Parallel Bible Translations Acts 17:34. and certain men having cleaved to him, did believe, among whom is also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman, by name Damaris, and others with them.
Carlos Acosta Monge, former director of the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (CONAVI) and one of six arrested for corruption in the La Trocha corruption case.
Them’s fighting words from a man of a country that touts itself as the Switzerland of Central America and prides itself of being th only country in the Americas without an army.
The former director of the CONAVI – who admits that his only regret was accepting the post of director – is one six defendants who, for now, is being accused of irregularities in the construction of the border trail.
Although it ordered his arrest, the Fiscalía (Attorney General) for his participation in what appears to be the largest ever scam against the public, the Juzgado Penal de Hacienda – the criminal court of the Treasury – did not consider it necessary to impose on him preventive detention (jail) while the investigation continues.
In the interview with the La Nacion’s Irene Vizcaíno, Acosta said is free to leave the country if wants, but does not choose to, claiming his innocence that will be vindicated int he end.
In his version of the story, the orders came from the top and he followed, with machinery beginning work on the project, even though there was no government decree.
Photo from the Casa Presidencial Facebook page, in which Acosta is chumming it up with Presidenta Laura Chinchilla and second-vice president, Luis Liberman (right)
Acosta says he acted on good faith, in the same way when the CONAVI was put into action following the Cinchona earthquake. But, as the events unfold over time, to light comes the “chorrizero” (corruption) that was going on and every one started ducking for cover.
“What happened to this project? A lot of interest without control?”, he was asked. He ,responde, “NO, what is happening with the project. Since its start it was a successful one, everyone was happy. Nobody said anything until…”
For sure it will be some time before, if ever, investigators get to the bottom of the whole thing. In the meantime, the country is living a shame for what was once billed one of the most important public works projects of all time.
The border road runs along the south side of the San Juan river, a river that belongs to Nicaragua but Costa Rica has navigational rights under an century old agreement.
And it is those rights, combined with the alleged invasion of Nicaraguan troops of the Isla Calero (Harbour Head in Nicaragua), that Costa Rica saw to defend its rights of sovereignty and the navigation of the river by local residents and tourists.
While the case of the Isla Calero/Harbour Head dispute follows in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Costa Rica decided to not wait the outcome of the dispute and build a land route.
However, if you ask any Tico (Costa Rican) directions to the Ruta Juan Rafael Mora Porras you will get a shrug. Ask for La Trocha and everyone knows it. Or at least knows about. Some even wishing they had been part of it (the chorrizero). Better the lottery!
Even before the scandal of corruption broke there were accusations of environmental damage to the area’s eco system, the Nicaragau alleged invasion was a political ploy by the Sandinista government of the north and that the road was goig to resurrect the failing of the Presidenta Chinchilla, among other things.
I remember when the Isla Calero/Harbour Head situation flared. There was even concern that war would break between the two neighbouring countries. And with Costa Rica without an army? no, problems the Americans were close by. Sarcastically many wondered what would happen with all the maids and construction workers who clean Costa Rica’s homes and put its buildings?
One story recently found on a Facebook post has that Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega and Costa Rica’s, Laura Chinchilla, colluded to a plot with the idea of an invasion that would assure Ortega’s re-election (he was) and line the pockets of Chinchilla’s friends (it appears it may be so). Both Ortega and Chinchilla have not spoken publically since the. In fact Chinchilla refused to attend SICA meetings which Ortega presided. And will they as Costa Rica takes over the SICA presidency for his semester?
In any event, this story is long, long from over. It will be years before investigators can pronounce, if at all, what really happened and who was or wasn’t involved.
And lastly, Karina Bolaños – remember her, the government official who was fired for her scandalous video – may have said it best… “the president of my country only protects the corrupt”. This photo and video made the news worldwide.
QCOSTARICA – The family Ryan Piercy, gone missing a month ago, paid out US$20.000 for his release, although the initial demand had been US$500.000 ransom.
The money was deposited in an offshore account and not in Bitcoin, as had previously been asked by the captors.
Segura said that Ryan was taken Monday to the Forensics Laboratory (Medicatura Forense in Spanish) in Heredia for a complete medical exam.
“He knocked on the door of his house and we all surprised, even his family,” said Segura, adding that investigators were working with the family during the time of the apparent abduction.
Segura said that not interviewed thoroughly because “comes from a traumatic situation” and that, therefore, the police can not say for sure yet that has been a kidnapping.
“Now we have to see if they know where he was held and other important information,” said the director of the OIJ.
Segura explained that initial demands by the alleged kidnappers, payment in virtual currency, was a difficult one.
“You have to buy from someone who has (bitcoin) and establish an electronic wallet. (Criminals) wanted it to innovate but had not done their research, ” he explained.
OIJ director added that, to address this situation (the unusual payment request) agents of the International Police (Interpol) were involved in the case. “They had never seen a negotiation like this,” said Segura.
Due to limitations of the virtual currency transaction, the ransom payment was made by deposit in a bank account.
As part of the negotiations, the alleged kidnappers had sent some photographs of Piercy as proof of life.
TODAY PANAMA – The Italian Parliament approved Tuesday a double taxation treaty that was signed with Panama at the beginning of 2010 and which had been ratified by the Panamanian National Assembly in December of that same year.
“We are particularly proud to approve this agreement with Panama because it helps us to better combat tax evasion,” said legislator Fabio Porta.
Porta said the ratification process had been delayed due to difficulties in diplomatic relations between the two countries, something that he said is not uncommon.
“Unfortunately, these agreements do not always reach parliament in a timely manner,” he said, noting that deals from as far back as 2009 are still waiting approval.
The treaty became a priority due to the publication of information about alleged cases of tax evasion contained within the files of the law firm Mossack Fonseca. Those files were made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
“There has been a prioritization in the discussion related to the revelations concerning Mossack Fonseca,” the legislator said.
The data included the former president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, and former Senator Marcello Dell’Utri, who is serving a prison sentence for his ties to the mafia.
Panama ambassador to Italy Fernando Berguido stated that the signing of the treaty represents an example of the “cooperation between the two countries in the fight against crime.”
He added that the treaty is an example “of the commitments made by this administration to adopt new standards of transparency.”
It appears, according to Tránsito, Ramón Monge Salas, and recounts of fellow officials, the driver (identified by his last name Chavarría), did not heed to a request by the official to move over to the other lane.
Angry at the collision, he started yelling and insulting the official, ending up in (him) slapping the official. The official struck back, requiring the assistance of two other officials to break it all up.
The driver said he got angry because the official “yelled” at him. The official says he struck back after receiving the first blow.
This occurred on Avenida 10, some 100 metres west of the San José municipal offices, across from the Sabana park, in plain day on Friday.
At the end, both – the official and driver – went home to consider possible charges against the other.