$250 million business center
planned near Alajuela airport


A Spanish group that wants to build a $250 million convention and business center near Juan Santamaría airport ran the plans past President Óscar Arias Sánchez Wednesday.
The developer is Feria de Valencia, and the concept is supported by the Cámara de Exportadores de Costa Rica and the Grupo Interbolsa.

The proposal is to build a center for events, conferences and congresses that would support businesses and tourism. The tourism minister, Carlos Ricardo Benavides, also attended the meeting and supported the idea.

The developers propose beginning in 12 to 14 months and completing the project by 2010. The amount is less than was originally announced when the price tag of the project was said to be $410 million.

Carlos Meléndez of Grupo Interbolsa was quoted by Casa Presidencial as saying that Costa Ricans would be able to participate in the project because there would be an issue of stocks and bonds. The property would be 320,000 square meters or some 79 acres. A hotel also is planned.

Arias to dump associated laws
if trade treaty is rejected


The president's brother said Wednesday that if the Costa Rican people reject the free trade treaty with the United States in the Oct. 7 referendum that the government would ashcan some 13 proposed laws that are designed to implement the treaty.

The statement by Rodrigo Arias Sánchez was in response to a pledge by the Partido Acción Ciudadana to keep fighting the 13 laws even if the voters approve the trade pact in the referendum.

The 13 laws in the legislature, including measures that open up telecommunications and insurance, must be passed for the trade treaty to come into effect. These have been called the supplementary agenda.

Acción Ciudadana probably cannot block the 13 laws if the treaty is passed because the government maintains a two-thirds coalition in the Asamblea Legislativa. But the party could institute stalling tactics.

The treaty must be ratified by the end of March or it is void. However, less clear is when the 13 laws have to be passed for the treaty to become effective.

Rodrigo Arias said in his statement that Ottón Solís, the leader of Acción Ciudadana, said in a letter to Óscar Arias Sánchez, the president, that the 13 proposed laws were inseparable from the treaty.

Rodrigo Arias accused the political party of trying to trick and threaten the Costa Rica people.

Concern voiced over taxes
at Nicaraguan newspaper


The Inter American Press Association has voiced concern to the Nicaraguan government at taxes placed on newspaper production supplies, saying it contradicts principles of press freedom and free speech guaranteed under the Central American nation’s constitution.
 
At issue is a dispute between the daily newspaper La Prensa and the customs service which has accused the newspaper of being behind in payment of duties for imported supplies. The Miami-based press organization called publicly on the Nicaraguan supreme court to take up an appeal by La Prensa claiming that the Customs Service’s stance is unconstitutional and violates a law which regulates duties for the news media.
 
The controversy arose after La Prensa last week sought to avoid payment of import duties for newsprint which it said was exempted. In response, the Customs Service demanded payment of what it alleged was a past due amount of some $740,000.

Kytka Jezek loses appeal
over immigration actions


A Sala IV decision has found against Kytka Hilmar-Jezek and her three children who have been considered living in the country illegally.

Ms. Jezek was a well known Central Pacific real estate broker, but she was detained Sept. 11 about 6 p.m. at the  Hotel la Parela in Bello Horizonte, according to the decision.

Her appeal was for habeas corpus and alleged persecution by the Policía Migratoria. Also named was the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería. The court rejected the appeal Wednesday afternoon, according to the Poder Judicial.

The decision said that Ms Jezek has applied for residency in the country but had been rejected in September 2005.

Ms. Jezek, who also answers to the name Kit, was turned in by her neighbors who disagreed with her lifestyle, according to immigration officials.

Tamarindo police sweep
turns up little that is illegal


More than 100 Fuerza Pública officers, Tránsito officers, judicial agents and even police dogs conducted a sweep of Tamarindo for five hours Wednesday, and all they came up with were six foreigners without papers.

The Judicial Investigation Organization based in Santa Cruz coordinated the effort, which included road blocks and vehicle searches. The effort ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Officers said that they located a Panamania and five Nicaraguans who did not have papers and confiscated three suspicious motorcycles, three revolvers and a small quantitiy of drugs.

Tourists have complained that all sorts of drugs are readily available on the main street of Tamarindo, however, the police sweep failed to turn up any evidence of this or of North Americans living illegally in the Pacific beach community.