Fill up your tank soon, because Saturday gasoline will cost more at the pump. In the third hike this year, regular gas will rise ¢13 to ¢453 per liter.  A standard car tank of 45 liters will cost ¢20,385. (about $40)

Super will go from ¢463 to ¢475 and diesel will cost ¢13 more, or ¢326. A 45 liter tank would cost ¢14,670. (less than $30).

At the beginning of the year super gasoline cost ¢422, regular ¢402 and diesel ¢303, so these fuels have risen ¢55, ¢51 and ¢23 respectively in 3 months.

This week President-elect Oscar Arias has been busy naming Ministers and presidential advisors to cabinet positions. Arias is not putting untested newcomers into positions, as most are people who have served as minisiters or deputy directors in previous administrations.  The lucky winners:

Leonardo Garnier Minister of Education  - Garnier was Minister of Planning in the Figueres Olsen presidency (1194-1998)
Karla González Minister of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) - González was deputy minister of transportation in the Rodriguez administration (1998-2002)

Laura Chinchilla - Minister of Justice, she is also the First Vice-President. She has served as a PLN legislator previously.

Rodrigo Arias - Minister of the Presidency, brother of the president elect, will be the key man in Zapote.

Bruno Stagno - Minister of Foreign Affairs, 35 years old and is the current UN ambassador for Costa Rica.

Guillermo Zúñiga - Minister of Finance, will have to get busy on a new tax plan.

Kevin Casas - Minister of Planning, Second Vice-president.

Francisco Morales - Minister of Labor, who was also minister in the José Figueres Ferrer (1970-1974) and with Daniel Oduber (1974-1978), and was Minister of Agriculture with Luis Alberto Monge (1982-1986).

INCOFER announced this week that following Easter, a new train line will open, running from the Latina University in San Pedro to Tibas. This is the first portion of a line that will eventually run to Heredia, and it includes the construction of a 100 million colon bridge.

The new train will leave from Cuatro Reinas (Tibas), and stop in La Colima, Cinco Esquinas, Calle Blancos, the Atlantic Station, University of Costa Rica and the Latina University. The executive president of INCOFER, Miguel Carabaguíaz, stressed that the
money for the Heredia - San Pedro route is funded in a large part by a European Union donation of 667,000 Euros.

Roberto Fonseca Chanto, of the National Blue Flag Commission Nacional, sponsored by the Tourism Chamber, awaded the Caribbean community of Cahuita the prestigious Blue Flag, saying it was an important day for the area and the country.  “It is special and important when a community prepares itself for the evaluation and passes it. ”

Cahuita recieved the Blue Flage as proof of the purity of the water and safety of the area.  Next week, Playa Gandoca to the south, will receive its Blue Flag.

Despite an offer to plea-bargain, Erlyn Hurtado will face charges related to the Monteverde massacre. He will faces 20 charges, including 6 murder accusations.

Hurtado would face 50 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.  50 years is the maximum sentence allowed by law. The defendant’s lawyers had asked for a plea and sentencing in order to avoid a lenghty trial. However, the victim’s representatives argued that a trial was necessary “so that the country would know what happened in Monteverde”.
William Hayden, General Manager of Banco Nacional, will not face criminal charges, as the judge considered that no criminal responsibility exists on the part of the bank.  However the judge did not rule out the possibility of civil liability for the institution.

On Sunday, May 8th, you might want to check out your local park, as on Tuesday 56 mayors met with the Inauguration Commission to organize community festivals. Vivian Quesada, member of the Commission, explained that “We want the inauguration to be a party for all Ticos, with popular music and fireworks.  We hope our international visitors will go and see how Ticos celebrate and enjoy our democracy. ”

In some communities, the festivities will start on Saturday with artistic expositions.  In Mora, for example there will be a fruit and artesan fair.  In San José, in front of the La Soledad church there will be a concert and light show, and in Cartago they will have bands, parades, fireworks and local dishes.

The mayors and the commission agreed to choose the most outstanding students in each county to be present in the National Stadium during the ceremony.

Commission head, Alfredo Ortuño, confirmed that 4 heads of state are planning on attending the ceremony: Vicente Fox (México), Elías Antonio Saca (El Salvador), Chen Shui-bian (Taiwán) and the Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbón (prince of Spain).

Letters from the Robert Portman, United States Trade Representative and from the US Embassy are being used to provide unions with evidence that the CAFTA pact must go through as is, or be rejected as is.  The letters urge Costa Rica to approve the pact as soon as possible, as well as the accompanying legislation.

“What I ask the unions is that in our representative democracy we are going to dialogue with civil society, but in the end, it is the Assembly that must decide.”  said President-elect Arias.  Then he played another card in a meeting with the Limón unions by naming Francisco Morales as the Minister of Labor.

Abundaron sonrisas, incluso de sindicatos como JAPDEVA, de Limón, que, pese a reiterar su rechazo al TLC, se mostraron dispuestos a dialogar. Arias prometió una comisión para analizar los problemas de Limón.

At the meeting, these union leaders denied a rupture with ANEP and ICE groups, who refused to visit Arias’ house. “We respect them, but they don’t necessarily represent our movement”, said Rolando Coto, of the Central Bank union.

Easter Week is nearly upon us and already retailers and hoteliers are trying to maximize their Holy Week profits.  The local press this week warned that hotels are almost fully booked and reminded consumers of past consumer complaints relating to hotels.  Most of the complaints are tied to false advertising or hidden charges.  Phantom swimming pools, surcharges, “lost” reservations and higher than advertised prices are all common during this ultra peak week.

Back in the capital and local markets, Holy Week products are flooding the shelves. Heart of Palm, Salmon, and “chiverre” honey are all prominently displayed.  You can still get canned products at reasonable prices 2 weeks out from the key dates, but INCOPESCA (Fisheries Institute) divulged that prices traditionally rise 30% for Holy Week.

Hugo Solano, INCOPESCA spokesman, explained that supply remains constant, but demand skyrockets and merchants take advantage. So, a Sea Bass filet in Puntarenas costs consumers 3000 colones per kilo, while in the Central Market of San José, it costs  ¢5,676 per kilo. In Alajuela, the price of Sea Bass was ¢4,500 per kilo.

The Consumer Protection Ministry reminded shoppers to compare prices and brands, which vary widely from shop to shop.

The CNE, volcano experts, and MINAE have decided to re-open the Poás Volcano on Saturday.  Activity at the volcano peaked over at the beginning of the week, then stablilized.

Access will be restricted however and authorities on alert.  Only groups of 50 people will be allowed to visit the crater, no minors will be allowed in, and groups can only stay 45 minutes. Since last Friday the volcano has had 16 eruptions, after laying dormant for more than 12 years.