Priest Accused of Child Abuse
Claims Persecution

Catholic priest Enrique Delgado, on trial since Tuesday for nine counts of sexual abuse against three minors, said yesterday that the allegations against him are a form of persecution against him and the Catholic Church.

“I feel there is a manipulation on the part of the press,” Delgado said to Channel 6 TV News outside the courtroom. “They are trying to destroy everything good so the church will not have any moral authority.”

The alleged abuses occurred during 2002 in Delgado's home, where he met with the youths, then 15-16 years old, supposedly to work on social aid programs.

The mother of one of the minors testified yesterday at the trial, conducted in a court in Alajuela, 20 kilometers northwest of San José. She called the priest a “cynic” and explained the facts of the case according to her child.

Delgado said he knows the youths who brought the charges against him only slightly, and that “I never dealt directly with them.”

Nevertheless, he said, “I pardon them. May they continue on their path. May they be good kids, who work, who study.”

Delgado was formally accused Nov. 14, 2003, and was relieved of his duties as a priest in Alajuela March 3, 2004.

The priest directed a televised prayer session called “ La Hora Santa ” (The Holy Hour), during which, according to his believers, Delgado performed miracles such as curing the sick and resolving personal problems.

--EFE

Technology Congress
Gets Under Way

Costa Rican ministers of Foreign Trade and Science and Technology, yesterday inaugurated the technology congress “Costa Insight 2005,” which searches to attract foreign investment for the development of technologies in the country.

The congress, which is taking place for the second time, is organized by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) and the Costa Rican Chamber of Information Communication Technologies (CAMTIC).

Foreign Trade Minister Manuel González said during the inauguration act that this congress reaffirms his country's efforts to consolidate itself as a pioneer in the development of Information Communication Technologies.

“This is a firm step so that Costa Rica becomes a recognized world leader in (information technology) development. In 1994, only 8.5% of the exportations were technology based. A decade later the figure is 51% ($3.2 million),” González said.

Science and Technology Minister Fernando Gutiérrez said, “Costa Rica is an example for the world as to how a small country can successfully enter the market of technology development.”

Both ministers said it is extremely important to attract foreign investment, as well as to continue funding education, particularly in the technology sphere to help combat and overcome poverty.

The congress, which concludes tomorrow, attracted the presence of capital risk management companies such as Intel Capital, Central American Business Capital and Aureos Capital.

According to figures from CAMTIC, 78% of the software developers of Central America and the Dominican Republic are in Costa Rica.

In 2004, Costa Rica invested 1.5% of its Gross Domestic Product in the technology industry, which generates 15,000 direct jobs. According to projections for the year 2010, that figure will reach 3.5%.

--EFE