Parties seek to make deal
before big Feb. 7 election


The conversation appears to be one that should have been held months ago, but three political parties are trying to unify their presidential choice to make a better showing at the polls in little more than three weeks.

Discussions are continuing today among the Partido Acción Ciudadana, Alianza Patriótica and the Partido Integración Nacional. Acción Ciudadana and Alianza Patriótica contain many persons who opposed the free trade treaty with the United States.

The Acción Ciudadana candidate Ottón Solís is not doing well in the polls. He is in fourth place. But Walter Muñoz, the physician who is the candidate of Integración Nacional and Rolando Araya, the Alianza candidate, are even further behind.

Alianza is a new party made up of those who opposed the treaty. Araya was the Liberación Nacional presidential candidate in 2002. He is the brother of San José Mayor Johnny Araya, who is supporting Laura Chinchilla, the Liberación candidate, after he lost his own bid for the nomination.

One sticking point is what will happen to the legislative slate of the three parties. Acción Ciudadana is likely to place several candidates into the Asamblea Legislativa. That is a separate ballot.

There is not even certainty that the union would work. Ballots already are printed and are being distributed.

Business chamber seeks
openness on dock decision


A business chamber is calling on the Caribbean dock worker to approve a deal to privatize the docks Friday.

The message from the Unión Costarricense de Cámaras y Asociaciones del Sector Empresarial Privado said that 80 percent of Costa Rica's exports go through the docks at Moín and Limón and that these are most inefficient.

Manuel H. Rodríguez of the chamber said that the cost of shipping a container through Limón or Moín is $1,190 when the same container could be handled for $729 in Panamá or $456 in Singapore.

The government is offering the dock workers substantial buyouts if they choose to accept it. Rodríguez called upon the leadership of the dock workers' union to conduct deliberations on the topic in an open manner with respect for the decision of the majority. The union leadership opposes the deal but many members want the payoff

Those who work on the dock will be about 4 million colons, some $7,100, for each year they have worked up to 20 years.

The government accepted the deal because the amount involved does not exceed the $137 million that officials plan to spend to buy out workers when the docks are offered up in a concession.

Former banker's dwelling
will help Escazú alcoholics


The Municipalidad de Escazú said it will donate a home once occupied by Carlos Hernán Robles to an alcohol treatment center.

Robles is the former manager of the defunct Banco Anglo. Many board members of the bank went to prison for sweetheart deals involving the funds of the state bank. Robles is in prison now on an unrelated crime.

The municipality has voted to present the property to the Asociación pro Hogar Salvando al Alcohólico de Escazú. To do so will require a law passed by the Asamblea Legislativa. A bill to do that already is in the legislative hopper.