Pirates Return to the Sea: Vanessa Branch, Johnny Depp and Lauren Maher star in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End,” which arrives to Costa Rican theaters today. See the Calendar section of today's print or electronic edition of The Tico Times for theaters and show times.

The community of San Vicente de Nicoya, on the Pacific coast, plans to inaugurate its new museum tomorrow after 15 years of trying to get this project off the ground, according to a statement from the Culture Ministry.

Cuban National Ballet
With more than 40 dancers, today and tomorrow, 8 p.m., National Theater, San José, Ave. 2, Calle Ctrl. Reservations: 221-5341, 223-1960.

Disney Live presents Winnie the Pooh
Today, 3 and 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m., tickets at Megasuper stores in Desamparados, Santa Ana, Alajuela, Heredia, San Joaquín, La Ribera de Belén.

“Colors and Flavors” Fair
Featuring folk dancing, concerts, belly dancing, flamenco, and modern dance, 2-7 p.m.; tomorrow, 2-5 p.m.; Ciudad Colón, Mercado Viejo. Info: Casa de la Enseñanza, 249-3124, or Lissette Jiménez, 384 -0567.

Percussion Ensemble in Concert
Jazz, Latin American and Costa Rican Music, 5:30 p.m., Villa Caletas Hotel, central Pacific coast, 3 km after Punta Leona. Info: 630-3020.

Band Concerts
Alajuela, Central Park, 10 a.m.; Cathedral, Thursday, 9 a.m., 443-1474. Cartago, in front of Basilica, 10:45 a.m., info: 551-2569. Liberia, in front of Central Park, today and Thursday, 7 p.m, info: 666-4297. Heredia, Central Park, 10 a.m.; Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Limón, in front of Edificio Cristal, Tuesday, 4 p.m., info: 758- 5123. Puntarenas, Plaza de Artesanía Sunday, 10 a.m., Thursday, 6 p.m., info: 661-2654. San José, Central Park, 10 a.m., info: 283-5654.

Concert by Melisa Tenorio
Performing songs by Paula Cole, Evanescence and Costa Rican musicians, 8:30 p.m., Cuartel de la Boca del Monte, Barrio La California.

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

President Oscar Arias yesterday signed the Law to Penalize Violence against Women, bringing to its feet a crowd of legislators, women's rights advocates and others who've watched the proposal's eight-year path toward reality.

The law, which includes punishments for abuse of women by their partners and toughens jail terms for rape, among other crimes, will take effect as soon as it is published in the official government daily La Gaceta.

“Finally, we did it!” said a jubilant Vice-President Laura Chinchilla, who'd lobbied in favor of the bill during her term as a legislator (2002-2006). She told onlookers gathered at Casa Presidencial that a special inter-institutional commission with representatives from the Public Security Ministry, Judicial Branch, National Women's Institute and other organizations will ensure the law is properly implemented.

Arias, who called for a widespread social movement against inequality to make the fair treatment of women “not just the law of the State, (but) the law that governs each citizen's heart,” is the third President in power since the law was first proposed in 1999 amid a rising wave of violence against women. It was approved five times before its final approval April 12, but sent back to the assembly each time by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV).

The law calls for 20-35 years in jail for any man convicted of murdering his partner – nearly double the 12-18 years now applied to homicide convictions – and six months to two years for a man convicted of “repeatedly and in a public or private manner, insulting, devaluing, ridiculing, shaming or terrorizing” his partner (TT, April 20).

Agricultural officials from Trinidad and Tobago visited Costa Rica this week to talk with their Costa Rican counterparts about importing more vegetables from Costa Rica and make sure Tico veggies are up to their standards, according to a statement from the Production Ministry (MIPRO).

They also visited the Plant Health Department and met with farmers.

Trinidad and Tobago has been importing Costa Rican carrots, onion, potatoes and cabbage for about one year, and this country's government sent an agricultural delegation to Costa Rica to check on the possibility of importing more vegetables including lettuce, cauliflower, tomatoes and broccoli.

Costa Rica signed a free-trade agreement with the 12 member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including Trinidad and Tobago, in September 2005 (TT, Sept. 23, 2005).

Costa Rican imports to Trinidad and Tobago have so far shown “no problems” and have strictly adhered to that country's food sanitation rules, the statement said.

“We are leaving impressed with all we have been able to observe; we hope to develop a relationship of confidence between both countries to increase the commercial exchange of fresh products,” said Joseph Seales, one of the members of the delegation from Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago imported $25 million of goods from Costa Rica in 2006, 4.8% of which were fresh vegetables, according to the wire service ACAN-EFE.

-Tico Times

The community of San Vicente de Nicoya, on the Pacific coast, plans to inaugurate its new museum tomorrow after 15 years of trying to get this project off the ground, according to a statement from the Culture Ministry.

The museum will showcase the ceramics characteristic to the area through temporary exhibits. More than half of San Vicente's 600 to 650 inhabitants work crafting the town's traditional pottery, which has pre-Columbian origins, the statement said.

The first exhibit, which opens Saturday and runs through November, is called “Heritage of Clay: Great Artists of San Vicente.” It “tells us through images... the work of seven of the greatest artists in San Vicente and how they have carried on a rich tradition that has lived though innovations, talent, style, dreams and passion for their work,” the statement said.

Several groups including the Museum Association of Chorotega Art of San Vicente de Nicoya, the National Museum's Program for Regional Museums and the Inter-American Foundation, helped gather funds to buy a plot of land and build the museum.

The association is now out to seek funds for a second phase of the building to house workshops.