Recently, internal audits and investigative reports of Costa Rica’s Social Security department (Caja), which funds the country’s sorely flawed universal healthcare system, have shown some serious expenditure increases on medicinal procurement in the recent past. It has been discovered that Caja has been purchasing “emergency orders” of medicines for upwards of ten times the normal price. So, wh...

Here on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, surfing is a part of culture. It’s a way of life, almost like a religion. And this Saturday church was in session. The overcast skies and cross-shore breeze was a welcomed occurrence for the hundreds of parishioners of the Church of Surf who were sitting on the beach in front of Morgan’s Cove in Jacó on the 16th day of June. The crowds gather...

The forty seven year old Spanish railway company FEVE, has recently struck a 5.56 million dollar deal (plus shipping and handling) with INCOFER –Instituto Costarricense ferrocarriles- (Costa Rican Railway Institute). The deal involved INCOFER purchasing six FEVE Apollo 2400 commuter train sets which are due to be delivered within 2012. The early 1980’s model refurbished trains are part of INCOF...

On the International Labor Organization’s 11thannual World Day Against Child Labor, among representatives of the Costa Rican Civil Society and with President Laura Chinchilla present, president of the Commission of Social Matters, Deputy Elibeth Venegas called upon the three political powers of Costa Rica (legislative, judicial and executive) to unite against unhealthy child labor. According to...

On Thursday June 14th, the head of MINAET, Dr. René Castro Salazar’s proposal “Politicas Azules Y Vice Ministerio de Agua y Mares” (Blue Policies and Vice Ministry of Water and Seas) was accepted creating a new Ministry of Water and Seas. The restructuring will give direct oversight of Costa Rica’s oceans, fresh waters and water resources to this new sub division of the MINAET. Costa Rica’s...