by Rod Hughes

Costa Rican star forward Paulo Wanchope, 31, stunned the soccer world yesterday by announcing his retirement from the sport that gained him world fame. Most recently, he played with the U.S. Chicago Fire team in Major League Soccer.

Wanchope–called affectionaly “Cho-pay” by his fans in several countries–found his recent times with the Fire a rocky road and was criticized roundly for his performance against New England in a series that knocked Fire out of the MLS playoffs.

He played for Costa Rica in the World Cups of 2002 and 2006 but his greatest successes came in his early years abroad in England playing with Derby Country, West Ham and Manchester City. He started playing with Heredia and also played with Qatar, Spain, Tokyo FC and Rosario Central of Argentina. In this colorful 12-year career, he racked up 71 matches in which he scored a remarkable 45 goals

by Rod Hughes

What is there about Costa Rica that lulls people, even shady people, into being careless as they would never be at home? It must be the laid back friendliness of the locals…

A man from the Dominican Republic that police identified only as Baez was captured by Judicial investigators in a smooth operation made easier by the fact that his front door was unlocked. Yesterday morning, one of his pals made a trip to the store to by the daily bread for Baez and his wife, leaving the door open.

Baez is suspected of defrauding a German, Emil Schnell, of a million dollars on the sale of properties in Heredia and Guapiles. Also arrested were his wife and an employee accused of selling cars registered in Baez’s name, reported the newspaper Al Dia.

Whatever the outcome of the case against them, we can assume that they will always lock the door when they leave home. One can never tell who will come in.

by Rod Hughes

A two-year-old bill to upgrade and augment Costa Rica’s fire hydrants, backed by all the political parties and the Insurance Institute’s fire department, is stalled in congress at number 59 in the list of “must pass” bills. Just to meet minimum needs, the country needs 10,000 fire plugs urgently.

No one denies the seriousness of the situation. First, no governmental agency is in charge of maintaining the current hydrants. Of 616 hydrants in San Jose, exactrly 288 work. Many show unrepaired damage from having been hit by vehicles. Fires in chemical plants last year underscored the need for more. The provinces are even worse off–in Santa Barbara de Heredia, for example, only four exist and half of those do not work. The Nicoya Peninsula town of Hojancha has only two, and that is for the whole canton, not just the town.

Hector Chaves, the country’s fire chief, points out that Christmas is upon us and that the holiday season is disaster waiting to happen, with its Nativity scenes in living rooms, lit by candles and the vulnerable Christmas trees illuminated with often frayed strings of lights.

The bill would authorize funds for the purchase, while charging the Fire Department with periodic inspections. Maintenance would be assigned to A Y A, the water and sewer institute. Despite being a legislative poor relation, approval is assured and opposition to the bill is all but nonexistant. Costa Rica only has 2,500 hydrants and those are antiquated, having been abandoned for 50 years.

by Rod Hughes

He’s at it again! Congressman Oscar Lopez of the miniscule Accessibility without Exclusion Party filed an appeal with the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber challenging the Legislative Assembly directorate’s installation of polarized glass over the visitor’s gallery. Before, protestors could flask placards at the lawmakers. Now, all the legislators see is their own reflection—not an unpleasant prospect for most politicians.

The directorate obviously thought that the deputies had enough trouble concentrating on making or rejecting bills without reading the sometimes rude messages, so the polarized glass was installed. The voters can still hear and see, but the deputies cannot see them now.

Lopez, the sole representative of his party, took exception to the cosmetic change and filed a writ of amparo, an appeal used to block execution of an official action that is arbitrary and misuses authority. Lopez charged that the glass interferred with the public’s access to public sessions. But the judges did not see it that way, rejecting the challenge without comment.

This is the same congressional loose cannon who warned listeners of a provincial radio station that if the free trade pact with the United States passed, the inidiginous residents of far rural areas might disappear because of a trade in transplantable organs. He also blocked a much-needed immigration bill because he felt the Legislative Assembly ignored a similar, but less complete, bill he had submitted.

Nor is he easily dissuaded by the court’s rebuff. He filed an appeal of unconstitutionality with the court last week. On one point, the court will undoubtedly agree: Lopez is a polarizing person