by Rod Hughes

Although developers and environmentalists are often on opposite sides of an ideologican fence, both emphatically agree on one point: The Environment Ministry system that approves or rejects environmental impact studies just does not work. But that may change, the English-language weekly The Tico Times reported recently.

For the developer, the up to two years that the National Technical Secretariate (SETENA) takes to review an impact study is a money drain, often with overseas investors tapping their feet impatiently, ignorant of the bureaucratic obstacles that block a project. And environmentalists charge that many developers ignore their promises made in the approved study.

But the government promises a whopping 147% budget increase for SETENA, curing its status as a sadly understaffed orphan of the Environment Ministry. Jorge Woodbridge, Deputy Minister of the Economy, explained to the paper that the new funding will double the SETENA staff, noting that the agency had only 35 employees to review the 4,000 development plans submitted last year. And only 11 of those workers are full-time, he added.

The white-haired, patrician Woodbridge knows business, having been for years president of the Chamber of Industries. He promised the changes by September. Most stunning of his promises: that the 800 pending applications would be eliminated by next May. “Processing will be cut down to five weeks,” he told the paper, instead of the current six months to two years.

But the envionmentalists will also be happy if the new plan works, because the budget includes on-site follow ups to see that the developers keep their word. This will also make the scrupulous, honest developers happy, who have all too often watched while the unscrupulous did as they pleased without sanction. Environment Minister Roberto Dobles admitted that of the 16,000 projects approved since SETENA’s creation in 1995, almost none have been visited to ensure compliance.

Woodbridge said he devoted five weeks to aid the Environment Ministry with these reforms. Businessmen, engineers and nature lovers alike hope that his time was well spent.

by Rod Hughes

The Costa Rican woman can be immensely practical, so when Karla Gonzalez, the nation’s first female Minister of Public Works, sat down recenlty to talk with a daily Al Dia reporters she got right down to basics. Why does rain damage the roads? “Water filters into the sub-base of the roads because the roadside ditches aren’t cleaned,” the lady answered.

Asked if the resurfacing going on in various parts of the country offered the definitive solution, she sounded much like a mother explaining to her child why the family food budget must go for staples instead of sweets.”We have two choices. The first is to tear it all up and make it new, which is the perfect world. The other is to repair what is bad to make it more durable, even though it’s not perfect.”

“We don’t have the $500 million it would take to rectify what the country needs.” But she had no illusions how she would plan if she had the money. “A repair lasts for perhaps five years. Of course, the brand new surface is guaranteed for 15 to 25 years,” says this consumate realist.

She says August had the worst rains in four years. “And if that weren’t enough, (the ministry) enlarged its vehicular fleet without control, not leaving ( enough budget for road repair) investments we should have,” she said. She said no fewer than 15 bridges need immediate repair on national routes and ten more on canton roads.

What does a woman know about public works? Enough to not make fine-sounding, quickly-forgotten promises as many of her predecessors have done.

by Rod Hughes

Well, now, the lion (emblem of la Liga Alajuelense) found it has claws, after all, yesterday. The powerful side that many pick to unseat Saprissa from its thrown has failed to win its last four matches.

At minute 36, forward Victor (Mambo) Nunez made what turned out to be the winning goal much to the obvious relief of coach Carlos Restrepo. With a minute left to go in the game Berny Solorzano added the belated insurance goal. As for Cartago, at least one sportswiter accused the team of timidity on attack, as if wearing a “kick me” sign for Alajuela’s benefit.

Brujas of Escazu battled a tough Perez Zeledon side to a 2-2 tie in an exciting, tight match. Danny Fonseca opened 13 minutes into the match with a deceptively soft touch. But PZ pushed out the lines to even it up at 1-1 on Diego Pais’s goal. In the second half Brujas went ahead again Leandro Gotabatto’s marker only to have Bill Gonzalez even it up nine minutes later. The winners: the fans.

In Santa Barbara, home team Carmelita downed Puntarenas 2-0 in a dirty game. No, we don’t mean full of red and yellow cards but the periodic rainstorms that left the field looking as if it had been plowed for planting.David Diach was the pivotal player for Carmelita, passing to Alejandro Viquez so he could score, then scoring himself. Carmelita finished with 10 men and the win.

Saturday’s Results

Saprissa kept a firm hold on the leadership of Group B by beating Liberia 1-0, Heredia was not giving up its number 1 position in group A, winning over Santos 2-1. University of Costa Rica beat San Carlos 2-1, giving the newcomers to the First Division a surpising second place tie with Alajuela in the Group A standings.