Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, August 01, 2005
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Search for Missing
Sportfishing Boat Continues
Costa Rican rescue authorities resumed yesterday their search for a sportfishing boat carrying three Costa Ricans and two U.S. citizens that has been missing in the Pacific Ocean since Friday, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
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Legislators Prevent
Arrival of Spanish V.P.
The Vice President of Spain was not allowed to arrive in Costa Rica as planned Saturday because the Legislative Assembly neglected to approve the landing in Costa Rican territory of the Spanish Air Force plane on which she was flying.
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Large Gas Increase Requested
The state Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) has requested a 8.25% increase in the price of a liter of super gasoline and a 6.97% increase in the price of regular gasoline, RECOPE announced Saturday.
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August 01
Virgen de Los Angeles Day
Most Costa Rican Catholics are walking today to Our Lady of Los Angeles Basílica in Cartago to celebrate the 360 th Anniversary the virgin's apparition to a young girl. Some walk, ride bikes or horses and even go on their knees for enormous distances to thank “La Negrita,” as Ticos call her. The official day is tomorrow.
U.S. Embassy Closed
The U.S. Embassy will be closed tomorrow due to the Celebration of the Virgen of Los Angeles Day. It will re-open on Wednesday.
Free Talk on the Opera “Madam Butterfly”
Christine Komatsu, executive producer of the opera and José Arturo Chacón, next director of the National Lyric Company, will be talking about the challenges of the production of Madam Butterfly, currently showing at the National Theater, tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Tin Jo Restaurant. Japanese bocas and wine will be served. Info: 257-3622.
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
Search for Missing Sportfishing Boat Continues
Costa Rican rescue authorities resumed yesterday their search for a sportfishing boat carrying three Costa Ricans and two U.S. citizens that has been missing in the Pacific Ocean since Friday, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
As of press time, the boat had not been located.
In the boat were captain Harold González, 27, Costa Rican; sailor Danilo González, 23, Costa Rican; Mallel Gómez Alanis, 16; and two U.S. tourists who have been identified by the Ministry as Mark Vockery and Laura McCloud. The passengers' ages were not released.
The boat left Flamingo Bay, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, Friday at 6 a.m. for a tourist excursion. It was reported missing Friday night after it did not return by 5 p.m., as it was scheduled.
The search was called off Saturday after information surfaced the boat had been found. However, the Ministry of Public Security press office told ACAN-EFE that the search effort restarted yesterday after authorities realized the discovery was a false alarm.
An official statement from the Ministry released Saturday said a fishing boat found, uninjured, the five people traveling in the sportfishing boat “King Fisher I,” but this information was later revoked.
The search effort has included both government and private airplanes and boats, as well as teams from the Costa Rican Red Cross.
In addition, U.S. government planes may also soon help in the search.
– ACAN-EFE
Legislators Prevent Arrival of Spanish V.P.
The Vice President of Spain was not allowed to arrive in Costa Rica as planned Saturday because the Legislative Assembly neglected to approve the landing in Costa Rican territory of the Spanish Air Force plane on which she was flying.
Costa Rica 's constitution requires the landing of any foreign military vessel to be approved by the Legislative Assembly, regardless if it is armed or not.
Vice President María Teresa Fernández de la Vega was due to arrive Saturday to begin an official visit. Officials plan to discuss donations and the possibility that Spain will forgive Costa Rica 's debt in exchange for Costa Rican investment in education, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Abel Pacheco.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement Friday expressing its frustration at the delay. More than 30 reporters are traveling with the Vice President. Acting Foreign Minister Marco Vinicio Vargas told the daily La Nación the incident could create a terrible international image of Costa Rica.
Legislators could not approve the arrival of the plane Thursday because they lacked a quorum, with only 32 of 57 legislators present, according to La Nación. Thirty-eight legislators are needed for a quorum. A legislative session was not held Friday.
Legislators have recently been criticized for their failure to attend legislative sessions.
After multiple negotiations by the Foreign Ministry, Fernández de la Vega agreed to postpone her visit until today, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The state Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) has requested a 8.25% increase in the price of a liter of super gasoline and a 6.97% increase in the price of regular gasoline, RECOPE announced Saturday.
The request was presented Friday before the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) because of the “highly speculative and volatile behavior of oil on the international market,” RECOPE announced in a statement.
If it is approved, a liter of super gasoline would go from ¢ 394 ($0.82) to ¢ 426 ($0.89) and a liter of regular gasoline would go from ¢ 376 ($0.78) to ¢ 402 ($0.83 ).
The price of diesel would also increase, by 6.76% from ¢ 282 ($0.58) a liter to ¢ 301 ($0.62).
ARESEP has 15 days to approve or reject the price increase.
July 1 ARESEP approved a reduction in the price of gas of, on average, 1.3%.
Government efforts begin today to save gasoline by restricting driving in San José by license plant number and by changing the work schedule of public employees to one hour earlier (TT, July 29).
– ACAN-EFE
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