Occupy Costa Rica: Four separate protests congest the country Tuesday

Taxi drivers, motorcycle owners, anesthesiologists from the Social Security System and National Press employees all protested Tuesday for varying reasons.

Taxi protest

More than 7,000 taxi drivers held a demonstration led by the Federation of Taxi Cooperatives. The protest addressed the traffic police that patrol for unlicensed taxis. Taxi owners demanded the police take more action against illegal taxis in the country. 

According to representative José Luis Quesada, many of the protests took place outside of San José. Taxi drivers from San Ramón, Grecia, Liberia, Santa Cruz and Guapiles all idled in front of their local traffic police stations.

Motorcycle owners

Bikers idled and revved their engines in front of the National Insurance Institute building in downtown San José causing traffic jams. The protest was in response to the recent increase in the marchamo, a fee necessary for owning a vehicle within the country. Although the payments increased for all vehicles, motorcycle owners endured the biggest increase – 43 percent.

Anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologists from 29 hospitals continued their work stoppage that has lasted almost two weeks.

After a four-hour meeting with Social Security System executives, the group of physicians did not reach an agreement and will continue their strike for better working conditions.

Almost 1,500 surgeries have been cancelled and Laura Chinchilla will ask Cuba and Colombia for help covering the surgeries.

National Press employees

More than 150 employees from the National Press protested in La Uruca, a northwestern district of San José. The strike has been going on for eight days, and the employees are asking the government for better working conditions. The National Press publishes all official government documents, including a daily newspaper called La Gaceta, which circulates information about the approval of laws, resolutions, government works and other state information. 

Last week authorities responded to the protest by announcing that they are looking for a new place to print the paper.