NARE means“hope” and maybe,with a name that’sfull of aspirations,Restaurant Nare willsurvive in what mustbe one of the mostdelightful spots in thewestern suburb ofEscazú, southwest ofSan José.Those versed inthe profusion of diningoptions in thearea, (160, I’ve been told!), are probablyaware that Nare’s location, uphill betweenSan Rafael de Escazú and the old town center,appears to have been cursed by the infamouswitches of the area. Survival forMexican, a steak house and Spanish establishmentshave been short-lived.Now Nare offers Korean barbecue, asushi bar, teppan-yaki, plus a cozy bar withKaraoke on weekends, all in a perfectlyenchanting setting. Tables are placed outdoorsin the lovely garden and patrons candine to the soothing gurgle of the river runningby the property.A winding path through this green oasisleads to a rancho-style teppan-yaki bar, anideal setting to enjoy this popular Japanesecuisine. Attractive spacious rooms offerindoor dining. The evening two friends and Ivisited Nare, we chose a table on the terraceoverlooking the garden.THE extensive menu comprises a completearray of Japanese specialties: sushi,sashimi, tempura dishes and more. Friendswho engage in surveillance for me (I can’teat everything, everywhere!) have reportedthat it’s very good indeed and prices arecomparable to other Japanese restaurants.However, that evening we were there topartake in the Korean cuisine and somewhatperplexed we gazed at the menu. Eventuallywe made our choice encouraged by our helpfulwaiter, who continued to give us goodservice throughout the meal.Bowls of complimentary miso souparrived accompanied by medallions ofbreaded squid. As we waited for our orderwe commented that virtually all the otherdiners were Korean. A good sign indeed!Our appetizers, sikumchi-namal spinachand hobak-namal squash, were served with adressing of toasted crushed sesame seeds, anessential item of Korean seasoning. Bothwere very tasty and priced at ¢850 ($2).NO Korean meal is complete withoutKim Chi – pickled Chinese cabbage thatcomes in as many versions as there arecooks. Our order resembled cabbage rolls,not the more finely chopped cabbage I’dexpected. I must admit it didn’t come up tothe Kim Chi made by a Korean friend.The waiter recommended the steamedcorvina, in a spicy Korean sauce ¢3,445($8), which proved to be slightly on thesweet side and not pungent enough for mytaste buds. However, the lightly steamed fishand crunchy mixed vegetables were delicious.The portion was so ample I requesteda “kitty bag” and enjoyed it for supper thenext night.The grilled pork ribs ¢4,675 ($11), wereexcellent and the pile of bare bones left onthe plate certainly confirmed this.The other item, bi bim bak ¢3,125 ($7),was listed as a house specialty and orderedby my adventurous friend. She didn’t knowwhat she was ordering, but always likes tobe helpful and try something different.Surprise! Surprise! It arrived in a largebowl overflowing with a mound of rice anda very lightly fried egg on the top. As sheplowed through an assortment of vegetableslooking for the meat she commented, “Idon’t think I’ll order this again!”THE dessert menu is undeniably internationaland includes chocolate mousse,tiramisu and tres leches, a Costa Ricanfavorite. Having had more than an elegantsufficiency, we passed on these and chatteredto the gracious Korean owner, Keun Lee.After only two months of being in business,he’s more than hopeful of Nare’s success.Lee’s wife Kim cooks, while he keepsan eagle eye on what’s happening in therestaurant.“I’m aware of the importance of anowner’s presence,” he said. “ I had one inSeoul for 17 years.”He misunderstood when I asked him ifthe complimentary offerings at the beginningof the meal were the norm.“Oh! Yes,” he replied and in a flash tomy chagrin, another large bowl of souparrived. I refused politely, but it was waitingfor me with my “kitty bag.” The next day Ienjoyed a bowl of delicious very spicy tofusoup.I hope Lee has more success with hisrestaurant, than his predecessors did in thislocation. He certainly deserves to.NARE has ample parking next door andis located 600 meters south of El Cruce inSan Rafael de Escazú. It is open daily fromnoon-3 p.m. and 6-11 p.m. For more info,call 288-0793.

THE ‘Explore and Create in Costa RicaTours’ offer more than the normal touristexcursions – the specialty of this tour is toinvoke the creative juices of the artisticallyinclined.“The tours I’m organizing are inspirationalfor artistic, cultural and nature basedexperiences,” says Jan Yatsko, the founderof the tour company.Yatkso, herself a featured artist andcraftsperson, designed the 12-day trip as away for artists (or thosein a creative-relatedindustry) to rechargetheir minds with newimages, experiences andabove all, inspiration fornew work ideas.The tours are a mixedbalance of exploringnature, seeing the traditionaltourist sites as wellas meeting local artistsand craftspeople. Vacationersare encouragedto spend time on individualartwork during the trip.A day with Yatkso begins with a shortSpanish class and a creative exercise to initiatethe artwork. From beginners to professionals,everyone on the tour is invited tojoin in, regardless of the technique in whichthey express themselves“I like to inspire people and then allowthem to go on their own,” she says. “Itshould be fun, not work.”YATKSO, who has been a workingartist for 28 years, also suggests tour participantskeep a journal to capture their spontaneousinspirations through drawing,painting or writing.Unique highlights of the tour includevisits to the art studios of Patricia and BrianErickson located 6 km from Guápiles. Atthe studio, Patricia exhibits her amazingcollection of storytelling paintings whileBrian, a bamboo furniture designer andsculpturer, provides interesting walksthrough his gardens, which host bamboospecies from all over the world.Sitting on Brian’s innovative, handcraftedfurniture, the guests are served atypical Nicaraguan dish, called Baho, consistingof marinated chicken, green plantainand cassava, steamed between bananaleaves.“The meeting with the Ericksons is aunique experience,” says Yatkso, originallyfrom Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Whilewe enjoy the food, we also listen to Patti’sstories and hear the birds and the nearbyRío Blanco.”Another favorite is the trip to theMaleku Indian Reservation, where the tourobserves the language,dance, customs andcraftwork of this Indiantribe. During a walkthrough the jungle, theshaman (a person whoacts as intermediarybetween the natural andsupernatural worlds)introduces the visitors tomedicinal plants, as wellas how to use naturalcolors from roots andseeds for their art journal.PEDIATRICIAN Raylene DeVine wasespecially impressed by the Maleku childrenand wanted to help immediately.“The day at the village was a very movingone,” recalles the outspoken painter.“I’m going to send them art supplies – Ihave so much, they have so little.”The tour also includes the traditionaljaunts to Arenal Volcano and ManuelAntonio National Park. Optional activities,such as horseback riding, sea-kayaking,sport fishing and mountain biking are alsoavailable.Nancy Wissinger, an art therapist fromPennsylvania, participated in the February2004 tour and was fascinated by the lushnessof the rainforest.“I enjoyed the feeling, just to be in it,”she says.Yatkso also enjoyed the feeling andbeauty of Costa Rica when she first vacationedhere with her husband Thomas 12 years ago on a bicycling tour.IN fact, the country’s vibrant beauty and thefriendliness of the Ticos made them feel so welcomethat they returned for three more trips andnow they have even lived part time in the ruralnorthwestern Central Valley town of Atenas forfive years.Because of a preference for the tropics, aswell as for the Spanish language, they have alsovisited Belize and Venezuela on bicycle.“But in Costa Rica,” Yatkso says, “it was thefirst time I felt that I had come home.”Yatkso, a devoted travel guide, Spanish interpreterand art teacher, decided to commercializeher variety of skills after organizing vacations forher artistically talented friends in the country.Yatsko is knowledgeable about artistry. Shereceived her art education at KutztownUniversity in Pennsylvania and has been exhibitedas a basketer and papermaker in numerousgallery shows in Costa Rica, the United Statesand Iceland.Presently, Yatsko depicts Costa Rican lifethrough her paintings and creates mixed media(artistic media used in combination in a singlework) and wire mesh origami sculptures. She alsoteaches workshops on the Japanese art of foldingpaper in San José.IN her ‘Thoughts about My Paintings,’Yatksowrites she feels a strong creative energy from theabundant nature and wildlife in Costa Rica.“The natural beauty is a constant inspirationto me and I have designed this tour through theeyes of an artist because I want to share it withothers,” she says.The next tour is scheduled February 22-March 5, 2005 and is limited to 10 people. Thedeadline to register is October 15, 2004.For more info, or to make a reservation, visitwww.janyatsko.com

Anglers at Barradel Colorado on theCaribbean coast enjoyedblue skies andflat seas, even outsidethe river mouth, atBarra Colorado lastSaturday and tarponaction there has beensteady. I will be on aflight to Barra Mondaymorning to joinJoe Werner, an oldfriend from California.Mr. and Mrs. C.E. O’Connor, fromFlorida, had three tarpon to the gaff Friday,and during their three-day trip jumped 25and had six to the boat long enough to getphotos, according to Rio Colorado Lodgeoperator Dan Wise. Wise said the SilverKing and Casamar Lodges are closed.Apparently, there is no change on thePacific coast, with skippers reporting idealconditions and a steady bite on sailfish,marlin, tuna and dorado, only 20 minutesrun off Cabo Vela. A lot of tuna are running40-50 pounds and a few wahoo arebeing caught every day as well.We don’t hear a lot about wahoo, butthey are my favorite ocean fish to catchand are also one of the best to eat. Thestreamlined rockets are the fastest fish inthe ocean. While I have tangled with somemore than 50 pounds when fishing thelong-range boats off Baja many years ago,I have never seen one here more than 18 or20 pounds, though I suspect there are somebig ones here as well. Like barracuda, theyhave a fearsome set of teeth.I received a disturbing e-mail fromStanley Chao, who read The Tico Timescolumn after six nights at Nicuesa Lodgeon the Osa Peninsula in the southern zone,fishing for snapper. It amplifies the needfor fishery regulation.On a full-day charter, fishing only forsnapper, Chao said he had only two“maybe” bites and in five more days fishingthe gulf in a kayak and surfing, he onlycaught a couple pargo to five pounds.We commented in this column after mylast visit there some months ago about theinfestation of long lines, with baited hooksless than a foot apart spreading for milesinshore, virtually curtaining the peninsulaand killing anything that swims for thecommercial market.When will the Costa Rican governmentwake up and establish some regulations tosave the sportfishing industry which bringsso much to our country?The Tico Times reader Ernie Tetreaultwrites that he has a friend looking to movehere in a few months and wants to bring a45-foot yacht in need of extensive work.He’s looking for a haul-out for someonethat can do extensive hull and deck repairs,swap the engines and do other work.I only know of my neighbor, the legendaryPete Magee, but Magee only worksin fiberglass, not wooden boats. If anyoneknows who might help this gentlemen, callTetreault at 454-1781 or e-mail at goodtidings@prozac.net.For more info on fishing or assistance inplanning a trip to Costa Rica, contact Jerryat jruhlow@costaricaoutdoors.com orvisit www.costaricaoutdoors.comSkippers, operators and anglers areinvited to e-mail or call Jerry with fishingreports by Wednesday of each week. Call orfax 282-6743 if calling from Costa Rica, orthrough the e-mail address above.

“IF we have to choose between stability and growth,we choose stability,” said Central Bank PresidentFrancisco de Paula Gutiérrez on Monday after announcingthe bank will tighten the country’s monetary policyto curb rising inflation and ensure continued economicstability.“[A tighter monetary policy] means interest rateswill rise. If you have taken out loans, they will be moreexpensive to pay back,” Gutiérrez explained onTuesday. “In general, the price of money will go up.These policies will make credit more expensive. It willalso make imported goods more expensive. It will makepeople consume less and save more.”Gutiérrez described the proposed measures as “preventive”and “necessary,” given the current economicclimate.Gutiérrez also announced the Central Bank’s revisedprojections for economic growth and inflation for thisyear. The economy is expected to grow 3.9%, while consumer prices will have risen by 11% —their highest level in six years.The original monetary policy for thisyear announced in January projected 4.4%growth and 9% inflation (TT, Jan. 16).WHILE growth is lower than originallyexpected, mainly due to lower than expectedhigh-tech exports, inflation is what worriesCentral Bank officials. Consumer priceshave been growing faster than expectedsince the end of last year as a result of sharpincreases in the international prices of oil,wheat, rice, cooking oil and steel, and ratehikes for most public utilities.The bank’s original monetary policy wasplanned thinking the average price of a barrelof oil this year would hover around the$28 mark. However, the actual price duringthe first six months was closer to $40 a barrel.On Wednesday, the price of a barrelreached $42.90 — its highest level this year.This increased the country’s oil tab by$190 million during that period. Thebank’s revised projections call for the priceof oil to remain stable at $40.Between January and June, the consumerprice index – a measure of the averagechange over time in the prices paid byconsumers for a basket of basic consumergoods and services – rose by 6.26%.However, it was the underlying inflationindex – a more technical inflationmeasure used to evaluate inflationarytrends that excludes volatile productsprone to sudden increases and sharp drops— which rose by 5.8% during that period,that prompted the Central Bank to tightenmonetary policy.WHILE a tighter monetary policy willlikely reduce inflation, it will also reducethe country’s economic growth potential.The Central Bank is willing to pay theprice of lower growth in exchange forlower inflation and economic stability,Gutiérrez said.The bank’s policies are expected tosucceed in lowering inflation to less than10% next year. However, they are alsoexpected to cause growth to begin to slowdown near the end of this year. This trendwill continue during 2005.The Central Bank expects the economyto grow by 2.9% next year. The projectedgrowth rate would be consistent with CostaRica’s average growth rates during most ofthe last decade, but significantly lowerthan last year’s growth rate (5.6%) and thisyear’s projected growth rate (3.9%).The tightened monetary policy is alsoexpected to slow the rate at which privatecredit is issued. This will further limit economicgrowth.Gutiérrez said the monetary policy isnot “written in stone” and will be revised ifthe current economic situation changes orif the much-delayed tax plan being studiedby the Legislative Assembly is approved.The Central Bank will closely monitorthe national and international economicsituation in order to “adjust the dosages ofthe medicine” it is administering to theeconomy, Gutierréz said.THE Central Bank announced fourmeasures aimed at tightening monetarypolicy and curbing inflation.Starting this week, the colón’s devaluationrate against the U.S. dollar willincrease to ¢0.17 a day, up from ¢0.15 aday. Last year, the colón’s devaluation ratewas ¢0.16 a day.The Central Bank also raised the interestrate on 30-day investments in colonesby half a percentage point, from 12.75% to13.25%.Further interest rate hikes are likely.The Central Bank will keep a close eye onU.S. interest rates, which are expected tocontinue to rise during the remainder of theyear, Gutiérrez said.In the coming months, the bank plansto continue to sell bonds with the intent ofreducing excess liquidity — cash and otherassets that can be quickly converted intocash, such as savings in bank accounts —from the economy.Liquidity increased significantlybetween April and June as thousands ofinvestors took their money out of the country’sdollar and colón investment funds andbegan depositing it in banks (TT, May 14).The Central Bank also announcedplans to increase commercial banks’reserve ratio — the percentage of a bank’sassets kept by the Central Bank to ensurethe bank’s stability — from 10% to 12%.This will be done through two increases of1%, one on Sept. 1 and the other on Oct. 1.GUTIERREZ compared the measuresto steering a plane through dark clouds.“It’s like if you’re piloting an airplaneand you see dark clouds up ahead,”Gutiérrez explained. “One possibility is tobelieve the wind will blow away the cloudsand do nothing. The other possibility is tomake a change in course, avoid the cloudsand keep going without problems.“That’s what we’re doing. If theclouds disappear, we can return to theoriginal course. We’re telling people tofasten their seatbelts.”

IN what’s becoming almost a monthly occurrence,thousands of public-sector workers yesterday walked outof their classrooms and offices, stepped away from theirloading docks and repair trucks, and took to the streets in anational strike.Once about salary raises and pensions, yesterday’s protest came to encompass a fight against along list of social and labor rights injustices,union leaders said.Requests for a 10% salary raise andreform of pension laws were on their list ofdemands, but so were the familiar rejectionof the Central American Free TradeAgreement with the United States(CAFTA) and appeals for defense of “sovereignty,identity and natural resources.”Similar protests against CAFTA andpromoting labor rights were held June 1(TT, June 4) and on International Workers’Day May 1 (TT, May 7).STILL, union leader Dennis Cabezasinsisted yesterday’s one-day strike was thebeginning of a new popular movementagainst injustice. Cabezas is operationscoordinator for the Union and TeachersCoordination Unit (CUSINA), an umbrellaorganization for more than 70% of thecountry’s unions.“We will continue with this line (ofprotest) until the country realizes this is ademocratic country,” he said.The strike marks an unprecedentedalliance among unions, said publicemployees as they marched from theFinance Ministry to the GovernmentAttorney’s office to the Supreme Court, allin central San José.“We have to articulate that these problemsare not just affecting one single sector– but rather schools, electricity service,communications, water service, everything.So the different unions have madethe decision to come together,” saidCarmen Pereira, who works at theUniversity of Costa Rica (UCR) computerscience center.THE strike was supported by notonly teachers and university professors,but by unions from the Costa RicanSecurity System, Banco Nacional, theNational Power and Light Company, theNational Water and Sewer Service, theInstitute for Housing and Urbanizationand other public institutions.“We have a union of syndicates like wehave never seen before,” said AlvaroSibaja, secretary general for the NationalProduction Council. Sibaja added that theformation of CUSINI four months ago hasallowed for increased communicationamong workers.However, the strike hardly included allof the country’s 146,000 public employees.Fewer than 5,000 people participated.Pereira pointed out that many universityemployees are on vacation.TEACHERS at Liceo J.J. VargasCalvo in San Pedro who chose not to participatein the strike said they did not fullyunderstand the reasons behind the protest.“I just started working here, so I don’tentirely know what the issues are,” saidEnglish teacher Edward Villalobos, whostarted at the school in April.“I don’t consider a strike or a workstoppage as a solution to problems,” addedteacher Narcy Villalobos.Twenty-eight of 85 teachers at theschool participated in the strike, but 1,200of the 1,600 students did not show up forclasses yesterday.Pacheco said Tuesday at his weeklyCabinet meeting the government is firmin its policy that those do not work, donot get paid.“When I have not worked, I have notreceived a salary,” he said.ALTHOUGH the strike took on awider scope, teachers’ unions marchedspecifically in opposition to present rulesfor teacher pensions. They are pressuringfor approval of a pension law reform beinganalyzed in the Legislative AssemblyUnion members are also demanding a10% raise in public salaries, a far cry fromthe 4% offered by the government. Theamount originally proposed by the laborand finance officials was 3.5%, but theoffer was increased this week.Labor Minister Ovidio Pacheco saidTuesday he is working to increase the offereven more, and would like to make it6.26%, but such a salary raise is impossible,considering the stalemate of the country’sfiscal reform plan (see separate story).A 6.26% raise would meet the rate ofinflation from last semester, but would notreach expected inflation in the next sixmonths, as unions demand.Labor and Finance Ministry officialswill meet today with union officials to discusspublic salary rates.Finance Minister Alberto Dent warnedthis week that with no fiscal reform, therewill be very limited salary adjustments forpublic employees in 2005. He has also saidwithout fiscal reform, additional previously-planned permanent teacher positionswill not be offered.BUT with the Argentinean folk songplaying in the background, “Para el pueblolo que es del pueblo porque se lo ganó, parael pueblo liberación,” (For the people whatis of the people, because they earned it, forthe people liberation), marchers insisted thefight went beyond salaries and pensions.“We don’t win anything with a salaryincrease. We are in a fight larger than that,”said UCR employee Cristina Moreno. “Thisis about everything, all of our rights.”

Flags are still at half-mast after a Costa Ricanpolice officer on Tuesday afternoon stormed theChilean Embassy in San José with an assaultrifle, killing three officials immediately whileseven others hid for hours before he took hisown life.The victims, all Chileans, were identified as 42-year-old Consul Cristhian Yuseff, 44-year-old FirstSecretary Roberto Nieto and 25-year-old SecretaryRocío Sariego.The killer has been identified as 54-year-old JoséOrlando Jiménez, an officer who had been stationed asa guard at the embassy, in the eastern San José districtof Los Yoses, for the past two years.Authorities believe Jiménez snapped after beingnotified Tuesday he would be transferred from his post.The transfer order included the two other officersassigned to the embassy and came at the request ofChilean officials dissatisfied with the police officers’ work, according to Public SecurityMinistry officials.Today marks the end of a three-dayperiod of national mourning for thetragedy, the first of its kind in Costa Ricanhistory.The nightmare that lasted more thansix hours began when Jiménez entered theembassy at 3:45 p.m., armed with an M-16assault rifle.POLICE say they are certain he shotthe three victims almost immediately afterhe went in, as officers and Red Crossmedics who finally stormed the buildingjust after 10:00 p.m. said it appeared theyhad been dead for several hours.Jiménez rushed in, demanded Sariegoto take him to Nieto, and then shot herwhen she denied his request, AttorneyGeneral Francisco Dall’Anese speculatedon Tuesday. The policeman then enteredNieto’s office and shot him while he wason the phone with Chilean governmentofficials in Santiago, Dall’Anese said.The phone remained live for a shorttime and Chilean officials listened intently.Dall’Anese said the officer then foundYuseff in his office and shot him.JIMÉNEZ moved through the buildingoffice by office searching for more targets,officials said, and found the roomwhere five other terrified embassy employeeshad sought refuge. They had locked thedoor to the room and put several pieces offurniture in front of it, hiding in silence forbetween five and six hours, communicatingbriefly with police via a cell phone.Police said Jiménez fired several rounds atthe door, but was not able to gain entry.Two other survivors were hidden in abathroom, and Jiménez was apparentlyunaware of their presence.Dall’Anese said Jiménez removed hisuniform after the slayings and put it in abag. Then, wearing only his underclothes,he held the rifle under his chin and fired around through his head.Jiménez survived the wound, walkingfirst to the kitchen of the embassy, where hedropped his weapon, and then to Nieto’soffice to await death. Dall’Anese said it tookhim between five and seven hours to die.Jiménez fired a total of seven rounds,Dall’Anese said.OUTSIDE, it was a tense waitinggame. For hours police believed no onehad been wounded.Two hostage negotiators stood outsidethe embassy with megaphones, attemptingto open a dialogue with Jiménez as specialpolice units, masked and armed with submachineguns, moved into position aroundthe building, ready to enter. Negotiatorsalso brought Jiménez’ son to the scene andprovided him with a megaphone, but themove drew no response.The officers’ positions were beingbroadcast over live television, whichprompted police to move several buses between the media and the embassy, asthey feared Jiménez may have had accessto a television and may have perceivedtheir preparations as an unwillingness tonegotiate.STILL, Public Security MinisterRogelio Ramos said at the time he hopedJiménez was watching the broadcast, andtook advantage of the media presence totell the officer that police would wait aslong as necessary to negotiate.At that time, Ramos and other officialsmaintained that there had been no injuries.But their attempts to communicate with thepoliceman were for hours met with onlysilence.Several emotional family members ofthose trapped inside the building arrivedon the scene and had to be escorted awayby police.OFFICERS noticed very little movement,and eventually developed thehypothesis that five people had been killed.Asked why authorities believed for solong no one had been wounded,Dall’Anese said, “The matter is a bit complicated.The management of informationduring a crisis like this is extremely difficult.”The Attorney General said tacticalunits had to first obtain a plan of the buildingbefore even considering a raid.PRESIDENCY Minister RicardoToledo asked Chilean officials for the go aheadto storm the embassy. Chilean Vice-President and Minister of the Interior, JoséMiguel Insulza, on a special visit to CostaRica, asked for more time. Authoritieswaited.Eventually, Chilean ambassadorGuillermo Yungue authorized police to goin.They entered and found the four deadbodies and seven survivors.Officials are still waiting for autopsyand ballistic test results, among otheritems of forensic evidence, before agreeingon an official version of what tookplace.Among the survivors are César Gómez,assistant to the ambassador; LeonardoBanda, director of ProChile; CeciliaMontero, a ProChile employee; LeonardoGuerra, a ProChile intern; Janneth Víquez,a Prochile employee; Janneth Aguilar, acustodian, and consul secretary XiniaVargas.PRESIDENT Abel Pacheco onWednesday ordered the three-day mourningperiod after the shocking event.“It is a painful tragedy that causes usconsternation, because it is a yet-unheardof situation and one that affects diplomatsof a nation which we have been historicallyunited with through ties of friendshipand solidarity,” Pacheco said.The President spoke with ChileanPresident Ricardo Lagos on Wednesday to“offer the most sincere condolences for thedeaths of three officials of the ChileanEmbassy in Costa Rica.”NO one is sure exactly what pushedJiménez over the edge. Friends and familymembers described him as a sensitive,calm, good-natured man who showed nosign of emotional instability. Policedescribed him as having been a model officerwho “had never presented disciplinaryproblems and (was) described by thosewho knew him as a friendly and diligentman.” He had been with the force since1997.Before learning of the deaths, PublicSecurity Minister Rogelio Ramos saideverything they knew about Jiménez indicatedthat he was “a calm-natured person –he just had a bad afternoon.”“It is a tragedy. This event is terrible,”Ramos later said when notified of thedeaths.MINISTRY representatives consultedby The Tico Times called the situation “anatypical and unusual case.”Chilean Embassy officials were upsetby the fact that Jiménez occasionally lefthis post to talk with the guard at thePlanning Ministry next door, which is whythey requested his transfer, the daily LaNación reported.According to Public Security Ministryofficials, Jiménez had not been fired, andhis new post was to be only 75 meters fromthe embassy.BUT Andrea Mullino, chief prosecutoroverseeing investigation of the case, saidinvestigators have learned from some witnessesthat Jiménez was extremely upsetabout the transfer, leading them to believethat could have been the only possiblemotive for the slaying.Psychologist Liana Garnier of theCosta Rican Psychologists’ Associationsaid it would be necessary to conduct a“mental autopsy” of Jiménez by interviewingfriends, family members, co-workersand anyone else he interacted with on aregular basis to understand his previousmental state.Garnier said Jiménez most likely interpretedthe transfer order as being fired, andexploded after feeling an extreme sense ofrejection.President Pacheco, himself a psychiatrist,told the press this week that menand women Jiménez’ age can suffer violent,unforeseeable personality changes.Jiménez’ last psychiatric exam, conductedby police in 1998, yielded normalresults, La Nación reported.AT an emotional mass in remembrance of the victims held Wednesday evening atSan José’s Metropolitan Cathedral, SanJosé Archbishop Hugo Barrantes lamentedthe violence as uncharacteristic of CostaRica.“We have a country without an army.Our jails have been turned into museumsand houses of culture. So we ask ourselves,‘where does this violence come from?’” hesaid. “Some say violence is intuitive, that itis second nature.”Pacheco also spoke at the mass andexpressed his solidarity with the Chileanpeople.He said he hoped the official mourningperiod would show Chileans, “in CostaRica we also feel broken-hearted, thatalthough nothing can mitigate the infinitepain of those moments, we also feel profoundlyshaken.”ON Wednesday dozens of CostaRicans and Chileans laid flowers and litcandles outside the embassy to payhomage to the victims.“I classify it as an act of tremendoushorror that has increased the beginning ofsolidarity between Chile and Costa Rica. Itis a killing that has no name or explanation,”Costa Rican Foreign MinisterRoberto Tovar told La Nación.Nieto, who had been working at theembassy one year, was married and thefather of three children between the ages ofthree and 12. Yuseff and Sariego, who hadthree years and one year working at theembassy, respectively, were both single,according to Chilean Embassy officials.Costa Rican authorities are maintainingconstant communication with Chileanauthorities in Santiago and San José tocoordinate the repatriation of the victims’bodies, according to officials from thePresident’s office.Tico Times Reporter Rebecca Kimitch contributedto this article.

GRANADA, Nicaragua – Sandinistasecretary general Daniel Ortega this weekrepeated his call for a complete overhaul ofthe country’s political system, shifting awayfrom a presidential model and toward a parliamentarysystem, or “direct democracy.”Ortega first called for changes to thepolitical system July 19, during the 25thanniversary of the Sandinistas’ revolutionaryvictory (TT, July 23). The initial commentsby the former President were tuckedinto a nearly two-hour speech on the historyof the insurrection, and not given muchattention by the press or political analysts.“We need to get rid of the presidentialsystem, but not totally with a parliamentarysystem,” Ortega said during the 25thanniversary speech in Managua. “We needto democratize the country, open spaces fordemocratic participation.”ORTEGA’S comments, though not aseloquent, echoed a similar call for change byformer Costa Rican President Miguel AngelRodríguez, who proposed Costa Rica adopt asemi-parliamentary system during his Stateof the Nation address in 2001. Rodríguez’proposal was never presented formally to theLegislative Assembly, but appeared to beflirted with again two years later, whenPresident Abel Pacheco lamented that thecurrent presidential system is unworkableand needs to be changed. Pacheco never followedup on his comments, either.Despite being ignored at first, Ortegathis week repeated his call for a “directdemocracy,” although details of his proposalare not clear. Ortega has criticized the role ofPresident as that of king, but has not elaboratedon how power would be decentralizedunder his idea of a “direct democracy.”Several of the more cynical politicalanalysts this week argued that Ortega’sproposal is nothing more than a subliminaladmission that he can’t win an electionunder the current system. The perennialSandinista candidate has lost three consecutivebids for presidency, and has alreadyannounced he is running again in 2006.PRESIDENT Enrique Bolaños alsodismissed Ortega’s idea, and mocked hiscontinued candidacy.“I don’t think Nicaraguans will committhe error of tripping over the same stonetwice. You have to be really dumb to tripover the same stone twice,” Bolaños said,according to the daily La Prensa.

GRANADA, Nicaragua — Theinvestment climate in Nicaragua took aturn for the favorable last week when theU.S. government-affiliated OverseasPrivate Investment Corporation (OPIC)concluded a new bilateral agreement withNicaragua to encourage safer direct foreigninvestment here.The new investment-promotionaccord, an updated version of a bilateralagreement signed in 1966, will streamlineprocedures in Nicaragua for U.S. companiesseeking private loans or political-riskinsurance from OPIC.The accord represents an importantboost of confidence from the U.S. afterseveral decades of tumultuous investmentexperiences here.“WE are a country that has recoveredcredibility as a result of a profound democraticprocess that includes institutions thatare apolitical, professional and modern,”said Foreign Minister Norman Calderaduring the signing of the accord with U.S.Ambassador Barbara Moore.Michael Lempres, director of OPIC’spolitical risk insurance division, agreeswith the minister’s assessment.“It is a bright time now for investing inCentral America, and we are doing our partto support it,” he said.LEMPRES said trade and investmentgo hand in hand. As more capital continuesto cross borders between Central Americaand the United States in the form of remittancesand trade, it is logical that foreigndirect investment in the region will continueto increase, he said.During the last fiscal year, 65% ofOPIC’s small business deals and 40% of itsinsurance projects came from CentralAmerica and the Caribbean, Lempres said.OPIC president and CEO Peter Watsonnoted that U.S. trade and investment withCentral America has already reached $20billion per year, and is expected to increasethree-fold pending the ratification of theU.S.-Central American Free TradeAgreement (CAFTA).“Most people don’t realize the importanceof U.S. – Central American trade inboth directions,” Lempres said. “U.S.exports to Central America since 1996have increased by 42% and are now at thesame level of combined exports to Russia,India and Indonesia.”TO stimulate increases in foreigndirect investment – especially in a part ofthe world that has a recent history of politicalinstability – OPIC offers political-riskinsurance for expropriations, political violence(including terrorism), and problemswith currency transfer. The investmentfirm also offers insurance against so-called“creeping expropriation” – governmentbreaches of concession contracts and indiscriminanttaxing practices.“If people are concerned about (investment)risks, we mitigate those risks,”Lempres told The Tico Times this weekduring a phone interview from Washington,D.C.OPIC currently has bilateral investmentaccords with every Central Americancountry, including Panama. Many of theaccords, however, are outdated and are inthe process of being updated and renewed,such as occurred last week in Nicaraguaand Honduras.Lempres acknowledged that the ratesof political-risk insurance vary from onecountry to the next and from one project tothe next, but declined to divulge specificrates in specific countries.In the case of Nicaragua, Lempres saidthe fact that OPIC is once again fully promotingdirect foreign investment here“says something about the degree of confidencein Nicaragua.” He noted that manyof the insurance and loans terms offered byOPIC are for 20 years, and would coverany change of government that could occurduring that period.IN neighboring Costa Rica, Lempressaid OPIC is aware of recent concessionproblems between the government and foreignoil and mining companies, but did notmention how or if the situations wouldaffect political-risk insurance assessmentsthere.Lempres said that generally OPIC doesn’tattract as many clients in Costa Rica, notbecause of a lack of investor interest, butbecause of a perception of political stabilitythere. Interest in OPIC support inNicaragua, meanwhile, has increased dramaticallyin the last year, he said.Minister Caldera said he hopes theaccord will facilitate projects that are consideredtoo risky to be financed byNicaragua’s private business or financialservice sector.OPIC currently is supporting sevenprojects in Nicaragua – from a SouthCarolina billboard company to a famousU.S. warehouse wholesaler – totaling $82million in insurance and loans. The corporation,which focuses on working withsmall and medium-sized business, represents$5 billion in projects throughoutLatin America.OPIC was formed as an independentagency of the U.S. government in 1971 tohelp U.S. businesses invest overseas andfoster economic development in emergingmarkets. The corporation claims tohave supported $150 billion worth ofinvestments in 150 countries, helpingcreate 690,000 host-country jobs and257,000 U.S. jobs during the last threedecades.

THE Flamingo Marina will reopen.It’s just a matter of time.However, what happens between nowand then is in the hands of various governmentministries, the Municipality of SantaCruz and those willing to fight for a solution.Since the marina was shut down inJune, users and local business leaders havebeen working to arrange temporary accessto a dock to allow sportfishing, diving andsunset cruise operations to continue in thearea until a new operator for the marina isselected.IN the meantime, they are beingpatient – and creative. Tour operators havebeen using small launches and pangas tobring clients from beaches to their boats,now moored in the bay.So far, the Tourism Mariners’Association has been successful in discouragingthe 50 to 70 boats that callFlamingo home from docking in otherareas, according to president JuniorBustos.After more than 15 years of operation,the marina was closed June 11 by a tribunalof the Environment Ministry. Theclosure order originally came in October2003, in response to allegations of pollution.However, activity continued at themarina and tribunal representatives saidlast month it was being closed becausenobody ever obtained proper permissionfor its operation – required by a 1998marina law.ALTHOUGH discouraged by the closure,boaters received good news earlierthis month that the Santa Cruz MunicipalCouncil is on their side.The council sent a letter to MayorPastor Gómez, delegating him by unanimousvote to work with the Ministries ofEnvironment, Tourism, Transportation andHealth, and the Environmental Tribunal, toopen a municipal pier in order to “mitigatethe social and economic impact” of themarina’s closure.Goméz said he has begun conversationswith these agencies about opening a“provisional pier,” but nothing has beenauthorized.THE council also directed Gómez toappeal to the Mixed Institute for Social Aidfor temporary subsidies to help familiesaffected by the marina’s closure.The Costa Rican Tourism Institute estimatesclosure of the marinacould cause the loss of 2,075total jobs. Of these, 377 aredirectly related to tourism and1,698 are complementaryactivities related to maintenanceand commerce.Simión Tenorio, whoowns a small restaurant in thearea, said every day busloadsof workers come from the surroundingcommunities towork in tourism-related businessesin Flamingo.A municipal dock wouldserve the boaters and theirclientele for now. But it is onlya temporary solution. Boatscannot stay permanentlymoored in the bay, where theyare more vulnerable toinclement weather and burglaries,according to marina userBruce McKillican, owner ofCatamaran Sailing Adventures.McKillican and his fellow boaterswould like to see a marina concessionselected as soon as possible. They areready to comply with concessionaire’sneeds during renovation of the marina.The municipality has been in charge ofthe marina for nearly a year, since concessionaireJames McKee was evicted aftermore than a year and a half of lawsuits andpollution allegations (TT, Aug. 22, 2003).Mayor Goméz said a Master Plan for inand around the concession area will becompleted early next month. This willallow the selection of a concessionairewithin two months, assuming interestedparties have completed the applicationprocess.Interested concessionaires must submita series of scientific and economic-feasibilitystudies to the InstitutionalCommission for Marinas and TourismDocks (CIMAT). CIMAT will review theapplications and pass those that have metthe requirements on to the municipality,which will make the decision.The Tourism Mariners’ Association isinterested in operating the marina itself.It’s supported by the The Tropical ScienceCenter, particularly with the required scientificstudies.Four other groups are interested in theconcession: Commercial Tradewinds,Desarrollos Nau-Tico, Empresas MarítimasMesse S.A., and ServiciosMarítimos de Flamingo S.A.BECAUSE each party has its own planfor the marina, each must do its own environmentalimpact study. Because the studiescost between $50,000 and $80,000,some could drop out of the race before itreally begins, according to CIMAT technicalsecretary Oscar Villalobos.Two once-interested companies havealready walked away from the process.“The Municipality in Santa Cruz has afocus for the project that we do not share,”said Mauricio Campos, legal representativefor Palmar Nabuco, S.A., which isinvolved in the Los Sueños marina inHerradura, north of Jacó.“We don’t want to waste any moretime and energy, the project isn’t goinganywhere,” said Armando Guardia, legalrepresentative for Inmobiliaria AralguaS.S. “The marina is a disaster, and theauthorities don’t know what they aredoing.”“The municipality is very confused,”agreed Guillermo Sánchez, legal advisorfor Empresas Marítimas Messe S.A. “Theyhave not given clear instructions on how toproceed.”HOWEVER, Messe is still interestedin the concession. The company is madeup of primarily U.S. investors and ownsproperty in the area that will eventually bedeveloped.Sánchez estimates completing theapplication process will require a totalinvestment of between $300,000 and$450,000.Ultimate investment in the marina’sdevelopment could range from $10 millionto $20 million. Most of the applicantsare proposing a mid-size, 200-300slip marina.Regardless of who gets the concession,users are hoping the proposal will improvethe marina, but not create an identity crisis.A copy of the Los Sueños Marina is notwhat Flamingo users are looking for,McKillican said.THE Flamingo Marina project wasoriginally spearheaded in 1983 by U.S.developer Ray Osborne, who obtained thegovernment concession to build the country’sfirst marina.Osborne died in an accident in 1987,leaving construction to flounder.In 1989 McKee took over the concession.The following year he was sued bythe Environment Ministry, which said hewas in violation of maritime law and couldnot construct within 50 meters of theshoreline.McKee claimed construction hadbegun before the maritime law went intoeffect, and the project could be grandfatheredin. He won the suit, but not until1995 (TT, Feb. 12, 1999).Years followed of back-and-forth disputebetween the marina and local governmentofficials, until in January 2003 theEnvironment Ministry ordered the marinaclosed, alleging pollution, safety violationsand insufficient lighting (TT, Jan. 24,2003).Eight months later, McKee was evictedand the municipality took control of themarina.

NEW (and old) transportation linksmake Flamingo and Potrero more accessiblethan ever before.By car: Driving time from San José tothe area is about five hours. Take the Inter-American Highway northwest from SanJosé to Liberia, then head southwestthrough Filadelfia, Belén, Portegolpe andHuacas, before heading north throughBrasilito to Flamingo and Potrero.Alternatively, the turn-off for theTaiwan Friendship Bridge at Limonal onthe Inter-American Highway takes youthrough Nicoya and Santa Cruz, then viaPortegolpe and Huacas.From beaches farther north inGuanacaste, the 16-km. bumpy, unpaved,so-called “Monkey Trail” connects Playasdel Coco with Potrero. Use 4WD, andattempt the route only in the dry season.By bus: TRALAPA (221-7202, Av. 3,Calle 20) buses depart San José at 8 and 11a.m. and 3 p.m. Travel time is five to sixhours. Buses travel via Liberia or the bridge.By shuttle: Interbus (283-5573,www.costaricapass.com) and Gray Line(220-2126, www.graylinecostarica.com)offer shared minivan service from SanJosé and many other places around thecountry to several area hotels. Reserve atleast a day in advance.Ecotrans (Flamingo Marina Resortlobby, 654-5151, www.ecotranscostarica.com) provides shuttle service in air-conditionedminivans to area attractions (beaches,golf courses, hotels and restaurants)and the airports in Liberia and Tamarindo(and even as far away as San José), as wellas offering standardized and customizedtours.By air: Costa Rican domestic airlineSANSA (221-9414, www.flysansa.com)connects San José’s Juan SantamaríaAirport with Daniel Oduber Airport inLiberia and the airstrip in Tamarindo.Nature Air (220-3054, www.natureair.com) flies from Tobías Bolaños Airport inPavas to Liberia and Tamarindo. Eitherairport in Guanacaste is about 45 minutesfrom Flamingo. Delta (257-4141,www.delta.com) flies six times weeklyfrom Atlanta to Liberia. American (267-1266, www.aa.com) connects Miami andLiberia three times weekly. Continental(0-800-044-0005, www.continental.com)flies to Liberia three times weekly fromHouston.