The Ministry of Health fumigated in Puntarenas, San Carlos and Limon yesterday to combat the spread of dengue fever. The Minister of Health, María del Rocío Sáenz, confirmed that more fumigations will take place this week nationwide in the areas most infected by the mosquito.

President Pacheco met with other Central American presidents yesterday in an airport lounge in Nicaragua, who declared a “red alert” due to the “earthquake” of high petroleum prices. In light of this crisis, they agreed to seek help from Venezuela and Colombia.

The meeting was called by Nicaraguan president Enrique Bolaños, to garner support for his presidency due to the instability there.

The Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC) obtained second place in the Congress of Entrepreneurs in El Salvador, with the Ergo Snap, a device that allows people with disabilities to button their clothes.

The apparatus was designed by Maria Lourdes Solis, Marta González, Isabel Zamora and Alfonso Herrera Industrial Design students. They plan to market it in pharmacies, supermarkets and clothing stores.

ErgoSnap is made of stainless steel and has a hook that is introduced into eyelets to hold the buttons. The hook is flexible and adjustable to any size of eyelet. Thanks to this device, people with disabilities may improve their self-esteem and become more independent.

The Institute was among the top schools competing and this is the fifth time that students have participated.

Be careful with easy credit, the National Consumer’s Commission is investigating several complaints related to quick loans. In some cases the person was not allowed to pay back the loan early, in another the interest rate was raised, in a third case addtional interest charges were added that were not in the contract and in a fourth case the bank changed the terms of the contract unilaterally.

The bank case was already resolved and the others are being studied. The Commission recommends reading all contracts carefully and knowing your rights. Complaints or questions can be answered at 800 266-7866, the National Office of the Consumer. One technique they mentioned that the advertising is a part of the contract. So if the ad offered a fixed interest rate, then that is part of the contract even though it is not included in the document.

Some examples of EZ Credit from reputable sources:

- Financiera Miravalles offers loans up to ¢300 000. The payment is ¢9.995 per fortnight, per 100 000 colones, the term is 3 years por quincena, and the rate is 3,33% monthly.

- Banco Banex has “0 stress” credit. Amounts are from 100 000 to ¢500 000 colones. The bi-weekly payment is ¢3 011 per 100 000 and are approved in 24 hours.

- Banco Popular offers “Lifesavers”, available to those who have 2 years or more in the same company, and the amount is between 50 000 and 500 000 colones.

Over the weekend 5000 people from Costa Rica and even other countries attended the Intel Job Fair at the San José Palacio hotel, although only 250 positions were open.

This is a reflection of the tough times many Costa Ricans are going through, as business people are worried about the economy and the high price of fuel. The textile sector is already feeling the effects of Honduras and El Salvador ratifying CAFTA, orders that are not coming to Costa Rica are going there according to José Berliavsky, president of the Chamber of Textile.

Since January 1st, 800 people have lost their jobs in the textile sector. On September 30th, the Lovable plant will cease operations, leaving 74 more people jobless.