  The purchase of a Cessna Grand Caravan plane, valued at $5.6 million, with funds from the United States and Costa Rica governments. - Ministry of Security photo - |
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 Published Tuesday, December 15, 2020 U.S.
donates a $500,000-plus hangar
and co-purchase a $5.6 million plane for Security Ministry By the A.M. Costa Rica staff On Monday, the Ministry of Security announced the purchase of a Cessna Grand Caravan plane, valued at $5.6 million, with funds from the United States and Costa Rica governments, in addition to the donation of a new hangar, valued at more than $500,000, to the Air Surveillance Service, SVA. According to the ministry, the U.S. government has donated more than $40 million per year for the last three years to increase security in the country. "The United States is committed to working shoulder to shoulder with Costa Rica to build a more stable, prosperous and secure region," Sharon Day, the U.S. Ambassador in Costa Rica said. "The aircraft and this hangar will help Costa Rica improve the support to isolated communities and the ability to patrol the territory, making a difference in the lives of Costa Ricans.” The total value of the Cessna purchase, which will be under the responsibility of the officers of the SAV, includes the maintenance service, parts, tools, technical advice, and pilot's training. The aircraft has a capacity for takeoff and short landing, which will allow police and humanitarian aid operations to be carried out in the most remote parts of the country, the ministry said. The MSP-024 plate aircraft has space for a crew of two pilots, with a capacity of up to 14 people, and can reach a speed of 343 kilometers per hour. Authorities also announced the donation of the 3,084-square-meter hangar, valued at more than $508,000 by the U.S. Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, INL. It is located at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province, with enough space for eight aircrafts, including the four helicopters donated last year, also through INL.  The Four UH-IST helicopters arrived aboard a Globemaster C-17 in March 2019. These are part of a two-year program between Costa Rica and the U.S. "The Costa Rican government will use these aircrafts to enhance their fight against illegal drug trafficking and increase the country’s capability to attend to the crisis related to natural disasters," the embassy said in its statement. During this time, from 2019 to 2021, the U.S. will be in charge of maintaining the helicopters, purchasing spare parts, training Costa Rican pilots and maintenance staff. The Costa Rican Security Air Surveillance Service assumes all operational costs. Once the two-year program has ended, the helicopters will be transferred permanently to SAV. The video of the aircraft donation and hangar inauguration can be seen on the ministry's Facebook page. This is the second million-dollar donation announced by the U.S. government in less than a week.  On Sunday, INL donated more than one million dollars for upgrades and improvements to the National Police Academy. This donation increased the investment that the academy made as part of the agreement between the Ministry of Public Security and the U.S. Embassy, the ministry said in its statement. According to the ministry, the donation allowed police forces to receive better training with modern facilities at the Murciélago Police Training Center, located in Cuajiniquil District, Guanacaste Province. The remodeling was carried out in the dormitory module for 88 female officers and the construction of an 18-meter high rappel tower, wastewater treatment and a water purification plant. According to the ministry, the U.S. donations to the academy, valued at $4.5 million, have allowed a series of improvements such as: • Restoration of three firing ranges. • Construction of a wastewater treatment plant. • Remodeling of the men's dormitory module. • Installation of a reverse osmosis system for water purification. • Renovation of three classrooms. • Purchase of specialized training equipment. On Sunday, the ministry announced that over the next three years, the U.S. will invest an additional $3 million in more infrastructure improvements at the academy, to make it a national and regional center of excellence. The projects to be developed are: • National K-9 school and training center. • Olympic pool. • Three classrooms for virtual classes. • A tactical medicine room and training area. • Virtual area for weapons training with real-world scenarios. • Course for small units. • Defensive tactics zone. • Weapon qualification polygon. • Vehicle’s maintenance area. The video of the Murciélago Tower inauguration can be seen on the ministry's Facebook page. -------------------- What other types of equipment to improve the security in Costa Rica should be donated by the U.S. government? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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