CELAC

A Costa Rican security official said that President Nicolás Maduro is safe, despite claims from the Venezuelan leader that a “terrorist group” awaited him at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit in San José on Wednesday.

CELAC seems like a step forward in the transformation process taking place in Latin America, José Luis Siguil, a member of Tzuk Kim-Pop – which translates to “Highland Peoples Interwoven” – told The Tico Times.

President Luis Guillermo Solís is set to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of five countries in the Caribbean and South America this week during the third Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in San José, the president confirmed during a press conference Monday.

Horacio Alvarado, mayor of Belén, asked for drivers to be patient on Wednesday and Thursday as Traffic Police briefly block roads between Juan Santamaría International Airport and the Centro de Eventos Pedregal for five minutes at a time so that presidential motorcades can pass.

This, along with the advancement of science, technology and innovation, as well as the strengthening of education at all levels throughout the region, are issues that CELAC should prioritize over the next five to 10 years, according to the South American official. Costa Rica hosts CELAC'S third summit meeting from Jan. 28-29.

The renegotiations targeted several legacy projects devised by previous National Liberation Party administrations, including former presidents Óscar Arias (1986-1990, 2006-2010) and Laura Chinchilla (2010-2014), including Route 32 and the stalled Moín oil refinery.