MORE than 400 concerned residents of Escazú, southwest of San José, have signed a petition asking the local government to stop issuing construction permits until the municipality’s long-awaited and much-delayed zoning plan goes into effect.Petitioners say that because the plan will be made public and approved next month, it is imperative to impose a temporary moratorium on new construction to ensure buildings that might violate the upcoming zoning plan do not begin being built.In recent years, many residents of Escazú have expressed concerns and signed petitions requesting that the municipality enact a zoning regulatory plan that would limit the construction of high-rise condominiums and other development in the area (TT, Sept. 14, 2003).

ALEXANDER Skutch, a renowned ornithologist who authored 27 books about birds in Central America, passed away peacefully in his home in the Southern Zone on Wednesday. He was 99.Skutch was known for his personal sacrificein the name of his research, which yielded works such as the three-volume Life Histories of Central American Birds and A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica, an illustrated guide widely known as the Costa Rican birdwatchers’ Bible.“He is the only naturalist who removed himself totally from affiliations with anyuniversity or research institution,” said Julio Sánchez, the curator of birds at the National Museum, last year (TT, May 16, 2003).“HE retired from the world, almost monk-like, to live a simple life so that he could be with the birds every hour of the day and learn everything there is to know about the life of birds,” he said. Skutch was honored for his work throughout his career. He was made an honorary fellow of ornithological societies around the world and was presented the Hal Boland Award from the editors of Audobon Magazine for his “lasting contribution to the understanding, preciationand protection of nature through writing.”Skutch was also named a “Distinguished citizen” by the community of San Isidro de El General in the Southern Zone for his “constant search for equilibrium between man and nature.”Skutch gave property he owned near that community in Pérez Zeledón to the Tropical Science Center on the condition that it remain absolutely undeveloped and that hebe allowed to live there for the rest of his life –which he did.SKUTCH, a U.S.- Costa Rican citizen who became a vegetarian when he was a teenager,was also known as a sensitive, thoughtful manwith a great respect for the animals he studied so rigorously. Throughout his career, Skutch never caught a bird in a net or collected a bird specimen.In his later years, Skutch became increasinglyinterested in conservation philosophy and humankind’s harmonious existence with thenatural world.During an interview last year, he said that his greatest concern about the future isoverpopulation and its impact on the naturalworld.A memorial service will be held at the Tropical Science Center the afternoon ofMay 20 – which would have been his 100thbirthday. For information, call 253-3267.Skutch is survived by his adopted son, Edwin Skutch.

NEGOTIATORS in Washington, D.C., concluded the legal revision and official translation of the proposed Central America Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States last Friday, the daily La Nación reported.The revision was supposed to end three days earlier, but was delayed as a result of confusion regarding the interpretation of certain provisions, particularly in agriculture and textiles.Negotiators were able to clarify confusion regarding how the inclusion of the Dominican Republic affected the region’s textile quotas.It was interpreted that Dominican Republic’s inclusion would not affect the size of the part of the yearly 100-millionsquare-meter quota of products made using fabrics imported from Mexico and Canada that each of the five Central American countries will be allowed to export to the United States with preferential access.Several hours were spent discussing the performance requirements for chicken and rice. For these products, importers must buy local production before conducting imports.It was also agreed that each country would be allowed to use its own legislation to decide which producers benefit from import quotas, instead of a “first-come, first-serve” system.Trade officials have announced that the signing of the CAFTA texts has been scheduledfor May 28 in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, thousands of marchers filled the streets of Central America’s capital cities to protest the free trade agreement with the United States (TT, May 7).

THE Conditional Parole Commission of Tallahassee, Fla., this week ratified a decision to allow Costa Rican citizen Ronny Zamora, who has been in prison for the past 27 years, to be let out of prison to return to Costa Rica on June 1. Zamora, 43, was found guilty of murder in 1977, in the first trial to be televised in the United States. Although he was 15 at the time, he was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison.

IN response to a recent investigative report on sex tourism in Costa Rica, child advocacy group Casa Alianza is collecting evidence and building cases against local pimps, director Bruce Harris announced Wednesday.Reporters from ABC News Detroit, in Michigan, and the daily La Nación recently revealed that nearly 200 men traveled from Michigan to Costa Rica recently for fishing and sex.The exposé came out in La Nación on Sunday but has yet to be aired in the United States.When it is, Casa Alianza says it will use the tape – along with recordings of three other recently filmed TV programs from news outlets in Spain, Great Britain and Canada – in cases it is building against individuals and organizations that benefit financially from selling sex. Although prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, pimping is not.“It has gone too long where the interest has been focused on the victims, and not even necessarily in a humanistic way. I want to focus now on the pimps,” Harris said. The group of tourists who are the focus of the ABC Detroit report has traveled to Guanacaste for years to participate in an annual fishing tournament, called the Michigan Boys.Women reportedly paid an organization $200-300 for the right to enter the Flamingo Marina Resort, where some the tourists were staying, La Nación reported. Harris said they are investigating an individual they think is behind the organization.The women stayed at nearby hotels and were allowed to enter the hotel only if they were on a list, which included approximately 73 names, according to La Nación.The journalists did not, however, report witnessing any cases of underage prostitution.

NEARLY two and a half metric tons of marijuana were discovered by police in a cargo truck in the southern town of San Vito de Coto Brus last week, the Public Security Ministry announced.Agents of the Drug Control Police (PCD) discovered the 2,475 kilograms of packaged pot during a basic inspection of the truck’s cargo, which – aside from marijuana – was manure.The two suspects transporting the cargo, identified by police as having the last names of Palma and Mora, were released from custody Monday after a judge determined there was a lack of sufficient evidence proving they knew they were transporting illegal drugs, AlDía reported.

APPROXIMATELY 85% of Costa Rica’s aerial fleet is older than 20 years. According to Tourism Minister Rodrigo Castro, this negatively affects tourism, the daily Al Día reported.In an effort to stimulate a more modern fleet of airplanes, the Legislative Assembly last month approved a bill that exonerates aerial taxi companies from paying import taxes on planes.Without the exemption, import taxes on a $1 million airplane, for example, would be $200,0000.Patriotic Bloc deputy Humberto Arce and the Libertarian Movement legislative faction criticized the bill as benefiting only a rich minority.

ALL Costa Rican citizens must now obtain a visa to travel to Canada, according to a statement issued by the Canadian Embassy in San José.The new measure went into effect on Tuesday. Before that, Ticos did not need a visa to enter Canada.“The decision to eliminate the visa exemption was not taken lightly. Many factors have been considered,” declared Judy Sgro, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and immigration. “It’s essential in maintaining the integrity of Canada’s Immigration Program, while continuing to facilitate the entry of legitimate visitors.”A temporary resident visa is an effective way to make sure visitors enter Canada with the intent of visiting and not to remain in the country permanently, according to Canadian officials.Since 2000, 4,287 Costa Ricans have sought refugee status in Canada, claimingto be victims of political or religious persecution.This generates enormous costs for Canadian officials who must process the requests – 99% of which are rejected, according to the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry.Costa Rica is sixth on the list of countries whose citizens have issued the most refugee requests, behind Pakistan, Colombia, China, Mexico and Sri Lanka. “We maintain our commitment to providing quality services to facilitate the entry of business representatives, tourists and legitimate travelers from Costa Rica and other countries,” Sgro said.Costa Rican citizens can apply for a temporary resident visa at any Canadian visa office. Those who travel regularly to Canada, such as business executives, have the option of applying for a multiple-entry visa.

AN agreement to review Riteve SyC’s monopoly over mandatory annual vehicle inspections, included in a pact between the Social Christian Unity Party deputy recently elected president of the Legislative Assembly and deputies of the Libertarian Movement, has come under fire.Presidency Minister Ricardo Toledo and Public Works and Transport Minister Javier Chaves both expressed disagreement with the idea of modifying the country’s contract with the Spanish-Costa Rican company.Representatives of Riteve said they are not concerned about the agreement, and are confident the Costa Rican government will continue to honor the contract giving the firm a monopoly over mandatory vehicle technical inspections.“REGARDING the contract, we have great certainty and a guarantee derived from signing a contract with the Costa Rican government,” Vilma Ibarra, manager of corporate relations for Riteve, told The Tico Times.“Riteve won an international bidding process. The contract was approved by the Comptroller General’s Office and its constitutionality was upheld several times by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV),” she added.In the May 1 agreement, new Assembly president Gerardo González committed himself to “presenting initiatives that, without violating the contract, would make it possible for private garages and national companies to conduct vehicular technical inspections.”The agreement, meant to secure the vote of the five Libertarian deputies in González’s successful bid for assembly president (TT, May 7), was signed by 16 of 19 Social Christian Unity Party’s deputies.“WE are interested in an agenda that would make it possible to eliminate all monopolies, public or private,” said Carlos Herrera, Libertarian deputy and First Secretary of the assembly.“The most detestable of the private monopolies is Riteve’s,” he added. The Libertarians have proposed the creation of a legislative commission to look into the monopoly.Deputies of the National Liberation Party, including José Miguel Corrales, who has long questioned Riteve’s monopoly over the mandatory technical inspections, and Luis Ramírez, also said they are in favor of evaluating the matter.EDDY González, president of the Association of Costa Rican Integral Automotive Garages (ATICOS), which on several occasions has taken to the streets to protest the Riteve monopoly (TT, Oct. 10, 2003), applauded the proposal.“The country is entering an era of liberalization of monopolies,” he said. “It’s impossible to think the Costa Rican Electricity and Telecom Institute (ICE) and the National Insurance Institute (INS) monopolies will be broken (as negotiated in the yet-to-be-approved Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States), but Riteve’s will remain.”González accused Riteve of threatening the livelihoods of thousands of independent mechanics.“Our idea is not for Riteve to leave the country,” he said. “… All we want is for it to be open to competition.”IN related news, the daily Al Día this week reported that according to the contract Riteve signed with the government, the company is allowed to reduce by half the number of days allotted to motorists with vehicles that fail the first inspection to return for a second inspection without being charged.Now, vehicles that fail the annual technical inspection have 30 days to be repaired and taken back for a second inspection free of charge.After the company has been operating in the country for two years, free second inspections will only be provided within 15 days after a vehicle fails its original inspection.During the two weeks after that, vehicles would be charged 50% of the cost of the first inspection.The cost of a technical inspection for an automobile is ¢8,800 ($20.50).RITEVE has said the “re-inspection” charge is “clearly” stated in the contract. However, before it can go into effect, the government must approve changes in the fees Riteve charges motorists for their first inspection every year.The company alleges it is conducting too many inspections and is losing money by not charging for the second round.According to Riteve, 76% of vehicles fail the technical inspection – meant to ensure safety features such as brakes and turn signals function properly – during the first attempt.

SCIENCE and technology are the keys to feeding the world’s hungry, the region’s agricultural leaders determined at a conference near San José earlier this week.The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, joined the ministers of agriculture, science and technology from Central America, Mexico and the Dominican Republic at the conference, which ended Tuesday.With the goal of increasing agricultural productivity, the conference focused on how to help countries understand and exchange agricultural advancements, particularly in the area of biotechnology.“EIGHTY-FIVE percent of the necessary increase in food production must come from existing cultivated areas, as the land available for cultivation is decreasing rapidly, and the world’s population continues to grow,” said Chelston Brathwaite, director of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).“Technology… is the most important instrument for increasing agricultural productivity,” he said at the conference, held at the IICA headquarters in Coronado, northeast of San José.LACK of biotechnology research is one of the causes for the widening gap between developed and developing countries, he said.IICA research suggests most Latin America and Caribbean countries must double their current investment in agricultural research in order to compete in agribusiness and participate in international trade.Investment in research among these countries currently averages about 0.4% of their agricultural gross product. By comparison, developed countries invest between 1.5 % and 2.5 %.Most biotechnological information, such as that of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is in the hands of the private sector. This may explain why the greatest advances in biotechnology relate to rice, corn, wheat and cotton, Brathwaite said, rather than products more typically grown and consumed in Latin America.GMOS are created when scientists splice a gene from one species into the DNA of another to make the host species express a desired trait, such as insect resistance.Biotechnology has created agricultural improvements such as genetically modified crops that can better withstand drought, and rice with more vitamins, Veneman said.Veneman was on the board of directors of biotech-pioneer Calgene, Inc. in the early 1990s, according to the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. In 1994, Calgene created the Flavr Savr Tomato – the first whole food developed with genetic engineering approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In 1997, GMO-giant Monsanto acquired Calgene.SINCE those early days, the technology has become controversial, particularly in Europe, for fears of unwanted health and environmental impacts. In Costa Rica, GMO opponents and environmentalists recently requested a 10-year moratorium on GMO crops in the country (TT, April 23). The government has not responded.Others have expressed concern about the ability to patent GMOs.Veneman, however, downplayed the role of intellectual property rights and patents in the goal of making agricultural technology available to developing countries.“Yes, there are certain issues when it comes to intellectual property rights that need to be discussed,” she said. “But while these issues are important, this conference goes far beyond.”SHE said the conference included more fundamental objectives, such as training farmers in proper use of irrigation. Exploring public-private partnerships to improve technology transfers was a main goal of the conference, she added.Conference attendees also discussed creating effective frameworks within participating countries to train farmers to grow products that conform to international agricultural health and food safety standards.This must be done in an environmentally sustainable way, Brathwaite added.ANOTHER conference goal was building business and marketing infrastructures within countries for small and medium-size farmers, Veneman said.The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture was asked what kind of an impact the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) would have on those farmers, who must compete with U.S. agricultural subsidies.“Market forces are stronger than ever right now,” she responded. “Subsidies are having less and less of an impact.” Subsidies are an issue that must be dealt with in the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations, where they can be addressed comprehensively, she said.ABOUT 200 government officials, business leaders and researchers attended the conference. It was a regional follow up to a worldwide conference held in June 2003 to address global hunger through agriculture.