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22 Dic 2005 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, December 22, 2005
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Northern Zone Gold Mine
Receives Final Approval
The National Technical Secretariat of the Environment Ministry (SETENA) has given the controversial Las Crucitas mine project the go-ahead to begin construction of the open-pit gold mine in the country's Northern Zone, Andrés Soto, spokesman for Industrias Infinito S.A., told The Tico Times yesterday.
(Click for more)
U.S. Donates Equipment
To Combat Sexual Exploitation
The U.S. government yesterday donated equipment valued at $100,000 to combat child sexual exploitation to Costa Rica 's Judicial Branch, according to U.S. Ambassador Mark Langdale.
(Click for more)
Booming Nicaraguan Economy at
the Forefront in Central America
Managua (ACAN-EFE) – Even though Nicaragua will be among the Central American countries to register the highest inflation this year, it could rank high within the region in terms of the growth of its gross domestic product (GDP).
(Click for more)
December 22
Christmas Concert
By the Alajuela Municipal Conservatory's children's and adult choirs, tonight at Alajuela Cathedral. Info: 440-1022.
Traditional Zapote Fiestas
Including rides, food, concerts, bullfights, today through Jan. 6.
Edited By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff
lbaxter@ticotimes.net
Northern Zone Gold Mine
Receives Final Approval
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
The National Technical Secretariat of the Environment Ministry (SETENA) has given the controversial Las Crucitas mine project the go-ahead to begin construction of the open-pit gold mine in the country's Northern Zone, Andrés Soto, spokesman for Industrias Infinito S.A., told The Tico Times yesterday.
The mine project, developed by Industrias Infinito, the Costa Rican subsidiary of Canadian mining company Vanessa Ventures, obtained SETENA's environmental viability on Dec. 12, according to Soto.
After receiving SETENA's approval on the environmental impact study the company released in August, the only major remaining study was the environmental viability. Now, the mine awaits only minor permits, such as one from the Ministry of Public Health, to begin construction of the mining complex, which could get under way in June or August next year, Soto said.
However, environmentalists, who affirm SETENA's environmental viability approval is the result of blackmail, are set on preventing this from happening.
Marco Tulio Araya, leader of the Front in Opposition to Mining Projects in the Northern Zone, told The Tico Times “it is evident this is blackmail” because on the international level, the mining company exerted great pressure on SETENA – which rejected an initial environmental impact study submitted by Industrias Infinito in 2003 – by making a $276 million claim against the country.
In June, Vanessa Ventures filed a request for arbitration with the Washington D.C.-based International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) because a three-year delay from SETENA in coming to a decision about another environmental impact study from the mine prevented the company from starting with gold extraction operations (TT, Aug. 19).
However, in an interview from Canada this month, Erich Raugut, president of Industrias Infinito, told The Tico Times the company, motivated by SETENA's approval of the environmental impact study, might reconsider its position regarding the international arbitration.
Araya, who hosts a radio show broadcast in the Northern Zone, said next January, the mine-opposition front will hold a meeting with several environmental groups to organize their opposition movement for the following year.
“The only way this mine will begin operations is if Oscar Arias becomes President,” he said, referring to the National Liberation Party candidate and front-runner for the upcoming elections.
Environmentalist Fabián Pacheco, son of President Abel Pacheco, agreed, explaining that he will fully support local environmental campaigns against the mine.
“The mine could have an atrocious impact on the area's fragile ecosystems,” he told The Tico Times yesterday.
Las Crucitas mine project first started 13 years ago, after a call from the government, during Arias' administration (1986-1990), for foreign companies to invest in gold mines in the country.
Oscar Arias' platform does not address mining. When asked about this absence, National Liberation Party vice-presidential candidate Kevin Casas told The Tico Times, “It is complicated,” declining any further comments on the matter (TT, Dec. 2).
U.S. Donates Equipment
To Combat Sexual Exploitation
The U.S. government yesterday donated equipment valued at $100,000 to combat child sexual exploitation to Costa Rica 's Judicial Branch, according to U.S. Ambassador Mark Langdale.
The contribution has the objective of “improving cooperation and coordination between different government agencies that have a key role in this field,” Langdale said during a ceremony to present the donation.
Supreme Court President Luis Paulino Mora and Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese received the donation of computers, cell phones, uniforms, arms, bulletproof vests and vehicles, among others.
The equipment will go to tourist destinations such as the central Pacific port city of Quepos, the Caribbean port city of Limón, and San Carlos, in the Northern Zone, which have been identified as sex tourism hotspots, according to a statement from the Judicial Branch.
The contribution forms part of a U.S. government cooperation program with Costa Rica to combat child sexual exploitation in the country, through which more than 120,000 Judicial Branch employees have received training, the ambassador said.
Within the framework of this agreement, U.S. government donations amounting to $600,000 are expected to follow.
“By working together, we hope to eradicate this horror some day,” Langdale said.
--ACAN-EFE
Booming Nicaraguan Economy at
the Forefront in Central America
Managua (ACAN-EFE) – Even though Nicaragua will be among the Central American countries to register the highest inflation this year, it could rank high within the region in terms of the growth of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Mario Alonso, president of the Banco Central de Nicaragua (BCN), indicated that Nicaragua and Honduras are the two countries that led the region in 2005 in terms of economic activity.
Alonso said Nicaragua will close the year with a GDP growth of 4%, superceded only by Honduras, whose growth is predicted at 4-4.5%.
According to Alonso, among the most outstanding economic sectors this year were agriculture, fishing, construction, commerce, tourism and the financial sector.
He added that Nicaragua is followed by Costa Rica, whose GDP is expected to increase by approximately 3.5%, Guatemala, with 3.2% and El Salvador, with 2.7%, he said.
However, Nicaragua's inflation will be the second highest in the region, with approximations between 10 and 10.5%, topped only by Costa Rica, with at least 12.7%, Alonso said.
In the rest of the region, Honduras could follow with 8.8% inflation, El Salvador with 5-5.5% and Guatemala with 4-5%.
Alonso explained inflation in Nicaragua was directly affected by the rising cost of petroleum on the international market this year because the country is 80% dependent on this energy supply.
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