Talk of an airport, remodeled police stations, more jobs and new roads and bridges for the Southern Zone was the focus of a visit there by Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias, Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides, Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal and National Liberation Party legislator Olivier Jiménez Friday.

An executive decree signed by President Oscar Arias will allow for “optimized and appropriate” use of tax money by the Southern Zone Development Board (JUDESUR) to give small and medium businesses and municipalities loans for development projects, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

This decree will go into effect as soon as it is published in the official government daily La Gaceta, expected for Tuesday, and will affect the Southern Zone cantons of Osa, Golfito, Buenos Aires, Corredores and Coto Brus.

Tourism projects and a long-discussed Southern Zone airport are among initiatives the government hopes to get under way in the area, Benavides said.

In terms of security, Berrocal announced plans to spend ¢300 million ($576,923) remodeling area police stations and to deploy 150 Tourism Police officers to the Southern Zone this year.

-Tico Times