Archive for August, 2006

Roadway Safety Plan Announced

Friday, August 25th, 2006

By Blake Schmidt Tico Times Staff
Alarmed by an escalating death toll on the nation’s perilous roads, the Arias administration jump-started a campaign this week to overhaul the nation’s traffic system by improving law enforcement and refurbishing roadway infrastructure.

So […]

Private shark fin docks ruled illegal, group says

Friday, August 25th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Sala IV constitutional court has ordered the immediate closing of private docks where shark fishermen have been unloading their catch for years.
The court’s decision was reported by the Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas, which filed a case in 2004.
The court said that the customs law requires that all foreign […]

Reduction in Gas Prices Approved

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

Consumers of regular and super gasoline will soon pay about 3% less at the pump thanks to the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) Tuesday approving gas price reductions requested by the National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) last week.
The price of one liter of super gas will drop from ¢597 […]

Ant from Costa Rica called world’s fastest predator

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the University of California at Berkeley News Service
A species of Costa Rican ant is entering the annals of extreme animal movement, boasting jaws arguably more impressive than such noteworthy contenders as the great white shark and the spotted hyena.
Biologists clocked the speed at which the trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus bauri, closes its mandibles at 35 […]

Plans for Heredia hospital presented by Caja chief

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Heredia will get a new 200-bed hospital in 2009 if plans outlined Tuesday come true.
Eduardo Doryan, executive president of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social said that his organization is about to advertise for bids. In three months he said he expected to present the bids to the Caja board […]

136 more luxury condos being readied in Escazú

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
If you thought Escazú has an overabundance of condos, guess again. Executives of the Spanish firm Grupo Inmobiliario Diursa will be in town next week to kick off promotion of their $30 million project in Guachipelín and announce an opening date.
The company is building some 136 luxury condos. The project, […]

Patrols for illegal fishing beefed up at Isla del Coco

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
The security ministry said that patrols will be increased around Parque Nacional Isla del Coco to prevent illegal fishing.
Last weekend the Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas joined forces with two other organizations to maintain a 12-mile radius sweep of the national park.
Also involves was the Área de Conservación Marina Isla […]

Immigration rules clouded by temporary law

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
“Rentista category up in the air”
A new immigration law has gone into effect, and those who are seeking residency and the experts who help them are confused.
One problem for expats is that the law is ambiguous on the financial requirements for rentistas. In the past a rentista could show […]

Hotels in pilot program report electrical savings

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Five hotels on the central Pacific coast say they have reduced electrical consumption some 24 percent in a pilot project to save power.
The project began in 2005 and involved Sí Como No, Parador, Club de Mar, Best Western Jacó and Marriott Los Sueños, said a news release.
The strategy to save […]

Organic Farmers Converge On EARTH University

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006

More than 100 organic-produce farmers and researchers from around the country yesterday met at EARTH University in the Caribbean-slope town of Guácimo for the Fifth National Meeting of Farmers and Researchers of Organic Produce, according to a statement from the Production Ministry.
The goal of the encounter is to […]