The ferry running between Paquera and Puntarenas is now free and clear. Last Wednesday, the association that runs the service paid back the remaining 3 million colones it owed to the Dutch Embassy for the boat purchased in 1997.

Eddie Novo, the general manager of the service said, “This will permit us to assign more money to the growth of Paquera and to take on new projects and investments.”

Oscar Arias got his wish on Sunday. Representatives at the PLN convention voted for all of the candidates he proposed to run in the elections in February. Arias didn’t hide his pleasure, “I am happy, today we will begin to make decisions for the country. Today we will begin to govern, and for that it is imperative that we behave as a team capable of doing it.”

He called on Costa Ricans to vote straight tickets during the election, so he will have the support he needs in the Congress.

A $25 million hydroelectric project will be built by COOPEGUANACASTE (Guanacuaste Cooperative for Rural Electrification) in Upala. The 17.5 Megawatt plant will be on the Zapote River and will provide enough power for all of the cooperative’s users. This will allow the coop to stop purchasing electricity from ICE, and will eliminate the need to raise rates in the long term. Coopeguanacaste serves Nicoya, Carrillo, Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Nandayure, Cóbano, Lepanto and Paquera.

Despite rough treatment at the hand of the legislature and its employees, Federico Carrilo doesn’t have to worry about his job. President Pacheco criticized the representatives for not approving his Tax Plan and then blaming the Finance Minister for not having money to give them.

He said, “Federico has always performed his duties” and that the full support of the president is behind him.

A ruling by ARESEP means that 400 users in the province of Limon will receive refunds for lack of service in May and June of this year. Users were without service for between 10 days and 39 days and will get refunds of 620 colones to 2418 colones.

Saturday worked out really, really well for the Costa Rican soccer team. Their closest rival Guatemala lost to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica beat Panama 3 to 1. This gives them a chance to lock away 3rd place in the qualifying tournament on Wednesday night against Trinidad and Tobago. The game will be at 8 pm local time. A Costa Rican win coupled with a loss by Guatemala at home to the USA will nail down the berth to the World Cup in Germany next year.

In the game against Panama the Costa Rican side looked bad for the first 40 minutes, while Panama had 2 almost certain goals miss by inches. But everything changed in the 40th minute when Alvaro Saborio took advantage of a lucky bounce to put away the first goal of the match.

In the second half Costa Rica took control and got 2 more goals. One by Walter Centeno to open the second half, and another by Ronald “The Bullet” Gomez in the 70th minute. They also dominated play throughout most of the second half. While Costa Rica didn’t allow Panama many shots in the second half, the Panamanians did get a goal on a corner kick in the 92nd minute to make the score more respectable closer.

Due to popular demand, the Red Cross has opened accounts for donations to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in the USA.

NOTE: Be sure to indicate that the donation is for Katrina Aid, since the account is used for multiple purposes.

The following accounts are available:
Banco Nacional:
100100-7 (colones)

Banco Costa Rica:
176-003-3 (colones)

204-6 (Dollars)

Banco Popular:

5000-7 (colones)

Funds collected will be transferred directly to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation to finance their assistance to victims. The Red Cross Director Guillermo Arroyo has indicated that it is likely that personnel will be sent from Costa Rica in the coming week at the request of the US Red Cross. They will assist in the shelters and in the logistics of getting supplies to the affected areas.

See the full news in Spanish here:
Costa Rica Red Cross