25 August, 2008

 

To all concerned:

 

I am aware of the article "Fear and Loafing in Puerto Viejo" printed in this week's Tico Times, though in no way reviewed or approved it's contents.  We got back Saturday from our vacation (planned 3 months ago – not running away because of a hit man situation as the article implied) where a best friend from high school got married in Hawaii.

 

As for my part of being involved with hiring a hit man – this has been completely taken out of context and is absolutely and unconditionally false.  Despite the author's good intentions,  the article has misrepresented some of my statements to the point where my personal character has been put into question.  I am currently requesting the Tico Times to print a clarification to this story in the next edition.

 

A point that should have been noted in the article was my insistence that 2 wrongs never make a right – and that it is / was / and always will be completely against my beliefs that resorting to violence should be the way to resolve any such conflict.  I or my family have NOT EVER considered solving our problems by hiring a hit man or using violence.  A hired hit man entered into our lives and our personal home  to "do his work" - but we were fortunate in being able to convince him that we were not the bad guys and for him to reconsider his assignment.  By the mere fact that he had been asked to assassinate my children first, he was already pre-convinced that something was not right with his assignment.  Never did we ask that particular hit man to reverse his role and take care of our problems – nor have we ever considered such options with other hit men.   In fact, we convinced this particular hit man to further collaborate with us legally and to work with us through the legal system.  He agreed and provided the legal system in Bribri enough proof of a conspiracy to assassinate my entire family – but due to his unflattering history – he was all but ignored – and my family today is less safe.  What I did say – is that in some cases after extreme frustration by trying to use the legal system and the numerous and endless dead ends, it is understandable how some people would arrive at such a conclusion in order to defend and protect themselves. We do not agree with that or promote such conclusions – but understand how in desperate times – one could reach that conclusion.

 

I was interviewed approximately 2 weeks ago by the author from my home and in the company of a 3rd party witness.  The interview was unscheduled, unannounced and I was in the midst of a dengue episode dealing with high fevers.  Despite the conditions and considering the importance of sharing our story – I agreed to do the interview.  Also, within a week prior to the interview, our agency received several new listings of clients that had decided to leave because they themselves had been personally affected by random crime – violent crime in some cases – and were unable to get ANY assistance from the legal system.  We have seen an increased trend in people leaving due to crime.

 

As unfortunate as the article is as well as embarrassing and perhaps damaging to our tourism and real estate industries, most of the article is an absolutely reality and hopefully necessary in getting people at all levels of society and government to wake and start dealing with these problems.  I obviously have no motives for such negative press attention, as my business will most likely be affected negatively – but as much as the truth sometimes hurts – it is necessary.  Safety first!

 

 

Despite our deep and extreme frustrations (the important theme of the article) with the legal system that has all but ignored us and in many cases aggravated our situations, we continue to use all legal options and avenues to resolve the threats made against us.  This is a long and painful process – but one we are committed to and are fully engaged into.

 

For the sake of common sense – and for the sake of argument – IF we had considered using a hit man to solve our problems – don't you think the last thing we would be doing is discussing it with a newspaper reporter?  That in itself should remove anyone's doubts as to our intentions and the misrepresented statements of the article.

 

As for the rest of the article, I make few apologies to our friends, our community and to the country we have decided to call home for the past 6 years to live  and raise our young children.  Costa Rica is a a wonderful country – the Puerto Viejo area is magic – that is why proudly and happily we call it home – but there are serious and growing problems that all but seem to be ignored – hoping they won't happen to "us" - until they do.   

 

Lastly to our friends, neighbors, clients and partners:  If you are upset that such an article depicting the current state of crime and legal system be printed – then you may be more part of the problem then the solution.  Hiding or ignoring our increased crime problems will never solve them or make them go away. Now is the time to start dealing with these problems affecting the futures of everyone in what we still call our little paradise.  Now is the time – as individuals and communities – to get organized – and begin demanding less corruption and better enforcement of the laws.  Now is the time to work with the system – not against it – not be afraid and make those 'denuncias' when they are merited and necessary.  Our community is strong.  We have organized and defeated the big oil drillers, we have defeated the corporate interests  of the marina – and we can organize and defeat the crime problem as well – as a community.  Now is the time to act – otherwise – we can all consider to start packing our bags and heading back home.

 

Manuel B Pinto

CARIBE SUR Real Estate

Costa Rica

 

Office         506 8826 3998

Personal    506 8879 9191

CR Fax      506 2759 9025   

US Fax      305 675 7770

Email         [email protected]

Web           http://www.caribesur-realestate.com