No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveCosta Rica environment minister steps down under fire

Costa Rica environment minister steps down under fire

Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET) Minister Roberto Dobles has resigned from his post, according to a statement issued Friday by President Oscar Arias´ office.

The president accepted the resignation, the statement said.

Dobles has been accused by the media, environmental groups and the political opposition of granting a concession in late 2006 to extract materials such as gravel and sand from the Aranjuez River to a company whose board of directors included his uncle.

The minister, whose resignation will be effective on Tuesday, after he appears Monday before the Legislative Assembly to testify about the matter, said he acted in accordance with the law in signing the concession and that it had already been approved by the ministry´s technical committees.

In his statement on Friday, Arias said that he was satisfied with the explanations provided by Dobles and that his actions “were in total compliance with the law and existing procedures.”

But he added that Dobles “is aware that his continued presence in the government could hinder the progress of important environmental, energy and telecommunications initiatives, (ones) that he himself has led and could be affected by the politicization of a process against him.”

“Rather than harming his ministry, he preferred to submit his resignation and I think that shows the type of person he is and his commitment to our country´s most important causes,” Arias said.

Arias said he was proud of the work carried out by Dobles, crediting him with strengthening the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), reducing and offsetting carbon emissions and planting millions of trees.

For opposition congressmen, however, the minister´s actions struck them as nepotistic.

“(What Dobles did) is against the law,” said Citizen Action Party (PAC) lawmaker Francisco Molina by cell phone shortly after hearing the news Friday afternoon. “What he did was not right.”

According to Molina, the story does not stop there – the uncle is also a relative of President Oscar Arias, who is Dobles´ cousin.

“The president signed that concession,” Molina said. “And the president had issued a decree saying that it is prohibited to give concessions to family members of ministers or the president.”

The Tico Times attempted to contact Dobles on his cell phone, but a message left was not immediately returned.

Dobles, who had been in Arias´ Cabinet since he was inaugurated in May 2006, led the controversial process to end the country´s telecommunications monopoly and has pushed for Costa Rica´s possible inclusion in PetroCaribe, an initiative of Venezuela´s leftist government to provide subsidized oil to Central American and Caribbean countries.

He has also come under fire for defending the private, open-pit gold mine by the town of Las Crucitas in northern Costa Rica that has not yet begun operating due to a legal challenge by environmental groups.

Dobles is one of several other Cabinet members who have resigned during Arias´ second presidency, including the ministers of public security, housing, justice, planning and agriculture.

Trending Now

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Prisma Dental in Costa Rica Keeps Customers Happy and Smiling

I am 81 years old and have had teeth removed, bridges, and cavities fixed several times to sustain my ability to eat and function....

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...

Costa Rica Extradites David Ochy to Panama for Alleged Money Laundering

Costa Rican authorities have extradited David Ochy, a former Panamanian presidential candidate, to Panama, where he faces charges of money laundering tied to the...

2025 Gold Cup: Honduras Advances After Dramatic Shootout, Mexico Ends Goal Drought

Honduras, with a surprising and dramatic penalty shootout victory over Panama, and Mexico, with a lackluster win against Saudi Arabia, advanced Saturday to 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