Tiquicia

Costa Rica Legislature Approves Opening Telecommunications Market

Costa Rica has taken a major step towards opening its telecommunications market, which until now was controlled by the monopoly of ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) and (Racsa) Radiográfica Costarricense.  Specifically the sectors that will be open to competition are the provision of cell phone and internet services.  Of the 49 diputados voting to approve the Ley General de Telecommunicaciones, 35 voted in favor (all of whom had previously supported the ratification of the TLC - Central America Free Trade Agreement) and 14 were in opposition.  This law paves the way for private businesses, whether Costa Rican or foreign, to offer services for cell phone coverage and internet.  For firms to offer such services they must obtain a concession for use of frequency.  The Superintendencia de Telecommunicaciones (Sutel) and the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecommunicaciones (Minaet) will be responsible for issuing concessions.  Only concessions for "uso commercial" (for delivery of services to the public at large) will be granted.  Yet to be approved in order for the law to go into effect fully is the Ley de Fortalecimiento y Modernización de las Entidas Públicas del Sector Telecommunicaciones.  This is a project to update the telecommunications systems and regulations in the country.  Once this law goes into effect, Sutel must pass regulations and they have been given nine month to accomplish this. 

I believe that Costa Ricans and foreigners that live within Costa Rica are long overdue for some healthy competition in the telecommunications sector.  I can't see how this can be anything but good news for all of us!

Link to Article in La Nación (in Spanish): http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/mayo/15/pais1537156.html

Daniel Ortega Harboring the FARC?

I read today in La Nación that Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, recently granted asylum in Nicaragua to two members of the Colombian terrorist group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaries de Colombia).  Ortega cited "humanitarian reasons" for the act.  These two FARC members had survived the attack from the Colombian army against a FARC camp in Ecuador on March 1 of this year, which set off a diplomatic firestorm that pitted President Uribe (of Colombia) against the governments of Ecuador and, of course, Venezuela.  In that attack some 20 members of the FARC perished, including the second in command, Raúl Reyes.  The two FARC members granted asylum were young women of 21 and 24 years.  Isn't it a little amazing that the FARC recruits young women to carry out its bloodthirsty pursuits.  Everyone knows that the FARC, which began years ago as a Marxist revolutionary group, now exists primarily to protect Colombian cocaine interests.  In fact many now believe that the FARC actually controls most of the cocaine industry in Colombia.  Another assumed FARC member, Lucia Morett, has been in Nicaragua as well and is also a survivor of the March 1st attack.  The Nicaraguan government offered Morett either asylum or nationality, as she desired.  I believe the the peace loving governments of Latin America should pay close attention to the actions of Ortega.  Harboring known terrorists is not the direction most people want to see him moving in.

Link to Article in La Nación (in Spanish): http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/mayo/13/mundo1533911.html

Costa Rica is 7th in Latin America for Foreign Investment

According to CEPAL (Comisión Económica para America Latina y el Caribe) Costa Rica ranks 7th among other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean for attracting investment.  Countries ahead of Costa Rica (in descending order of rank) were Brasil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.  In millions of dollars, Costa Rica attracted 1,469 on 2006 and 1,889 in 2007.  Costa Rica ranked higher than Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia and all countries of the Caribbean.  Mónica Araya, President of the Costa Rica Chamber of Exporters (Cadexco) attributed the results to the good international image of the country, but remarked that much work needs to be done to keep the flow coming in the ensuing years. The Central Bank predicts that this year investment will fall some 245 millions from last year's level and end at a level of around 1,644 millions.

Link to Complete Article in La Nación (in Spanish): http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/mayo/09/economia1529253.html

Scientist Install "Artificial Eyes" to Monitor Activity of Volcán Turrialba

Scientists are becoming more and more vigilant of the extremely active volcano Turrialba in the province of Cartago. Now they are installing four "artificial eyes" at strategic locations to monitor its activity.  The "eyes" are primary for the detection of increases in dangerous gases, specifically sulfur dioxide.  According to scientists it is very important to measure the quantity of sulfur dioxide in the air because of its damaging effect to the respiratory system, especially for persons suffering from asthma.  Ovsicori (Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico) stated that levels of sulfur dioxide have risen dramatically during the last year.  For example, in February 2002 the volcano emitted only a ton of sulfur dioxide per day into the atmosphere, whereas in January of this year that figure was at 720 tons daily and by February it had risen to 3,200 tons!  The quantity has risen so high that studies have detected the gas in locations close to the airport Juan Santamaría in Alajuela. 

The Famed Doctor "Patch" Adams Visits Costa Rica!

The doctor made famous by Robin Williams in the beloved movie "Patch Adams" visited Costa Rica's Hospital de Niños yesterday morning as reported by La Nacion.  Dr. Adams was very adamant about not drawing any media attention.  In fact Doctor Adams was not seeking an audience of anyone except the children.  Dr. Adams stated that his life's mission was for medicine to be free and to terminate the capitalistic approach to delivery of medical services.  His main goal in visiting the country was to meet with officials to discuss acquiring funds for the construction of a medical clinic in Talamanca.  Adams visited some 25 children in the hospital's cancer ward.  There were many smiles shared among the children as Adams carried on with the same antics that Robin's displayed in the heartwarming movie. Adams danced with the children and tied all the doctors together to form a train and made the doctors imitate monkey faces to inspire laughter of the children.  I wish I could have been there as this man's philosophy is the right one for a better world. There is definitely healing power in laughter.  Try it!

Link to La Nación Article (in Spanish): http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/mayo/07/aldea1526599.html

New Marinas in Costa Rica

For a long time Los Sueños Resort has been the home of the only "real" marina in Costa Rica. Well that is about to change according to a recent article in El Financiero, Costa Rica's financial newspaper.  The article lists the new marina at Playa El Coco as the one that is closest to completion.  All environmental permissions are cleared and the only obstacle remaining is the "visto bueno" from the municipalidad. The marina will have 299 slips and other amenities.  The article states that there are 17 projects in the works, but only lists 5 that are anywhere near the actual construction phase. Those are:

Papagayo - with 170 slips it is the one next on the list to begin construction with an expected opening in 2009.

Marina Pez Vela in Quepos - with spaces for 300 yachts and a hopes to be in operation by 2010.

Marina Bahía Escondida in Golfito - but has suffered delays.

Flamingo Marina - finally the municpalidad has decided who among the eight vying for the rights to construct will move forward, but all environmental permits are yet to be obtained.

Well there you have it.  New marinas are hard to start in Costa Rica, but it appears Los Sueños will have some competition in the coming years.

Pura Vida!

Isla Ometepe: Nicaragua's Touristic Treasure

Just got back from a visit to our neighbor to the North, Nicaragua.  One of the highlights of my trip was an overnight visit to Isla Ometepe.  Ometepe is an island located in Lake Nicaragua in the Department of Rivas.  The island was formed by two volcanoes, Concepción (1,610 meters, or 5,300 feet) and Maderas (1,394 meters, or 4,573 feet), that are joined by a narrow land bridge making it one continuous island.  The first thing that is remarkable is the Lake itself.  With an area of 8,274 square kilometers, Lake Nicaragua (or Lago Cocibolca) is the largest lake in Central America, and the 20th largest lake in the world.  The water is fresh and warm and the lake is great for swimming and fishing.  Of the two volcanoes, only Concepción is active.  It is very similar and almost identical in altitude to the Arenal Volcano here in Costa Rica (but far less active).  Going to Ometepe to me is like taking a step back in time.  Life on the island is very primitive compared to the hustle and bustle of the mainland. There is a good road that circumnavigates the island, but automobiles are very few.  On the road you are frequently interrupted by livestock crossing from one pasture to another. The island is inhabited by some 35,000 locals.  I find the people of Ometepe to be pleasant and very welcoming.  This was my third visit to the island, but the first time I actually stayed overnight.  I sayed at Hotel Villas Paraiso, a beautiful resort where my company Package Costa Rica sends customers. I highly recommend the place.  The room was really cool and the breeze off the lake exquisite.  Food on the island is great and the resturant at the resort was no exception.  Make sure to try "Guapote Entero", a whole fried fish that is popular on the island.  The resort is right on the lake shore and has a great beach for swimming.  There are many activities on the island.  You can take a trekking tour of either Concepción or Maderas.  Horseback riding along the shore of the lake is a great way to start the day.  We visited a really cool place on the road to the hotel called Ojos de Agua, which is a large natural spring that you can swim in.  I could go on and on, but suffice to say that Ometepe is a must-see for anyone who wants to visit Nicaragua.  For more information you can call us anytime at Package Costa Rica....1-866-424-6439.

Arriba Los Pobres del Mundo?

I recently visited Nicaragua.  I spent a couple days in Managua.  One thing I kept noticing were these huge pink posters of Daniel Ortega with arm outstreched and fist clinched with the caption "Arriba Los Pobres del Mundo."  The other thing I noticed is that tourism in Nicaragua has tons of untapped potential.  However, I believe the attitude and outlook of its people needs to soften a bit before that potential can be realized.  The idealogy of their current president, as reflected in these ubiquitous posters scattered throughout Managua, is not helping matters.  I know a little bit about Nicaraguan history.  I know that the past has been very difficult for its people, more difficult than anything I can imagine.  The future can be different, but it is up to the Nicaraguan people to create that future and it starts in the mind, in the way they think.  If they continue to think poor, they will continue to be poor.  Exactly what does Ortega have in mind with this slogan.  More revolution?  A re-distribution of wealth? A policy of take from the rich and give to the poor?  Has "revolution" so far solved Nicaragua's problems?  I believe that Nicaragua's problems will be solved by a revolution of the mind, that is, when they begin to see themselves not as "pobres del mundo" but as citizens of a country that is rich with natural beauty and as the humble, beautiful and hardworking people that they are.  They don't have to look too far south (Costa Rica) to see a country that has capitalized on its resources and has become a major world-class tourist destination that has now become one of the hottest places on the planet for foreign capital. Nicaragua can do the same, but not as long as their leaders promote resentment and victimization.  Yes I say "Arriba Nicaraguences" and start thinking like the winners you are and not like the losers that this ridiculous slogan claims that you are.

Tourism Numbers for First Quarter 2008 In!

Tourism numbers for the period January through March 2008 show an incredible 17% growth over those of 2007.  For the first three months Costa Rica has had 643,000 tourist arrivals to its international airports located in San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR).  The majority of arrivals have come from the U.S. and this is surprising given the impending recession in that country.  The average stay was 11 days and the average amount spent in the country for the period was $1,200.  Last year tourists from the U.S. represented 54% of the 1.9 million arrivals that year.  The Minister of Tourism, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, highlighted the addition of flights to both airports as one of the main reasons for the increase.  Benavides also remarked that it was obvious that the income level of the persons coming from the U.S. was high enough for their travel plans not to be dissuaded by the economic woes of that country. Also, the fact that Costa Rica is close and therefore less expensive to travel to helps the cause of growth here.  Of the 643,000, arrivals, 478,000 were to the Juan Santamaria airport in Alajuela and 156,000 to Daniel Oduber in Liberia, Guanacaste.   

It appears that tourism is not slowing down in the least here in Costa Rica.  As a tourism entrepreneur here I say, Gracias Dios! If tourism can grow at 15% over the coming years (probably a reasonable prediction), it will take less than 5 years for Costa Rica to reach 4,000,000 arrivals.  PURA VIDA!

Graphic and Statistical Information Derived from La Niacin (See article in Spanish):

http://www.niacin.com/LAN_EEO/2008/Avril/23/economy1509179.HTML

Scientists Study Origin of Costa Rica's Volcanoes

Scientists from the United States and Costa Rica will embark on a comprehensive study to know exactly what formed the volcanoes of Costa Rica and how they interact with the subduction of the tectonic plates of Cocos and Caribe.  The director of the investigation is Steven Holbrook, who is professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming.  Professor Holbrook stated in La Nacion that the study has grand importance to the world in understanding more of the evolution of volcanoes.  The cost will be $6 million, which is being funded by the National Science Foundation in the U.S.  Taking part in the investigation will be the School of Geology at the University of Costa Rica. It is estimated that the study will take three to four years to obtain conclusions.  The method used to obtain maps of subterranean structure is interesting and involves firing air-guns into the ocean that produce low frequency sound waves that are then reflected off the structures of the ocean floor.  A line of "hydrophones" (or aquatic microphones) then grab the reflected sounds and use them to create maps.  Way beyond my intellect, but sounds pretty cool, huh?

Link to Article in La Nacion (in Spanish): http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/abril/22/aldea1502437.html