For those fervent admirers of the Mexican Divo, Vicente Fernández has announced he was to move the date of his concert to April 28th, it appears the previously set musical appointment could not be realized due to lack of permits
Fernandez included Costa Rica as one of his few venues within the Central American area. The concert is to take place still at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium.
While in the past weeks I indulged some on the critique to the Tico Modus Vivendi and their particular approach to the national religious holidays –however identified I personally felt to the season this year particularly- I wish have no other partial view but that of outright upsetness… again.
Firstly I had been presented on the 12 o`clock news, and later, also written on the papers: it appears as if several local families turned to the few –and already heavily burdened- homes for the elderly to dispose of their…party pooping old and handicapped, supposing of course –and probably rightly so- they wished see themselves freed from the arduous and unbearable task of having to worry for them while they go enjoy the pleasures of natural frugality.
Such a plainly amorous and warm note immediate caught my eye and ear and it seemed unfeasible to me anyone would dare present so unholy a thing during a time when Ticos are already known to squander and belittle the few remaining principles which the season had always pressed to strengthen. But of course!, wholesomeness of character has never been our forte, yet, I believed of all permissible hedonism, none could ever be so blatant as to strike directly to one of our most desecrated minorities: the elderly.
It amused me to have reporters bathe with reprimands the few fools who engaged in such objectionable a-thing, and in my very human heart an uncanny sense of violated justice arose like ashes fly lightly with a sudden breeze. Evidently those responsible for the centers raised their voices to the heavens calling for anyone who reckoned the possibility –or should I say ignominy- to refrain from doing so as, they had not the resources not the patience to tolerate the grievance to the institutions and their souls.
Shame on you! (i do hope some of you read it!)
Nicaragua blows chances for direct trade agreement with the EU once more. It appears the macro-economic dream of a joint Central American effort towards regional integration and the benefits of its persuasion before larger and stronger trade partners will never be realized; this while the aged and belligerent postures of such figures as Ortega continue to meddle with the progressive views of much more developed economies of countries such as El Salvador and Costa Rica.
And even when the shift towards a more populist approach to government has recently also regained the affections of the peoples of our region –with the natural implications on the international affairs charter of the Americas- the growing small and middle sized entrepreneurs long for a broader horizon of market opportunities.
The EU has agreed to renegotiate the clauses of the agreements where local produce of milk, beef and other such sensitive items had been constant object of discord and thus soften their regularly rigid postures before what could become a fierce quality competitor. The opportunity therein appears too attractive for even the most hardened of Left-wingers to continue in their incessant demand for fairer equal trade conditions, or so it would appear to me in all agreeable common sense.
This is not the first occasion when in fact Nicaragua has burdened the table of international negotiations, the precept it appears, would not be that of solely objecting the circumstances that would clearly leave then in disadvantageous stand before competition but THAT of upsetting the scene for the only goal of gaining spotlight for their political inclinations.
During the fore-coming 23rd and 24th of April, Costa Rica is to rejoin the negotiation with the European Commission to try and approach a much desired covenant.
With the incursion of Costa Rica in the black list of Tax Haven countries divulged shortly after the G20 summit in first weeks of the present month, the local Bank and Financial media immediately sought after the removal by placating the Organization of Cooperation and Economic Development (OCED) with direct measures that would no longer permit for the shady habitat of evasion and fraud which has characterized our country in recent years.
According to Guillermo Zuniga – minister of the local entity in charge of tax regulations and affairs- “Costa Rica cannot unattend it`s responsibilities with its international peers in matters of taxation; much less risk our position before the financial international community”.
A compromise was thus pledged on April 3rd and our country was succinctly erased from such uneasy list in which we joined Uruguay, Malaysia and the Philippines.
New law acts have been presented before our legislative body to further promote a healthier taxation scenario which would also guarantee our stand as efficient and reliable destination of offshore investment.
According to a study presented by the World Bank Institute in Guatemala in recent days Costa Rica is the safest country in the isthmus. This very report –which counts 209 countries in research from all over the globe- ranked us number 47 while counting several factors such as Budget applied to crime fight, the preparation of local police force and detectives, the existence of local pertinent regulations and the appropriate rule of judges and investigators.
Latin America is generally hardly criticized by the study, as most of Central American nations ranked very poorly: Panama (104), El Salvador (118), Nicaragua (118), Honduras (145) and lastly Guatemala (156). Only Uruguay and Barbados managed to stay above the 50 rank marks with the 17 and 43 spots respectively.
In view of the recent increase in criminal acts and the “immigration” of specially Colombian felons during the recent years Costa Rica sees as mandatory the further improvement of its local law enforcement to prevent a dismay of the safety status which while making us proud in continental comparison raises concerns for likely future worsening of our premises.
During the first weeks of April unmeasurable quantities of dead fish were found in the shores of several of Guanacaste´s beaches. The first such fetid show being that of playa Lagarto on Sunday 5th where hundreds of sardines were found dead early in the morning hours.
The Ministry of Health had immediately issued a request to the local inhabitants to refrain from bathing in the nearby waters or consuming any sea products of dubious origin.
The “Red Tide” phenomena –named such for the red coloured water effect produced by micro-organism that infect the algae in the waters and which is later ingested by molluscs- has been blamed for the unfortunate event. The pollution in the surrounding areas, weather variations and other factors are common origin to the aforementioned.
Despite calls by the local authorities, many locals have turned to burn the carcases of the dead fish while unknowingly hurting the local environment.
(On Vice president Biden`s visit) Most definitely the most productive and honest of all North American visits since Kennedy´s, yet greatly insufficient for immediate counter-measuring on all issues the Bush administration “unwillingly” fostered.
While policies –in and outbound- intended to fight terrorism occupied the stage, extremely dangerous affairs grew and developed into the voragine of chaos that has consumed the first months of Obama`s presidency, and as he himself has shown prowess in political multitasking –pragmatically so, some may say- the one clear result to this day is none but the ever-radiant image of a president who IS standing for what he said… regardless of the time it may take him in fulfilling either one goal.
As far as Costa Rica and its place of relevance among the renewed list of US financial aid recipients… acceptable would perhaps befit it best, yet, that same word would likely fit any other nation for Obama has decreed International Love.
A more determined approach is required for Latin America and the United States would err greatly if assuming to leave its south-end neighbors deal on their own. While B.O. was headed NATO´s way, Biden was sent for tequila and coffee, hopefully not so equally pertaining to the actual vision of their overall international affairs agenda.
As reported by the national financial authorities, our economy has retracted about 4.5% when compared to the January period of 2008. This would mean in practical terms that our country hasn’t faced so threatening a premise in about 17 long years.
The Costa Rican motto has always implied the carefree –if not going too far and wishing call it careless instead!- character of its people, but while having heard nationals who reside in California explain how it was impossible for them to find a job there and turning back home to make 4 or more times LESS income in similar activities make me somewhat weary.
The national employment market has already become burdened by the national rate of unoccupied peoples and yet, an international influx grows to make the final cut even larger. The circumstances thus that have made Ticos in the past refrain from exploiting in vanities while during Holy Week would seem now not to strike the religious but their pocket consciences instead.
Calm and provisioning is widely advised and I find this directly coincides with the regular seasonal diet: canned tuna, reluctance for red meats, fasting and chiverre marmalade. Austerity means thus now more than it did last year, and maybe, just maybe we’ll find the roads to our beaches less congested this year during Resurrection Sunday.
Just as it was witnessed by public protest at the Manuel Benavides and Castella Schools, the factual action offered by the governmental institutions to aid in the integration of the challenged and handicapped in Costa Rica still has a long way to go, and this doesn’t simply strike the area of public services but also and more gravely: their possibility to make a decent living.
A recent study has shown how IN REALITY, the chances the aforementioned citizens have to score a job and gain the honorable means to make decent living are utterly scarce, if only accidental and charitable in public measure.
Still many bus companies refuse to implement the addition of wheelchair support and construction works –especially of the small commercial impact zone- continue to neglect the laws that force for the inclusion of special access lanes to their entry gates. The phenomena well covers the entirety of our country in a similar fashion and the event of actually finding the requirements properly applied particularly in public sites makes for permanent remembrance and admiration.
The problem can easily be justified by the little attention paid by the responsible agencies to mandate and survey the provisioning of the lawful decree; as well as in the general public disregard for the same measures. Where tourism demands ever more strongly for our infrastructure to comply with the demands of a varied list of backgrounds and circumstances it seems laughable such healthy and necessary arrangements remain unattended.
During last Saturday’s “Fiesta de Formas y Colores” a collection of over 1500 plants made for eye candy to a large number of visitors delighted with the 38th consecutive national orchid show.
The event took place in the “Antigua Aduana” building in the La California ever-cultural neighborhood. While mostly attracting local elder citizens, children were also part of the fascinated entourage of witnesses.
This event is annually hosted by the ACO (Costa Rican Association of Orchideology) and has done so since 1972 in a recurrent basis. It was intended to also coincide with the eve of celebration of the National Flower: La Guaria Morada.
As hundreds of orchid specimens coming from all over the country come together under one roof, a sort of contest is also held to determine with a blue ribbon –while qualities such as blossom quantity, color, form and texture considered- which particular one deserves the first prize; red and yellow ribbons are granted to second and third respectively.