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28 Mar 2006

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, March 28, 2006

YOU say goodbye, I say hello: President Abel Pacheco and President-elect Oscar Arias greeted the press yesterday after a lunch meeting in which the leaders discussed the transfer of power that will take place May 8. Pacheco and Arias, who served as President from 1986-1990, discussed the future of the Permanent Fiscal Reform Plan and the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), as well as legislative priorities over the next several months.
Mónica Quesada/Tico Times.

Goodwill Flight Lands at
Juan Santamaría Airport
Recreating the historic flight by pilot Theodore Gildred from San Diego, California to Quito, Ecuador in a Ryan Brougham plane dubbed “Ecuador” in 1931, Gildred's son and two grandsons landed a plane named Ecuador III yesterday at Juan Santamaría International Airport, northwest of San José, according to U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Hilda Sáenz.
(Click for more)

Seven Sex Offenders Arrested
In the past five days, police arrested nine alleged sex offenders, bringing the number of alleged sex offenders arrested so far this year to 26, according to Public Security Ministry spokesman Nicolás Aguilar.
(Click for more)

Nicaraguan and Australian
Ambassadors Present Credentials
The newly appointed Nicaraguan Ambassador to Costa Rica, Leopoldo Ramírez, and Australian Ambassador Neil Allan yesterday presented copies of their credentials before the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry and President Abel Pacheco, according to a statement from the ministry.
(Click for more)

Tico Surfers Compete in World
Qualifying Series In Huntington
Beach, California
Four Ticos took to the waves of Huntington Beach, California to compete in the World Qualifying Series, which ended Sunday. Though they were all eliminated from the world competition, they will continue competing nationally in Costa Rica 's National Surf Circuit, said Surf Federation spokesman Luis Castrillo.
(Click for more)

March 28

Toño Pizote Fights Fires, demonstration for kids, Simón Bolívar Zoo (SBZ), San José, 10:30 a.m., Info: 233-6701, 256-0012.

Southern Caribbean Music and Arts Festival
Featuring concert by Cantoamérica, 7 p.m., Playa Chiquita Lodge, Playa Chiquita. Info: 750-0408, 750-0062.

Democrats Abroad of Costa Rica Meeting
9:30 a.m.-noon, Aurola Holiday Inn, third floor, San José, Reservations: 494-6260.

Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net

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Goodwill Flight Lands at
Juan Santamaría Airport
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net

Recreating the historic flight by pilot Theodore Gildred from San Diego, California to Quito, Ecuador in a Ryan Brougham plane dubbed “Ecuador” in 1931, Gildred's son and two grandsons landed a plane named Ecuador III yesterday at Juan Santamaría International Airport, northwest of San José, according to U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Hilda Sáenz.

The stopover in San José is part of the father and sons' flight mission, which is scheduled to cover some 4,200 miles with stops in Mexico City, Mexico ; Guatemala City, Guatemala ; Managua, Nicaragua and Panama City, Panama before landing in Quito. At each stop, the aviators are meeting with local officials and the media to “promote goodwill and better relations between the United States and Latin America,” the statement said, to honor Gildred's work in Ecuador 75 years ago.

In 1931, Gildred flew from San Diego to Quito and stayed to help establish the country's first airmail service. To “honor the memory of that achievement” his sons and grandsons are taking a similar flight entitled “Ecuador III – The Spirit of Goodwill,” according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.

The Gildreds are accompanied by Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of famed U.S. aviator Charles Lindbergh, whose epic 1927 flight across the Atlantic inspired Gildred's journey to Latin America.

Yesterday, Theodore Gildred Jr., a former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina and founder of the Institute of the Americas of the University of California at San Diego, was accompanied by Ministry of Foreign Relations Director Mario Brizuela, Alajuela Mayor Fabio Molina and U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Mark Langdale at a ceremony at Juan Santamaría's Base 2.

“We've certainly come a long way since my father's flight,” said Gildred Jr. “But while aviation has advanced considerably, there is still a tremendous need to do all we can to maintain and improve relations between the United States and Latin America.”

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Seven Sex Offenders Arrested

In the past five days, police arrested nine alleged sex offenders, bringing the number of alleged sex offenders arrested so far this year to 26, according to Public Security Ministry spokesman Nicolás Aguilar.

Those arrested in the past five days include three farmers, an accountant, a janitor, a baker and three security guards who were living in various parts of the country, the statement said. They were identified by the last names Barquero, Espinoza, González, Ramírez, Obando, Pineda, Coto, Romero and Cheves.

The charges they face include rape, attempted rape, sexual misconduct and rape of a minor.

The Public Security Ministry's Department of Special Investigations (DIE) has set a goal of arresting 150 alleged sexual abusers this year, the majority of whom are men accused of sex crimes against minors, the statement said.

-Tico Times

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Nicaraguan and Australian
Ambassadors Present Credentials

The newly appointed Nicaraguan Ambassador to Costa Rica, Leopoldo Ramírez, and Australian Ambassador Neil Allan yesterday presented copies of their credentials before the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry and President Abel Pacheco, according to a statement from the ministry.

Allan is a scholar of liberal arts and received an award for his service as a representative of Australia in Iraq. He has also worked as a diplomat in Brazil, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Vietnam. Ramírez studied business and has served as Nicaragua 's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Ramírez is replacing Nicaraguan Ambassador Francisco Fiallos, who resigned to pursue a run for President in Nicaragua 's Nov. 5 elections.

-ACAN-EFE

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Tico Surfers Compete in World Qualifying
Series In Huntington Beach, California
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net

Four Ticos took to the waves of Huntington Beach, California to compete in the World Qualifying Series, which ended Sunday. Though they were all eliminated from the world competition, they will continue competing nationally in Costa Rica 's National Surf Circuit, said Surf Federation spokesman Luis Castrillo.

The next event in the National Surf Circuit is scheduled to be held April 7-8 at Playa Hermosa, in the southern Pacific Puntarenas province.

Diego Naranjo, from Playa Jacó, on the central Pacific coast, advanced through the first and second rounds in Huntington Beach before being eliminated in the third, while Luis Vindas, also from Jacó, placed 4 th in the first round before being eliminated in the second.

Meanwhile Isaac Vega, from Tamarindo, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, advanced through the first round and was eliminated in the second. His fellow Tamarindo surfer Federico Pilurzu also competed alongside him through the first round.

“The young surfers (ages 19-22) gave it their best at the world level and will now return to Costa Rica to see what they can do in the National Circuit,” Castrillo said.

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