Taking Home the Prize: Eric José Alfaro, a Chilean physicist and University of Costa Rica professor, yesterday won a $2,000 prize from the CONICIT (National Council for Scientific Research) for his research.

Manuel Antonio National Park Turns 35

One of Costa Rica's natural treasures, Manuel Antonio National Park, is celebrating 35 years this week, and several events are planned in its honor.

Concert by Students of Blues Singer Miriam Jarquín
8 p.m., National Auditorium, inside National Children's Museum, end of Calle 9, San José.

Film Club
Featuring movie screenings and discussions in English, open choice, tonight, “Look Back in Anger,” Nov. 21; “Once Were Warriors,” Nov. 29; all at 6 p.m., Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center (CCCN), San Pedro. Info: 207-7500, filmclub@cccncr.com

By Gillian Gillers
Tico Times Staff | ggillers@ticotimes.net

Legislators debuted a new tool yesterday to speed debate on 11 laws that would implement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), which was approved in a national referendum last month.

Pro-CAFTA legislators sought to apply a fast-track procedure to perhaps the most controversial CAFTA law: a proposal to open the state telecommunications monopoly, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), to competition. The procedure limits debate even further than 41-bis, another fast-track tool that has been applied to four CAFTA implementation laws. The new fast-track tool will likely come to a vote today.

Pro-CAFTA legislators are scrambling to speed debate on the so-called CAFTA implementation agenda, which must be passed by Feb. 29, 2008, although Costa Rica can request an extension from the other signing countries.

“Our legislative tools are becoming increasingly limited,” said Elizabeth Fonseca, faction head for the anti-CAFTA Citizen Action Party (PAC). “They are limiting legislators' right to present motions. They are limiting time for debate.”

Fonseca denied recent press reports that Citizen Action has decided to cooperate more with pro-CAFTA legislators. She said the party has been presenting fewer motions to the CAFTA laws only because the fast-track procedure prevents all of them from being discussed. Without that procedure, motions can be a significant drag on legislative debate.

“I've said that the motions should focus more on quality than quantity,” she said. “If a project has 41-bis, it's the same if we present 20 motions as if we present 1,000 motions.”

The Legislative Assembly has been making bumpy but steady progress on passing the 11 CAFTA laws. Legislators voted Monday to hold extra sessions Tuesday and yesterday morning to discuss the agenda. But Tuesday morning's session was canceled because one legislator from the pro-CAFTA coalition got stuck in traffic and arrived late.

The pro-CAFTA block has 38 legislators – exactly the number required to hold session. If not all legislators attend session, the anti-CAFTA legislators refuse to make up the quorum.

A group of business representatives from the U.S. state of Louisiana are visiting Costa Rica today and tomorrow in hopes of making contacts to export their products here, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.

“Costa Rica is a growing trade partner for Louisiana's education, medical, business and service sectors … Our visit to this country will promote mutual economic growth, said Geraldyn Contini, head of the Louisiana District Export Council.

The mission is made up of representatives from several enterprises including American Construction Management Services, Inc., Port of South Louisiana, Ochsner Health System, Pan American Life Insurance Company and the City of New Orleans/New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

These representatives plan to hold appointments with potential Costa Rican business partners during their two days here; those interested in meeting with them can call 519-2299 or 519-2203 for more information.

-Tico Times

One of Costa Rica's natural treasures, Manuel Antonio National Park, is celebrating 35 years this week, and several events are planned in its honor.

This central Pacific national park receives about 300,000 visitors per year, making it one of the country's most visited protected areas and an important source of income for local residents, according to a statement from the 35 th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

The park was established by law on Nov. 15, 1972 after residents expressed concern that the land could be bought by foreigners and developed for tourism.

Since then, it has been expanded twice, in 1980 and 2000. The park has 1,930 hectares of land and 42,016 hectares of water and includes primary forest, secondary forest, mangroves and beach vegetation.

It is managed by the Central Pacific Conservation Area, part of the National System of Conservation Areas.

Events planned today to celebrate the anniversary include a photo exhibit called “Quepos Just Yesterday” at the city's Banco de Costa Rica, running through Sunday, a concert with Fuzzy Rojas and Leo Espectáculo in the park today starting at 10 a.m. and an indoor soccer championship from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. at Casa de la Juventud.

Tomorrow, a sand sculpting contest for kids will be held at Playa Espadilla from 9 a.m. to noon, and on Saturday an exhibition of martial arts will be going on at the gymnasium inside Escuela Corea from 7-10 p.m. Tomorrow night, fireworks will light up the sky over nearby Quepos beginning at 7 p.m.

Sunday wraps up the celebration with a dance performance called “ Dulce Trópico ” by the National University Dance School at the Escuela Corea gym at 7 p.m.