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Jul
30
Police Stations Face Deadline to Upgrade Septic
July 30, 2009 | Tags: Government and Politics | 1 Comment
A long standing complaint that the Puerto Viejo and Cahuita police stations did not have proper septic tanks has esclated with the Ministry of Health ordering the building to be closed.
The station in Puerto Viejo, located beachfront, has already had a septic tank donated by the local tourism association CATCAS and local business owners doing construction in the area have stepped in and donated work to get the septic field built.
So apparently the work is well under way.
But an A.M. Costa Rica article yesterday alarmed many people as it only mentioned the closure order and not the fact that work is ongoing.
The tourism board among others are negotiating with the health ministry to make sure the order is delayed so that the work can be completed and Puerto Viejo is not left without a police station.
Update: One of our readers contacted The Tico Times, a generally more reliable source, and got this additional information from reporter Mike McDonald:
Thank you for your concern about the police stations in Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. I have received a lot of emails about this article in the past 24 hours and there is some confusion about the issue. The police stations are not closing nor is anyone trying to close them.
This is what happened: The Ministry of Health issued a series of orders to the Ministry of Public Security about some health and safety concerns they noticed in police stations along the Atlantic coast, which is nothing abnormal. The Health Ministry requested that the station in Puerto Viejo replace a damaged door, install a new fire extinguisher, replace some old electric outlets and repair two windows.
The only closure the Health Ministry issued was for the kitchen and the bedroom in the police station in Tuba Creek. The Tuba Creek police station will remain open, but officers will not be able to cook or sleep there until the two rooms are cleaned and repaired. I confirmed this information with both ministries. I also spoke with Luis Videla, the man from the Southern Zone Chameber of Commerce cited in the AM Costa Rica article. His concern was mis-communicated in AM Costa Rica’s story. His wish was to call a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Security, which has been scheduled for next Monday, to ensure that the police stations comply with the Health Ministry’s requests so they do not have to close the station in the future.
Jul
27
Internet Scam Offers Buyers Area Real Estate
July 27, 2009 | Tags: Real Estate | 1 Comment
 This lot plan or variations thereof which have been image flipped and renumbered have accompanied many of the scam sale offerings |
It seems that buyers have been plunking down large sums of money on the internet to buy lots in what appears to be a non-existent subdivision development in the Margarita-Sixaola area.
Caribe Sur Real Estate has received visits from a number of people who have visited their offices looking for assistance in locating the property they’ve bought.
The lots are being promoted on a various websites including eBay and marketed as 1.75 acre ocean view properties.
The lots are promoted as ready to build with “nearby” electricity, roads and septic sewer systems in place. There is no electricity, there are no roads, there is no subdivision, there are no septic sewage systems, the land is raw jungle and sometimes very steep.
Caribe Sur checked with the local municipality and they have no knowledge of such a development. They checked with all the neighbors – including those on the supposed land survey – and none have ever heard of such a development – or such a neighbor!
Of the many victims who have flown down to locate their investment once they have made the final payment – none have ever found the lots. Topographers have been hired – neighbors have been harassed – some even sued – and yet no buyer has ever ended up with what they purchased.
Caribe Sur contacted the seller who is listing many of these properties, Michael Leu, and asked him to come down and show them the lots, or send someone down that knows them – but they have been ignored. He has never done so – not for them and not for any of his buyers.
The rules of real estate in Costa Rica can be complex, can depend on where the land is located (rules for within reserve areas and for in the maritime zone are different for example), and can be unfamiliar for foreigners. Some common sense rules though should keep you safe:
1. Don’t buy property sight unseen.
2. Consult a local lawyer who has been referred by someone you trust (not the seller) on any transaction and before any money is exchanged.
3. Check local market conditions and prices. In this area, land is generally priced at a particular amount per square meter (depending on the view, location, etc). If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Using a reputable local real estate agency is a good place to start your search. The Puerto Viejo Real Estate page has a list of local agencies and developers.
The area and the lifestyle is also not for everyone. So don’t rush into buying. There are many affordable rentals where you could spend 6 months or more getting to know the area before you purchase a lot.
Sharing information about scams like this is a good way to make them powerless to affect people. Caribe Sur has published a detailed page on this scam with much more information on how this is being marketed and how people can avoid this. We aplaud all the work they’ve done to document this and suggest you share this information and the link http://www.caribesur-realestate.com/margarita/ widely on Costa Rica message boards and such.
Jul
27
Bracelet? T-Shirt? Joint?
July 27, 2009 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | 1 Comment
 Local artisans at the market along the Puerto Viejo beachfront |
Investigators have busted a vendor at the artisan’s market in Puerto Viejo who was selling marijuana along with bracelets, necklaces and other assorted souvenirs.
La Nacion reports that the man, with the last name Velázquez, but known to local police as Juan, had been under surveillance for several days by OIJ investigators from Limon.
The investigators were responding to anonymous complaints from neighbors that drugs were being sold openly at the market, which is on the main road in downtown Puerto Viejo.
On Friday, the agents made 5 drug purchases and then arrested Velaquez. They seized several marijuana joints along with a collection of bracelets. As well, they seized several marked bills which had been used in the drug purchases.
A judge in Limon then gave Velaquez six months of preventative detention while the investigation and court case proceeds.
More: La Nación: Artesano vendÃa drogas a turistas en Puerto Viejo
Jul
22
Puerto Viejo named to list of “Top 10 Cheap Beach Vacations” Worldwide
July 22, 2009 | Tags: Tourism | 6 Comments
The website Away.com has named their list of their top 10 cheap beach vacations and Puerto Viejo has landed right in the middle of the list! Their list is:
1. Cannon Beach, Oregon
2. Tulum, Mexico
3. Placencia, Belize
4. Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil
5. Negril, Jamaica
6. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
7. Cape Ann, Massachusetts
8. Huntington Beach, California
9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
10. Destin, Florida
We think we’re #1Â but we’ll take the compliment! You can read the article here.
Jul
16
Police who charge tourist $100 for smoking marijuana detained
July 16, 2009 | Tags: Crime & Punishment | Comments Off
Two policemen in Puerto Viejo, identified by their surnames Morales and Pereira, have been detained and suspended after allegedly extorting a bribe from a Canadian tourist who they caught smoking marijuana.
The incident happened on Sunday afternoon when the two officers apparently came upon the Canadian man and his girlfriend smoking marijuana. They said that if they were not paid, they would take harsh action. The man paid them $40 and agreed to meet them later to pay the rest of the amount.
A local businessman though was aware of the situation and called the chief of the police in Bribri. Together with officers from the judicial investigation office (OIJ), they arrested the two officers.
The two policemen have been charged with the crime of extortion, a crime which is punishable by a prison term of 2 to 8 years.
In addition, they have been suspended from their positions for 3 months pending the investigation and barred from contacting anyone involved in the case.
Source: La Nación: PolicÃas cobran $100 a turista para dejarlo fumar marihuana
Jun
23
CATCAS General Meeting on July 20
June 23, 2009 | Tags: Community Calendar, Local Business News | Comments Off
| July 20, 2009 | ||
| 2:45 pm | to | 4:45 pm |
CATCAS, the South Caribbean Tourism and Business Board, is announcing a general meeting for all members on Monday July 20. The meeting will begin at 2:45pm at the Casa de la Cultura in Puerto Viejo.
There is only one item on the agenda for this special meeting: discussion of a project to construct facilities for the association and authorization to seek financing for this.
Questions should be directed to Rolando Soto at turismocaribesur@yahoo.com.
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