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Apr
9
Clean-Up in Puerto Viejo Scheduled for April 13th
Posted by Editor | April 9, 2012 | Tags: Community Calendar, Environment | Leave a Comment
| April 13, 2012 |
Cleaning up Puerto Viejo, from a 2011 effortGecko Trail, a travel agency located in Puerto Viejo de Limon, along with the community school and the Asociación de Organizaciones del Corredor Biológico Talamanca Caribe (ACBTC), are currently working on a project to raise awareness about the growing problem of trash and debris on the beach and natural areas in their town.
The entities are planning a clean-up day in Puerto Viejo, on Friday April 13th, 2012. The project is aimed at learning about the solid waste management practices in Puerto Viejo, as well as the importance of getting the community involved in the effort.
The principal objective of the ACBTC – (Talamanca-Caribbean Biological Corridor Association) is the protection of the Biological Corridor, and it seeks to strengthen the connection between the protected areas and indigenous territories, and promoting the well-being of wild species of flora and fauna.
Starting in July 2009, the CBTC started a strategic alliance with ReciCaribe, given that, the CBTC assumes the responsibility for collection, classification and commercialization of the solid waste of Talamanca and the Recycling Storage Center.
The alliance put into place a strategy that permits the expansion of communities where they can offer their services, increase the volume of the recuperated recycled materials, promote alternative uses for the integral management of solid waste as well as the integration of different social sectors and demographics (young people, children, women) in its management, to give them added value and increase their economic viability.
If you’d like to help out or participate in this effort, for more information contact:
Contact: Xiogeidy Gutierrez
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 2750-0452
Source: Costa Rica Star: Press Release: Clean-Up in Puerto Viejo de Limon Scheduled for April 13th
Apr
3
Sixaola Immigration Agent Detained with Stack of Passports
Posted by Editor | April 3, 2012 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | Leave a Comment
Investigators record information from seized passports. Photo courtesy of A.M. Costa Rica.An immigration agent in Sixaola at the border with Panama has been detained after investigators found him in possession of a number of foreign passports.
Many foreigners living in Costa Rica have are here as “perpetual tourists”. They enter the country as tourists and receive an entry stamp valid for 90 days. The rules require them to leave the country before the 90 days expire and not return for at least 72 hours before they could get a new reentry stamp. So for those who didn’t want to take a quick trip out of the country every 3 months, it was a open secret in Puerto Viejo that you could pay a certain local taxi driver to take your passport to the border, pay a bribe to an immigration official and get the exit and entry stamps.
After control of the stamps was tightened up, corrupt officials were not able to change the dates on them and so this scheme required the passports to actually be held for 3 days to make it work.
Presumably the passports seized are those that were awaiting their 3 day “reentry” stamp and those people are no doubt also in serious trouble with immigration, possibly facing an expulsion from the country and a ban on reentry.
The immigration agent in question has been charged with fraud and made his first court appearance in San Jose on Monday.
Apr
1
Demolition Orders Issued for Nine Buildings Deemed in Violation of Maritime Zone
Posted by Editor | April 1, 2012 | Tags: Community News, Government and Politics | 8 Comments
Today’s meeting in Cahuita showed broad community support for the affected businesses. Photo courtesy Eric HallerAt an emergency meeting today in Cahuita, residents and business owners gathered to find out more information and speak in support of businesses and houses which have been deemed in violation of the maritime zone law and ordered demolished.
Costa Rica has a law which prohibits construction within 200 meters of the coast unless a specific concession is granted. But Puerto Viejo and Cahuita have operated in a gray area in this regards for years with much of both towns built in this zone and no regulatory plan in place from the municipality and approved by the central government. So business owners and residents have built businesses and homes within the zone and with what they thought were the required approvals.
Last year’s demolition of two hotels showed that this was no idle threat and that the risks were real. And now according to a survey by the Contraloría General de la República (CGR) there are some 76 structures identified which are in violation and demolition orders have been issued for nine of them, including some very well known businesses in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Cocles. Many more structures could also be deemed to be in violation.
In Puerto Viejo, demolition orders have been issued for KOKi Beach Restaurant & Bar, Lazy Mon Bar at Stanford’s and El Diamante Supermarket. In Cocles, Hotel La Isla Inn. And in Cahuita, Sobre Las Olas Restaurant, Cabinas Sea Side and the National Park Hotel and Restaurant. Two private homes are also on the list.
Today’s meeting was called by the Talamanca Municipality who are not in support of the central government’s actions and are promising to coordinate legal action with the affected property owners to fight the demolition orders and make sure no more are ordered. But until a regulatory plan is approved for the area, the issue is likely to continue.
Melvin Cordero, the mayor of Talamanca stated that “this action will worse the situation in the province and especially in Talamanca, which has already been neglected by the central government”. He added that this also increases uncertainty about the legal system in the country which will harm investment and job creation in the area.
Sources who attended the meeting said that although there was broad support for the property owners affected there wasn’t a clear agreement on a legal or other strategy to fight the orders.
Mar
31
Dos Aguas Film Holding Auditions in Puerto Viejo
Posted by Editor | March 31, 2012 | Tags: Arts & Culture, Community Calendar | Comments Off
| April 14, 2012 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 6:00 pm |
| April 15, 2012 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 6:00 pm |
A Costa Rica/Columbia film production called Dos Aguas is holding auditions in Puerto Viejo on the weekend of April 14 and 15.
The producers are seeking the primary leads for the film which will be two young women of African descent between 13 and 17 years of age. They are also looking for secondary characters: men, women, children, older persons of African descent, mestizos, whites, foreign nationals. No experience is necessary.
The auditions will take place at the Casa de la Cultura each day between 10am and 6pm. Those interested in participating in the auditions should write to [email protected]
More:
Mar
21
Spot a Turtle Nest? Here’s What To Do
Posted by Editor | March 21, 2012 | Tags: Environment | 6 Comments
Turtle Tracks to Nest. Photo courtesy of Widecast.
Local guides have reported that turtle nesting time has started in Gandoca. So we can also expect that the first turtles will arrive at local beaches too if they haven’t already. Though they always come out a bit later than the ones in Gandoca, keep your eyes open for signs.
If you do see a turtle track including a possible nest, please do not tell anybody but try to hide it.
I spoke to the Organisation in Gandoca and they suggest the following. Leave the nest where it is as a natural nest is still the best chance to have them hatch. Try to get rid of any tracks and other signs that the turtle left the water at this point and put her nest there. You can use a rake to do so – just pretend you’re cleaning the beach. Then either make sure you can remember the spot or put a little sign only visible for you. Very important, don’t tell anyone, the fewer people know it, the better.
More information:
- Take a tour with a certified guide. You’ll have the best chance of seeing the turtles and will support the organizations doing the work to protect them.
 Article by Nina Neidhart. Nina is the general manager of Gecko Trail Adventures, a Puerto Viejo based tour company which offers packages, transportation, tours and activities throughout Costa Rica. They specialize in helping clients to set up a customized and authentic experience of the real Costa Rica. More information at GeckoTrail.com. |
Mar
6
Help Plant Almendros for Earth Day to Help the Macaws
Posted by Editor | March 6, 2012 | Tags: Community Calendar, Environment | 1 Comment
| April 22, 2012 | ||
| 9:00 am |
The Almendro de Montaña Tree. Photo Allan Taylor
The ARA Project is teaming up with the Earth Day Network for a reforestation project! Contributing to the “Billion Acts of Green” campaign, on Earth Day (April 22nd) The ARA Project will be planting 100 almendro de montaña, the preferred food source and nesting tree of the Great Green macaw.
One of the main reasons for the drastic decline in the Great Green macaw population in Costa Rica is due to the deforestation, which not only decreases habitat, but also fragments macaw populations. The almendro de montaña is a tropical hardwood, and thus valuable to people for its durability. The macaws rely on them for the large nuts that it produces 6 months out of the year. They are one of few animals able to reach the fruit inside the extremely tough shell, and do so by cracking it with their strong beaks.
Great Green Macaws Cracking Almonds. Photo Allan Taylor
In addition to being a vital food source, the tree is also precious to the macaws for breeding. As an almendro grows, lower branches break off and make holes in the tree’s trunks. Macaws then enlarge these natural holes with their beaks and create a cavity in which they mate and lay their eggs. While enlarging the hole, a sawdust-like substance is created and is used for nesting material. The nests are essentially predator-proof, since the branches begin so high that almost nothing can climb up and harm the eggs or chicks. All in all, this tree is integral to the survival of this magnificent bird.
Planting these trees not only helps macaws, but people too! Trees combat climate change by metabolizing carbon dioxide and transforming it into oxygen. Tree roots hold down soil and reduce erosion, which in turn helps keep water sources clean and the creatures living in them healthy!
Help us help the planet, the community, and the macaws by participating in this fun event, taking place Sunday, April 22nd, starting at 9 AM. Volunteers and places to plant these trees are needed. Please contact Colline W. Emmanuelle to find out more about how to help: [email protected] or (506) 8524-4675
Volunteers can RSVP for the project here: http://act.earthday.org/event/mountain-almond-tree-planting or get more information on the Ara Project at www.thearaproject.org
 Colline W. Emmanuelle is the Education & Community Outreach Manager for The Ara Project. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has been involved with the Project since February 2011. In addition to macaws, Colline’s favourite animals include anteaters and yeti crabs. |
Feb
29
New Puerto Viejo High School Designs Generate Excitement
Posted by Editor | February 29, 2012 | Tags: Education, Government and Politics | 1 Comment
The municipality of Talamanca has made progress on a number of projects during February. One that is creating a lot of excitement and buzz is the plans for a new high school.
The new Colegio Académico de Puerto Viejo de Talamanca would be built just behind the main road on Playa Negra across from the beach. The design is a dramatic step forward from the usual cement block painted blue school construction in Costa Rica and would be a big boost to the educational environment for the youth of the area.
The project is still in the early stages but it has already overcome a number of obstacles on its way to actually being built.
We’ll keep you updated as more information is available.
Additional info and photos on the Municipality of Talamanca page on facebook.
Feb
15
Talamanca Residents Occupy Government Ministry in San Jose
Posted by Editor | February 15, 2012 | Tags: Economic Development, Government and Politics | Comments Off
Protesters Occupying the CGR building in San Jose. Photo Courtesy La Nación.
A group of some 150 protesters has occupied the six story building of the Contraloría General de la República in San Jose protesting decisions taken by the central government which they say do not respect their long term land rights.
Many of the leading figures in the protest seem to be from the South Caribbean with representatives of associations from Manzanillo and Sixaola among those at the event.
They are angry that they have lived on their lands for many years and even often have papers and documents proving their purchase of the property but that the central government makes decisions on land use and environmental protection which do not recognize the long-standing residency and rights of those people already living there.
More:
- Repretel.com: Campesinos se manifestaron en La Contraloría (video)
- La Nación: Grupo de campesinos toma Contraloría para exigir tenencia de tierras
Feb
14
New Airport Express Shuttle Adds Transport Option for Caribbean
Posted by Editor | February 14, 2012 | Tags: Tourism, Transport | 3 Comments
Gecko Trail Adventures has announced a new airport express shuttle option between San Jose International Airport and Puerto Viejo or Cahuita.
The service is designed to maximize the number of days visitors to Costa Rica can spend on the Caribbean coast, rather than having to spend their first or last night in San José. Unlike other shuttles, it will not stop in San Jose itself which will make the timing and speed much faster and more reliable as other shuttles stop many times enroute before getting to the airport.
As an additional feature, they offer pick up right at the airport, rather than having you taking a taxi to Restaurant Calalu as Interbus and other operators require. There is a new restaurant, called Malinche, which is just outside the airport, turn right when you leave the terminal and walk 50 meters down the road, this will be their meeting point.
The price per person is $55 if a booking is made for 1 or 2 persons. If a reservation for 3 or more persons is placed, the price drops to $45 p/p.
The schedule is optimized so that it works with most arriving and departing international flights. Pickup time is always at 3:30 PM for the route from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and pickup in the Caribbean will be around 6 AM so you are going to be at the airport by 11 the latest. They recommend this transportation option for departures at 1 PM or later. Departures at 12.30 PM could also be possible but as it can some days take up to 5 hours to get to the airport even without other stops. There will be a short break of 10 – 15 minutes along the way.
And since the operator is Caribbean based there won’t be the issue that some customers have faced recently trying to leave the day or their flight which was that their driver was an hour or more late meaning some tense moments for customers trying to get to the airport in time for a afternoon flight.
The service can be booked on Gecko Trail Adventure’s transportation planner which is a searchable form showing shuttle, private, tour and bus transport options from any point to any other point in Costa Rica or from the Puerto Viejo Satellite transportation page.
Feb
12
Let’s improve the Puerto Viejo children’s playground
Posted by Editor | February 12, 2012 | Tags: Community Calendar, Community News | Comments Off
| February 25, 2012 | ||
| 10:30 am |
Claudio Ambroso, president of Asociación EDACS has announced that Asociación Pro Niño together with Asociación EDACS/ArteViva are organizing on the 25th of February at 10:30 am an event “Let’s improve the Puerto Viejo children’s playground”.
The idea is that students will perform some remodeling of the place, under the supervision of adults, which will include painting, gardening and carpentry. There will be also musical performances by the kids and professors from the Escuela de Musica de Puerto Viejo/Pro Artes as well as art workshops. The objective is to raise consciousness about the importance of such a strategic place for our kids.
These Associations will donate paint, brushes, new chains for the swings, ropes and other materials in order to make repairs and will coordinate the remodeling process. However the event is not fully organized and they hope that many of you will spontaneously participate and bring something so that we shall transform this in an unforgettable day of creativity, harmony and awareness about children’ rights.
Mothers and fathers, bring your kids! Artists come share your art! Restaurant owners donate some beverages or food for the children! And especially all of you can support this project by coming and sharing and showing the level of commitment of our community.
Claudio thanks Juan and Jessica Martinez for the initiative and thanks all of you for spreading this message and participating in the event.
Among the things you could help by donating are:
1. Picnic tables and chairs
2. Concrete sewer tubes
3. Entire new gym/swing set
4. Concrete work (circular path inside the playground for small bikes)
5. Large sandbox
6. Plants for along the borders
7. Trashcans & Recycling Bins
8. Food and beverages for the kids and performers
Feb
8
Border to Panama Reopens as Agreement Reached with Protesters
Posted by Editor | February 8, 2012 | Tags: Community News, Transport | Comments Off
Caribe Shuttle is reporting that an agreement was reached last night between the Panamanian government and the Ngäbe Bugle people ended protests in Panama. The leadership of the Ngäbe Bugle people warned that protests will resume if the agreement is not honored but expressed optimism.
Caribe Shuttle people on the ground tell us that the border is open, road blocks around Changinola and Almirante have been cleared and the roads are in good condition. Caribe Shuttle began operating its normal schedule today. The special temporary boat service between Bocas del Toro and Puerto Viejo is suspended.
Reservations for shuttle service between Puerto Viejo and Bocas can be made here:
Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo
Feb
6
Border to Panama and Bocas del Toro Closed
Posted by Editor | February 6, 2012 | Tags: Government and Politics, Transport | 1 Comment
Protests in Panama by indigenous groups have spread. With road blocks between the border and Changuinola this has effectively closed the border to tourists attempting to get from Puerto Viejo to Bocas del Toro. The roads from the border crossing on the Inter-American Highway to David, Panama have also been blocked.
One protester has also been reported killed.
Caribe Shuttle wrote yesterday that after several days of trying to route their passengers around the problems, they have had to cancel their normal services until further notice. However, they creatively have found a way to move people by boat. The only difficulty is that since there is no Costa Rican customs in Puerto Viejo, travelers must first travel to Limon to get a maritime exit stamp (or entry if coming from Bocas).
The only other reliable way to get to Bocas del Toro from Costa Rica is to fly on Nature Air from San Jose.
More:
- Border Closed, More Road Blocks – Bocas Shuttle Cancelled
- Temporary Boat Service Available Between Costa Rica and Panama
Jan
13
Going Green: Great Green Macaws Back in Talamanca
Posted by Colline | January 13, 2012 | Tags: Environment, Helping Out, Nature | 4 Comments
For the first time in many years, Great Green macaws (Ara ambiguus) are back in the Talamanca area! Great Greens are listed as endangered, with the last remaining population in Torteguero numbering only 300 individuals, with only 25-35 breeding pairs left. They are endangered due to deforestation and extensive poaching, primarily for the illegal pet trade. They are perfectly adapted for living in the rainforest and may live over 60 years in the wild. They depend mainly on the mountain almond tree, or almendro de montaña 
(Dipteryx panamensis) for food and nesting. These birds take ten years to reach breeding age and will mate for life!
The Ara Project, based in Alajuela, breeds Scarlet (Ara macao) and Great Green macaws with the sole intention of release into the wild. Find out more and donate at: www.thearaproject.org
We are now re-introducing Greens here with the hopes that once a sustainable population is established, they will eventually meet up with the wild population and re-create the Caribbean corridor. A reintroduction has never been attempted officially with the Great Green species, so the Talamanca area is witnessing the first release of these birds in the world! The first release consists of ten birds, nine of which have been released since August and are doing extremely well.
The success of this release is not solely dependent on the macaws; the community must be supportive of this effort if it is to be successful. We are encouraging people let us know if any macaws are in your area. This lets us know not only how they are using the release range, but also helps us identify birds that can fly farther and faster than we can keep up! With the help of reports, we have estimated they have established a range of 41 square kilometres! People can also help the macaws by planting fruit trees such as the almendros, and enjoying the birds from afar. They do best when left alone, and we hope people watch out for anyone trying to harm the birds.
Thank you so much for your support and interest in the Ara Project and the macaws! Please feel free to contact us at any time:
[email protected] (506) 8524-4675
[email protected] (506) 8971-1436
| Colline W. Emmanuelle is the Education & Community Outreach Manager for The Ara Project. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has been involved with the Project since February 2011. In addition to macaws, Colline’s favourite animals include anteaters and yeti crabs. |
Jan
9
Un Caribe Más Seguro – A Safer Caribbean
Posted by Eric | January 9, 2012 | Tags: Community News, Crime & Punishment | 3 Comments
The US Embassy in San José asked Eric Haller of Un Caribe Más Seguro to write a feature piece on the community safety efforts they are undertaking in the South Caribbean area and we’ve reposted it here for the Puerto Viejo community. The article below describes their innovative work, and shares best practices.
OVERVIEW:
There have been community anti-crime organizations in the South Caribbean for years, dealing with crime issues typical of any tourist beach town: assaults, robberies, and less occasionally, attacks of a more violent nature. Attendance at various neighborhood watch groups tended to follow a cyclical pattern that spiked with the occurrence of higher profile crimes then rapidly diminished.
A meeting in San Jose in 2010 with Jorge Rojas, Director of OIJ, drove home the point that, owing to the extremely low percentage of crimes reported (estimated to be in the mid to low teens), the canton of Talamanca had, on paper at least, one the lowest crime rates in the country. Without the statistics in the form of denuncias, the area received fewer personnel and resources than the conditions in the zone called for.
Community meeting with police
As a response, we created an online database with which the community could report crimes and compile its own statistics, to gain a clearer picture of what was occurring, to identify problem regions and recurring patterns that might aid in prevention, as well as to demonstrate that the incident rate was far greater than was being captured in official numbers. Several barriers existed to adoption, chiefly a strong reluctance, in a town whose economy relies almost solely on tourism, to openly discuss crime for fear of jeopardizing commerce.
A Facebook group was launched, and the ability to see and discuss in near real time how crime is affecting the neighborhood proved a compelling experience. A consensus developed that there was far more to be gained than lost from this sort of open discussion. The group expanded very rapidly, and people motivated each other to get active in the effort.
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY:
Members of the community have met regularly with the Director of OIJ, Ministers of Public Security, Fiscal General, etc in order to bring to attention the needs of the communities Southern Caribbean. The police chief actively reaches out to the community through regular public meetings and online through the Facebook group. Similar meetings occur with the Fiscalia. The Mayor of Talamanca is also very involved, offering full support and participation in the efforts of the local community and maintaining an active Facebook profile.
PROJECTS:
During the past year, Un Caribe Mas Seguro has continued their work and undertaken new projects. Some highlighted projects:
Online database of Incidents: This has become the primary source of information used by Fuerza Publica. The website also shares information on prevention, who to call, how to act and much more information of importance to the local community: http://www.caribeseguro.com
Convenio between CATCCAS and Ministerio de Seguridad Publica: provides a legal framework for binding agreements of cooperation between MSP and the community.
Streetlight project: a digital inventory map of major streetlights in the region indicating where lights were present, where they needed to be replaced and where they needed to be installed. This would eliminate some of the “dark zones” where tourists were regularly being assaulted at night. The map was used to petition ICE into addressing the issues.
Digital map project: Requested by the Fuerza Publica in order to better identify the local streets and location of residents and businesses. A new police officer receiving a call to person x’s house will be able to pull up that person’s location on a computer screen at the delegation and speed the response time.
Rise in Official Denuncias: Victims who saw little hope of individual justice started filing denuncias for the benefit to the community as a whole that arises from more accurate reporting and statistics.
Police station renovation
Fuerza Publica Capacitacion: Security training program and certification for businesses was offered in June.
Beach Guard Program: ARECHIPU – Association of Residents Playa Chiquita Punta Uva have organized to hire three local beach guards. Guards patrol the beaches, caution tourists who are not being careful and report suspicious behavior to police. Since the inception of the program, the previous average of 1 incident per day has been reduced to nearly zero.
Victim’s Assistance: The Victim Assistance Program helps both locals and tourists through an often complicated judicial process. It supports tourist victims with translation services, helps to file denuncias, helps to cancel stolen credit cards, contacts embassies, offers transportation to OIJ, etc. In the case of more serious crimes, the program helps to coordinate additional nights at hotels and meals in local restaurants so the victim can complete the denuncia process without incurring additional expenses. The program has been successful in turning victims’ encounter with crime from “a very negative experience in a foreign country” to “the community cares – what a great place”.
Hotel and Business Certification Program: Project under development to establish guidelines and a certification program in crime prevention for local hotels and businesses.
LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES:
Law enforcement in Costa Rica faces the reality of needing to do more with less, and without the communication, cooperation, and trust of the communities they work in, they will be at a grave disadvantage.
We consider a program like ours critical to the success of citizen security, and elements that in our experience are essential are:
1) Forum: enables the community to be in direct contact with each other and with law enforcement. We are fortunate to have a police chief, Leandro Chaverri, who was highly receptive to the idea and very motivated, and we used Facebook because of the high adoption rate and its “stickiness”.
2) Incident Database: a tool for the community to keep track of what is occurring is key. As well, it demonstrates to law enforcement that the community is a serious partner, and is dynamically and independently evaluating their work.
3) Regular Meetings: While the communication afforded through the internet is extremely powerful, face-to-face meetings are critical as well.
 Article by Eric Haller. Eric Haller has lived in Cocles for 5 years, plays music, and can be found blogging from time to time at erichaller.com or twittering @haller |
Jan
2
How wet was 2011?
Posted by Editor | January 2, 2012 | Tags: Environment | Comments Off
Weather trends 2011 vs previous years. Click the image for a larger version
Did you think 2011 felt wetter or drier than normal?
Well if you guessed drier you’d be correct.
A resident of Playa Negra, Charlotte, has been adding up rainfall numbers each month since 2002 on her rain gauge. Click the image for a full-sized version of the rainfall chart.
The average monthly rainfall is Puerto Viejo is 310 mm (12.2 inches) with November and December generally being the rainiest months and September and October being the dryest months. But in 2011 the dry period stretched from August to November and the average was only 260mm.
Of course, as any resident of the area knows, the rain comes and goes during the day and there’s rarely a day without sun!
The Puerto Viejo Weather page has more information and the most current forecasts.
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