Wish They Were Here: The Machine, a New-York based Pink Floyd cover band, is bringing the sounds and style of this legendary group to Costa Rica tonight with a performance of “The Wall,” tonight at 8 p.m. at the National Auditorium, inside the National Children's Museum. Tomorrow, they'll perform “Wish You Were Here” and “Animals” at 6 p.m. at the Ojo de Agua recreation complex in San Antonio de Belén, west of San José. For information or to buy tickets, call 207-2025 or visit www.mundoticket.com.

Crocodiles famous for basking under the bridge at the central Pacific Río Tárcoles have always drawn tourists there, but recently this attraction has also drawn thieves. A newly refurbished police hut provided by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) and two permanently stationed Tourism Police officers are part of an effort to nip this problem in the bud, according to a statement released yesterday by CANATUR.

National Symphony Orchestra in Concert
Performing works by Wagner, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m., National Theater, San José, Ave. 2, Ca. 3/5. Info: 221-9417.

Fiestas
With rides, food, bullfights, through Sunday, Cocorí, Cartago.

Flying Borracho Brothers
Cinco de Mayo performance, bluegrass, jazz, rock, country, reggae, rancheros, Tex Mex, Santa Ana, 50 meters north of Santa Ana iglesia, west of San José. Info: 282-6322

Concert by Spanish Singer Paloma San Basilio
Ballads, 8 p.m., National Theater, San José, Ave. 2, Ca. 3/5. Info: 221-9417. 

Genesis, el Viaje del Fuego
Performance by Cirko Vivo with lights, fire, aerial dancers, jugglers, clowns, Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m., Café Britt theater, Barva de Heredia, north of San José. Info or tickets: 277-1600, www.brittespressivo.com.

Trova Concert
Alejandro Garza, Allan Guzmán, Francisco Murillo, Luis Diego Solórzano, Verónica Zumbado and Ivan Barquero performing original music, 8 p.m., Cuartel de la Boca del Monte, Barrio La California, San José. Info: 221-0327.

Free Car Exhibit
Red Bull Racing exhibit including the monoplaza RB1 and South African pilot Adrian Zaugg, 10 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., south side Sabana Park, western edge of San José.

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff | kstanley@ticotimes.net

The powers that be at the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) yesterday ended some of the suspense surrounding an upcoming trade-pact referendum, announcing that the public vote will likely take place in September – placing the country just four months away from a decision on the highly divisive Central American Free-Trade Pact with the United States (CAFTA).

Interim TSE president Luis Antonio Sobrado told reporters that he and his fellow justices have discarded an initiative to convene a nationwide CAFTA referendum by collecting signatures. This method would have meant a wait of up to 14 months before a vote could take place.

For more on this story, read today's print edition of The Tico Times, or
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By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

A couple hundred teachers took to the streets of San José yesterday to demand that the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) pay them their salaries and fill their schedules. They also voiced their opposition to the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) during the protest, organized by the High-School Teachers' Association (APSE).

“The great majority of these teachers haven't been paid fairly,” said Jonathan Varela, a teacher who traveled from Upala, near the northern border, to join in the protest. Varela said he has only received part of the salary owed to him since the school year started in February.

Sporting APSE T-shirts, the teachers began at the ministry's headquarters and snaked through downtown streets until it began to rain.

Public Education Vice-Minister Silvia Víquez said that although “administrative problems” at both the ministry's headquarters and at schools caused delays in salary payments at the beginning of the school year, but that all but a few of these payments are now up to date.

The teachers also complained that their schedules are not full and that classroom hours are given to interim teachers instead of those with years of experience.

Víquez said the ministry is working on a bill that would increase the number of hours each teacher can take on, but that until then their hours cannot be increased.

The teachers also voiced their opposition to the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), shouting that a referendum vote to be held on the trade pact is a “trick” thought up by its supporters.

Víquez said that because the turnout to the protests was relatively small, few students were affected by their absence in the classroom.

Crocodiles famous for basking under the bridge at the central Pacific Río Tárcoles have always drawn tourists there, but recently this attraction has also drawn thieves. A newly refurbished police hut provided by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) and two permanently stationed Tourism Police officers are part of an effort to nip this problem in the bud, according to a statement released yesterday by CANATUR.

During a ceremony yesterday attended by Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal, Tourism Police officers and National Tourism Institute (ICT) general manager Allan Flores, CANATUR presented the refurbished hut to Berrocal. This small concrete structure received a fresh coat of paint, new floor, new roof and electrical wiring (it previously had no electricity).

Beginning this month, two Tourism Police officers will be stationed there permanently, the statement said.

“This hut is going to help tourism and improve the security conditions at Río Tárcoles.... they say that security is everyone's responsibility, but this idea must be made concrete and materialized, and the refurbishing of this hut by CANATUR is a clear example of how to operate efficiently for the benefit of tourists and the country in general,” Berrocal said.

Flores praised the Tourism Police force, established in December of last year (TT, Dec. 22, 2006) for their work to prevent crimes against tourists. Assaults against tourists went down 15% during the first few months of this year, thanks to the “prompt action of these officers,” he said, according to the statement.

Also during yesterday's ceremony, CANATUR offered to train Tourism Police in customer service in the tourism industry, using its Service Best training program. Berrocal gladly accepted the offer.