US Marines have been deployed to Costa Rica to help combat the drug smuggling
Last week our email box was pretty much filled with, “Why the US Marines were invading Costa Rica?” Even at our Facebook account, a few commented on right-wing political BS, “It’s all about the oil, about building a military base in Costa Rica, and of keeping an eye on all the other dangerous countries around like Venezuela.”
However, I would like to comment on the one of the insanely ridiculous rumors and accusations received from Playas De Cocos where we quote from her email:
“Many of us believe that these ships have been evacuated from the Gulf because of the threat of an explosion from the oil well that has been spewing oil for over 80 days. Apparently the sea floor has raised up almost 30 feet and fissures are forming. Even though they have capped the well as of the early hours of the morning, no one seems to know yet if this cap will hold. They say that if the well explodes, this will cause a fire as large as a mountain and a tsunami that will wipe out many of the Gulf States.” Read more... (1137 words, 3 images, estimated 4:33 mins reading time)
INS tells their Insurance brokers there would be “consequences” if they sold any other company’s products.
Every Costa Rican knows [since they can remember] the government monopoly of, oil/gas, electric, internet, and insurance has been one big headache after another. In Oct, 2007 when Costa Rica’s Free Trade Agreements (FTA) were signed, it looked like for the first time Costa Rican’s were going to get a break, when foreign companies could compete with government companies, especially for insurance. Ticos, for the first time would be able to pick a company based on service, care, quality, and cost.
Over a year later it looked like FTA was not working, then Canada’s American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) and a few others had received approval to sell in Costa Rica.
But has it happened? Well not quite as expected.
One of the first signs it was under undergoing, “Rules of Engagement” was with the new requirements for foreign residents (expats or permanent residents), who had to show proof of medical insurance to the government Caja, Costarricense de Seguro Social, which forced Expats scrambling for coverage from Instituto Nacional de Seguros, (INS), and/or Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, (CCSS), which is government’s socialized medicine. Very few got coverage from foreign companies. Read more... (633 words, 1 image, estimated 2:32 mins reading time)
Recent court rulings may make it easlier for ID thiefs to get personal data.
For a while now, I have been following what I consider three very important legal cases in Costa Rica. At first it appeared this week that the Costa Rica government has taken its first steps to help prevent ID thief, may not be so.
As more and more Costa Rican’s surf the internet, get involved in online transactions and personal matters like buying property, getting a drivers license etc, they start to become nothing but a number in someone’s data base. With that said, they NOW are more appealing to ID thief than ever before.
Everyone in Costa Rica, including expats, are being systematically logged into databases and the information is fairly easy to get by everyone, including those with malicious intentions. The problem is lack of security and [no offense] Costa Rican’s themselves who are very trusting in nature.
ID thief is a world wide problem, last year $220 billion was lost. Last year, 20 million Americans were victims who spend from 3 to 5,840 hours repairing damage done by identity theft. We are talking a serious problem and, unless the government steps up their efforts by providing credit guidelines for consumer protection, Costa Rica is on the verge of an epidemic in ID thief and cyber crime. Read more... (880 words, 1 image, estimated 3:31 mins reading time)
This 2lb catch of Shark fins can be worth over $1000 in the Asia market.
Around early 1980s a friend wanted to open up a fresh fish exporting business in Puntarenas. He found a packing house and cannery, got some investors and was ready to start exporting fresh Dorado and canned tuna. One of the things that were puzzling to him was Costa Rica fishermen were catching sharks in their long lines and gill nets. Shark at the time was a worthless meat so they were either leaving the dead carcass and/or just cutting off the fin with would eventually kill the shark. Some of the boats had small piles of fins along with their catch of dorado and snapper. My friend through it was a total waste of good meat, which at the time, shark meat was becoming a more popular dish in the U.S.
With the TBA long battle and their success on banning exporting of billfish meat, management of billfish, and recently the mandatory monitors on commercial vessels, they may have to now get involved in the banning of taking shark fin. But will it happened? Read more... (578 words, 1 image, estimated 2:19 mins reading time)
Has Republican Scott P. Brown win "suddenly" stimulate Costa Rica economy?
In the last few years Costa Rica economy has really sucked with very few signs of recovery. That recovery worsen by Americas uneasiness with the current Presidential democratic administration mucho-trillion dollars tax, health and stimulus bill that will be absorbed by U.S. taxpayers.
To put it bluntly, Costa Rica Tourism which was already suffering became in greater peril when Americans suddenly begin really tightening their finances just to survive. With unemployment at 10%, foreclosures at a record high, it was no more vacations, less eating out etc etc.
One sport fishing account that has been operating in Costa Rica for almost 30 years, told me, has never seen the business this depressing since the Obama administration took over. One of his charter boats, the booking agent said they used to have 20-30 American clients that regularly came down to fish once a year. That dropped to only three – a lost of revenue of over $25,000 – a huge hit for a small company who still have to maintain the boat, pay taxes and general living expenses. Read more... (535 words, 1 image, estimated 2:08 mins reading time)
