|
|
 |
Loan for Limón: Trailer trucks waiting under this crane at Limón Port, on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, for which the World Bank has approved a $72.5 million loan which will go towards revamping the port city. |
|
Ronald Reyes | Tico Times.
|
 |
| World Bank to Loan Costa Rica
$72.5 for Limón Overhaul |
The World Bank approved a $72.5 million loan for Costa Rica to revamp its Caribbean port city of Limón, the government announced.
|
|
| $60,700 Worth in Jewels Stolen from San José Shop |
Three people acting as customers yesterday made off with about $60,700 worth of jewelry from the store Joyería Leonardo Da Vinci on Avenida 1 in downtown San José. |
|
| Nicaragua's National Assembly
Opens Sessions Amid Political Crisis |
| Nicaragua's Legislative President René Núñez yesterday initiated the 24th session of the National Assembly by calling on all lawmakers to work together to overcome the political crisis that paralyzed the legislature late last year. |
|
|
 |
| January 10 |
 |
Summer Robotics Classes
For kids 3-10, today and tomorrow, Centro Desarrollando Mentes, Escazú, 50 m north, 50 m east of Country Club. Info: 289-4586, 814-6000.
Theatre: “Mi Mujer me Tiene Lavando a Mano”
Comedy, Fri.-Sun., 8 p.m., Teatro del Ángel, Av. Ctrl., Ca. 13/15, Cuesta de Moras. Info: 222-8258.
|
|
Edited By Alex Leff
Tico Times Staff | aleff@ticotimes.net |
|
|
World Bank to Loan Costa Rica
$72.5 for Limón Overhaul |
By Alex Leff
Tico Times Staff | aleff@ticotimes.net
|
The World Bank approved a $72.5 million loan for Costa Rica to revamp its Caribbean port city of Limón, the government announced.
Called the Port-City Limon Integrated Infrastructure Project, the loan is one of three initiatives for the region pushed by President Oscar Arias, said Casa Presidencial spokeswoman Eugenia Sancho.
It will help make the other two initiatives possible, as they include broadening social programs in such areas as public health and overhauling the ports to build the site into a mega-port, Sancho said.
The Arias administration has earmarked $7.5 million in Costa Rican funds to assist in Limón's renewal in conjunction with the World Bank loan.
According to a statement by the World Bank, the loan is meant to be invested in urban upgrade, restoring emblematic cultural heritage sites and providing basic services to Limón's poorest inhabitants.
It's also aimed at raising employment and income through the development of micro and small businesses, providing training assistance and buoying the region's cruise tourism sector.
Additionally, it is hoped that the fresh funding will improve transport to the Limón and Moín port terminals, including the repair of the bridge over the Chirripó River.
“The plan is really to change the face of Limón,” said Sancho.
The loan is to be repaid in 15 years, with a five-year grace period |
|
| $60,700 Worth in Jewels Stolen from San José Shop |
Three people acting as customers yesterday made off with about $60,700 worth of jewelry from the store Joyería Leonardo Da Vinci on Avenida 1 in downtown San José.
The robbery occurred about 2:15 p.m., according to news portal Nacion.com, when the thieves walked into the store and asked owner Germán Benavides to create various items of jewelry. When Benavides began to prepare the design, the individuals pulled out a gun and ordered all six people in the shop to get down on the floor.
The thieves proceeded to tie everyone up.
Within 15 minutes, they had collected the majority of jewels in the shop, including several made of gold and other valuable materials.
After they fled, a customer managed to undo his knot and untied the rest of the people. |
-Tico Times
|
|
Nicaragua's National Assembly
Opens Sessions Amid Political Crisis |
By Tim Rogers
Nica Times Staff | trogers@ticotimes.net
|
Nicaragua's Legislative President René Núñez yesterday initiated the 24th session of the National Assembly by calling on all lawmakers to work together to overcome the political crisis that paralyzed the legislature late last year.
Núñez, a dyed-in-the-wool Sandinista, stressed the importance of dialogue to overcome the political tensions that have so far prevented the National Assembly from approving the 2008 budget.
Núñez also called for “harmony” between the legislative and executive branches, following accusations by opposition lawmakers that President Daniel Ortega is trying to usurp the powers of the National Assembly.
The Sandinista lawmaker said that he doesn't agree “100%” with legislators who claim Ortega is trying to marginalize the National Assembly, but acknowledged that there were “elements of concern” that legitimized lawmakers' complaints.
Núñez stressed that the National Assembly must “fight” within the context of the law and the Constitution to defend its institutional sovereignty.
“We are willing to fight to defend the institution,” he said. He added, however, that lawmakers should defer to the Supreme Court for the final word on the crisis between the legislature and the executive branch.
The conflict, which percolated for much of last year, reached a boiling point when the National Assembly voted to sever government ties to Ortega's Councils of Citizen Power (CPC) – a ruling the president has ignored.
Ortega today is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Nation address to the National Assembly, although the majority of opposition lawmakers, who have banned together into the “bloc against the dictatorship,” have said they will boycott the speech, raising doubts about whether it will really happen
|
|
|
|
|
| 
| 
| Exchange Rates
