Swearing into Service: Donato Velalipi (right), 28, is one of the 280 men and women who swore in yesterday to become National Police officers. Hailing from the Maleku community of Guatuso, in north-central Costa Rica, he will be one of the first indigenous people in Costa Rica to serve on the force.

The Costa Rican government registered a budget surplus of $16,923 during the first five months of this year, thanks to an improvement in the collection of taxes and an “adequate” management of spending, Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga announced yesterday during a press conference.

Expo Turrialba Fair
Stands offering different tourist packages and products from Turrialba, 9 a.m.; lunch and seminar, 12:30-3 p.m.; talks about the area as a tourist destination, 4:30 p.m.; closing cocktail, 5:30 p.m.; INBioparque, Santo Domingo de Heredia. Info: 556-1200, 556-4032.

Free Film Showing
“En la Cama,” by Matías Bize, narrates the encounter of a couple of strangers who end up in bed, 7 p.m., Sala Calle 15, San José, Ave. 2, Calle 13/15.

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

Same-sex couples in Costa Rica will be able to enter into civil unions if the Legislative Assembly approves a bill presented yesterday by a group of lawmakers – though it seems highly likely that controversy will ensue before the bill ever reaches a vote.

At a press conference held to unveil the law, legislators from three parties responded to a hail of questions from reporters regarding how the Law of Same-Sex Civil Unions might affect adoption, family structures and domestic violence prevention. Immediately afterward, opposing legislator Guyón Massey, an evangelical pastor and a member of the National Restoration Party, left the assembly floor to voice his opinion that the law would “violate Biblical principals and societal tradition.”

Asked whether he agrees with the bill's proponents that ensuring equality for gays and lesbians is a human rights issue, he said that by that logic, “delinquents, thieves…any person could turn to (the argument of) human rights to legitimize their practices.”

Those supporting the bill, which has been in the works since last year, include Ana Helena Chacón of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), José Merino of the Broad Front, Carlos Manuel Gutiérrez of the Libertarian Movement, and Andrea Morales of the Citizen Action Party (PAC). When the group was asked whether they expect resistance from the rest of the assembly when discussion of the bill begins, Merino admitted that it could be a tough sell.

“There are accumulated prejudices. There's fear,” he said, as his colleagues nodded in agreement.

Last year, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) rejected a lawsuit by Tico lawyer Yashin Castrillo, who sought to marry his same-sex partner. Though the court declared that Costa Rica's constitutional norms on marriage do not apply to gay couples, it also stated that “an absence of adequate regulation exists” regarding same-sex unions (TT, May 26, 2006).

Abelardo Araya, president of the Diversity Movement, a group of Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender (GLBT) activists, said at the press conference that the new bill would give gay people in civil unions the rights heterosexual couples in such unions enjoy, such as a share of assets after a partner's death.

“It's not a bill that creates something new. These couples already exist,” he said. 

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

Standing in long rows with solemn faces and crisp, navy-blue uniforms, 280 men and women took an oath to become National Police officers yesterday during a ceremony at the Public Security Ministry.

They helped bring the ministry closer to its goal of adding 4,000 officers by the time President Oscar Arias' term ends in 2010, said Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal.

Yesterday's ceremony grew Costa Rica 's National Police force to 10,650 officers, the largest it's been in “recent history,” he said.

Among those who swore in were 43 indigenous people, the first to serve as police officers in the country's history. Many of them were recruited during the Public Security Ministry's recent trips to the southern Caribbean Talamanca region.

They'll use their understanding of indigenous languages and cultures to provide safety in their communities, many of which are in remote areas, said the ministry's spokeswoman Karla Arrieta.

Other new officers signed on during a nationwide recruitment campaign carried out in September and October of last year, Berrocal said.

“We've made an effort to recuperate the prestige, the goodness of being a police officer,” Berrocal said. “This can be a respected and dignified career,” he added, pointing out four ministry veterans who also took oaths yesterday to step up to leadership roles.

José Fabio Pizarro, former director of the Border Police and Operations Director of the National Police Academy, yesterday became National Police Director.

His new Assistant Directors are Rigoberto Rodríguez and Daniel Calderón. Also, Eliseo Uba took over as Director of the National Police Academy, and Félix Lizano will serve as his Assistant Director.

The Costa Rican government registered a budget surplus of $16,923 during the first five months of this year, thanks to an improvement in the collection of taxes and an “adequate” management of spending, Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga announced yesterday during a press conference.

The government's income during this period was $1.5 billion, a 30.2% increase over the same period during 2006, when it took in $1.15 billion.

Its total spending, including interest on debt, reached $1.5 billion from January to May, a 20.8% increase over the $1.2 million reported during this period in 2006.

The government's main sources of income in Costa Rica so far this year have been Customs taxes ($567.3 million), followed by income taxes ($350.9 million) and sales taxes ($297.1 million), among others.

Its main expenses were remunerations ($527.7 million), followed by interest on debt ($408.2 million) and pensions ($206.7 million), among others.

Zúñiga explained that to continue generating a surplus, the government must continue its initiative to collect taxes and distribute spending to priority areas.