Costa Rica Week in Review

Week in Review: Updated almost every Friday.
By: nacion.com posted by www.bolsadeempleo.info

Growing optimism
The number of Costa Ricans who see an improvement in their personal finances and in the economy of the country increased in the last six months. Today, one in every three Ticos feels that way, while the ratio was 1 to 4 last September. In the meantime, the percentage of those who see deterioration in their lot, decreased from 28 percent to 25 percent. The data surfaced in a UNIMER survey for the daily La Nación.
Lower inflation The inter-annual inflation fell below 9 percent for the first time in the last three and a half years. The National Statistics and Census Bureau reported that the cumulate inflation between February 2006 and February 2007 was 8.62 percent. Thus, eight months of continued de-acceleration in the key indicator were recorded. Bureau sources explained that this trend does not mean that prices decrease, but rather that they increase at a lower rate.
Bio-diesel plant in Limon Spanish firm Biodiesel de Andalucia (BISA) will build an $11-million plant near the Port of Limon, in the Costa Rican Caribbean, in order to produce bio-diesel, a fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fat, or used cooking oil. Allegedly, it is 80 percent less polluting than regular diesel. According to BISA president Cristobal Garcia, the plant’s output will be 120,000 tons, all of which will be used in the domestic market.
Sterilization plant Baxter Costa Rica, a manufacturer of medical equipment, will invest $6.5 million in a sterilization plant. The facility will be next to the company’s complex in the Cartago Industrial Park, where it employs 1,250 people. Currently, Baxter and other sector companies have to send their production to be sterilized in the United States. According to company sources, by doing the sterilization here, their delivery time will be lowered by 45 percent.
Hotel inaugurates restaurants Real Intercontinental Hotel invested $5 million in the construction of four restaurants and the revamping of the bar located near the reception area. Marketing and sales manager Antonio Manfredonio explained that this is part of the hotel’s plans to renew all of its dining and drinking areas. Also, the hotel –located in the Escazu area, west of San Jose– is to invest another $20 million in the construction of 100 rooms, which will be added to the current 261.
1.6 tons of cocaine A Colombian who had been deported last November, after he was arrested for being part of the crew of a boat that was suspected of carrying drugs, was caught now with a shipment of 1.6 tons of cocaine. The man, 26, was identified only by its family name, Portocarrero. He was arrested with another Colombian, Tello, who abandoned the boat that carried the drug and tried to hide in the coastal jungles of Guanacaste. There were four men aboard the vessel, and the police expect to arrest soon the two who are still free, but confined to a wooden area close to where the other two were caught.
Scammer arrested here Gianni Vazques, who was wanted in the United States for $11-million swindles, was caught by the local police in Atenas, in the province of Alajuela. According to police reports, Vazquez owned a medical service company and impersonated several individuals in order to make multi-million claims. His crimes were committed in Florida in 2003 and 2004, and he first entered Costa Rica in 2004, according to the police.
Illegals paid $30,000 Six Chinese paid $30,000 each to illegally enter Costa Rica, a Ministry of Security spokesperson disclosed. The two women and four men, ages 20 to 30, were arrested soon after crossing the border with Panama at Paso Canoas. Apparently, they planned to stay here for several days and then take a scheduled flight to the United Sates, apparently their final destination.
Mel Gibson likes Costa Rica Actor and director Mel Gibson arrived for a new vacation in Costa Rica, where he has visited in recent years. According to a source, he arrived on his private plane and is lodging at a hotel in Escazu, west of San Jose. In his previous visits, the most recent one last December, Gibson has toured several beaches and volcanoes, the source added.