Sep

21

Government Announces Money to Improve Puerto Viejo Water and Sewer

September 21, 2007 | Tags: Government and Politics, Health | 1 Comment

agua_potable.jpgThe government yesterday announced a $113 million plan to improve sewers and build new aqueducts around the country beginning next year.

President Oscar Arias made this announcement alongside Ricardo Sancho, president of the National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), and Alfredo Ortuño, a representative of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

A chunk of this money came from a $68.5 million loan the bank made the institute; another $44.5 million came from the institute’s own funds.

The project aims to guarantee “sustainability of potable water systems for the next 20 years,” improving aqueduct and sewer systems in the San José metropolitan area as well as in Puerto Viejo, on the southern Caribbean coast, the statement said.

It also seeks to benefit communities in the Pacific province of Puntarenas including Buenos Aires, Esparza, Palmar Norte, Coto Brus, Golfito, Jacó and Ciudad Neilly as well as parts of the northwestern Guanacaste province including Nicoya and Liberia. In the province of Alajuela, San Ramón, Palmares, San Mateo, Poasito and Atenas are included.

“We can’t hope to be a developed country by 2021 if our system of sewers and aqueducts does not develop along with us,” the President said.

Story courtesy of The Tico Times.

Sep

21

Volunteers turn out to paint Bambu Retirement Center

September 21, 2007 | Tags: Community Calendar, Helping Out | Leave a Comment

September 15, 2007
October 13, 2007

This story shows what a difference a small group of dedicated volunteers can make. Thirteen volunteers organized by Helping Hands Costa Rica and Tropical Adventures made their way out to the Talamanca Indigenous Reservation for a day of painting at the Bambu Retirement Home.

Painting Party at the Bambu Retirement Home
Volunteers take a break to pose for a group picture

In 7 hours they managed to paint three out of four wings, as well as 8 out of 16 bathrooms. In addition, two of the volunteers worked out in the back of the property scraping and painting the chain link fencing and metal bars that enclose the entire laundry section.

A generous donation from the Iain Programa of $1,000 was exactly enough to buy the paint and supplies needed. And Hotel Banana Azul donated a staff member and reduced room rates for the volunteers.

If you want to help out, they’re scheduling another weekend at the retirement home to finish up the work they didn’t get a chance to complete. They’ll be going back again on Saturday, October 13, 2007.

You can get all the details, see more pictures and find out how you can help at Crazy Jungle Blog: Painting Party.

Sep

21

Murder-Suicide leaves 2 dead in Cahuita

September 21, 2007 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | 3 Comments

Authorities remove the body of McCloud
Authorities from OIJ in Limón remove the body of McCloud, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Photo by Marvin Carvajal, courtesy of La Nacion.

A dispute between two brothers in Cahuita last weekend left both dead. The murdered man is well known Cahuita businessman Hernán Horacio Spencer McLoud, owner of Cabinas Spencer.  He was 46 years old.

Witnesses staying at the cabinas heard an initially unknown man arrive at the cabinas at 8:05pm Saturday. A brief discussion between the two men was followed by several shots were fired and then the man fled.  The victim managed to get to the nearby house of some relatives who brought him to the Hone Creek Clinic where he was pronounced dead. He had 3 bullet wounds in his back and 1 in his shoulder.

The police initially believed the incident was a robbery by a gang operating in the area. A wide investigation was launched, including setting up roadblocks. Freddy Santamaría, chief of the Frontier Police, said that the situation was initially confused and there were conflicting reports of the incident.

On Sunday morning the police and OIJ agents searched the home of the victim’s brother, of last name McCloud, and found the 61 year old man dead in his home. Beside him was apparently the same 22 calibre gun used to take his own life and that of this brother.