The money that the State of Costa Rica will lose in the dispute over the failed concession of the Crucitas mine will come from taxpayer's pockets.
Editorial
During the 20 year period of the soap opera that is Crucitas gold mine, none of the individuals who are involved in one way or another have suffered any financial loss and many, on the contrary, have seen an increase in their income and their bank accounts.
While Obama's visit was mainly symbolic and dealt with long-term issues, the visit by Xi Jinping focussed on specific projects such as the $400 million for the route to Limon.
"In the evaluation of the visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping to Costa Rica, the cooperation provided by the Asian president and the possibility of strengthening trade and diplomatic relations, there were many positive aspects.
The Salvadoran president has a 72% approval rating, while Martinelli has 65%, Lobo 51%, Chinchilla 45%, Colom 41% and Ortega 40%.
Mauricio Funes, although still in second place in Latin America, falls three percentage points from a previous survey and now has 72% approval rating, topping the list of presidents in Central America with high evaluation.
A local court ruled to annul the concession previously granted to Industrias Infinito, and ordered the company to pay compensatory damages.
The court ordered the Costa Rican State and Industrias Infinito to pay environmental damages.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com noted that the ruling is not definitive, as another court (Sala Primera), must first resolve an appeal by Industrias Infinito.
The road was inaugurated on December 2009, 32 years after planned; it was closed to solve serious construction problems.
This important road, which links the capital city of San José with port Caldera on the Pacific coastline, is a major time and cost saver when compared to other roads. Conceived in 1978, it construction was delayed for bureaucratic and budget problems, until the Arias administration decided to complete the highway, as proof of its capacity to execute projects.
Laura Chinchilla will head an administration that will continue Oscar Arias’ work, although with differences due to her distinct personality.
An inspection of her cabinet leaves no doubt that Chinchilla will assume continuity policies. Some of its ministers belonged to Arias’. Others served with Figueres Olsen in 1994-1998, and many are very close to her.
Greece had a 13% fiscal deficit and made the world tremble. Costa Rica’s deficit could reach 10% by the end of 2011.
Heads of households know it well, but authorities sometimes forget: you shall not spend more than you earn; a sacred rule for good management and honesty. Because it’s very easy to spend without reserve on election year, and pass onto the next government a serious problem, one almost impossible to solve without heavy social tension.
While the people of Honduras continue to suffer from international isolation, the political and diplomatic corporation of Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss its fate in Cancún.
The Rio Group (an OAS alternative), will become the next stage in which the representatives of the region’s governments will promote their own political and personal projects, as they discuss the future of a theoretically sovereign country.
The Economist takes on the challenges to be faced by Laura Chinchilla when she assumes as the first female president of the Central American country.
As with Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, she does not owe her victory to marriage to a politically prominent husband. Rather, she is a protégée of Óscar Arias, the outgoing president whom she served as vice-president and justice minister.
Initially scheduled for February 5, 2010, the broadband frequency auction has been postponed without further date by Costa Rica´s Sutel.
The entity, in charge of overseeing telecommunications in the country, justified the decision for “logistics reasons” and the need to “cooperate with the Comptroller of the Republic”. Those institutions are currently analyzing claims of irregularities in the auction process.
President Oscar Arias announced the country's plans to open an embassy in Doha, the capital of Qatar, in the upcoming months.
Qatari officials stated that the Arab country could also open an embassy in Costa Rica.
The decision to open an embassy in Doha occurs less than a year after the Costa Rican government closed three (Bolivia, Paraguay and the Czech Republic), citing financial reasons.
The 77km highway linking San José with Caldera will be inaugurated on January 27th.
Built by company Autopistas del Sol, the highway will reduce travel time between the cities to 45 minutes.
"The company started the $230-million project on January 2008, and will recover its investment with tolls along the route, for the next 25 years. Controversy has surrounded the fees charged by the company", reported Nacion.com.
Martinelli and Funes lead in Latin America with 91% and 88% approval ratings. In Central America, they are followed by Colom with 46%, Arias 44% and Ortega with 38%.
Mauricio Funes from El Salvador and Ricardo Martinelli from Panama share, together with Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, the privilege of being in the group of "Outstanding Evaluation", composed of those heads of state with approval ratings above 75%.