PRESIDENT Abel Pacheco onTuesday announced that Women’s AffairsMinister Esmeralda Britton had resignedfrom her post that morning.Pacheco said Britton’s resignation wasvoluntary and sparked by the discovery offinancial anomalies in her official expendituresthat were revealed last week duringan internal audit of the NationalWomen’s Institute (INAMU).However, in her resignation letter,copies of which were handed out at theCabinet meeting press conference, Brittonwrote she was stepping down because she“had received a better opportunity inaccord with her interests.”Pacheco said that during the nextmonth, while a replacement for Britton issought, Cabinet Secretary Marta Lora willserve as temporary Women’s AffairsMinister and pro bono head of INAMU.THE alleged anomalies cited in theinternal audit are a series of small expensesthat may not have been properly authorized,including lunches, dinners andflowers signed for by Britton as officialexpenses.Between May 2002 and Feb. 11,Britton spent ¢1.9 million ($4,370 at thisweek’s exchange rate). On several occasions,she exceeded her monthly spendinglimit of ¢67,000 ($154). The audit alsorevealed some of the receipts had incompleteinformation.Pacheco said he met with Britton onMonday to discuss the results of the internalaudit. The President says Brittondenied any wrongdoing but sent her resignationletter Tuesday morning.“I would not like to believe DoñaEsmeralda has committed any wrong. Sheis a person I care for, the daughter offriends of mine. But if there’s a problem,friendship doesn’t count. We’ll get to thebottom of things,” Pacheco said.He said it is up to INAMU and theComptroller General’s Office to conductan investigation into the expenditures.Since INAMU is an autonomous institution,the presidency cannot intervene, hesaid.ON Wednesday, Britton told LaNación she had been hounded by the internalauditor of INAMU, Emma Alfaro.“The auditor dedicated herself toinvestigating and, after looking for a ton ofthings that she wanted to find on me, finallyfound something that could get me out,”Britton said.She discovered that Britton did nothave the minimum university degree forher post, a requirement that Britton saidshe was unaware of until this week.Britton denied any wrongdoing andsaid her resignation had nothing to do withAlfaro’s report to the cabinet that allegesthe misuse of government funds.THE Tico Times repeatedly attemptedto contact Britton on her cellular telephoneand beeper to discuss her resignation, butshe did not return the calls.The post of Women’s Affairs Ministeris a Cabinet-level position awarded to theexecutive president of INAMU, anautonomous government institution (not aministry of the Executive Branch).Britton, who had served under Pachecosince he was sworn into office in May2002, is the 10th minister to resign or befired since the administration took office.SHE will perhaps be best rememberedfor convincing government officialsto launch a diplomatic campaignand a petition drive to convince Nigerianofficials to pardon Amina Lawal, adivorced woman who had been sentencedto death by stoning for giving birth to achild out of wedlock. In what Costa Ricalabeled a victory for human rights, thesentence was overturned last year (TT,Dec. 24, 2003).Britton later came under heavy criticismafter issuing a presentation before theUnited Nations’ committee on women inwhich she attributed the country’s failureto incorporate sexual education into publicschool curriculums to opposition by theCatholic Church.

DESPITE previous assurances fromgovernment officials, boats have beenblocked from entering the FlamingoMarina in Guanacaste to pick up passengers,effectively putting a halt to boating relatedtourist activity in the area andthreatening thousands of jobs.“It was a lie. We left peacefully, andthen they rejected the negotiations,” saidFelipe Fernández, who moored two sportfishingboats at the marina until it wasclosed this month.Boat and business owners are nowenlisting whomever they can – from theLegislative Assembly to environmentalorganizations – in their battle to keep themarina open while a private operator isselected for the concession.THE marina was closed June 11 followingan order by the Environmental Tribunal,part of the Environment Ministry. The day ofthe closure, the tribunal’s president said hewas open to an agreement that would allowboats to pick up passengers from the marina’sdock (TT, June 18).But after all the boats voluntarily leftthe marina, proposals for such an arrangementwere rejected. The tribunal said itdoes not have the authority to allow accessto the dock, according to Costa RicanCoast Guard Director Claudio Pacheco.The Coast Guard is monitoring themarina to make sure it is not used. Tribunalrepresentatives could not be reached forcomment this week.WITH the closure of the marina, 2,075total jobs could be lost in the Flamingoarea, according to a study by the CostaRican Tourism Institute (ICT) and theInter-Institutional Commission for Marinasand Tourism Docks (CIMAT).Of these, 377 jobs are directly related totourism and 1,698 are complementary activitiesrelated to maintenance and commerce.“Each worker without a job represents afamily, children who must eat,” said SimiónTenorio, who owns a small restaurant in thearea.MARINA users have filed a petitionwith the Goicoechea Administrative AppealsCourt, which resolves disputes between privateparties and government administrators,in hopes of seeing the marina reopened.The Costa Rican Federation for theConservation of the Environment (FECON)also has filed an injunction with theConstitutional Chamber of the SupremeCourt (Sala IV) on behalf of the community.“If there is no contamination in themarina, there is no reason for the closure,”FECON vice-president Gadi Amit said.THE Municipality of Santa Cruz is inthe process of selecting a new concessionairefor the marina to replace the operatorthat was evicted in August 2003. This willhappen in three months, according toMayor Pastor Gómez said.One possible operator is a group ofmarina users – the Tourism Mariners’Association. The Tropical Sciences Center(TSC) is supporting them in their bid.“The thing is, when tourism is managedby the local communities, it is always betterfrom an environmental perspective, as wellas from a socio-economic perspective,” saidTSC representative Vicente Watson.Four other groups are interested in theconcession: Commercial Tradewinds, DesarrollosNau-Tico, Empresas MarítimasMesse S.A., and Servicios Marítimos de FlamingoS.A. Two once-interested companieshave already walked away from the process:Palmar Nabuco, S.A., which is involved inthe Los Sueños Marina in Herra-dura, northof Jacó, and Inmobiliaria Aralgua S.S.

AN administrative appeals court willdecide the fate of hundreds of curbsidevendors in San José and determine thefuture appearance of the capital’s streetsnear the Mercado Central.Until then, the vendors’ stands willcontinue to line Ave. 1 and Calle 8, givingshoppers a place to buy vegetables and theMunicipality a headache with concernsover crime and public access.The first hearing in the case is scheduledto begin next week.MORE than 400 vendors originallyfaced eviction June 18, following a decisionby the San José Municipal Council inMarch to end the unofficial vending.However, fear of protest and chaos in thestreets postponed the eviction until afterFather’s Day (TT, June 18).The eviction was again postponedMonday due to a petition filed by a vendors’association with the GoicoecheaAdministrative Appeals Court, where disputesbetween the government and individualsare resolved.Vendors celebrated the news Monday,and business was back to normal Tuesday.While Security Minister Rogelio Ramossaid 80% of the vendors had left voluntarilyover the weekend – agreeing to offers madeby the municipality – by Wednesday thesidewalks around the Mercado Central werenearly as crowded as they were for years.“It is a misinterpretation to say somany businesses left voluntarily,” saidGeovanny Jiménez, secretary general ofthe Coordination of Vendor Associations,which claims to represent 380 vendorsthrough five unions.“Many vendors just left to protecttheir stands. They didn’t want them takenaway by the police when the evictionhappened,” he said.ONLY 60-80 vendors actually agreedto the terms set by the municipality,according to Jiménez.These agreements include the establishmentof farmer’s markets in districtsaround San José like San Sebastián,Merced and La Uruca on Fridays andSaturdays, and in San José on Sunday.“We don’t eat every eight days, we needsomething from Monday to Friday, our kidsare in school Monday through Friday,” saidvendor Maria Durán in response to this offer.The municipality is also offering scholarshipsto vendors who wish to study othertrades at the National Training Institute.“We are not responsible for assuringhow they support themselves, but we havestill offered our help,” said San José MayorJohnny Araya Wednesday.IN 1996, officials gave the vendorstemporary permission to operate in theZona de Tregua (Zone of Truce) – whichspans Ave. 1 from the Central Market tothe Coca Cola bus stops, Calle 8 from 2 toAve. 8, small sections of Ave. 4 and Ave. 6and one block on Calle 13.Araya said in March the vendors areresponsible for spreading “chaos and anarchy”in the streets, block public access onsidewalks, and give San José a bad image(TT, March 26). The municipal vote toeject the vendors is part of the government’splan to “reactivate, regenerate andrepopulate” San José.The crowding of sidewalks and the largenumber of stands facilitates robberies, dayand night, Ramos agreed Wednesday.“Clean streets are a factor that helpspolice in the protection of people,” hesaid. “San José was a different city onMonday … Pedestrians could actuallywalk down the street.”MARTÍN González, administrator of acheese shop on Ave. 1, said the vendorshave been bad for business. His store wasoriginally a typical restaurant, but afterawhile the public did not want to come inand sit down at his soda.“There were people smoking marijuanaoutside, upstairs in the bathroom. Itmade people scared,” he said. “There aresome very hard-working people there, andthey deserve to work, but not in the street.”City officials say the sidewalks crowdedwith vendors create conditions favorablefor the sale of drugs.“Some sell crack and carrots at thesame time,” agreed San José residentWalter Ramírez, who believes San Joséwould be a safer city if the practice ofstreet vending were prohibited.But Jiménez argues robberies anddrugs are present in all areas of San José,and are not worse around the vendors.ARAYA said he is confident theGoicoechea court will decide in favor ofthe municipality.In the past, the vendors have filedinjunctions with the Constitutional Chamberof the Supreme Court (Sala IV), but theyhave been rejected on the grounds that themunicipality is responsible for the regulationof public space, according to Araya.

AN 11-year legal battle may be nearingan end since the Supreme Court’sCivil and Administrative Law Branch(Sala I) confirmed an order to demolishthe controversial Las Palmas Hotel insoutheast Limón province, La Naciónreported.The court’s decision – which wasmade in April but not known until thisweek – is the latest in a battle over thehotel, which originally was ordereddemolished March 5, 1993.Built in the Gandoca-ManzanilloWildlife Refuge on Punta Uva, the hotelwas originally accused by the Ministry ofNatural Resources (replaced by theMinistry of Environment and Energy –MINAE) of environmental damage andviolation of permits (TT, March 12,1993).Although given permission to build inthe refuge, the Ministry of NaturalResources said hotel owner Jan Kalinabuilt an illegal canal across the beach todrain the property, dug an illegal artificiallake, improperly disposed of sewage,extended construction beyond limits andmoved sand and planted exotic specieswithin the protected 50-meter maritimezone.The ministry ordered Kalina – aCzechoslovakian businessman – to returnthe property to its original state beforeconstruction began in 1989.Since then, the ministry’s order hasbeen postponed by a series of court battles.The Supreme Court’s recent decisionupholds the 1993 order to revoke the permitsand demolish the hotel, governmentattorney Vivian Ávila told La Nación.The Environment Ministry is nowcharged with determining how the demolitionof the 74-room, $6 million hotelwill occur, La Nación reported.

SEARCH and rescue workers yesterdaywere still searching for U.S. citizenPalmer Ritz, lost since last Friday onLake Arenal.A team of 35 police officers, membersof the Red Cross of Tilarán and other volunteersusing four boats could not find the60-year-old man.Ritz, a retired publicist, left Friday ona barge to sail on the lake. He askedAnais Mejía, an employee of his, to meethim at a pre-established point. She said hedid not arrive.Saturday at around 2 p.m., rescueworkers said they discovered his craftwith life vests, the motor and batteries.Still, they have yet to find any evidenceindicating Ritz’s location.Ritz has two children and retired withhis wife in San Luis de Tilarán, in thenorthwestern province of Guanacaste, in1990, La Nación reported.

A gay rights group this week chargedthat the Ombudsman has failed to defendthe rights of homosexual Costa Ricans.The Central American Center for theInvestigation and Promotion of HumanRights (CIPAC) says it will call for theremoval of Ombudsman José ManuelEchandi before the Legislative Assemblyand two international rights organizations.The group is gathering signatures on apetition that it will distribute Sunday atthe second annual Gay and LesbianFestival of Pride in Sexual Diversity (seeseparate story in Weekend section).Echandi wrote in a letter to the organizationthat he would not help themchange the law to give same-sex couplesthe same rights as heterosexual couplesbecause each aspect of the issue should bestudied separately. He recommendedCIPAC take the matter directly to theassembly.Madrigal claimed Echandi is dodgingthe issue to save his future politicalcareer, a sentiment that President AbelPacheco voiced last week after Echandicriticized Pacheco’s administration aslacking transparency and citizen participation(TT, June 18).

A special commission of theLegislative Assembly began investigatingnew Comptroller General Álex Solís thisweek as accusations mount that he mayhave lent money to support illegal immigrationto the United States.Between 1998 and 2001, SouthernZone residents in search of a new life inthe United States allegedly borrowedmoney from Solís’ law firm to pay “coyotes”to take them into the NorthAmerican country, the daily newspapersreported this week. Some people mortgagedhomes that were later repossessedwhen the loans could not be repaid.The Legislative Assembly namedSolís the country’s new ComptrollerGeneral June 7. As head of theComptroller General’s Office, he is incharge of reviewing the government’sfinances and all contracts and public bids.Patriotic Bloc deputy Humberto Arcedenounced questionable dealings Solíshad been involved in, including signingofficial documents as his brother – OttónSolís, founder and president of the CitizenAction Party – and awarding loans.Solís has declined to comment to thepress on the matter.

FINDING a job, getting married andhaving children are not out-of-the-ordinarygoals – unless you’ve been sentenced tolife in a U.S. prison.These are the dreams that helped keepCosta Rican citizen Ronny Zamora afloatduring the 27 years he spent at theEverglades Correctional Institution nearMiami, Fla.He was sentenced to life in prison in1977 after being found guilty of killing 83-year-old Elinor Haggart.Zamora was tried as an adult, though hewas 15 at the time. The trial, the first to benationally televised in the United States,made headlines when his lawyer claimedthat violence on television had drivenZamora to kill Haggart during a robbery.Determined to someday be a free man,Zamora became a model prisoner andspent his time behind bars developingskills in preparation for an eventual releasehe was confident would take place.After a tireless campaign on the part ofhis family in the United States and later bythe government of Costa Rica, Zamora,now 43, was paroled on June 1.Two days later, he returned to CostaRica and to what some might describe as ahero’s welcome. Zamora says he is surprisedby the kindness and understandingfrom strangers he meets on the street andthe Costa Rican press.Zamora says he has only good things tosay about the United States and regrets hewill never be able to visit the country again(under the conditions of his parole).He admits he made bad choices in thepast that he wishes he hadn’t made, but sayshe feels he has paid his debt to society andnow deserves a second chance.Zamora shared his thoughts and plansfor the future in a recent interview withThe Tico Times at his family’s home in theCaribbean-slope town of Turrialba:What does it feel like to be free after 27years in prison?A lot of mixed emotions. I can easilysay it’s something I dreamed about andprepared for the longest time, but now thatit’s happened it’s really indescribable.During those years, what helped you keepgoing and eventually get here?Well, my faith in God, number one,and the support of my family. I think thatbeing so young was a very big factor.When you’re young, you think you’reimmortal; you think you’re invulnerable.You think nothing can stop you and, moreoften than not, the future is yours sooneror later. For the first 10 or 15 years (inprison), time went by fast. I never had adoubt that I’d be sitting where I’m sittingright now. I never really questioned howlong it would be or whether it was rightor wrong. The point was to pay my debtto society and return to my country.How does it feel to be reunited with yourfamily?It feels great, although I have to say Iwas never that far away from my family –not physically and definitely not spiritually.This is more of a reunion than anythingelse, because I’ve been fortunate enough tohave my family support and be with methrough the years.Now that you’re back in Costa Rica, whatis the most significant change you’venoticed?Two things – the traffic in San José,and the security. In San José, wherever yougo there’s either a security officer or peoplelocking something down, or they’relocking gates to let you in and gates to letyou out. I never expected to see that. Ithought I was leaving the gates behind.How have Costa Ricans reacted to yourreturn?They are kind people who, at leastfrom my impression, are willing to give aperson a second chance. I’ve been verysurprised and grateful for the welcomeI’ve received from just about everyone.All I’ve heard are positive and encouragingwords. That goes a long way towardhelping a man start believing in himself.It makes it more difficult for me to letanybody down. It’s a challenge that Ihappily accept.What are your immediate plans?I will begin the job hunt. It’s importantthat I get a job and start contributing to myfamily as well as taking care of my ownneeds. I also believe getting a job will helpme adapt a little better.Is it true you’ve received several joboffers?I’ve been offered a minor position witha law firm and another at a small companyhere in Turrialba. I also have a job offer toteach English. I’m very interested in teachingEnglish right now, since it would offerme a lot of flexibility. I served as ateacher’s assistant in prison. I will be inSan José for now, but intend to make myhome here in Turrialba.Also, I have been offered an opportunityby the Ministry of Justice to participatein a transition program for long-termoffenders – men who’ve been in prison along time. It’s voluntary. I’m looking forwardto it because it’s something I participatedin while in prison. Actually, it’ssomething I had planned on doing anyway.My first goal will be to get to know thepeople a little bit better. I think it willbecome obvious after a while where thetrouble spots are; where the problems areoccurring. I’m hoping I can make a smalldifference there.The catchword for me is alternatives. Ibelieve that if you provide a man or a juveniledelinquent with alternatives, and don’tmake the choices they’re given so narrow,more often than not they will pick the rightpath. When their choices are severely limitedor there are no choices, what can we reallyexpect from them? You have to let themmake a choice; hopefully will be a good one.What lessons have your experiencestaught you?First, I have the experience of havingspent almost three decades in prison. Thatdoesn’t mean I’m qualified for anything.Some people spend three or four decadesin prison and don’t learn anything. Theydon’t better themselves, don’t prepare fortheir eventual release. I did.I know what challenges a man inprison faces. The bottom line is that inorder to stay out of prison, you have tochange your life. You have to learn to beproductive; you can’t live at the expense ofsociety. What some inmates don’t know isthat they truly have other possibilities andpotential.Where do you see yourself in five years?When you’ve lived day to day for thepast 27 years, looking five years ahead isdifficult. It’s ironic because in prison youcan look ahead – I’ll be here in five years;I’ll be there in ten years – because you faceno obstacles, you’re just dreaming.Now that I’m free and have to faceobstacles and challenges, it becomes moredifficult to see where I will be in fiveyears. I hope to be married and have atleast a child or two. I hope to be financiallyindependent. I hope five years from nowI will have made a small difference in mycommunity and that all those people whomight have wondered what I had to offer,what I had to contribute, will see there wassomeone worth supporting and offeringanother chance.How would you describe the role of themedia in your life?I believe the role the Costa Ricanmedia has played is positive, compared tothe intimidating role the U.S. mediaplayed. I think American politicians andofficials in a position to decide one’s futureare intimidated by the media, and moreoften than not will vote against a personnot necessarily on the merits of the casebut because of a fear of looking soft orweak on crime.The Costa Rican media, however, hasplayed a very significant role by showing adifferent side of Ronny. They showed mewhen I was young, and almost created apicture of what I can become by showingwhere I’m from.

“A lot of people talk about transgenic(foods), but not a lot of people know aboutthem,” said Dr. Daniel Vidal, as he openedan international class on biotechnologyand food at the University of Costa Ricaresearch campus last week.The weeklong course, attended byleaders in the field from throughoutCentral America and the Caribbean,focused on advances in biotechnologyincluding genetically modified organisms(GMOs).Vidal maintains that if more peopleknew about the science that has createddisease-resistant corn, higher-protein riceand larger fish, there would not be suchwidespread apprehension.GMO opponents fear that plants andanimals genetically altered by scientists toexpress certain traits could have negativehealth and environmental impacts (TT,April 2). The Costa Rican Federation forthe Conservation of the Environment(FECON) has asked the government for a10-year moratorium on the cultivation ofgenetically modified crops in the country(TT, April 23).THE 80 genetically modified foods inexistence have been tested for health safetyas extensively, or more, than any conventionalfood product, Vidal told his audienceof scientists, students and Ministry ofAgriculture officials.“But there is no such thing as zero risk.Even with conventional foods, some peopleare allergic to nuts,” he said in responseto opponents’ concerns that scientists arecreating foods that have never existedbefore and will have an unknown impacton the human body.Genetic engineering allows for greatersafety than genetic altering techniques previouslyused, Vidal said. The expert infood biotechnology from the University ofValencia in Spain used the popular argumentthat people have been using biotechnologyto alter foods for 12,000 years,through techniques such as crossbreeding.“Since man decided to become afarmer, he has applied genetics,” he said.“For thousands of years, man has usedbiotechnology. Fifty years ago, we startedto understand why.”Genetic altering over the years hasproduced variations of crops that did notpreviously exist, such as such as broccoliand cauliflower, he said.REGARDLESS, Vidal said herespects people’s right to choose, and supportsthe labeling of products that are madewith GMOs.Labeling of products that includeGMOs is one of the most contentious issuesin the global debate over the science.While European countries enforcestrict rules in labeling – particularly importantsince the European Union lifted itssix-year ban on biotech products lastmonth with the approval for human consumptionof an insect-resistant strain ofcorn – most countries have no such rules.In Costa Rica, a bill has been submittedto the Legislative Assembly calling forthe labeling of food products that containGMOs (TT, Nov. 14, 2003). In the UnitedStates, GMO-opponents are pushing theGenetically Engineered Food Right toKnow Act (HR2916), which would requirelabeling.HELPING Central American andCaribbean countries develop their ownframework for approaching the GMOdebate was one of the main goals of lastweek’s course. The National Council forScientific and Technological Research(CONICIT) and the United NationsUniversity Biotechnology Program forLatin America and the Caribbean(UNU/BIOLAC) organized the course.“We are trying to plant a seed that peoplewill be able to take back to their owncountries,” said Verónika Brundula ofUNU/BIOLAC. “The idea is that all ofthese students will continue to talk andstay in touch through the Internet, comparingexperiences in each of their countries.”The most important thing for countriesthat are just starting to enter the GMO discussionis to develop debate between allinterested parties, Vidal said.This is particularly important indeveloping countries, where governmentshave found hope in crops that are geneticallymodified to be disease resistant, tolerantto acidic soils and higher in nutritionalcontent.However, Vidal was quick to rejectthe notion that GMOs alone will stopworld hunger.NOT only will GMOs not stop worldhunger, opponents say, they will have devastatingimpacts on surrounding crops.Because they cannot be contained, the cultivationof GMOs threatens to destroy theexistence of any traditional crop thoughcross-pollination (TT, April 23).While proponents argue that the scienceis better for the environment by requiringfewer pesticides, opponents fear it couldhave the reverse effect. Because some GMcrops are created to release their own pesticide,the science also could produce pesticide-resistant insects, opponents warn.Vidal admitted that there will undoubtedlybe some impacts on the environmentfrom GM crops. He maintained they arefew, due in part to adequate buffer zonesbetween GM and conventional crops.BEYOND providing information,another goal of the class was to give countriesguidance in following the CartagenaProtocol on Biosafety, which still must beratified by Costa Rica.The Cartagena Protocol regulates themovement of living genetically modifiedorganisms across international borders.The treaty aims for greater transparency inGMOs by obliging countries using livingmodified organisms as food, feed or processingto inform the world community viathe Biosafety Clearinghouse before theproducts can be exported.The protocol has been ratified by 90countries and went into effect Sept. 11,2003.

TODAY Golfito and Flamingo, tomorrowPapagayo and Naranjo, and in theyears to come Playas del Coco andQuepos – if all of the marina proposals onCosta Rica’s horizon come ashore, thecountry will be home to 15 marinas on thePacific coast.After years of mooring in Mexico,boaters are now looking for a new place,and Costa Rica is attracting a lot of attention,according to Oscar Villalobos, technicalsecretary of the Inter-InstitutionalCommission for Marinas and TourismDocks (CIMAT). The commission ischarged with approving or rejecting marinaprojects in the country.The only legally built and operatingmarina in Costa Rica is Los SueñosMarina at Herradura Bay, north of Jacóon the central Pacific coast.Even with the handful of marinasoperating since before the 1998 law regulatingthe country’s marinas – the YachtClub in Puntarenas, Banana Bay andSamoa in Golfito in the Southern Zone,and Flamingo Marina in the northwesternprovince of Guanacaste (see separatearticle) – there is relatively little slip spaceon Costa Rica’s shores.“There is a lot of demand,” Villalobossaid. “We have had a lot of interest fromthe sector in Miami, from the sector inMexico.”Lower costs for boat maintenanceand great sportfishing are incentives forinternational investors, he said.Most of the proposed marinas willfeature capacity for between 200 and 300slips in water and 100 to 150 on land.Without considering parallel resortprojects, the marina proposals varybetween $10 and $20 million.In addition to new proposals, effortscontinue to legitimize the FlamingoMarina and three others operating oroffering services at the margin of thelaw.Before any of these projects becomethe reality of Los Sueños, they must beapproved by CIMAT, which evaluatesboth the environmental and economicviability of such projects.First, marina developers must havean initial consultation with CIMAT to proposethe project – currently the stage ofsix of the 14 proposed projects.Interested parties must then submit aseries of studies, including an environmentalimpact study. After CIMATapproval of the preliminary studies, thearea’s municipal government can awarda concession. Six of the 14 projects areat varying degrees of this stage.The final stage before operation isthe submission of specific constructionplans to CIMAT for approval. The GuaitilMarina in Playa Naranjo, on the easternshore of the Nicoya Peninsula, and thePuertocito Marina on the southern Pacificcoast are in this stage.CIMAT is coordinated by the CostaRican Tourism Institute (ICT) andincludes representatives of the ministriesof health, environment, transportationand the Institute for Housing andUrbanization (INVU).