|
Currency | |
|
Dollar Exchange: | |
|
Central Bank | |
|
|
 Sell ¢506.05 |
|
CR Colon: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US Dollar: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 Mar 2006 |
|
Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, March 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ombudsman's Office Warns
CAFTA Requires Further Study
The Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) could “intensify national problems” and lead to a more unequal distribution of the country's wealth, said Ombudswoman Lisbeth Quesada at a press conference yesterday to release the results of a study on CAFTA carried out by the Ombudsman's Office at the request of the International Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly.
(Click for more)
Poll: Income Inequality Has Grown
During the past 16 years, the gap between rich and poor in Costa Rica has increased, according to the results of a survey by the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) released yesterday.
(Click for more)
Three Alleged
Carjackers Apprehended
Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) in the Southern Zone canton of Pérez Zeledón yesterday detained three men allegedly associated with a series of carjackings in Desamparados, south of San José; Escazú, west of San José; Santo Domingo, north of San José and Heredia, north of San José, according to an OIJ statement.
(Click for more)
March 31
Today
Spanish Fair
Enjoy products and food made in Spain, today through April 2, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Multiplaza Escazú, west of San José. Info: 201-6026.
Saudade Anniversary
San José restaurant Saudade celebrates its second anniversary tonight with Pandeiros and Birimbaos from Brazil and dinner, 7 p.m.
Tomorrow visitors can enjoy a live painting show, 10 a.m., on the boulevard; presentation by the Capoeira Aboliçao Group, 2 p.m., live music, 3 p.m. and poetry, 4 p.m. Saudade is 175 m. south of the main entrance of the National Museum on the Court Boulevard. Info: 233-2134.
Saturday
Concert by Students of Zamira Barquero performing W.A. Mozart Aria, 4 p.m., José Figueres Ferrer Cultural Center, San Ramón, northwest of San José.
Sunday
Benefit Dinner and Auction
6 p.m., Dragonfly Restaurant, Tamarindo, northwestern Guanacaste province. All proceeds go to Asociación CEPIA. Reservations: 653-8533 at 653-1506.
Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Ombudsman's Office Warns
CAFTA Requires Further Study
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
The Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) could “intensify national problems” and lead to a more unequal distribution of the country's wealth, said Ombudswoman Lisbeth Quesada at a press conference yesterday to release the results of a study on CAFTA carried out by the Ombudsman's Office at the request of the International Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly.
“We studied the agreement with a vision of human rights,” Quesada said. “CAFTA worries us enormously because of the way it could control the country.”
Quesada said the agreement adopts a “globalization” model of development and fails to take into account local sectors that may not be able to compete against subsidized imported goods, and pointed to the agricultural sector as an example. She also expressed concern over the state-run insurance monopoly, National Insurance Institute (INS), and the state-run electricity and telecommunications monopoly, Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), which would be open to private competition under CAFTA.
As part of its study, the Ombudsman's Office consulted various government institutions about the possible impacts CAFTA would have on them and “what measures they hope to put in practice” if the agreement is passed. However, “none could give a satisfactory answer,” according to a statement from the Ombudsman's Office, leading the office to believe further studies are necessary.
“In Costa Rica we have to ask ourselves if this is what we want, and we're not ready to decide,” Quesada said. “CAFTA still has not been discussed in depth, and Costa Ricans don't have transparent information to be able to make a decision.”
The Ombudsman's Office will remain “vigilant” of CAFTA, Quesada said, and will stand behind the Legislative Assembly if it chooses to take more time to study the agreement. Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified CAFTA.
Quesada also reiterated that the Ombudsman's Office is not taking an official “yes” or “no” stance on CAFTA, but rather studying the agreement from a “human-rights perspective.”
Poll: Income Inequality Has Grown
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net
During the past 16 years, the gap between rich and poor in Costa Rica has increased, according to the results of a survey by the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC) released yesterday.
In 2004, the richest 20% of the population earned 52.2% of the wealth, compared with 43.1% in 1988. Meanwhile, the poorest 20% of the population earned 4.6% of the wealth in 2004, compared with 6.4% 16 years ago.
The survey of 5,220 homes throughout the country was carried out from April 2004 to April 2005 and evaluated Costa Ricans' incomes and expenses.
The average income of a Costa Rican home in 2004 was ¢352,140 ($699). In the poorest 20% of the population, this figure was ¢80,109 ($159) and in the richest 20%, it was ¢920,132 ($1,826).
While some may find such results disconcerting, Victor Hugo Céspedes, president of the INEC council of directors, emphasized positive indicators in the survey.
For example, from 1988 to 2004, household incomes increased 33.6% annually in real terms, adjusted for inflation. This increase becomes even more dramatic considering that the number of people per home has decreased by nearly one person, from 4.6 to 3.7. The annual per-capita income has therefore increased by 65.6%. That means that if in 1988 a person's annual income was ¢100,000 ($198), in 2004 it was ¢165,000 ($327), according to INEC.
Furthermore, the number of homes that have stoves, refrigerators, televisions and other appliances has increased greatly in the past 16 years. For example, 86.2% of homes in 2004 had washing machines, compared with 41.6% in 1988. Additionally, 90.6% of homes had color televisions in 2004 compared with 35.2% in 1988.
“Costa Rica has seen a lot of large changes in the past 16 years,” Céspedes said, adding that rarely does a nation live such surprising changes in such a short amount of time.
Céspedes said it is not INEC's role to evaluate the survey results, rather provide the information to leaders for their use in policymaking. He did, however, comment that while he considers some of the results positive, Costa Rica 's growth has been much slower than its potential.
In addition to policymaking, the study will be used to calculate a new Consumer Price Index, which is used to measure poverty.
Read more about the INEC survey in next week's online PDF or print edition of The Tico Times.
Three Alleged Carjackers Apprehended
Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) in the Southern Zone canton of Pérez Zeledón yesterday detained three men allegedly associated with a series of carjackings in Desamparados, south of San José; Escazú, west of San José; Santo Domingo, north of San José and Heredia, north of San José, according to an OIJ statement.
The men, ages 40, 45 and 50 years, allegedly used violence to steal cars, following them closely from behind and later intimidating drivers with guns. They allegedly stored the stolen cares in a garage, according to the statement.
One of the men was allegedly driving though Peréz Zeledón in a Nissan Pathfinder police identified as stolen from Desamparados March 6. Police followed the Pathfinder as it pulled up to a local hotel where they discovered and confiscated three vehicles allegedly stolen in Escazú, Heredia and Santo Domingo, the statement said.
Police suspect that the three men, who are scheduled to appear before a judge to determine their legal standing, are responsible for more carjackings.
Daily News | Home | Top Story | Business News | Central American News
Editorial Cartoon | Weekend | Exchange Rates | Fishing | Culture | Classified Ads
Display Ads | Subscribe! | Travel Guide | Archives | Links | About Us | Newsstand Locations
Contact Us