Drug Dealers are set free because they already have jobs - dealing crack cocaine
Drug Trafficking in Costa Rica is a problem. As we posted a while back, unless something is done about it, Costa Rica could be another Mexico. And with the US pouring millions to fight drugs in the Central American country, is that money being used to fight drug traffic?
Well, I guess you can say, not in this circumstances!
I find the recent drug arrest not only bizarre but somewhat is disbelief! Recently, a powerful and violent Pavas drug gang, the Diablos, was targeted by police and US DEA agents.
According to AM Costa Rica, Officers from the Unidad Especial de Apoyo tactical squad spent the night hidden along the banks of a polluted stream so they could surprise gang members in the early morning.
Now this is where it starts getting interesting. Agents wanted to conduct their raid because they were wary of the gang, which is known to be armed.
Wary of a drug gang? and heaven forbid , a drug gang Armed? Sarcastically speaking, ” Never heard of such a thing!” Read more... (314 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
Cocos Island has some of the best diving in the world
Surrounded by deep waters with counter-currents, Cocos Island is admired by scuba divers for its populations of Hammerhead sharks, rays, dolphins and other large marine species. The extremely wet climate and oceanic character give Cocos an ecological character. It is also an uninhabited island and in the Puntarenas Canton of the province of Puntarenas. It is one of the National Parks of Costa Rica and has some of the best driving in the world. Below are some of the hot diving locations.
Some of the top diving spots in Cocos Island
Alcyone
At a depth of 150ft (46m), this roundish mound of barren rock looms up from the sandy bottom, creating an eerie feeling. The highest point is at a depth of 80ft (25m). It is home to the largest and most seen hammerhead shark schools in Cocos.
Dirty Rock
Every kind of marine species affiliated with the Cocos area seems to be attracted to this rock.
Submerged Rock
Underwater, this rock plunges down both sharply and gradually. It is broken up with large ledges, some with sandy bottoms, and an outer pinnacle. The colorful, prolific fish life gives relief to the harsh contours of the reef. Sometimes the fish gather in such numbers that they momentarily blot out the sun. Read more... (632 words, 3 images, estimated 2:32 mins reading time)
A white-haired Oswaldo Villalobos discusses his situation with one of his lawyers. Photo from A.M. Costa Rica/José Pablo Ramírez Vindas
One of the things the Free-Trade Agreement opened up was lawsuits. Somehow, you knew the attorneys also had to take advantage of this Free Trade thing. Canadian investors have sued the government of Costa Rica.
If you are new to Costa Rica, starting back in the mid 1990s just about every Costa Rican knew of the Villalobo Brother’s high-interest borrowing operation or just a good old fashion, ponzi scheme that targeted business owners, individuals, and operators of tourism hotels. The Villalobos operation paid up to 3.5 percent a month on deposits of $10,000 or more. Some put in millions. Finally, in late 1990s the judicial department started to investigate before the conviction and sentencing of one of the brothers, Oswaldo who got 18 years. The other, Luis Enrique Villalobos Camacho, fled the country and still is a fugitive, convicted of fraud and illegal banking.
The investors are presenting their case before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, a World Bank agency.
Read more... (495 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)
Is ICE procrastinating on Internet and Phone Services?
Back in June, 2009 the government did something somewhat unbecoming, they gave approval, or should I say, offered the rights to six companies to provide Internet and voice-over-Internet telephone services.
Until then, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) a government run monopoly controlled just about every form of communications in Costa Rica, among other things like electricity. One of the reasons why the government caved in, The Free Trade Treaty with the United States required Costa Rica to open its telecom and insurance markets to competition. Which as all Costa Ricans know, has been a very long debated wait.
The six companies offered an array of services, some very minor and some very major, and regardless, has it or will it happen and if so, When?
Dodona SRL is now doing business as Amnet offers cable Internet connections and wants to provide transmission of data, voice-over-Internet, access to information webs, and value-added services like video conferencing and television by subscription.
Intertel Worldwide S.A. wants to provide prepaid public telephone service using the Internet.
R&H International Telecom Services S.A. wants to provide voice-over-Internet services for homes and businesses. Read more... (477 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)
China Continues to Wine and Dine Costa Rica, this time with bicycles and soccer balls.
A while back we wrote how China has dumped an unreal $300 million to further it political, diplomatic and investment goals in Costa Rica, by building a soccer stadium and buying bonds in Costa Rica. Their wining and dining continued last week in a ceremony at a low-income school in San José that was attended by Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and Yu Bo, the Chinese charge d’affaire to Costa Rica.
Yes, Yu Bo had a political smile when he pointed to the 1,000 bicycles and 10,000 soccer balls for children to distributed in different rural districts to help students go to school. Now, I guess it was part of a agreement that Costa Rica government made with Chinese President last November. Hummm, one has to think what else is China committed to in that agreement?
So what is this donation for?
It is no secret China wants to help build and finance a billion-plus dollar refinery on the Caribbean side in the town of Moin. A project that has been under scrutiny by the Comptroller’s Office, an independent [watchdog] bureau that monitors government actions to make sure they are within the law. Read more... (397 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)
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