Costa Rican Cracks Down on Illegal Pink Pineapple Cultivation

Last Friday, the Costa Rican Phytosanitary Service (SFE) uncovered illegal plantations of pink pineapple in the Pital de San Carlos area, a variety patented by Fresh Del Monte that is only authorized to be planted in the Buenos Aires area. During the operation, officials destroyed the illegal crops in three out of the five plantations targeted, with the National Chamber of Pineapple Exporters and Producers (CANAPEP) expressing concern and demanding the publication of the farms involved.

Fresh Del Monte had reported the issue to the authorities and invested $20 million over 17 years in researching the variety, protected by patents. The discovery of illegal plantations raises questions about intellectual property infringement and the potential consequences for the pineapple industry, and authorities are continuing their investigation.

 Security Concerns in Costa Rica

Recently, Costa Rica’s Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, revealed a startling fact: there are currently 1,000 hired gunmen operating within the country’s borders, under the control of 250 criminal organizations. This alarming information came to light as part of a request made by the Chaves government to redirect funds from the Ministry of Education to bolster national security.

The surge in Costa Rica’s homicide rate in 2023, primarily attributed to international criminal gangs, has raised serious concerns within the nation. To restore peace and safety, the government, law enforcement agencies, and the community must work together and allocate resources to combat the growing security challenges.

Elderly Ecuadoran Woman Wakes in Coffin at Her Own Wake

An elderly Ecuadoran woman, Bella Montoya, was declared dead by the Martin Icaza public hospital in the coastal town of Babahoyo, and her son was given a death certificate. However, during her five-hour wake, Montoya woke up inside her coffin and was seen breathing heavily. Her son, Gilbert Balberán, had to arrange for a coffin for the impoverished family. Ecuadoran media reported the unusual incident and Balberán said that his mother is now on oxygen and her heart is stable.

The Ecuadoran Health Ministry has established a committee to investigate the incident and to supervise Montoya’s care. Balberán said that he is still trying to grasp what has happened and is praying for his mother’s health to improve.

Costa Rica to Ensure Continuous Electricity Despite Dry Conditions

The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) has guaranteed a continuous supply of electricity for the nation during 2023, despite the dry conditions caused by the El Niño phenomenon. ICE has five renewable resources available to meet 95% of the national demand: hydroelectricity, geothermal, wind, biomass, and solar energy. However, the flows to the hydroelectric plants have decreased by 50-70%, leading to a state of emergency in certain areas.

To mitigate the effects of the drought, the government has declared a state of emergency in several areas of the country and mobilized resources to help affected communities. Despite the dry conditions, ICE is confident that it can meet the country’s electricity needs through a combination of renewable resources and contingency measures.