[dailyarchive/2004_11/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 26, 2004
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| UNITED for women: Hundreds of people from across Costa Rica marched down Avenida Segunda in downtown San José yesterday in honor of the International Day Against Violence Toward Women. The fourth annual march began at noon at Parque La Merced and ended in front of the Legislative Assembly building. Marchers wore orange ribbons and carried banners such as this one, which reads “For women's lives, not one death more.” So far this year, 18 women have died from acts of domestic violence. See today's edition of The Tico Times for the full story. |
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Poverty at Highest Level
In Past Decade, Survey Shows
Poverty in Costa Rica is at its highest rate since 1994, the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) announced yesterday.
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Mystery Surrounds Death
Of U.S. Citizen in San José
U.S. citizen Mathew Lee Stone, 26, died Nov. 19 at the National Psychiatric Hospital in Pavas, a western suburb of San José . The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, since the San José Municipal Police and the U.S. Embassy maintain two different versions of the course of events.
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Petroleum Costs
On the Rise
Costa Rica's petroleum costs reached $659 million last Nov. 15, an amount almost double last year's costs. According to the Central Bank, the rise is a consequence of the increase in petroleum prices on the international market.
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Arts Festival
Ends on Sunday
Thousands of people have attended the nightly events offered as part of the International Festival of the Arts in San José, exceeding the expectations of the event's organizers, who said the attendance level proves good cultural offerings generate a good response.
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November 26
“Stabat Mater de Pergolesi”
The Conservatory Castella Symphony Orchestra, along with the Conservatory's chamber choir and dance group, are performing a piece they describe as “the pain of crucifixion with a woman's face” tonight at 6 p.m. at the Castella Theater, 25 m. west of the Nissan Car Agency north of Sabana Park, 293-7887. Arrive early to get a space in the small parking lot.
“Al Abrigo de un Bosque”
A play by French playwright Jean-Michel Ribes, 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. Sundays at the Sala Vargas Calvo behind the National Theater in San José (Thursdays entrance is 2 for 1). Info: 222-1875.
International Arts Festival
The last weekend of the acclaimed festival features a concert with Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, Rómulo Castro y Tuira, Guillermo Anderson, Adrián Goizueta, Malpaís and Editus, 8 p.m. Sunday, Old Train Station to the Pacific. Info: 222-2974.
Edited By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff
kstanley@ticotimes.net
Poverty at Highest Level
In Past Decade, Survey Shows
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Poverty in Costa Rica is at its highest rate since 1994, the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) announced yesterday.
Results from INEC's annual household survey, conducted in July, show the poverty level here has increased over the past year to 21.7%, up from 18.5% in 2003. The rate had hovered consistently around 20%, until it dipped to 18.5% last year.
President Abel Pacheco had used last year's INEC figures to claim a significant victory in the war against poverty, drawing criticism from those who claimed the figures were misleading (TT, Nov. 14, 2003 ).
Since last year, unemployment decreased slightly from 6.7% to 6.5%, INEC announced yesterday.
Despite the decrease in unemployment, the number of new jobs created from July 2003 to July 2004 grew by only 11,000 jobs, less than half of the average of 25,000 jobs created in years past.
Víctor Hugo Céspedes, president of the INEC administrative council, said government officials are surprised by the small number of new jobs created. However, he added it is “not a new phenomenon” in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries.
He said the rate could be caused by young people who view the state of the economy with pessimism and decide to not even try to enter the workforce.
The average household income in Costa Rican homes has decreased by 5.7% in real terms (taking into account the gradual devaluation of the colón against the U.S. dollar), one of several factors in the rise in poverty.
The poverty rate is determined by establishing a poverty line, which is calculated by adding the cost of the canasta básica (basic basket) – an established list of staple foods considered the minimum necessary for a family – and the cost of non-food necessities. The urban poverty line is ¢35,866 ($80) per person per month.
Families whose household monthly income, including all sources, falls below the poverty line are considered living in poverty. Families whose household income is equal to or less than the cost of the basic food basket for all family members, are considered in extreme poverty.
The percentage of homes in extreme poverty in Costa Rica is 5.6%, up from 5.1% in 2003.
Using the cost of the basic food basket as a determination of poverty has come under some criticism in recent years. Government officials are in the process of redefining what is considered part of the basket, last defined in 1986. Officials estimate the new basket terms will be defined by mid-2005.
The cost of the food basket increased by 16.3% between July 2003 and July 2004, while inflation overall (the Consumer Price Index) – a measure of many other goods and services not considered part of the basket – was 12.4%.
In a press conference held immediately following the release of the survey results, ministers from President Pacheco's Cabinet attributed the increase in poverty to rises in oil prices and other expenses.
Gilberto Barrantes, Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce, also pointed to dramatic increases in rice and papayas – both part of the basic food basket.
Barrantes also pointed to the need of the Legislative Assembly to pass the Permanent Fiscal Reform Package, which has been under debate for more than two years.
Céspedes said the household survey, done in 13,423 homes, is one of the most important tools used by policy makers to develop social and health programs.
Mystery Surrounds Death
Of U.S. Citizen in San José
By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff
kstanley@ticotimes.net
U.S. citizen Mathew Lee Stone, 26, died Nov. 19 at the National Psychiatric Hospital in Pavas, a western suburb of San José . The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, since the San José Municipal Police and the U.S. Embassy maintain two different versions of the course of events.
Manuel Garro, director of the Municipal Police, told The Tico Times yesterday that the police call center received a call on the afternoon of the 19th from a woman who said she was the assistant to the U.S. Consul. The woman told police there was a U.S. citizen wandering around the eastern San José neighborhood of Barrio Amón, and asked police to take the man to the Psychiatric Hospital.
Officials found Stone at approximately 5 p.m. and took him to the hospital, Garro said. He added Stone spoke with the officers, at least one of whom conversed with him in English, and told them he “wanted to go have a few beers.”
However, upon arrival at the hospital, Stone fell down and began to convulse, and his face became discolored. He was immediately admitted to the hospital and died 15 minutes later, according to Garro.
He added Stone's body is currently at the Forensic Medicine Complex in San Joaquín de Flores, approximately 40 minutes northwest of San José . The body is undergoing toxicological exams to determine the cause of death.
Contributing to the bizarre nature of the death is the fact that U.S. Embassy representatives contradicted the Municipal Police version of events in their comments to the daily Al Día.
The embassy press office told Al Día the police, not the embassy, made the decision to pick up Stone, and called the embassy to announce they had Stone in custody and wanted to bring him to the embassy.
Since the embassy has no medical facilities, consulate staff told police to bring Stone to a psychiatric center, according to the newspaper.
“It's a very strange situation,” Garro said, referring to the contradictory information provided by the embassy. He maintained that the Consul's Office, or at least a woman claiming to work there, made the first contact, not the police, and said police call records would verify that fact.
Al Día also reported that embassy representatives said they had been investigating Stone since Nov. 18, when he tried to enter a North American company in Costa Rica without permission. The name of the company was not released.
The Tico Times could not obtain clarification from the embassy yesterday because it was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Costa Rica's petroleum costs reached $659 million last Nov. 15, an amount almost double last year's costs. According to the Central Bank, the rise is a consequence of the increase in petroleum prices on the international market.
If current petroleum prices are maintained with no additional increases, it is estimated petroleum purchases will amount to $710 million by the end of the year.
Costa Rica consumes 16 million barrels of petroleum annually.
The increase in the price of petroleum resulted in a rise in the commercial deficit balance and a considerable rise in business production costs, according to the Central Bank.
Exports in goods and services reached $5.2 million and imports arrived at $6.9 million for 2004, producing a 37% larger deficit than in 2003.
--AFP
Thousands of people have attended the nightly events offered as part of the International Festival of the Arts in San José, exceeding the expectations of the event's organizers, who said the attendance level proves good cultural offerings generate a good response.
“All the events have been full,” said the festival's general producer Jaime Gamboa.
The festival has brought together 415 artists from 19 countries and will come to an end on Sunday after a week and a half of events.
The festival, which is taking place in the Old Train Station to the Pacific in southern San José, offers various presentations of theater, dance and film for an entrance fee of ¢1,500 ($3.20). In addition, a massive concert is offered each night.
More than 4,500 people bought tickets for a concert by Spanish singers Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel on Nov. 20, filling the auditorium's seats and leaving more fans to stand at the back, a scenario that has been repeated at each night's concert.
“I came to see (Spanish actress) Antonia San Juan because I loved her as ‘Agrado' in the movie “All About My Mother” (by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar). That's why I came early,” said lawyer Gustavo Corrales, who stood in line for three hours before San Juan 's appearance to ensure a good seat.
University student Nidia Suárez said she spends the whole day at the festival.
“I can see a film, then go to the theater and stay for the evening concert, all with the same entrance fee,” she said.
Festival organizers resuscitated the San José urban train, out of commission since 1995, to provide free transportation to the festival from central San José . Because of the high demand, “we had to double the number of trips,” Gamboa said.
Spanish theater group Xarxa Theater's production, “Gods or Beasts,” kicked off the festival Nov. 17. Sunday's closing event, the “Concert of Central American Brotherhood,” will include Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy ( Nicaragua ), Editus, Malpaís and Adrián Goizueta ( Costa Rica ), and Rómulo Castro and Grupo Tuira ( Panama ). The concert will take place at 8 p.m.
Other participants in the festival included groups such as Teatro 21 ( Argentina ), Les Deux Mondes ( Canada ), Teatro Ciertos Habitantes ( Mexico ), Tararam ( Israel ), Compañía Bastarda ( Brazil ), Teatro Tol ( Belgium ) and Teatro Avante ( United States ).
Those interested in attending the last days of the festival can call Ana Beatríz Fernández at 233-6441 or 223-6961 for more information, or check out www.festivaldelasartes.com.
--AFP
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