No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveBill would boost environment court's budget

Bill would boost environment court’s budget

 

Costa Rica’s governmental Environmental Commission is working on a bill that would increase funding and resources for the Environmental Tribunal, which has been tasked with conducting sweeps of building developments, including homes and hotels, to crack down on illegal construction.

Yesterday, members of the tribunal, an administrative court of the Environment and Energy Ministry (MINAE), appeared before the commission to answer questions and summarize the work they’ve done this year.

The tribunal’s investigations and shuttering of illegal projects on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts has led to political pressure, a recent break-in at tribunal offices and even death threats on its judges.

Since José Lino Chaves took over as president of the three-judge court in January, the tribunal has launched an unprecedented crackdown on coastal development, long denounced by organizations both within and outside of the government as out of control and unregulated.

In a series of raids, the tribunal has swept through the Central Pacific (primarily Jacó and Playa Hermosa), the Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo and the cantons of Manzanillo and Gandoca), the northwest Guanacaste province (the cantons of Santa Cruz and Carrillo) and the Southern Pacific (mostly along the Fila Costeña coastal mountain range).

As a result, some 40 construction projects have been put under investigation, suspended or shut down entirely, amounting to more than 4,000 luxury residences, hotel rooms and condominiums, the tribunal reports.

These include such big-name projects as the $300 million Hotel Hyatt Azulera, under investigation for possible environmental damage, on Guanacaste’s Brasilito beach, and the Ritz-Carlton’s $250 million Guacamaya project in Guanacaste that was suspended for “the extraction of geological materials,” according to the tribunal.

Members of the Environmental Commission, formed by the Legislative Assembly, applauded the tribunal´s work and promised support. The court currently works out of a small downtown San José office with a staff of just 12 covering the entire country.

Trending Now

Calls Grow for Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium as ISA Talks Restart

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) resumes negotiations Monday in search of rules to regulate deep-sea mining, amid controversy over Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

Costa Rica’s Chaves Slams Supreme Court as “National Disgrace” in Corruption Case

On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Chaves didn’t hold back. In his weekly press conference, he slammed the Supreme Court, calling it a “national disgrace” that’s...

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

When Will Poás Volcano National Park Reopen? Here’s What We Know

Although Poás Volcano has entered a more stable phase and the alert level has been lowered to green, the national park will remain closed...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica