Arias Presents Platform
In a 155 page document full of promises, ex-president and current candidate Oscar Arias presented his plan for governing Costa Rica again. He has his work cut out for him, if electors believe he will do as promised:
- Create a scientific high school, and give free Internet to students. Rebuild 7,000 classrooms, 228 000 desks and 120 sports courts and fields.
- Build 16,000 new homes per year, add 4,000 police officers, build gymnasiums and pool in communities and even a new stadium in La Sabana park.
But wait, there’s more! Arias promises to restructure the government, to eliminate most executive presidents and boards of directors. He promises to fortify the development bank for small and medium enterprises, promote the purchase of supplies via offers on Internet and offer "after the fact" controls to the Comptroller.
He intends to give roadwork concessions to the tune of $1 billion and attract an additional 400 000 tourists more each year, in order to raise the capture of dollars by $400 million.
And, that’s not all!! He will also strengthen the EBAIS (Basic Units of Integral Medical Attention), have the government pay the CCSS (Social Security) what it is owed and implement "virtual hospitals". Also, he would create an addiction treatment center for minors, put in place "significant" fines for taxis - buses - companies that contaminate the environment and even negotiate various free trade agreements.