings regularly,” he said.
Earlier this year, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) ruled that the Costa Rican Customs Office violated the Constitution by allowing tons of shark fins to be unloaded at private docks without inspectors present.
The court concluded that in allowing the landings, the Customs Office violated Article 50 of the Constitution, which guarantees all Costa Rican citizens the right to a healthy and balanced environment (TT, June 18).
Mother of Dissident Asks
Political Leaders for Help
LA HABANA, Cuba (EFE) – Clara Chepe, mother of Oscar Espinosa, one of 75 Cubans jailed since early 2003, has asked international leaders participating in this week's Latin American-Iberian Summit, being held in Costa Rica , to intervene on behalf of her son.
In her message, Chepe, 96, also asked participants in the 14 th Latin American-Iberian Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held next weekend at the Hotel Herradura, northwest of San José, to “plead for the liberation of all the prisoners of conscience and politics of Cuba.”
The mother of the dissident, who has condemned to 20 years in jail, said her son entered prison March 19, 2003 , suffering from many ailments, the most serious of which is cirrhosis caused by hepatitis, and that “he does not have adequate medical attention, living conditions or food.”
Espinosa, 64, is currently in the hospital of the maximum-security prison Combinado del Este, in La Habana.
In March and April 2003, the Cuban justice system ordered prison sentences of six to 28 years to 75 dissidents, including independent journalists and human rights activists, accused of conspiring with the United States and undermining the principles of the revolution.
So far, seven prisoners of this group have been freed under special conditions for health reasons.
Cuban President Fidel Castro will not attend this week's summit in Costa Rica , because of health reasons. Leaders of most other Latin American countries, Spain and Portugal are expected to attend the San José summit.
– EFE
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