Costa Rica Report

Starting June 1st, the Zapote, Escazú and Tibás post office branches will be able to process requests for renewal of a residency card, or cedula. Presently renewal is available at the headquarters of the immigration department and select branches of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR). According to Kattia Rodríguez, Director of Immigration the service will be available at 60 post office nationwide by the end of this year.

According to the Comptroller General, despite a looming deadline of May 22, only 60 percent of government employees have submitted sworn statements of financial assets. Officials who fail to file their statements are subject to an administrative processes that may result in removal from office.

According to the ministry of health, cases of dengue in Costa Rica have surged 40 percent during a one week period. The majority of cases are reported in Pococí, Limon. The full report in Diario Extra shows a map of country with the number of reported cases of Dengue.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX) has submitted for public comment a list of products to be included under a new version of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The agreement eliminates trade duties on information technology products. Instructions for making a comment are provided on the COMEX website.

QSR International, which owns the fast food franchises for KFC and Quizno’s Sub in the region has announced an expansion strategy. The plan calls from new locations in Cartago, Limon, Desamparados, Moravia and the airport in Alajuela. QSR also owns the Teriyaki and Smashburger fast food chains

Legislative deputy Claudio Monge is calling for prosecutors to drop charges against Canadian environmentalist Paul Watson, who is accused of attacking a boat in April of 2002 in Guatemalan waters. Monge posted the comments on his Facebook profile, and called the arrest of Watson regrettable. He also called for Costa Rica to renew its efforts against shark finning.