[dailyarchive/2005_03/exchange_rates.htm]
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, March 18, 2005
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In celebration of Easter Week, The Tico Times will be closed from March 21-25. We will not publish a paper on Good Friday, March 25 and will not publish daily news during the week. The next daily news page will be published on Monday, March 28 and the next weekly edition of the paper on Friday, April 1.
Country to Host
Biofuels Conference
Costa Rica will host the first annual international Ethanol and Biodiesel Conference March 29-31 at the Real Intercontinental Hotel in the western suburb of Escazú.
(Click for more)
Police Arrest Suspect
In San José Bank Holdup
Agents of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) arrested a suspect yesterday in connection with Wednesday's bank robbery at the Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago (Bancrédito) in downtown San José .
(Click for more)
$50.1 Million Approved
For Water Projects
The Central American Economic Development Bank (BCIE) approved $50.1 million for the execution of irrigation, drainage and flood control projects this week.
(Click for more)
March 18
Happy Holy Week!
Catholic churches throughout Costa Rica will host processions, masses and other solemn acts, especially Holy Thursday-Saturday. As a recommendation for cultural growth, visit San Joaquín de Flores on Holy Friday around 10 a .m. and witness its processions. Try to do a tour Holy Thursday night (before midnight) and see the “special altars” prepared by the different communities. For English-language church services see the Weekend section either in the PDF online version or the print edition.
A Reminder!
The Tico Times will be closed for the holidays! Our offices will reopen on Monday, March 28.
IV Cross-Country Cycling Competition
Different categories, tomorrow 9 a .m.-9 p.m., Oikoumene Farm, Ochomogo, Cartago. Info: 235-2638.
Mundoloco Festival
With the participation of the following groups: Peregrino Gris (Celtics), Amounsulu (tribal), Amarillo, Cian and Magenta (new jazz), Arabika (Middle East music and belly dancing), Electrodomestico (electro-jazz), Dr. Leo and Esanble Etniko (electric) and Santos y Zurdo (drums and bass), at the Jaulares natural amphitheater, 3 km north of Laguna de Fraijanes, Alajuela. Info: 482-2155, 394-4164.
National Amusement Park Activities
Sunday, 2 p.m., Play Parábolas de mi Pueblo ; 3:30 p.m., Procession; 4 p.m., mass; 5 p.m., Concert by Senderos Group. March 21-24, 26, 2 p.m., Play Parábolas de mi Pueblo ; 3 p.m., Concert by Senderos Group. March 25, closed. March 29, 3:30 p.m., procession; 4 p.m., mass; 5 p.m., Concert by Senderos, La Uruca , 2 km . Located just west of Hospital México in San José .
Edited By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
Country to Host
Biofuels Conference
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
Costa Rica will host the first annual international Ethanol and Biodiesel Conference March 29-31 at the Real Intercontinental Hotel in the western suburb of Escazú.
The conference will explore the region's increasing interest in ethanol and biodiesel, said a statement from The Stratton Group, a U.S.-based marketing firm organizing the event.
Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel-like fuel made from natural, renewable sources such as vegetable oils.
More than 200 delegates from the international biofuels industry, including government officials from Costa Rica , Colombia and Guatemala , engineers, plant builders, market analysts, financial consultants and trade specialists are expected to attend the event.
“We are pleased to announce the participation of Rodolfo Coto, Costa Rican Minister of Agriculture, Gloria Villa, Director of Hydrocarbons, Luis Romeo Ortiz, Guatemalan Minister of Energy and Dr. Leonidas Tobón, Director of Technology Development for the Colombian Minister of Agriculture,” said Conference Chairman Randy Stratton.
“ Central America and the region are planning for rapid expansion of biofuels. Already companies are looking at large investments in Costa Rica , El Salvador , Guatemala and many new announcements will be made for other Central American countries and the Caribbean ,” he said.
Speakers at the conference will cover topics in energy legislation, government incentives for biofuels and construction of commercial ethanol and biodiesel plants, among other topics relating to the biofuels industry, said the statement.
For more information and online registration, visit www.centralbiofuels.com .
Police Arrest Suspect
In San José Bank Holdup
By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff
kstanley@ticotimes.net
Agents of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) arrested a suspect yesterday in connection with Wednesday's bank robbery at the Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago (Bancrédito) in downtown San José .
The suspect, identified by police as having the last name Lezama, was apprehended in Barrio Cuba , a southern San José neighborhood. Police spokeswoman Margarita Morales told The Tico Times the suspect has prior convictions of aggravated robbery.
Yesterday afternoon, police asked witnesses to the crime to identify Lezama. Results of the identifications were unavailable at press time.
According to Morales, police continue their search for two other assailants who, early Wednesday morning, entered the bank, located across from the Judicial Branch Complex, bound and gagged the two guards, and forced bank manager Guillermo Calderón to open the bank's vault.
The assailants then escaped in Calderón's car, taking with them ¢11 million ($23,656), police sources said.
$50.1 Million Approved
For Water Projects
The Central American Economic Development Bank (BCIE) approved $50.1 million for the execution of irrigation, drainage and flood control projects this week.
The funds will be investments in subterranean, irrigation and drainage projects that will benefit small, medium and large farmers, according to a statement from the BCIE.
The projects also will benefit residential consumers, industry, tourism and communities with flooding problems.
The program will have national coverage, and will be executed for a period of five years by the National Subterranean Water and Irrigation Service (SENARA), under the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
It will include four components that address subterranean waters, agricultural production with irrigation, improvement of croplands in terms of drainage and strengthening of SENARA.
The funds approved by BCIE represent 70% of the total cost of the project, which will exceed $71.7 million.
–ACAN-EFE
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