My
opinion on the article: Government announces
National Fast Charge Network for electric
vehicles nationwide
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Yes! The government should continue to promote
these clean, fast and efficient vehicles.
In particular it should give effect to its own law
on Marchamos for EVs.
This year, despite the law stating that EVs are
exempt from Marchamo, the authorities are
insisting that the exemption applies only to new
vehicles – not used cars.
(Ridiculous if you want to promote EVs – and
surely a new car is used next year!)
Mark Rhys
Wales, United Kingdom,
Roble in Heredia
-----------------------------------------
My thoughts on article: Government announces
investment of more than $46 million in airport
improvements
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Good Morning! I have to wonder how much money the
government has borrowed and allocated to projects
since Presidente Alvarado took office?
I am thinking over $400,000,000.
From a government that can't even maintain dirt
roads... You have to be able to take care of the
small things before you can even begin to think
about the larger ones...
Great article the other day concerning the new
taxes and how the government is no longer friendly
to those who played a serious part in Costa Rica's
development: foreign investors.
Does La Nación print similar articles? Issues
definitely need to be brought to light, otherwise
we get what we have: inefficiency, incomplete
projects and massive corruption. Keep up the
investigative, finger-pointing journalism!
Karl Van Horn,
Playa Carillo.
-----------------------------------------
Waiting period for cataract removal
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
I was living in San Juan de Santa Barbara,
Heredia, and was to have my cataracts out two
years ago.
But I had to move because of the volcano dust
making me sick.
As soon as I moved to Naranjo, I registered and
with the Alajuela Hospital.
When my eyes were checked in the Alajuela
Hospital, the doctor said I was only a level two
out of four and it was too soon.
I asked him why he wanted to wait and take them
out since they were ready at the other hospital to
do so. He said we go by a four level exam on the
cataracts and that I was only a level two.
This did not make any sense to me, and every visit
after that he kept kicking the can down the road.
The last visit in November 2018, he sent me to
Mexico Hospital for one last test.
I went the next day to get a reservation with the
Mexico Hospital for whatever test it was, and
Mexico Hospital gave me a appointment for October
2019 for the test.
Now I have to go back to Alajuela Hospital for him
to tell me what my test results were.
The test has not been performed, so it's a wasted
trip to the hospital since there are no results
from the test for him to look at.
I have no idea why am getting run around by the
doctor at the hospital here when I wasn't getting
the run around with the previous hospital.
I have no idea who to complain too, or if it's
gonna do any good.
But I have to be able to see you to drive since I
live alone.
On the last visit to the hospital and doctor gave
me a prescription to make 20/20 vision for
distance.
I got the new glasses and they help, but I am
still seeing through a fog.
I'm old and my car is old and doesn't need to be
running back-and-forth for nothing.
Since I am an expat from the United States with
the residency license, I have to pay over $200 a
month for service that I'm not getting.
Any help that you can provide would be much
appreciated.
Also, on the subject of Measles and
vaccinations
First, did the vaccinations sermon come from the
United States?
What is happening there now is that they are
vaccinating children for measles and they come
down with the measles and spread them.
Being unvaccinated and getting the measles
strengthens the immune system.
Measles is a weeklong virus that is not harmful to
the child.
I understand you do not want to spread in Costa
Rica, but like I said if the vaccinations come
from the United States do not use them!
Sincerely,
Carlos Edwards
Expat in Naranjo
-----------------------------------
My opinion on CCSS Waiting List
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
The article reporting the mandate for the CCSS to
clean up its processing of patients struck a
chord.
In part, I am headed to discover Hospital San
Rafael this morning and have been a regular at
Hospital Mexico.
I have a very rare blood disease that requires
monthly attention.
While I have nothing but praise for the medicine
practiced at Hospital Mexico, the administration
is awful.
My former law firm represented the Virginia Mason
Hospital ("VMMC") in Seattle. I am not a
healthcare lawyer, but did come to know its
leadership.
Clinics and hospitals in the U.S. were typically
organized around the doctors’ preferences who
owned or managed the facilities.
Doctors like to see full waiting rooms and until
recently, paid little attention to the needs of
the patient. Many (most?) medical facilities have
now started to change that paradigm. Patients
waiting for treatment serves neither the patient
nor the doctor.
At VMMC, the focus is on the patient - not the
doctor. Unlike the CCSS, patients are told to show
up at a certain time and rarely wait more than 15
minutes (unless there is an emergency).
At VMMC, patients do not crowd the hallways
sharing their misery or their infections. By
having crowds show up at 7:00 a.m. (and queue
earlier), the CCSS treats no more patients than
VMMC.
It does endanger patients with contagious diseases
and robs the patient population of time that could
be productively spent elsewhere.
By adopting LEAN management styles to the hospital
setting, VMMC has reduced patient travel in the
hospital, waiting times and infections.
(I have also been told that fewer people now die
at VMMC.)
There is a lot of reporting on VMMC, but this
video tells part of the story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AANH2olPB5Y
LEAN management could save the CCSS save a lot of
money and a few lives by copying the VMMC example.
I am sure the CEO Gary Kaplan would be pleased to
share his wisdom. I have no clue how to connect
those dots. I would think the VMMC experience
would be featured at every hospital administration
conference, but again, I am not a healthcare
lawyer.
Now it is time for me to discover the wonders of
Hospital San Rafael.
Peter Parsons,
Atenas
-----------------------------------
Plan B pill
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
The Plan B pill needs to be available to everyone
over the counter regardless of rape.
Abortion and unwanted children are too common. A
female should be able to walk into a store and buy
the medication to prevent pregnancy.
The U.S. makes it readily available yet they still
have a high abortion rate.
It is so important to give this option to all
women so we can avoid abortion and unwanted
births. Thank you.
Chelsea Jo Perez,
Jaco Beach
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Related
to the article: United States pre-positions
humanitarian assistance in Curaçao to help
Venezuelans in need
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
A report on Duetsche Well last night with
interviews from the International Red Cross said
that Red Cross is actively providing humanitarian
aid through the local Red Cross units.
They explained that there are international rules
for providing humanitarian aid and one is to be
neutral and not use aid as propaganda.
Another is that they must work with local entities
to distribute aid. I believe Caritas International
is also providing humanitarian relief in
Venezuela.
Although I personally don't like Maduro and the
economic situation is terrible I hate to see the
United States push its way in.
Mary Ann Stark
-----------------------------------------
Taxes in CR cost of living
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Hello thank you for your daily news, I am a gringo
home owner in Playa Hermosa and I will retire
there soon....but I have to say that over the past
ten years the additional taxes piled on to
everything you do in CR is making most of the
gringos I know to look to other country's now.
It must be so difficult for locals, and I feel
their pain.
I have promoted CR to my friends for years but the
costs are starting to scare them away.
I hope the government takes a hard look at taxes
if they want to attract outsiders to retire in CR.
Now days everyone I talk to says it is too
expensive to relocate and live in CR.
Tary Burritt,
Playa Hermosa
-----------------------------------------
Country hosts the Fifth Latin American
Sanitation Conference
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
The majority of homes in Costa Rica have a septic
tank and a drain system for their waste water.
The construction drawings may show an adequate
system.
Unfortunately, the construction and installation
of these systems are often not in accordance with
the drawings.
These inadequate systems are constructed and
installed because they are not inspected while the
construction and installation is taking place.
Plastic water tanks that are not of proper size
and configuration are often installed. Improper
drainage leach fields are often installed.
Unless proper septic tanks and leach fields are
installed, drinking water, creeks, rivers, lakes
and water used for agriculture will be
contaminated.
Also my opinion on the subject of taxing
rentals published on Air BnB.
The B&B construction cost is extensive.
Until the construction cost is paid for by the
rentals there are no owner cost benefits.
Having to pay taxes before the owner receives a
cost benefit does not make sense. Taxes should not
be paid until the owner realizes a cost benefit.
How do international B&B’s operate with
respect to taxation, security, the disabled, etc?
Best Regards,
Albert Almeida,
Nuevo Arenal
-----------------------------------------
Government produce jobs for the unemployed
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
I have visited many times the rural area Guatusa.
Only work available there for the non-college
educated youth is working in pineapple plantations
harvesting pineapple.
However some very industrious youth have studied
tourism and have gotten good jobs in tourism.
The gov could study this area for increased
tourism and put some money into it.
I would like to build a small eco hotel 3 miles
outside Guatusa…however I do not have all the
money.
A low interest loan from CR gov would help see
this projects completed.
The Beautiful Blue river trail is very near there.
(I am a CR citizen).
Drawing some tourist but not advertised enough.
I would like to be on a board (Dept. Tourism) to
study this area and make a plan to development
more tourism here.
It’s so close to Arenal Volcano and the tourist
coming there might extend to this Blue River area
(sleep there) if marketing was done
right..providing many jobs for C Rican youths.
Guides, drivers, house keeping, cooks etc.
I have been doing CR tourism since 2003 —when
Google was invented.
So I have seen the massive growth in CR tourism,
however this area in rural CR I’m taking about
--would be a good place for CR Tourism Dept. to
invest some time and money to create new jobs.
Also, my opinion on regulating B&B and
airb&b
Yes, all B&B and airb&b should be required
to be registered with CR gov and have a license.
They should be required to collect 13% tax and pay
this to CR gov.
This would protect tourist safety and comfort and
also make the tourist pay the tax they should pay
for the benefit of vacationing in CR.
And related to improvements should the government
make to satisfy cruise tourists. I have been
working Costa Rica Tourism many year now...since
Google came into being.
Number one: security, when tourists get off the
ship. Suggestion: Assign enough tourist police to
escort these passengers. My tourists complain
about petty theft.
Thank you.
Ann Cabezas Creed,
Las Pilas, Alajuela
-----------------------------------------
Art in Costa Rica
Dear A.M. Costa Rica readers:
Hello my name is Ana Franco, and I noticed that
Costa Rica doesn't support local artists all that
much, and that's a problem.
There's this Costa Rican designer Marv Castillo
who recently jumped into more audiences in other
countries.
He has worked as designer for many brands like
Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Marvel, Netflix, Johnnie
Walker, among many others. Recently he was
contacted by an American editorial house which
wants to publish his design project "36 days of
Type and Movies" to the masses and it's coming out
next year.
Castillo's work has been noticed by Ryan Reynolds
(Deadpool) and his wife Blake Lively.
Marv recently made some work for Reynolds' gin
brand Aviation.
His work has a appeared in United States, Mexico,
Colombia.
Ana Franco,
San Jose
-----------------------------
Editor’s note: The
views or opinions expressed by the authors are the
sole and exclusive responsibility of the senders
and do not necessarily represent the opinion of
A.M. Costa Rica. Therefore, the newspaper does not
accept liability for reader's opinion letter
content.
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