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Costa Rica, the Nation
Visit to the Orient Pays. Arias traveled to China last month to discuss further diplomatic, economic and technical ties to the country. Hu Jintao, China’s Head of State, agreed upon speeding up the process for a free trade agreement, pledged $20M in the flood relief effort and another $27M to be assigned to various other projects. Last year, imports were at $618M and exports at over $1B, mostly electronics. This year, exports to China have already exceeded $1B in the first 9 months.
ICE Speeds Up? Surprisingly, ICE, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute and telecom monopoly, announced that they will release new cell lines by December. ICE was originally projecting the release of new lines by January, now reporting that 300,000 new lines purchased from Ericsson will be available by Christmas and 179,000 24-MBPS (megabits per second) internet connections will be available next year.
Costa Rica Gastronomy. The best chef award has been decided at the second annual Maestro Culinario Professional Cooking Competition: Hernan Diaz of the Hotel Costa Rica Marriott in San Jose. Hernan came in second place last year and out cooked 106 other chefs this year. Her-nan has learned most of his techniques from application, practice and trial and error, not strictly from culinary academies. Chef Ken Ketron of the Four Seasons went home with third place.
IMF and World Bank back CAFTA.
With the recent passing of CAFTA, the World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, is already arranging meetings with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to discuss the implementation of CAFTA in Costa Rica. There are 12 laws that are required to implement CAFTA, all of which must be decided upon by February 29th. |
National Going Green Foundation. In an agreement signed by the National Forest Financing Fund (FONAFIFO), the Costa Rican Tourist Institute (ICT) and National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) Costa Rica hopes to take eco tourism to a new level. Visitors to Costa Rica can now account for the amount of carbon produced by their travels and offset this by donating $5 per ton of carbon to the FONAFIFO program. The money will go to pay private citizens and business to protect land that they own. For more information, go to www.fonafifo.com.
Tariff Relief. Gasoline prices drop 15% from a tariff reduction by the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP), from $1.20 to $1.04 for one liter of super and from $1.13 to $1.01 for one liter of regular. Diesel prices saw an increase of 7% and are now paying $0.88 per liter.
| Sansa regional airlines joined Nature Air, their competitor, by announcing their commitment to reducing global emissions. Sansa also committed to protecting 48 hectares of primary forest in the Osa Peninsula |
San Jose, the Capitol
City of Witches. The posh suburb of San Jose, Escazu, is commonly known as the city of witches, although not many people know why. Mid sixteenth century, the city was discovered by Juan de Cavallon and became populated by early Spanish descendents by the seventeenth century. The area became known for their curanderos, or natural medicine practicing people, whom were usually single women, widows and abandoned wives. Curanderos quickly became known as brujas, or witches, around the time that witch craft was a punishable crime in the old world and looked down upon by western medicinal practitioners. No serious punishments were exercised over witches in Costa Rica and the craft is now looked upon as alternative medicine.
Central American-EU Trade. Discussions have begun between the Central America bloc (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, with Panama observing) and the EU regarding an association agreement that goes further than just trade. The three main pillars to the agreement are: (1) free-trade agreement, (2) expanded political dialogue and (3) a “cooperation agreement.” The free-trade agreement will reduce trade barriers, the political dialogue will mean cooperation on such things as narcotics policing and the “cooperation agreement” will basically solidify the already promised $1.7 billion of spending from the EU in the region. Four preliminary rounds of negotiations have been set, with much work to be done.
Privately Wired. Grecia residents are finally receiving internet service through the private company, Puro Wireless, run by Faruk Muhti, Perry Shenas and Glen Nickerson. The service was not offered in this region by the country run monopoly ICE or by its subsidiary RACSA. Although Puro Wireless is trying to make amends with the monopoly, come March the telecom market will be open to competition, making any court disturbance erroneous.
Church and State Undivided. During the CAFTA debates of the previous few months, the Episcopal Conference and its President, Monsenor Jose Francisco Ulloa, have taken a neutral stance, insisting that they only support the social importance of the voting process. They further stated that no priest has authority to refer to their personal opinions during their services, although allowed to have their own personal positions on topic. Just weeks before the vote, a group of priests led by Father Ignacio Trejos of San Isidro, presented their opposition in an eight page document to the Episcopal Conference headquarters in San Jose. Involvement of church in state issues is not new; many religious officials were involved with the decision of the Nicoya Annexation and with the country’s independence act, where 45% of the signatures were from priests.
Guanacaste, the Province
Road Work Equipment. Guanacaste has $1.5M in new road equipment and MOPT (Ministry of Public Works) has already begun using them. Along with the new equipment, 4 trucks, two hydraulic excavators, a compactor and a bull dozer, come plans to spend over $13M next year on equipment and the opening of a new cement factory in Canas, 45 minutes from Liberia. The Minister of MOPT, Karla Gonzalez, says there is money to spend and they are putting it to use. During the past 12 months, $18.1M has been spent on Guanacaste roads with plans and contracts to maintain and seal 625 miles of roads are currently being decided upon. MOPT will contract out the work to pave 625 miles of road by 2009.
Liberia Airport has seen a 508% increase of passenger arrivals between 2001 and 2006. |
| Guanacaste has received approximately 90 inches of rain this year. |
CFIA Growth. Guanacaste’s canton, Santa Cruz, saw a 7% growth in the amount of construction permits granted between January and August of this year, as reported by the Engineers and Architects Federated Association (CFIA). The majority of permits were granted for residential homes.
Something to Talk About.
President Arias’ speeches in Guanacaste last month presented many new topics and a bit of surprising news. Among the noteworthy were the roads, foreign investment, military build up and education. Although, it was during his visit to our region that the President found out that Costa Rica was elected along with 4 other countries to be a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the next two years beginning on January 1st. Costa Rica joins Burkina-Faso, Croatia and Vietnam, as well as China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Arias is already excited to discuss with the UN Council Costa Rica’s stance on regulating arms sales to countries that will use them to repress their people or to cause conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, he stated the importance of infrastructure and schools above the importance of arms and soldiers. Costa Rica has been without an army for the past 51 years.
Coco’s Boardwalk a Reality. The mayor of Carrillo, Carlos Cantillo, is beautifying and exercising his arm of the law by taking down 14 structures that are illegally standing within the first 50 meters of the maritime zone along Playas del Coco. Only one complaint about the demolition was received by the Supreme Court (Sala IV) which ruled in favor of the Municipality of Carrillo. Cantillo gave plenty of notice to the owners and many were there trying to salvage what they could prior to the demolition. The mayor wants to make the beachfront welcoming for the people living in the region. Plans for Amor de Temporada, the name of the project that will build a boardwalk along the beachfront, gets underway in the next few weeks.
The Perfect Belgian Waffle. A new Belgian Bed and Breakfast opens in Potrero with a restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, offering such as well known Belgian cuisine as waffles, Flemish stew and goulash. Specials change weekly and there are also many American and Costa Rican dishes regularly on the menu.
Around the Country
Surfing for Charity. The Fifth Annual Torneo Benefico de Surf held in late October in Boca Barranca helped finance the local boys home, Hogar Monserrat (Monserrat House). The money gathered from event proceeds went towards helping provide the basic necessities to the 30 orphaned boys, between the ages of 3 and 12, living at the home.
Host to Fishing Forum. Puntarenas, the central Pacific port city, will host the 4th. Annual Fisheries Forum hosting 30 countries and 250 fishing experts. The forum, put together by the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), will discuss a wide range of issues ranging from long lining, sharkfinning to global climate change. The Fisheries Forum will be held on November 12- 15 at the Fiesta Resort and Casino.
All the best from Costa Rica,
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
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Costa Rica, the Nation
| CAFTA REFERENDUM PASSES: 52% to 48% (see Highlighted Articles section) |
Modernizing the INS. Guillermo Costenla, head of one of the only state run insurance monopolies worldwide, is looking towards the future by proposing reforms to privatize and reform the current status of the National Insurance Institute (INS). By encouraging reform, the INS is aligning themselves to be in direct competition with the future companies that will offer insurance in Costa Rica and expand their insurance options, as well as be able to get into other Latin American insurance markets.
AyA Deal Executed. President Arias has signed a $113M deal to improve the infrastructure of the aqueducts and sewer systems to 32 cantons in Costa Rica. The new system will provide a guarantee of sustainable potable water for the greater San Jose area for the next 20 years. The $113M will also go to the outlying area of Limon, Guanacaste and Puntarenas.
Insurance Monopoly: INS is the insurance monopoly in Costa Rica; only its agents can sell insurance. While car insurance is high, home fire or theft insurance is low as cheaper policies are subsidized within the monopoly.
SETENA Budgets Expected to Increase. The National Technical Secretariat of the Environment Ministry (SETENA) expects a budget increase of 147%, up to $2.1M, in 2008. SETENA is the government branch that ensures sustainable development, therefore, all projects must obtain permits from SETENA before moving forward. They have an excess of 800 applications to process. Jorge Woodbridge, the Vice-Minister of the Economy, has reported the budget increase and stated that the applications will be up to date by March 2008.
September 15, 2007: Costa Rica Celebrates 186 Years of Independence from Spain
Costa Rica is ranked 4th in the World as the Most Ideal Place for Foreign Investment! |
San Jose, the Capitol
Immigration Services. Fragomen Global, a firm specializing in providing solutions regarding immigration requirements to corporate businesses, small business and individuals, have recently established themselves in Costa Rica. They will open their first office in the Santa Ana with prospects for a second in Guanacaste.
Art and Cuisine Combined in Rohrmoser. Paragon restaurant in the upscale neighborhood of Rohrmoser offers indulgence for many senses. The first time restaurateurs, Luis Diego Lizano and wife, Ileana Soto, have created a relaxed, mod-chic atmosphere accented by eclectic art from local artisans. The international, American bistro approach to the menu, with such dishes as the lightly fried Camembert over a mixed green salad with blackberry sauce, plays fittingly off the surroundings. Paragon also offers an upstairs candlelit lounge with large leather sofas where appetizers and sandwiches are served. Phone 291-3605 for reservations.
Guanacaste, the Province
Regent Reels in a Big Catch. The Regent Hotel and Resort has recently signed an agreement with Michael Mina, Bon Appetit’s Best Chef of 2005. The proposed restaurant will be based on seafood dishes and serve the catch of that day from the restaurants personal boat. The Regent’s vision is to bring Costa Rican culture to the table, as opposed to bringing another American hotel to Costa Rica. The Regent is slated to open in 2010.
Eco-University Slated for Guanacaste. Land has been donated and agreements have been negotiated, as the sustainable development university, that will be located near Playa Panama, launches their plans. The university hopes to have 3,600 students from around the world who will be the machine behind providing Guanacaste with new ideas on the environment, education, culture and economics. The first phase is estimated to be $25M.
Turtle Season! The thousands, if not millions, of Olive Ridley turtles have again arrived to Playa Ostional in droves this rainy season each laying an average of 100 eggs. August saw over a million turtles lay their eggs on the beach with more expected this month. The Olive Ridley turtle only lay their eggs on eight beaches around the world including Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, India and, of course, Costa Rica.
Zoning Plans to be Drafted. A bid was awarded for $1 million to draft zoning plans for the Guanacaste region. The work will begin in December of this year and take 15 months to complete. The lack of proper zoning plans in the area has caused significant delays in development and construction. The troubles of yesterday will soon to be alleviated by guidelines for height, density, land use, environmental studies, project viability and health concerns that will be outlined with the inauguration of the new zoning plans.
Real Estate Fair. On December 6th through the 9th, Plaza Santa Rosa, in Liberia, will host the Real Estate and Tourism Fair. The fair will allow participants to present their products and services to possible clients and businesses. For more information, visit http://www.guanacaste.tk or email omep.eventos@gmail.com.
La Paz School Year Begins. The La Paz Community School has successfully opened for term with 52 students from a dozen different countries. The school prides themselves on applying fully bilingual and multi-culturally focused education.
| Potrero-Flamingo Road Fund: Do your part and donate to maintain the road between Potrero and Flamingo. Contact (011-506) 2654-4291 to make your donation. |
Ritz Carlton Project. Union Box and other investment groups are teaming up in Guanacaste’s Zapotal Valley and Guacamaya (read: Ritz Carlton Resort site). The Union Box project will feature the Ritz Carlton, 200 slip marina, golf course, 800 family residences and an equestrian center. The project is slated to take the next 10 to 15 years to be completed.
The Tourist Police: Sharpening Their Minds and Their Organization. The Tourist Police force are revamping their “old” ways with efforts to make reporting crimes easier and learning English. By opting to arm themselves with more than a gun, the tourist police will begin to make use of new documents for tourists to report crimes in an efficient manner with the possibility of expedited trials and “traveling” judges to take on the spot testimony. Last December, the Tourist Police force began patrolling with 40 officers in the Guanacaste region, that number is expected to increase by 28 by year end.
Around the Country
Seven Wonders of Costa Rica. The world released the seven wonders of the world this past July, inspiring Costa Rica to name their countries seven wonders, including:
- Volcano Arenal
- Cerro Chirripo (CR’s highest mountain)
- Isla del Coco (famous for diving and Jurassic Park)
- Rio Celeste (turquoise blue lagoon)
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tortuguero’s canals
- Poas Volcano
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Costa Rica Not Affected by US Housing Market. Experts have said Costa Rica has a very stable economy and the financial situation of the country is solid. The consensus surrounding Costa Rican investors is that they are often people that already have a first home and are looking to expand their real estate portfolios. Banks in Costa Rica are also responding to the immense amount of development and lowering their rates, making loans more appealing to foreign investors.
Training the Workforce. A new tourism training program, backed by the National Training Institute (INA), the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT) and the Center for Cooperative Studies and Training (CENECOOP), puts their students straight to the task. The hotel school, Hotel del Sur, in the Southern Zone boards and trains 20 students per year in every aspect of the hotel business, from learning English to Business Administration. The students spend half of their time in classes and half of their time applying it in actual practice at the hotel.
Highlighted Articles
CAFTA Approved in Costa Rica
USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2007-10-08-costa-rica-trade_N.htm?csp=34
Condominium Investor Information
The Beach Times Online http://206.130.119.208/article.php?id=11&at=1785
All my best from Costa Rica,
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
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National
A Visit with the President. Mel Gibson visited with the Costa Rica’s President Arias last month to discuss his interest in helping outlying populations. He recently purchased a large piece of land in Southern Guanacaste.
CAFTA Referendum Moves Ahead. Pro CAFTA: President Arias, “Citizens Alliance for Yes on CAFTA” and “For Costa Rica.” Anti-CAFTA: Eugenio Trejos, rector of the Technology Institute of Costa Rica (TEC), “Patriotic Movement for No on CAFTA,” “National Front Against CAFTA” and “National Coordination for the fight Against CAFTA.” The count for registered voters who may participate in the October 7 referendum is at 2.65 million; of those, 1.06 must participate in order for the election to hold clout.
Banex Becomes HSBC Almost Overnight!
San Jose
Wal-Mart Centroamerica. Wal-Mart opens their first Hipermas retail store in Escazu this week with the trademark “smiley face” images and similar set up to stores found in the United States. They plan to open their next store within one month.
A Helping Hand. A U.S. based organization, Clinica Sin Fronteras, or Clinic Without Borders, was formed by doctors for children to make medical treatment and medications accessible to children who otherwise would not be able to afford it. The clinic has a budget of $5 million for the first few years and expects to open a fully functional clinic within 12 months. Currently, the clinic is operating in the International Health Central American Institute Foundation, but once operating in their own building they expect to see approximately 30,000 children per year. For more information on their fundraisers, please contact Dr. Tristan, (011-506) 227-6564.
Guanacaste
Liberia Continues to Expand. Guanacaste’s capital city sees new development and growth everyday. The city has recently opened a $10 million shopping center, Mall Santa Rosa, with many others close behind. In addition to the EARTH University near the airport, Liberia will soon add the $150 Million, 7 phase Solarium project and a 104-hectare development across from the airport to their list of new developments. The projects will launch new hotels, shops, residences, movie theatres and even a hospital to the area.
On the Agenda. During a meeting last month, residents of Playa Potrero and Surfside were able to persuade the Vice Minister of Public Works, Pedro Castro, to include the road between Flamingo and Potrero in his budget proposal for MOPT next year. The government entity MOPT handles the infrastructure in the country, therefore becoming the “go-to” guys when it comes to paving the road in our area. The residents and private business owners at the meeting agreed to come up with the $45,000 it will cost for the survey and design for sealing the road.
Water Flows Through Guanacaste. Ricardo Sancho, Executive President of AyA, announced a 2 year plan to revamp 7 water stations to improve the filtration of water from Papagayo to Tamarindo.
Heavier Rains Blamed on La Nina. In a report from the National Meteorology Institute, Guanacaste has received 25% more rain through July when compared to the same time last year. La Nina creates warmer waters in the Caribbean and cooler waters in the Pacific Ocean.
Costa Rica’s Real Estate Industry Nearly Tripled in the Past 12 Months.
Around the Country
Boat Enthusiasts Set to Open Marina. The Quepos marina, Paz Vela, is set to open next year. The two owners, Harold Lovelady and John Kane, avid fisherman and owners of a marina in Cape Cod have been under construction for the past fourth months. The marina, once completed, will boast a 200-ton boat lift, a 125-slip dry dock with plenty of area to make repairs and a 300-slip marina. It looks to be the first marina to open along the coast line, since the Los Suenos marina in 2001. The Papagayo marina (327-slips) is currently under construction and the 217-slip Bahia Escondida Marina in Golfito is set to start construction soon.
Airport Woes in the Osa. As plans move forward to build an international airport in the Osa Peninsula, concern grows between residents of the area. Many have expressed concern that the new “mega development” is not what interests tourists that visit this area nor do they want to see the kind of expansion that would most likely follow right behind the opening of such an airport.
All the best from Costa Rica,
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
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Costa Rica, the Nation
Newly Appointed Director. The new director of the Fuerza Publica (police force) Fabio Pizarro, has a firm stance on his new position. He is dedicated to the fight to make Costa Rica a safer place and to protect each of its citizens against the growing crime network. He has worked for 24 years among various security positions in Costa Rica with training in the United States and Honduras.
Nicaraguan-Costa Rican Initiative. The governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica have launched a program to aid Nicaraguan workers in Costa Rica. The project aims to regulate the flow of workers into the country, improve how workers are added to the workforce, assistance with aid the economic and social situation of the workers and ease the integration process into Costa Rican culture. A Costa Rican consulate office was opened just north of the border as a first step in the process.
China On, Taiwan Off. Costa Rica has recently cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in exchange for a relationship with China. China has already begun discussions of a possible joint venture between Mexico and Central America to build an oil refinery. President Arias hopes to create a free trade agreement between the two nations.
Condominium Regulations: All condominium regulations are filed and registered in the Registro Nacional
(www.registronacional.co.cr) |
San Jose, the Capitol
Tourism On Display. The 23rd. Annual Tourism Expo was held last month in San Jose. The new venues offered this year included medical tourism and community or rural tourism. Medical tourism has risen in the past few years, as the increasing draw towards excellent Costa Rican medical facilities and cheaper prices becomes known. Rural or community tourism involves the integration of tourists with Costa Rican families and cultures. This year, the expo reached many new buyers from around the globe.
Charity Fashion Show. The first annual “Costa Rica: Past in Present” charity fashion show was held last month to raise money to build an Alzheimer’s research and relief center. The fashion show featured Costa Rican artists, fashion designs and jewelry designers alike. They need to raise $4 million for the center, so there are more charities to come in the future.
Hotel City One. The Rastafarian/modern/chic style of the hotel and restaurant may say enough about this hotel. Located in a not often visited area of San Jose, near the Children’s Museum, the hotel offers travelers a fresh take on Caribbean culture by mixing it with clean lines and adding a modern twist. For more information, visit www.hotelcityone.com.
New Airline Routes. Two discount airlines, Spirit and Frontier have announced new routes into the Juan Santa Maria airport in San Jose. Spirit will offer flights from Denver, Colorado and Frontier has begun offering flights from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Off the Beaten Path. A man on a mission, chef/restaurateur Pascal Lebleu, hopes to make French food as common as rice and beans. The food is classically French with specials including stuffed rabbit and boeuf bourguignon. For more information, visit www.restaurantpascal.com. |
Guanacaste, the Northern Pacific Province
Carrillo’s Mayor Makes an Impact. Early last month Carlos Cantillo, Carrillo’s mayor, gave Carlos Benavides, Minister of Tourism, a tour of the devastated hills of Playa Hermosa and explained the dire need for a solution to Carrillo’s water issues. Cantillo expressed the importance of changing the image that is associated with Playas del Coco by removing the buildings within the 50 meter zone and changing the waterfront to a boardwalk area.
Development Fad. Guanacaste could see as many as 20 new developments in the coming years, including the Mandarin Oriental, the Ritz Carlton and a Canyon Ranch Hotel and Spa.
| Marina will move forward as planned. A replacement for the resigned legal consultant, Pedro Abdalla, will be found and the suggested six consortiums will move to the next rounds for consideration. |
Astronomical Advances. Liberia’s EARTH University has made further steps towards perfecting their experimental rocket plasma. The plasma, when stabilized, would allow further space travel and allow rockets the ability to “shift gears” while in space. Currently, rockets use their main energy sources when launched. The plasma would allow energy boosts while in flight.
Sky High Water Prices. Beginning last month, water bills in Guanacaste rose approximately 40%. The ARESEP (Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Publicos) approved the tariff increase on basic gravity operated aqueducts and pumped aqueducts in order to provide more money to fix the poor infrastructure for water distribution and supply. The increase in water prices will affect the regions of Limon, Alajuela, Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Guanacaste may be most severely affected by the increase as the majority of water in that region comes from.
| Liberia’s Soccer Team. Mario Sotela, owner of Africa Mia in Liberia, has recently purchased 90% of the shares of the Liberia soccer team. He has high hopes for the team in the coming years; bringing in a new assistant coach from France and recruiting players from Cameroon, the Cote D’Ivoire and Marseilles. Last year the team was second to last. |
Around the Country
Lack of Permits. Puntarenas, the province leading in construction growth, reportedly has 1 in every 5 lacking proper permits. The institute of architects and engineers, CFIA, is cracking down on construction sites that begin construction prior to getting the necessary permits. Many complain of the slow process, but CFIA argues that the most important aspect is careful, detailed inspection as opposed to the poorly designed or unsafe building.
Geothermal Power. ICE plans to add another geothermal power plant near the Arenal volcano by using the volcanic heat to create power. This new plant will add 35 MW of power to the five geothermal plants that are currently active.
Keeping Green. Due to colossal forest destruction in the early 1960’s and 70’s to make room for raising cattle, Costa Rican forests have been struggling to recover. Forests having been making a come back, recently, due to the focus on reducing illegal logging and reforestation projects. |
Feng Shui Food. The hip, yoga, feng shui influence has emerged in the form of a health nut restaurant. Fogon Sano, or Healthy Oven, has recently opened in Playa Hermosa, south of Jaco, promoting a healthy lifestyle through their eclectic menu. The Argentinean owners and yogi masters wanted to offer healthy, organic foods and prove that a healthy lifestyle is not always bland.
All the best from Costa Rica,
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
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Costa Rica, the Nation
EU Trade Agreement. The process has begun to create a trade agreement between the EU and Costa Rica, and in general Latin America, called an Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union (AACUE). Arias is strongly backing this pact, as 15% of exports were to EU nations in 2006 representing $1.28 billion.
Blackouts. Restrictive energy laws and monopolization seem to be the key factors keeping the country’s energy level from increasing to levels that are required. Some minor changes are being made, but the Coopeguanacaste’s regional director for ICE, Eduardo Cabalceta, believes that problems could persist until 2010.
Starbucks Latin American Campaign. An online marketing campaign, influenced by Latin American culture, will be featured annually in the month of April. The campaign features 3 Costa Rican artisans and Tarrazu coffee. Starbucks has signed 3-year contracts with the Tarrazu coffee corporation, paying them 40% more than the market price for their coffee.
San Jose, the Capitol
TC4: Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling. NASA has signed an agreement to launch planes that will monitor and collect data related to the atmospheric conditions and tropical cloud formations over Costa Rica and Panama. The program coined, TC4, will house 3 aircrafts, a WB-57, an ER-2 and a DC-8, in the NASA hanger at the Juan Santa Maria airport in San Jose. The mission is estimated to cost $20 million and bring 230 of NASA’s scientists and technicians to Costa Rica to monitor the conditions and aide in their study on global climate change.
“The Brothers” Grimm Outlook. The verdict finally came last month for Osvaldo Villalobos, one of the two men that were running an illegal financial operation out of an office in the San Pedro Mall, to spend 18 years behind bars and repay millions of dollars to investors. The “Brothers,” Osvaldo and Luis Enrique Villalobos, ran a “personal loan” business that promised a 3% per month interest on investments from $10,000 on upward. They gathered over 6,300 investors, some of whom invested their life savings with The Brothers. Investors still must wait to be repaid their monies as the case proceeds for the next 8 months with a possibility for appeal. Luis Enrique Osvaldo is still on the run.
Unconstitutionality of CAFTA. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala V) has one month (approximately June 15th.) to present their findings and decision on the unconstitutionality of CAFTA. The content of the Agreement is not what is being debated, rather the means in which the bill was handled. If the justices denying any unconstitutional handling, the referendum for a public vote will most likely take place in September of this year. The minimum voter outcome is still being negotiated at either 30% or 40%.
Airport Concession. A conference was held last month in Escazu outlining the concession for the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia. More than 100 investors, airlines companies and developers were given details of the phases and outlook for the airport. Phase One consists of a new terminal that will have the ability to process 12,000 passengers per hour to be complete one year after the concession is granted. Phase Two includes 12,000 square feet of construction and a larger runway to be completed by 2011. The concession declaration is scheduled to be signed in early 2008. The Liberia airport is expected to be able to cater to $1 million passengers a year, the number of passengers which is expected by 2017.
Guanacaste, the Northern Pacific Province
Playing in the Sand. The Second Annual Playas del Coco sand festival was more than just sand castles. This year, the event focused on the arts, environment and social awareness. The main sponsors and coordinators, Utopia magazine, raised $15,000 to create an event that had international sculptors create sand features, a circus, dancing, painting, volleyball clinics and a football tournament. Last year’s event lost money; this year’s event broke even.
Job Fair. Liberia held a job fair at the Best Western Hotel. The problem is not the lack of human resources in Guanacaste, but the inability to match qualified employees to the correct employer, stated a representative at the event. For more information, visit www.tuempleoturistico.com.
Coco Triathlon. The 25th. Annual Playas del Coco triathlon drew 260 competitors last month. The first place award went to Rom Akerson, one of nine children in his family, all of whom are extreme athletes in one area or another. Rom finished the race, which consisted of a 1600 meter swim, 60 kilometer bike race and 16 kilometer run, in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 12 seconds…10 minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Bridging the Gap. In an effort to bring cultural roots back to foreign children and become one with the community, 5 teachers have resigned from the Country Day School in Brasilito to open La Paz Community School. The school hopes to invite Costa Rican and foreign students alike and create a curriculum based on bilingual education and community orientation. The school is slated to open this September at the Jungle Gym in Flamingo.
Direct from Europe. Carlos Benavides, the Minister of Tourism (ICT), has begun talks with air carriers from Italy, Spain, Germany and England in an effort to expand the number of direct flights into the Liberia airport.
Height Restrictions. Carlos Benavides, the Minister of Tourism, has announced that he will sign a decree, backed by President Arias, to restrict the height of buildings in the maritime zone and up to one kilometer from the high tide mark. This is in response to the over development and lack of regulations that are currently in place, with the strongest voice coming from the Tamarindo Association. The aquifers and resources in the area are at risk with such lackadaisical “policies” at present. The decree is expected to be signed within three months.
Marina Setback? No! Ah, but yes! The marina has had yet another in a series of delays that have become common around these parts. Apparently, Pedro Abdalla, the consultant in charge of deciding which bids move onto the second stage, had a sudden revelation that his involvement may be a conflict of interest. Mr. Abdalla is the technical director for the Golfito Marina, which was concessioned to Company El Dorado, represented by James Lynskey. James Lynskey is also the legal representative for one of the bidders for the Flamingo Marina. Once aware of this, Abdalla wrote a letter of resignation, in conjunction with his decision of which of the 8 bidders should move to the next round. Four of the 8 original bids, Empresas Maritimas Messe ($27.43M-Davey), Desarrollos Nauticos ($12.5M-Gyesmans), Tamarindo Lifestyle ($32.6M) and Inversiones Rigilcom (Hyatt-Kothari), have been accepted with a score of 100 points and two others, Desarrollo de Marinas Matapalo Demm ($45M) and Willily Ocean View ($35M-Lynskey) are missing some translations, but may still qualify and move forward. |
Height Restrictions. Carlos Benavides, the Minister of Tourism, has announced that he will sign a decree, backed by President Arias, to restrict the height of buildings in the maritime zone and up to one kilometer from the high tide mark. This is in response to the over development and lack of regulations that are currently in place, with the strongest voice coming from the Tamarindo Association. The aquifers and resources in the area are at risk with such lackadaisical “policies” at present. The decree is expected to be signed within three months.
Changing of the Guard. Florida Ice and Farm Company sold 90% of its shares in the Melia branded hotel at Reserva Conchal to Caribbean Properties Group. It held the other 10% interest in the hotel as it is closely tied to the real estate aspect of the other 700 hectares. FIFCO began acquiring the property years ago through purchases of three key assets, specifically Embotelladora Centroamericana, Distributadora Centroamericana de Bebidas and SAB Miller’s 42.5% interest in Reserva Conchal. That created an 85% interest in the property for FIFCO.
Death Defying Air Show. The first annual air show at Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia showcased specially designed acrobatic planes, military trainers, fumigators and crop dusters alike to perform plummeting back flips, free falls and smoke plumed excitement for a crowd of over 3,000 spectators. All proceeds are to be donated for a fund to build a hospice center in Liberia for cancer patients.
SETENA: Tamarindo’s Saving Grace. This month, SETENA, in association with the Municipality of Santa Cruz, plans to visit all development sites in Tamarindo to make sure that all necessary permits are granted and all parties are in compliance with construction laws in the area. The Tamarindo Improvement Association has been making steady progress by bringing the city’s boisterous development to light in the central government.
Around the Country
Sightseeing via Bungee. La Fortuna’s new Arenal Bungee Company allows tourists to view the sights of Arenal from a whole new perspective. Arenal Bungee offers a 12 foot bungee jump into a pool of water, being catapulted or a tandem swing over the valley. For more information, 479-7440 or go online to www.arenalbungee.com.
Pre-Columbian Ruins. Located just outside the Caribbean town of Turrialba, lies the treasures of the National Monument, Guayabo. Dated back to between 1000 and 1400 A.D., the site is believed to once have had as many as 700 people living there. The monument gives evidence to early knowledge of engineering, mathematics and architecture through the existence of descending aqueducts, roadways and stair cases. There are still 16 hectares of overgrown jungle that has yet to be excavated. For more information, call (506) 559-1220.
Spanish Mega Project. A $600 million project south of the port of Puntarenas has been announced. A group of Spanish investors, whom have developed projects in the Caribbean, Europe and the United States, plan to develop 200 hectares of land with 4 hotels; the first phase slated to be complete in four years. The project will create 5,000 direct jobs for the region.
Osa International Airport. The plan for an international airport in the Osa Peninsula was announced late last month. The international airport would be on 600 hectares of land, be capable of handling an aircraft as large as an Airbus A380 (~500 passengers) with a runway 2.8 miles long, parking for 300 cars, a lounge that suits up to 400 travelers and include cargo handling facilities. The feasibility study would cost $1.156 million and is currently under negotiations; the deal for conducting the study could be signed within a month.
Enjoy, Cheryl Eckhart, Penelope Lent and Courtney Santry
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
Top of page
National
Energy Boost. ICE purchased
22 windmills from N.V. Edon Groep, a Dutch company that will provide
an extra 20 megawatts of electricity. Wind generated energy has
become desperately needed as hydroelectric plants produce less
electricity in the dry season when water levels decrease and in
turn causing blackout and outages.
Referendum to Approve CAFTA.
April 12 marked the day the Assembly members, both pro and anti
CAFTA supporters, agreed to approve CAFTA’s decision through
a binding referendum. The Elections Tribunal, or Tribunal Supremo
de Elecciones (TSE), must now decide whether the referendum will
be applied by an executive decree or a popular initiative authorized
by 130,000 votes. The executive decree would allow the decision
in as little as 3 months, while the popular initiative process
allows 9 months to collect the initial signatures and the referendum
postponed for as many as 14 months. The option for Costa Rica
to join CAFTA expires in March of 2008.
Cell Service. ICE in conjunction
with Ericsson plan to install 6 new cell towers to expand area
coverage to 58 sites, including regions in Northern Guanacaste.
Wasted Money. As reported by
Costa Rica’s National Treasury, $21.1. Million is sitting,
idly in an account that was budgeted for road funds. The money
has been accumulating since 2002! The municipalities must request
the funds and in doing so must also draft a plan showing how the
funds will be invested (What a concept!). Only 10 municipalities,
including Guanacaste and Nandayure, have done so at this point
and have used their monies accordingly.
Arias’ plan to digitalize
Costa Rica is moving forward as banks begin on June 5th to issue
drivers licenses to Costa Ricans at its 25 main branches. This
service will be offered throughout most of BCR’s 255 locations
by year’s end.
Miss Costa Rica. The new Miss
Costa Rica, Veronica Gonzalez, was elected early last month. Ms.
Gonzalez will go on to compete for Miss Universe in Cancun, Mexico
in May. Aside from being a beauty queen, Ms. Gonzalez is attending
the University of Costa Rica to obtain her bachelor degree in
environmental health.
San Jose
Live Souvenirs. Over the week
of Semana Santa 85 people were caught in violation of forest and
conservation laws while attempting to take an array of plants,
corals and wild animals back to the city after their vacations
at the beaches. They all face fines and charges up to $480 USD.
Park Café. Antiques
and tapas go hand in hand at the recently opened Park Café
in Sabana Norte. Richard Neat, the English, two-Michelin-star-rated
chef, thought the finest compliment to his friend, Louise France’s,
antique store would be his quaint restaurant with a menu featuring
small portions and recipes made only of the freshest ingredients.
Needless to say the décor adorning the restaurant and outdoor
dining area completes the refreshing old world ambience.
Home Care for Seniors. Homewatch
Caregivers Costa Rica, a U.S. based company, offers assistance
to elderly or recovering patients on an hourly or daily basis.
All employees are bilingual with rates ranging between $4 and
$10 per hour. The clinic hopes to expand out to other areas such
as Guanacaste and Puntarenas. Visit www.homewatchcaregivers.com/costarica
for more information.
Guanacaste
Style and Sophistication on the Field.
The Ellerstina Polo and Equestrian Center on Peninsula Papagayo
is slowing introducing Costa Rica to the sport of kings. Now with
8 members, two fields with backing from Ron Zurcher and Max Acosta,
the number of tournaments are expected to increase and the volume
of participants is also expected to rise. Currently, there are
only 2 tournaments per year.
Immigrants Adrift. Sixty one
immigrants, most from China, were found off the coast last month
in a slowly sinking wooden ship. All survived the long journey,
but now the trouble of returning the immigrants back to their
homes lays solely in the hands and pockets of the Costa Rican
government.
The on going saga of the Flamingo Marina,
moves into the next phase where the field of 8 potential concessionaires
will be narrowed down during this month of May.
Up, Up and Away. Liberia Airport
numbers were up 15% in March over the same time last year and
9% for April. Officials expect the overall yearly increase to
be at 15% or more than 400,000 passengers moving through the Liberia
airport.
The first direct flight, on First Choice
Airline, from England to Liberia, landed in the first
week of March.
Employment Growth. We have
all heard of the vast amount of job opportunities that the will
become available to Costa Rica’s from the up and coming
developments, but are Guanacastecos the right one’s for
the job? In order to better prepare Guanacastecos for the new
jobs that are going to be offered, the Santa Cruz Municipality
has signed into effect a program that matches employees with employers.
This Spanish funded program will not only match people to jobs,
but will also provide information on where to get training and
education for the positions of the future. Santa Cruz and Carrillo
have both agreed to these programs that are currently underway.
Water Testing. Interested in
testing the water at your home or business? Call 277-3696, the
National University Laboratory for Environmental Analysis, or
UCR lab at 207-4479. Visit www.eca.or.cr/acr_lab.php
for a complete list of accredited water testing labs in Costa
Rica.
2nd Annual Regatta…Better than
the 1st! The 2nd Annual Papagayo Sailing Cup, which raised
money this year to establish a children’s sailing school,
had boats hauling up and down the northern Guanacaste coastline.
From Coco, towards the Four Seasons and back to Ocotal, all made
for an exciting race. Capricho, a boat from Puntarenas, came in
first overall and the Lazy Lizard www.lazylizard.com
from Flamingo, captained by Judd Dunham, came in first in the
multi-hull category.
Guanacaste Region Offers More Options
in Private Education
1. Country Day School
Location: Brasilito
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12
Programs: U.S. accredited school, college preparatory curriculum
Boarding: Boarding optional
Tuition: Pre-K to 12th $7,040
Pre-K and Kindergarten (half day) $3,030
Contact: Principal Stephen Butler (011 506) 654-5042 ext. 125,
info_cdsq@cds.ed.cr
2. Mariposa School
Location: Potrero
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Programs: English and Spanish, well rounded with emphasis on
children’s growth Boarding: N/A
Tuition: Pre-K and Kindergarten $180 to $225/month
Contact: Janet Lammey (011 506) 654-4420, janet123@racsa.co.cr
3. Teocali School
Location: Liberia
Grades: Preschool through Grade 11
Programs: Costa Rican accredited school, teaches college level
English, all classes offered in English and Spanish
Boarding: N/A
Tuition: inquire
Contact: (011 506) 666-8780
4. Waldorf
Location: Liberia
Grades: Preschool
Programs: Emphasis on values and integrity
Boarding: N/A
Tuition: varies
Contact: Luz Cano (011 506) 371-4622
5. Pinilla Academy (Opening September 2007)
Location: San Juan de Pinilla, near Avellanes
Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 6
Programs: Montessori-influenced Costa Rican program, with physical
education and art programs
Boarding: N/A, at this time
Tuition: Starting at $200/month, subject to increase
Contact: Bill Nevins (011 506) 653-1540
6. Del Mar Academy (Opening September 2007)
Location: Nosara
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12
Programs: All classes offered in English and Spanish with an
environmental focus
Boarding: Only for teachers, possibly for students in the future
Tuition: $6,000/year
Contact: Carlos Castro
(011 506) 813-2765, delmaracademy@yahoo.com
Beach Club. The Café
de Playa Beach and Dining Club in Playas del Coco offers a private
beach club experience in the heart of Coco. From the canopy tented
sushi bar, beachfront restaurant, private pool and lounge area
and unrivaled services this is just the place to spend a relaxing
day or weekend. Guests are welcome for $10/day to enjoy the amenities
that the club has to offer with other services, such as sailing,
boat trips, beachfront massage and spa services for an additional
cost. Visit www.cafedeplaya.com
for more information.
The Maritime Law: Revealed.
Some basics facts: (1) The first 200 meters of beachfront are
governed by the Maritime Zone Law, or Zona Maritimo Terrestre,
(2) with the initial 50 meters of this zone (Public Zone) delegated
for public use, which can never be constructed upon, (3) and the
final 150 meters, known as the Restricted Zone, may be constructed
upon with special concessions granted by the local municipality.
Building is possible, as long as the area is part of a regulatory
plan or special zoning district.
Now to completely contradict this, there are
some properties that are covered by a grandfather clause which
allowed building in these regions prior to the current law that
governs this zone, which was passed in 1977. Due to a temporary
law, law number 4558, enacted in 1970, if one could proved their
adverse possession of their beachfront land and begin the proceedings
to obtain title between 1970 and 1974, before the current law
became binding, then one could have secured, titled beachfront
property.
Around the Country
Presidential Challenge. The
11th Annual Riviera Yachts Presidential Challenge sport fishing
class was held last month in Playa Carrillo. With more than 30
entered on a dozen boats, Costa Rica proved to be, yet again,
a prime destination for sport fishing. The first prize went to
Team A-Fin-Ity with Flamingo based Captain Chepe Santana. Part
of the entry fees went to the Billfish Foundation of Fort Lauderdale,
Florida to heighten awareness of socio-economic impact of sport
fishing. In additional to the tournament a silent auction was
held, which helped bring in over $20,000 for the foundation.
The 2006-2007 National Surf Circuit Championship
title, in Jaco, was awarded to Diego Naranjo of Jaco and Nataly
Bernold of Tamarindo for the women’s division.
Enjoy,
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
Top of page
National
Design Time. Once you have
purchased your perfect home away from home…where do you
furnish it? La Artistica offers many upscale design options and
with their innovative online catalogue, you can design your Costa
Rican home from virtually anywhere. www.laartistica.net
- 97% of untreated waste water ends up in rivers
around the country, reports AyA.
More on CAFTA… Mark Langdale,
the US Ambassador to Costa Rica, describes the importance of CAFTA
to this country. By joining the other Latin American countries
that have ratified CAFTA, Costa Rica has an opportunity to solidify
their relationship with the United States; this relationship will
not always be an option for Costa Rica, which could be devastating
for the country in the future. Trade is extremely important for
accessing world markets and the growth of Costa Rica. Currently,
two thirds of the assembly agrees to pass CAFTA and the majority
of the voters agree, as well. It now depends on the ability of
the assembly to make a solid decision, take a stand on the issue
and end the debate.
Costa Rica’s National Flower
is the
guaria morada, one of 1200 to 1400
species of orchids found in the country.
ICE Expands Services. In a
statement on the Costa Rica Electricity Institute’s, ICE,
official website (www.ice.go.cr), the company will invest $59.8
Million to create a “Frontera a Frontera” (border
to border) high speed internet technological network. This will
allow for faster transmission of downloads. The project is to
be completed within the first three months of 2008.
San Jose
Fusion Restaurant in Belen.
A laid back Japanese-Latin fusion restaurant/lounge has just opened
in La Riberia de Belen. The vibrant lights and electronic music
add a refreshing twist to the restaurants currently listed in
Costa Rica’s 2007 Zagat Guide (FYI: we don’t actually
have one of these).
Intercontinentally Diverse.
The Intercontinental Hotel in the heart of Escazu inaugurated
four new restaurants. The restaurants now feature cuisines from
around the globe, including: Japanese, Spanish and Italian.
Smart City. Heredia, a province
just outside of San Jose, has plans to become the first “Smart
City” in Costa Rica. Through an agreement with the “smart
city” in Israel, Ariel, Heredia is to have cameras installed
on street corners to control traffic and city violence, and provide
intercommunications to make available community information and
municipal services to all citizens.
Guanacaste
Bad Water. The Coco and Hermosa
areas are developing at a rate faster than AyA, the water institute,
can handle. With water being turned off for periods of up to 2
and 3 days, investigations into scandalous water dealings arise.
Three suspensions of water officials have been made, while the
investigations into a firm offering to build an aqueduct in return
for water connections and another group of developers planning
a project with AyA that would only supply their developments with
a total of 800 water hookups.
Controlled Burns Out-of-Control.
With the return of the strong Papagayo winds, the controlled burns,
which are set by local farmers every year to clear their land,
can quickly become uncontrolled. As the region becomes more and
more populated, the fires now threaten not only the wildlife and
the environment, but also structures and people.
On the Up-and-Up. In a recent
interview between Peninsula Papagayo’s Operational Manager,
Manuel Ardon, and Nora Zarate of Casa Galeria magazine, Guanacaste’s
popularity continues to rise. The investors have money to spend,
with most coming from the baby boom generation from the United
States. The most developed areas lay along the coast, including
the catons of Santa Cruz (where our office is located), Liberia
(near the airport) and Carrillo (Playa Hermosa, Panama, Coco).
Guanacaste’s Allure
An estimated 360,000 tourists
will come through the Liberia airport this year
High Season: 55 weekly flights
Low Season: 23 weekly flights
Guanacaste has the most developed tourist plan in all of Latin
America
Generates 27% of the hydroelectric, wind and thermal energy of
Costa Rica
There are 5 national parks, 2 wildlife refuges, 1 biological station,
3 private reserves, and 2 conservation areas
The average age of clients looking to purchase is between 40 and
50
The majority of clients are from the US states of California,
Florida, and New York
Clients have an estimated $500,000 to $1,000,000 to invest
Confirmed Hotels.
St. Regis (Central Pacific and Peninsula Papagayo)
Hilton (Guanacaste and Puntarenas)
Westin Hotel (Playa Panama)
Regent Hotel (Playa Panama)
Ritz Carlton (Playa Hermosa)
Miraval and The One & Only Resort (Punta Cacique)
Starwood (Playa Panama)
RIU (Matapalo)
Rosewood (Playa Guachipelin)
Hyatt (Brasilito)
JW Marriott (Hacienda Pinilla golf development)
Incoming! British airline,
First Choice Airways, has announced that they will begin to fly
into Liberia airport in May. This represents the first European
airline that will offer a non-stop flight into Liberia airport.
Africa Mia. The dreams of film
maker Mario Sotela are being realized, as he builds, what he hopes
will become the largest producer of animals aside from Africa.
Earlier last month the zoo brought in 27 new animals including
giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and more. Africa Mia Natural Private
Reserve is located just outside of Liberia.
Taboo-licious! Tucked in the
quiet neighborhood of Langosta, just outside the boisterous city
of Tamarindo, lies a quaint restaurant that brings chic French
flavors to a family style atmosphere. The owners, Nicholas and
Lourdes Petry, along with their daughter and two dogs, have made
this restaurant their life and part of their home. Specials ranging
from fresh lobster tails to glazed beef tenderloin are always
carefully coupled with perfectly matched wines and finished with
such decadent desserts as Belgian chocolate souffle.
Carrillo’s New Mayor.
In a meeting early last month, arranged by the law firm Bufete
Echeverria, a mix of top developers, lawyers, municipal officials,
the mayor of Carrillo and reporters, sat together to discuss the
happenings on the Guanacaste coast. Carrillo’s Mayor, Carlos
Gerardo Cantillo Alvarez, opened his ears to all concerns and
comments and answered very diplomatically with promise of change.
8 Planned Marina Projects:
Cuanqiniquil, Playa Panama, Playas del Coco (3), Flamingo, Carrillo
and Guacamaya. The decision regarding the Flamingo marina bid
will be made by the end of the year and construction can commence
soon thereafter, according to Francisco Mairena, an official from
the Santa Cruz municipality.
New Terminal at the Liberia International Airport
to open in 2009.
Around the Country
Road Safety. A vehicle, equipped
with satellite GPS and cameras, took off around Costa Rica to
study approximately 1,550 miles of roads. Its goal is to assess
road conditions around the country. The car will be on the road
for a total of 3-4 months ending in May; the report of its findings
will be published in September.
WorldTeach. The U.S. based
non-profit organization, WorldTeach, is making quite an impact
on the rural primary and secondary schools along the Pacific Coast.
Since 1989, the program has been sending volunteers to teach English
to students who have all but been forgotten, due to lack of funding
and lack of teachers.
We apologize for the delay on the newsletter
this month. It’s a busy time for real estate!
Enjoy!
Penelope Lent
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
Top of page
National
New Wave. The Costa Rican Surf
Federation’s torch was passed to a new president. Jose Urena,
who has been in the surf industry for over 20 years, has been
granted to the opportunity to represent Costa Rica’s surfing
industry around the world. Previous president, Antonio Pilurzu,
owner of the Cala Luna Hotel in Langosta, worked for many years
to build the Costa Rica name in surfing, attracting sponsorship
from such high profile surf companies as Quicksilver. Urena will
continue to build the legacy that was left to him and maintain
the reputation that has been built.
National Development Plan.
President Arias and Second Vice President, Kevin Casas, presented
the 2006-2010 Development Plan. In previous years, the government
has prepared a plan that not even the most intelligent could decipher;
perhaps the reason the government could not accomplish its goals.
For Arias’ term, the plan is precise and to the point, even
calling for bi-yearly progress updates. In 133 pages, the outline
for success touches upon everything from school curriculum changes
to electric needs of the country. For more detailed analysis,
visit www.mideplan.go.cr.
Miss Costa Rica. The ten finalists
for the Miss Costa Rica beauty pageant will compete in the March
16th final competition to see who will not only win the crown
for Costa Rica, but who will go on to compete in the Miss Universe
pageant.
Voted Least Likely to Succeed.
In a report produced by the Comptroller’s Office, the Ministry
of Public Transportation (MOPT) was said to be the least efficient
government office. MOPT has many faulty aspects including the
amount of administrative positions and lack of laborers, paying
over 60% of their delegated funds to administrators and reportedly
60% of their equipment is broken. As many that have come before,
the newly elected minister, Karla Gonzalez, vows to make changes
to the faulty system, or lack thereof.
Predictions. The inflation
rate is predicted to be 8% this year, down from 9.43% in 2006.
The president pf Costa Rica’s Central Bank, Francisco De
Paula Gutierrez, further remarks that inflation could be as low
as 6% for 2008, granted the conditions (read: the price of oil)
remain stable.
Cell Phones. The National Electricity
Institute, ICE, ran out of GSM phone lines last December, but
is putting a bid together to purchase anywhere from 500,000 to
one million phone lines from Ericsson and Alcatel, a French telecommunications
company.
Mapped! Costa Rica is setting
out on yet another endeavor; dirt road GPS technology. In a country
with a severe lack of necessary street signs, address and proper
lighting, getting around can be a challenge. Arturo Vargas, Julio
Ojeda, Rudy Vargas and Manuel Jose Cerda have combined information
from field work and already mapped areas to create an intricate
GPS for most of the roads in Costa Rica. The GPS devices are available
to tourists renting cars through Economy and Solid Rent-A-Car.
For more information visit the Rutas Satelitales store near the
Hampton Inn, near the San Jose airport or visit their web site
at www.rsgps.com.
ICE vs. CAFTA: Can it stand the heat?
The monopolized telecommunications giant, ICE, is experiencing
outside competition as CAFTA negotiations continue. ICE has a
monopoly over telecommunications and electric service industry
here in Costa Rica, which generates $1.5 billion in revenue per
year. CAFTA, in the eyes of the PAC (Political Action Party),
fears that ICE will be over run by foreign competition. On the
other hand, the PLN (National Liberation Party) thinks that ICE
could use a little healthy competition to increase their efficiency
and decrease corruption within the company.
Debt Forgiven. Spain forgave
Costa Rica’s $58 million debt, as long as the funds would
be used to benefit education systems, especially focusing on those
schools in the rural areas around the country.
Butterfly Business. Costa Rica
exports over 150 species of butterflies in quantities reaching
900,000. The industry brings in $1 million per year with the demand
increasing.
San Jose, the Capitol
Immigration Legislation. Harsher
penalties and stiffer fines are being proposed to curb immigration
problems. The proposed changes hope to directly influence the
amount of human trafficking, lax attitude in regards to overstaying
tourist visas and the requirements for a foreigner to marry a
national.
$0.08 Plane Tickets? Sprint,
the discount airline, was offering 8-cent tickets from Fort Lauderdale
to San Jose, CR last month. Once those sold out, they offered
one way tickets for $69 into San Jose good from April 5th through
October 31st (if purchased prior to February 7th).
Plastic Surgery Haven. Costa
Rica offers it all, beautiful beaches, tropical climate and now
can sculpt the perfect body at a fraction of US prices. The plastic
surgery sector is steadily growing, as tourists discover they
can pay lower prices and recover in a beautifully tranquil environment.
Developers are responding to the increase in foreigners coming
to San Jose for their procedures; hotels that cater directly to
plastic surgery patients are springing up along the hills above
Escazu. The Paradise Cosmetic Inn is a resort that has on site
nurses and staff that tend to healing patients. The hotel is scheduled
to open this month.
Guanacaste
Strong Currents. A diver was
separated from his group after diving near the Catalina Islands,
off of the Flamingo Coast. Currents drug him further offshore
and pulled him overnight up towards Playa Ocotal. He was rescued
the following day by a sport fishing boat after flashing his underwater
camera to get the crew’s attention.
Chemistry in Flavors. The Italian
gelato shop, in Potrero, has nearly doubled their business since
they opened last year. They are creating new flavors, drawing
a larger crowd and are opening a new shop in Playas del Coco.
The owners, Emanuela Guarnieri and Leonardo DeAngelis, have certainly
found their niche market in Costa Rica. As they expand, the highest
concern is keeping the same quality of flavors and textures in
all that they produce, ensuring that the image as specialty ice
cream shop will remain.
Private Security. Flamingo
has hired their own private police force to patrol the area. They
are to work in conjunction with the National Tourist Police force
by handing criminals over for further prosecution. The amount
of police in the area is apparent, witnessing at one point over
10 Tourist Police on motorcycles flying by on the road just outside
Sardinal.
Newly Elected. The voters of
Guanacaste have turned to first term candidates, from the National
Liberation Party (PLN), to build them a path for a successful
future. The new mayor of Liberia, Carlos Luis Marin, plans to
take advantage of the tourist and development boom that is occurring
in his canton by welcoming foreign investment. The politically
involved, new mayor of Santa Cruz, Jorge Enrique Chavarria, has
set goals to expand the police force, especially around Tamarindo,
from 13 to 98 officers and manage the area’s growth in a
more efficient manner. Both hope to improve the infrastructure
and bring more cultural activities to our region.
Road Repairs. The roads linking
Huacas-Matapalo, Cartagena-Huacas and Huacas-Villareal are under
repair with a completion date set for April 5, 2007.
Liberia’s New Terminal.
The expansion of the Liberia airport is close to completion. The
inauguration of the addition is for early this month.
Tamarindo Association. The
first meeting for the Tamarindo Association was last month with
sights set on 6 different areas. Groups were divided and heads
of each committee were appointed to conquer such problems as the
crime in the area, water treatment plans and the Blue Flag beach
program. Meetings are held on the first Friday of every month.
For more information, email bodapmt@tamarindocommunity.org.
Blooming Guanacaste. As developers
take the reins, Guanacaste province is reaping all the benefits.
The roads to major developments are paved to US standards, the
entrances are grand and once inside, you may forget the 3rd world
nuisances that aggravate the tourist industry. Guanacaste has
taken their fair share of the Costa Rican real estate market,
with 59% of the all real estate investment occurring in this sector
last year.
Exclusive Resorts. The Denver
based, Exclusive Resorts announced their arrival in Costa Rica.
They are planning to build a members-only, $75 million, 20 acre
development in the North Pacific Coast called Poro Poro. The first
10 homes are available to their members, the rest available this
summer.
Theatre en Las Playas. Paul
Belanger brings his dream to life, as he casts his first play
here in Tamarindo, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. The
play is set to open in April, venue yet to be determined.
Name Dropping…
In the next three years, the coastal region
of Guanacaste, from just South of Tamarindo to Peninsula Papagayo,
can expect an increase of 3,500 hotel rooms:
Hyatt Regency Azulera Resort and Spa
320 hotel rooms
100 condominiums
240 golf course villas
(?) single family homes
The Regent Resort at La Punta Papagayo
150 room luxury resort
86 condominiums
20 estates
JW Marriott
310 hotel rooms
200 condominiums
Rosewood Costa Carmel
Prices Starting at $600,000+
80 room hotel
60 villas and casitas
20 estate lots
Aman Resorts
The Ritz Carlton
One and Only Resorts
The majority of the rooms are being created
by a Spanish hotel chain, RUI, with an estimated 2000 rooms on
Matapalo’s 600 acre parcel with three different hotels planned.
Live to be 100! The Nicoya
Peninsula is being studied by researchers as the demographic of
elderly in the region was extremely high.
Marina Progress. The Santa Cruz
Municipality has accepted 8 bids for the Flamingo Marina, ranging
from $12.5M to $45M.
$45M bid, 234 slip, came from three North Americas and long time
Flamingo resident, Donald Brooks
$32.6M bid, 420-slips, from The Kapeta Group, real estate developers
in Tamarindo (Tamarindo Heights)
$24.73M bid for a 400-slip marina came from Century 21’s
Bob Davey and Mike Smith, of Arizona all represented by Rafael
Canas
$16M bid, from Inversiones Rigilicom led by Anil C. Kothari the
developer behind the Hyatt Project
The lowest bid came from a group led by Hubert Guysmen, owner
of the Amberes Casino and Night Club, for a 200-slip marina
A Canadian-Israeli group put in a bid at an undisclosed price.
The Municipality will tally up the points to see which groups
make it to the next round. Each group must score a minimum of
80 points before moving on from a variety of different factors
with emphasis on experience and economic capability.
Around the Country
Mega Port. Plans to build a
mega port on the Caribbean side in Limon are becoming a reality.
Arias is teaming up with the Port Authority of Santander, Spain
to gain insight into the logistics of building such a port. The
government plans to spend an estimated $300 million to create
a port that is 600 times larger than the current port. Ground
breaking is expected in 2008.
Social Responsibility. CEMEX,
the large cement company in Costa Rica, is providing a valuable
example for all companies around the country. CEMEX’s “Huella”
(footprint) program encourages their employees and their families
to give back to communities throughout Costa Rica. CEMEX has donated
over 963 hours of their time cleaning up area schools, repairing
electrical systems, landscaping common areas and painting neglected
buildings.
Coffee Farmers Get a Boost.
Starbucks and Earthwatch teamed up, for yet another project, this
time to provide Costa Rican farmers with the information and technology
that can make their businesses more efficient. The studies will
look at factors important to coffee production, such as soil erosion
and water quality.
Development in the South. Bahia
Escondida project in Golfito plans to include a 217 slip marina,
400-room luxury hotel, yacht club and a 75 unit condominium, to
name a few of the amenities, with a projected budget of $350 million.
They have recently broken ground and are keeping their plans extremely
flexible, as their project time line is based upon their sales.
Handcrafted Leather Goods.
Canadian native, Guylaine Barrette, has been imaginatively crafting
since the age of 19. Now, at the age of 47, she lives in Atenas
fashioning handbags and leather goods from calf skin to snake.
To place an order, email gya91@hotmail.com.
Japan’s Generosity Criticized.
Costa Rica has benefited from Japanese aide, totalling more than
$23.5 million since 1989. Critics argue that Japan’s generosity
always tends to coincide with the International Whaling Commission’s
meeting where votes will determine whether to grant Japan whaling
rights in international waters. To date, Costa Rica owes the whaling
commission 20 years of backed dues, hindering their ability to
vote.
Remote Experience. Bosque del
Cabo, in the Osa Peninsula, is a quaint ocean view lodge that
offers a complete jungle experience. Private villas overlook the
beautiful Pacific with king sized bed adorned with silky sheets
and mosquito gauze completed the feel of the Osa. One may adventure
through the jungle on winding trails or lounge poolside with the
cocktail of the day in hand. To make reservations for your getaway,
visit www.bosquedelcabo.com
or call (506) 735-5206.
Concession Revoked. Minister
of Security caught on to some mischievous behavior by the Municipality
for the La Cruz area. A concession was granted to an Italian business
man for a piece of land occupied by the Fuerza Publica (police
force) of the area, who has been there for the past 30 years.
Once the Minister of Security was notified, he sent a report to
the Municipality requesting that they revoke the concession. The
report also revealed that the land was never correctly inspected,
if ever, and was highly under valued when the concession was sold.
Hidden Jewel, Discovered. The
Southern Nicoya Peninsula has been a surfer’s paradise for
many years, but as we all have seen, the adventurous “pave”
the way for the rest of us. Southern Nicoya is developing, at
what some say are rates too high to sustain. In the past 3 years
prices have skyrocketed 20% to 100%. Today, the areas of Santa
Teresa and Montezuma have become destinations for the rich and
famous.
Limon Robbery Attempt. Last
week in the province of Limon, a van of 12 Carnival cruise ship
tourists were exploring the town when they decide to pull off
to take some pictures. Three men charged the van and one entered.
A retired US Serviceman overtook the man and killed him. The police
were contacted and the tourists have not been charged with any
crime.
Email: penelope@lenteckhartproperties.com
Top of page
Costa Rica, the Nation
National
Record High. Exports last year reached a new
record at $8.198 billion, with the leading exports: microchip
electric components, bananas, textiles and pineapples.
Development Soars! There was a 64% increase
in the amount of construction in 2006 over that in 2005, mostly
due to the popularity in the beach areas.
Donation. Arias has drawn up a Presidential
decree which allows him to donate his salary to those less fortunate.
He has decided to donate his salary primarily to causes aiding
the elderly and secondarily to charities helping those less fortunate.
Poverty. The gap between the wealthy and the
less fortunate continues to grow even as the GDP continues to
increase. The GDP has increased by 40% in the past 15 years, although
the poorest populations have experience an average income decrease
of 13.9% annually; the wealthiest have seen as average increase
of 67.9%. President Arias’ new Economic Development Model
is hoping to change the way things are currently running. By focusing
on connecting the fast growing export and services sector with
the domestic and small businesses sector by providing incentives
to big businesses to utilizes smaller businesses. Some initiatives
that are being enacted are: small business’ expanded accessibility
to loans, restructuring the current tax system and tax breaks.
Inflation. Things seem to be slowing down as
the CPI (Consumer Price Index) was recalculated. The inflation
rate last year, 9.43%, was the lowest that it has been in the
past 14 years and is expect to be even lower this year at 9%.
Fuel Subsidies. The subsidy for diesel fuel
which had been in place since the 1970’s was alleviated
by the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP). The government
had subsidized the sale of diesel with the sale of gasoline, therefore,
making gasoline prices much higher than diesel fuel. Now, the
price for diesel will increase from $0.67 to $0.71 per liter and
gasoline will decrease from $0.94 to $0.89 per liter.
Stock Watch. Multinational banking giant, Citigroup,
announced plans to buyout Corporacion UBC, S.A.’s 53 Banco
Cuscatlan subsidiaries in December. This buyout represents a $1.5
Billion acquisition further extending Citigroup’s influence
within the Latin American banking world. Just last October they
announced the purchase of Grupo Financerio Uno, the largest credit
card issuer in all of Central America.
FYI! Heard all the bad things about lawyers
in Costa Rica? Colegio de Abogados (The Costa Rican Lawyer Association)
has a posted list of all the lawyers who have been disbarred on
their website: www.abogados.or.cr.
FYI! Trying to buy a used car in Costa Rica?
Watch out for “lemons” with www.carfax.com.
Many used cars in Costa Rica originated in the States; CarFax.com
reports which cars are salvages, have been in wrecks, and their
mileage.
Ivy League Recognition. The Yale University
School of Management has implemented a mandatory M.B.A. requirement
for all first year students which now includes Costa Rica. Students
are to choose a location, previously approved by the University,
to study economic growth and development for a period of 2 weeks
and create four different economic proposals for different sectors.
This was the first year that the program was in place and 25 students
flew to Costa Rica to meet with such elite minds as Carlos Benavides,
the Minister of Tourism, Steve Erinson of Café Britt and
Robert Loria of the INCAE Business School. The program is part
of Yale’s expansion towards becoming a “global university.
UN Aide. The UNICEF organization (United Nation’s
Children’s Fund), which has been in Costa Rica for over
50 years, is looking to the private sector for funds. As the coastal
regions develop on an exponential level, the most impoverished
sectors, in the same areas are receiving little or no benefits.
UNICEF has studied the lack of educational and social resources
for the children in these areas, many living below the poverty
line. The “trickle-down” economic model is a slow
process, which may in the future affect those living in and around
these areas, but answers to the present problems need to be addressed
now. UNICEF hopes to provide all children living in these areas
a chance to live in a safe environment with access to educational
and social programs. For further information call 296-2034, or
e-mail info@unicefcr.org.
Arrival Tax. Carlos Benavides, Minister of Tourism,
has proposed a $15 entry tax to all entering Costa Rica to replace
the current 3% tourism hotel tax. The $15 entry tax affects all
those entering the country whether they are property owners or
not. Benavides states that there is currently a bill being drafted
by President Arias to be presented to Congress. Currently, feelings
about the new tax are mixed.
Toyota Sponsors Teachers. Toyota’s International
Teachers Program will sponsor 20 US teachers to come to Costa
Rica this spring to learn and explore in one of the most biodiverse
countries in the world. Information will be brought back to teach
about environmental awareness and increase global perspectives.
Monetary Reserves. Costa Rica has increased
their national reserve by 34% from last year reaching $3.1 billion,
not including the dollar reserves held by commercial banks, which
would bring the total to $3.8 billion. The banks in Costa Rica
have gained a more solid standing; inflation rates for the upcoming
year are expected to be promising low, respectively.
San Jose, the Capitol
Star Struck. Do-gooders Angelina Jolie and Brad
Pitt graced Costa Rica with their presence this past holiday season.
They handed out gifts and met with Costa Rican dignitaries to
celebrate the country’s willingness to receive some 10,500
Colombian refugees.
CAFTA Debate. The debate over CAFTA has grown
personal within the legislative and Executive branches. The PAC
(Citizen Action Party), headed by Elizabeth Fonseca, is strongly
against the current agreement and would like to see it modified
to provide more benefits for Costa Rica. On the other hand, Arias
and his cabinet are sure that the legislation will pass in Congress,
only needing a reported 29 votes, not the previously believed
38. To be continued…
Head of State. Arias is standing his ground
after receiving harsh rebuttal after making comments about the
dictatorships of Cuba and Chile. He continues to support his comments
and reiterate his position against the regimes in both countries.
Fore! The Costa Rican CVGA (Central Valley Golf
Association) held their annual golf tournament at Valle del Sol.
Over 100 players showed up to compete in a friendly Four Person
Scramble. Nick Costas and Michael LaPorte took home the first
and second place prizes, respectively, this year. The CVGA began
in 1997, under director Maddox, and now boasts 140 members from
23 different countries. There are games every week at different
courses. For more information or to join, contact the CVGA at
www.thecvga.com or call 254-0140/392-8595.
Guanacaste, the Northern Pacific Province
Marina! The Flamingo Marina issue seems to be
back on the table and in full swing towards the next step. Maria
Elena Paniagua, the Mayor of Santa Cruz, has set a deadline for
all concession bids. By February 9th at 3 p.m. (of this year,
2007) all bids from the companies vying for the marina concession
must be submitted. Each company must be willing to make a minimum
investment of $12 million and score a total of at least 80 points
from other stringent requirements that have been set forth. The
legal counsel for the marina concession, Abdalla Architectos,
is working with Paniagua to choose the most qualified company
for the job.
Sushi in Langosta. A new sushi restaurant has
opened in Playa Langosta at the Cala Luna Hotel. La Caletta’s
owners, Federico Pilurzu, Costa Rican surfing sensation, Guiseppe
Marco Usai and Guianluca Arcieri had talked about opening a restaurant
for the past year and Federico was really pushing for a sushi
restaurant. They wanted to create a restaurant where locals and
friends would casually meet. La Caletta’s open air, poolside,
loungey atmosphere is the perfect compliment to the fresh variety
of sushi on the menu and the laid back feel that they wanted to
create
Road Work. A reported $8.1 million is being
set aside for the road connecting Carrillo with Lajas in southern
Guanacaste. The road to be paved is 12 kilometers (approx. 8 miles),
which will include drainage, paving and a bridge.
Fish and Meat. The name, simply that, Fish and
Meat, does not quite do this Asian/Argentinean/Middle Eastern/French
restaurant justice. For the past 5 years, Federico Crespo and
his wife have slowly, yet eagerly, grown their Tamarindo establishment
by creating new tantalizing palette pleasers. Recognizing the
importance of the local community in growing their dream and celebrating
only the freshest local ingredients have been the secrets of their
success. Since his move from Argentina, some 6 years ago, he has
been in the midst of the rapid growth that has taken place in
the area and ahs been able to move with it. In the middle of last
year, Crespo welcomed a new sushi chef, Jorge Chacon, to help
expand the variety of the sushi menu. For reservations, call 653-0535.
Engine, Engine #9. As populations grow and towns
become developed, fires have become a prevalent issue. An age
old tradition of clearing land is now becoming extremely risky.
The nearest fire station is more than an hour from such populated
areas as Tamarindo and Flamingo; Playas del Coco does not have
a fire station either. Just as recently as last week the Sugar
Beach Hotel, North of Potrero, was threatened by the flames from
a nearby “controlled burn,” which grew larger through
the persuasion of the strong Papagayo winds. There was nothing
“controlled” about that burn. Establishing a fire
station closer to the coastal areas is hindered primarily by cost
and secondarily by man power. There are no reports of one in the
near future.
Airport Statistics. Daniel Oduber Airport in
Liberia showed an 18% increase, or 351,515 passengers, in 2006
over the previous year. Statistics predict half a million passengers
by 2010 and one million by 2017, each year varying between a 10
and 15% increase. The recent concession agreement made through
the government shows plans for a $13 million upgrade, hoping to
make Liberia’s airport the most modern in Central America
by 2009.
Modernization. “Gobierno Digital,”
(Digital Government) Arias’ $2 Million plan to modernize
the Costa Rica is slowly becoming a realization. The plan decentralizes
many institutions such as Immigration, allowing other offices
around the country the liberties that the San Jose office solely
held. Just last month, the Liberia Immigration Office granted
its first passport in a matter of 15 minutes. “Gobierno
Digital” hopes to disburse the flood of responsibilities
away from the capitol to regional offices throughout Costa Rica.
Musical Arena. A new outdoor theatre has opened
at Villas del Sueno, near Playa Hermosa, offering an alternative
venue to increase arts and culture in the Guanacaste region. The
45 M2 stage has already hosted such well-known groups as Editus
and hopes to entice other acts to come including musical performances,
theatre and community shows. The theatre can host up to 600 guests
or host a 300 person dinner party.
Joint Patrolling. With a maritime zone 11 times
the size of its land mass, Costa Rica has welcomed protection
and foreign aide with open arms. Under the US-Costa Rican Counter
Narcotics Maritime Agreement, the US is allowed to pursue drug
traffickers into Costa Rican waters. The Director General of Costa
Rica’s Institution on Drugs (ICD), Mauricio Borachi, concedes
that Costa Rica does not have the resources to effectively tackle
the issue at hand. Now, Costa Rica not only has US air surveillance
support, but also by sea.
Whale Season. Humpback whale sightings have
been reported up and down the Pacific Coast. What better cause
to plan a sailing trip! For charter information contact The Lazy
Lizard at 654-4192 or check out their web site at www.sailingcostarica.com.
Private charters are also available.
Tourism. Figures have been on the increase for
tourism in the past few years, although experts and tourists alike
expect a decline in the coming year. There are far fewer tickets
being sold, mainly based on the lack of flights into Costa Rica
by US based airlines, and prices are up. Carlos Benavides, Minister
of Tourism for the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), believes
there is a strong relationship between the change in the number
of flights and tourism which will affect the number of visitors
this year. The past few years tourism has been escalating rapidly
based on out side factors making this years figures naturally
lower in comparison. He notes that, although there are internal
matters that are affecting the tourism industry, he has created
a plan that will address both sides. Benavides plans to entice
US Airlines to incorporate more flights to Costa Rica in their
schedules and budget more spending towards infrastructure and
vocational training programs in the service industry sector.
A Little Italy. Location, location and location!
Since this quaint Italian restaurant, La Toscana, changed locations
recently its reputation has grown. Moving from central Liberia
to the new Santa Rosa Plaza, at the main intersection where the
town of Liberia meets the National Highway, it is no wonder why
this restaurant has received extra exposure. With their recent
recognition, the proprietors are careful to maintain the restaurants
European allure, great food and good service. For reservations,
call 665-0653.
Good People. Making a difference in other people’s
lives in what president, Laetitia DeWeer, of the CEPIA non-profit
children’s organization continues to strive for. She recently
held the “Magic Circus” fundraiser which raised $6,400
for the children bringing them closer to their $80,000 goal for
2007. Laetitia let no detail go unnoticed, as she managed to put
together a performance with artists, dancers, acrobats, and clowns
(not to mention the amazing stage designs) all similar in fashion
to that of a Cirque de Soleil performance right here in Tamarindo.
To donate or volunteer contact www.asociacioncepia.org.
Turtle Technology. Intel, the leading technology
company based in Costa Rica, donated $15,000 in computers, laptops
and other monitoring equipment to aide in the protection of the
Leatherback nesting turtles at National Maine Park Las Baulas.
This donation will enable the researchers to collect data more
efficiently to make informed decisions in less amount of time.
Leatherback turtles do not nest in any country other than Costa
Rica on the Pacific Coast.
Blue Flag Recovered! Playa Blanca, more commonly
known as Playa Flamingo has once again been graced with the Blue
Flag, awarded only to the cleanest and most ecologically sound
beaches, with a perfect score of 100 points!
Changing of the Guard. Both Tamarindo and Surfside
have elected new association boards. The new President of the
Tamarindo board is Dr. Jorge Calvo, partner of the Pacific Emergencies
medical clinics, and the new Surfside Association President is
Kurt Dommers, owner of Cal Tico Construction Company and El Castillo
Bakery. The Flamingo Water Board, SUDAR, has also elected a new
board with President Jack Osbourne.
Around the Country
Responsible Investors. Chiquita Brands International
has an environmental and social outreach program, “Nature
and Community,” to aide the communities surrounding their
banana farms. Since the program’s existence in 2003, the
main focuses have been on educating the local community, implementing
a reforestation program to preserve the areas biodiversity and
helping locals become entrepreneurs. Already there are 5 small
businesses up and running with a goal of 8 by 2008.
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