Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, August 10, 2005
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Train to Return
To San José
After not being used for nearly a decade, the train tracks of San José will be brought out of retirement in the coming weeks for a passenger train that will bring commuters to and from San José as part of an effort to reduce the country's fuel dependency, Minister of Public Works and Transport Randall Quirós announced yesterday.
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Thousands March
In Favor of CAFTA
An estimated 6,000 people marched from the Chamber of Industries to Casa Presidencial yesterday in support of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). The march accompanied a delegation of twenty workers from the industrial sector who met with President Abel Pacheco to urge him to send the free-trade agreement to the Legislative Assembly.
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Still No Sign Of
Missing Fishing Boat
Two weeks after a sport fishing boat disappeared in the northern Pacific coast near Playa Flamingo, searchers have not found a trace.
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August 10
“La difusión especializada y
pública del conocimiento científico”
Lecture in Spanish, Aug. 10, 1 p.m., room 308, School of Physics-Mathematics, University of Costa Rica. Info: apcc@conicit.go.cr.
Film Festival
Features the following films in Spanish: La Cienaga, Aug. 10; Los Lunes al Sol, Aug. 17; Suite Habana, Aug. 31, all at 7 p.m., free entrance, Spanish Cultural Center, Plaza del Farolito, Barrio Escalante. Info: 257-2919.
Live performance from the soap opera “Flora”
Performed by Cesar Meléndez and Cristina Bruno, Wednesdays, 9 p.m. at Tokú, San Rafael, Escazú. Info: 228-4091.
Edited By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff
lbaxter@ticotimes.net
Train to Return
To San José
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
After not being used for nearly a decade, the train tracks of San José will be brought out of retirement in the coming weeks for a passenger train that will bring commuters to and from San José as part of an effort to reduce the country's fuel dependency, Minister of Public Works and Transport Randall Quirós announced yesterday.
Quirós did not release details about the pilot program, saying only that it will carry passengers between Pavas, west of San José, to the University of Costa Rica, east of San José, operating under two schedules, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The goal is that is will carry 500 passengers total, he said.
People have talked for years about the possibility of reinitiating use of the train tracks to reduce the capital's traffic, but with a new train that, so far, has been prohibitively expensive. The train was shut down in 1996 during the administration of President José María Figueres (1994-1998).
Quirós said that initiation of the pilot program, which was made public for the first time yesterday, is based on an emergency situation caused by the high cost of oil, which reached $64 a barrel yesterday.
Last week the government kicked off two other measures to reduce national gas use. The first restricts drivers from entering central San José once a week, based on license plate number (TT, Aug. 5). Violators are fined ¢5,000 ($10.50). The second measure changes the work schedules of public employees by one hour. The idea is to reduce traffic congestion during rush hour, thereby reducing fuel use, according to Quirós.
Quirós said yesterday that the measures have so far been a success, and that next week the ministry will announce more details about the train.
Thousands March
In Favor of CAFTA
By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff
lbaxter@ticotimes.net
An estimated 6,000 people marched from the Chamber of Industries to Casa Presidencial yesterday in support of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). The march accompanied a delegation of twenty workers from the industrial sector who met with President Abel Pacheco to urge him to send the free-trade agreement to the Legislative Assembly.
“The message for Don Abel is that we support CAFTA because we want to work,” said Yamileth Benanburg, a member of the delegation representing the cardboard box producer Empaques Santa Ana. “ Costa Rica is a country of opportunities, and we want to have the opportunity to have work.“
The march, organized by the Chamber of Industries, comprised thousands of Costa Rican workers holding signs that were distributed by organizers reading “CAFTA is for Everybody” and “Don Abel, Send CAFTA.”
The atmosphere was almost party-like as a van rolled amongst the throngs blasting popular dance music, like reggaeton and merengue.
Yajaira Córdoba, like many marchers, came with her coworkers, bused in by her employer, Borkar, a textile manufacturer.
“Personally, I'm here so that they approve CAFTA. For us it's very important that they approve this, because if they don't, we are going to be left without work and have a lot of difficulties for the future,” she said.
The march stopped outside the gates of Casa Presidencial while the representatives met with the President in two groups of ten.
“He listened to us well. They were very positive,” said Melisa Salas, an 18-year-old worker for Café Brit, as she left the meeting.
The delegates explained that Pacheco did not make any promises or indicate that he will change his position, which has been to wait for the specially-selected “council of notables” to finish their analysis of CAFTA, and for the approval of a tax reform in the Legislative Assembly before he send the free-trade agreement to the assembly.
Please see Friday's print edition or on-line PDF version for the full story.
Still No Sign Of
Missing Fishing Boat
By Robert Goodier
Tico Times Staff
rgoodier@ticotimes.net
Two weeks after a sport fishing boat disappeared in the northern Pacific coast near Playa Flamingo, searchers have not found a trace.
The passengers aboard, captain Harold González, 27, his brother, shipmate Danilo González, 23, and Mallel Gómez Alanis, 16, all Costa Ricans, along with U.S. citizens Mark Vockery, 42, and Laura McCloud, 41, set out on a 23-ft. deep-hull runabout called the Kingfisher the morning of July 29. The search began that evening when the boat did not return and stiff winds had carved high waves since the afternoon.
The ship did not have its certification of seaworthiness from the Navigation and Safety Directorship of the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT), Silva said. MOPT relies on the coastguard to ensure boats at sea are licensed.
Vockery and McCloud were married the year before at the Media Conchal resort in Playa Flamingo, and returned this year to celebrate a delayed honeymoon. Vockery, a safety consultant, has three children and McCloud, a nurse, has one from previous marriages. The four are ages 10-15.
Bill Vockery, Mark's brother, arrived Aug. 2 to help search for his brother and sister-in-law, and left empty-handed yesterday.
“Everyone maintains (their) hope and faith, and we know that regardless of where they are, the Lord's got his hands wrapped around them. We know that as a fact,” he said.
The coastguard continues the search around the clock.
Please see Friday's print edition or on-line PDF version for the full story.
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