Citizens of Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica left Israel this Friday on a humanitarian flight bound for Greece, the Panamanian Government reported.These are 15 Panamanians, 9 Costa Ricans and 7 Hondurans, said the Foreign Ministry of Panama, which specified that this humanitarian flight, “in a gesture of cooperation with Central American citizens in need” of the transfer, departed from Tel Aviv International Airport to destination final Greece.

 The Foreign Office added that “48 Panamanians have decided to remain in the State of Israel,” where 135 citizens of this country had registered as residents, according to official data.

 This Friday’s flight is in addition to a first humanitarian flight that left Israel on Thursday with 37 Central Americans on board, said the Foreign Ministry, which specified that more than 20 Panamanian citizens have left that country “by their own means.”

104 Ticos leaving

 For its part, the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Thursday that it was providing consular attention to Costa Ricans who were visiting Israel when the Hamas attacks occurred last Saturday, and that 104 of them had resumed their itineraries to Costa Rica. when traveling to various cities in Europe, by air, or through Jordan, by land.

 He also indicated that on the same Thursday and thanks to the collaboration of the Spanish Foreign Ministry, 3 Costa Rican tourists, including an elderly adult, traveled to Madrid, from where they resumed their flight back to Costa Rica.

Critical situation

 The number of Israeli fatalities due to the surprise attack that the Islamist organization Hamas launched last Saturday has risen to 1,400, according to what Hebrew media said this Friday citing health sources, while the number of deaths in Gaza caused by the Israeli bombings is currently at the 1,800.

 Both Israel and Hamas are committing war crimes, the former by blocking the entry of all types of supplies into Gaza, including water and food, and the latter by the summary execution and abduction of civilians, the UN said Friday.

The post Costa Ricans, Panamanians and Hondurans Leave Israel for Greece on a Humanitarian Flight appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

 An organization of Canadians calling on the government to institute a guaranteed basic income rejected what one senator called “myths and stereotypes” about such a program during a Senate committee session held Oct. 17 in Ottawa.

 The Senate is studying bill S-233.  If passed, that legislation will require the Minister of Finance to develop a national framework for the implementation of a guaranteed living basic income, GLBI, program across Canada.

 The legislation is sponsored by Senator Kim Pate.  In the House of Commons, New Democratic Party MP Leah Gazan introduced an identical bill.  Neither bill would actually implement a basic income program. “There is a stigma about the poor and about helping people: that we will give them a handout but we will not help them out of poverty”, Pate said.

Questions about its effectiveness

 Members of the Senate standing committee on national finance had questions about the effectiveness of a basic income program, particularly its impact on the Canadian economy and government spending.

 According to a 2021 analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), the total cost of a guaranteed basic income program would increase from $85 billion in 2021-2022 to $93 billion in 2025- 2026.

 To calculate these numbers, the PBO studied Ontario’s basic income pilot project, which ran from April 2017 to July 2018, when Premier Doug Ford’s government abolished it.

 Under the pilot program, participants between the ages of 18 and 64 received between $16,989 and $24,027 per year, with an additional $6,000 per year for people with disabilities.For every dollar that a beneficiary would receive in labor income, they would lose 50 cents from the basic income program.

 Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux told senators that Canada may need to consider reducing social assistance at the provincial level, or tax credits such as the goods and services tax credit, in order to fund such a program at the national level.

The importance of the program’s universality

 Proponents of the Guaranteed Living Basic Income program noted the importance of the program’s universality, arguing that more targeted approaches to delivering that income may not reach everyone who needs financial assistance.

 The more targeted programs that are introduced, the more gaps are created in the system, said Evelyn Forget, a professor of economics and community health sciences at the University of Manitoba.  The more gaps there are, the more opportunities there are for people to fall into them.Senators also questioned whether establishing a basic income would discourage Canadians from working.

Kathleen Wynne

 In 2013, Kathleen Wynne became the first woman in Ontario history to serve as premier of the province.  Under her government, the province’s basic income pilot project was carried out, which was abolished by the conservatives.

 According to the Parliamentary Budget Office’s analysis, the guaranteed living basic income would have very little impact on the Canadian labor supply.  The researchers found that total hours worked would only fall 1.3 percent nationally.

 Former Ontario Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, who oversaw the province’s basic income pilot project, told senators she had multiple conversations with recipients who were more motivated and more able to enter the job market. .

 Unfortunately, Wynne added, there is no official statistical evidence to support her claims because the program was abolished by Doug Ford’s Conservative government before its scheduled end.

 Despite the program’s abolition, some evidence appears to corroborate Wynne’s claims.  According to a survey called the Southern Ontario Basic Income Experience, researchers found that almost 80 per cent of respondents were somewhat or much more motivated to find a higher-paying job. At the same time, 37.5 percent of respondents who worked before and during the pilot program found better-paying Jobs.

The post Canada Studies Project for Creation of a Universal Guaranteed Basic Income appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

As if it were an adhesion to the United States and its immigration policies, Canada recently announced a program that will allow the reunification of families of citizens and residents in the country.  As discussed at a press conference, this would be just one of the many measures planned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which would be aimed at providing a more accessible way for loved ones to reunite on Canadian soil.

This new program in Canada will have a broad scope, allowing the reunification of a variety of family members, including children, grandchildren, spouses, partners, parents, grandparents and siblings of Canadian citizens or legal residents.

A new humanitarian pathway

 “Today I announce that, as part of this commitment to welcome 15,000 migrants from the Americas, Canada will welcome up to 11,000 Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans through a new humanitarian pathway for permanent residence,” said Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller. .

 According to the Canadian official, those who manage to qualify for the program after an evaluation of their candidatures will receive permission to immediately travel to Canada, where they will be granted work permits, allowing them to begin their lives in the country productively.

Offered enhanced services

 “Selected applicants will be offered enhanced services prior to their arrival, including a job skills assessment and referral to a settlement provider organization in the destination community.  More detailed information will be available closer to the launch of the new road,” the minister commented.

 Miller indicated when the tentative date would be for Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans to be able to quickly reunite with their families.  “Starting this fall, Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan foreigners located in Central, South America or the Caribbean who have extended family connections in Canada will be eligible to apply for this new pathway”, he stated.

The post Canada Announced a Family Reunification Program for Latin America appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

The Government of Costa Rica, through the Foreign Ministry, issued this Monday a warning and recommendation for Costa Ricans to avoid traveling to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, due to the scale of violence since the weekend.

 The authorities consider that non-essential travel should be stopped, “due to the unpredictable security situation and the suspension of the main international air services to Israel.”

 This is reported by the Yellow House through a press release this Monday, “in light of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and the subsequent state of war” decreed since the previous Saturday.

National authorities also call to reinforce caution in “border cities between Israel and Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.”Travel by Costa Ricans to that area is common due to the constant Tours to the so-called “Holy Land”, for religious and spiritual purposes.

Safety for Ticos

Over the weekend, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that at the moment there are no reports of impact on Costa Rican citizens in Israel, a country that was attacked in the morning by the Hamas terrorist group.

 The Costa Rican Consulate in Israel has 370 Costa Ricans registered.  These reside in areas that have not been affected by the bombings.The Costa Rican Consulate received reports from two Costa Rican citizens who reside in Beer Sheva and Ashkelon, cities near the sites that have suffered more intense bombing.Both people reported that they are stable and have access to anti-missile shelters.

 Regarding compatriots as tourists, two excursions were also reported, one of 20 people and another of 34, who are currently in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, respectively.  These two cities are not close to the highest risk areas.

Remain in contact with the Embassy of Costa Rica

 In this Monday’s statement, the Foreign Ministry recommended that citizens remain attentive to the media with the Embassy of Costa Rica in Israel.  These are the methods:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100060031844199,
• Consulate of Costa Rica in Tel Aviv at phone (00 972) 3-613-5061
• Email: concr-il@rree.go.cr

“Terrorism”

Costa Rica condemned Hamas’ incursion on Israel on Saturday and called for all attacks to stop. “I repeat it to be clear: terrorists entered Israeli villages, killed and kidnapped Israeli civilians in their homes.”

 That is one of the points that the Consul of Israel in Costa Rica, Amir David Rockman, insists on most, when recounting the situation that is occurring in his country after the attack that the terrorist group Hamas began on Friday night.

 The complaint also emphasizes that there is not only military impact in the operation but also that the civilian population is affected by the various tactics that are being used.

 “Apart from the indiscriminate launching of rockets and missiles, the terrorists crossed the border into Israeli territory using cars, motorcycles, 4×4 vehicles, on foot and in any way,” said the diplomat.“Terrorists attacked police stations, villages, synagogues, buildings and homes in more than 22 Israeli towns,” he continued.

 Added to this was the rawness of the acts having been recorded. “This is one of the most serious acts of crime against humanity in the history of Israel; “that shows the barbarity of our enemies,” he accused.

The post Costa Rican Foreign Ministry Recommends Avoiding Non-Essential Trips to Israel and the Gaza Strip appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

Migration can generate remarkable benefits, promoting economic growth, development, and a multi-cultural society at large. Unfortunately, the evolving migration pattern in Central America raises significant issues. The latest instance of Costa Rica and Panama setting migration policies has brought this issue sharply into focus. A critical examination of the situation, and how both countries are handling the crisis, reveals a measure of both urgency and steadfastness.

Recently, Costa Rica implemented a stringent regulation forbidding migrants from engaging in any salaried activity. This policy comes in light of the transit immigration status adopted by both countries to handle the ongoing migratory flow. Centro de Atención Temporal a Migrantes (Catem), a care center for migrants, was established near the Costa Rica-Panama border as part of a collaborative effort. The objective was clear: providing migrants medical care, food, and necessary respite as they traverse through the countries.

Since October 10th, approximately 14,000 migrants have been moved from Panama’s southern to Costa Rica’s northern border. Even though a ticket to continue the journey costs $30 per person, not every migrant can afford this. Consequently, many have to stay back at the center until they can pay for their onward journey.

While the policy aims to offer temporary assistance to the migrant wave affecting Costa Rica, it’s potentially more consequential than it seems. The Costa Rican immigration entity reports there are now 524 migrants in Catem, many of whom are in dire straits after crossing Panama’s perilous Darién Gap. Barring those in transit from performing any remunerated work, to ensure law and order in border towns highlights the multiple dynamics involved – socio-economic, juridico-legal, and humanitarian.

Beyond the immediate situation, Costa Rica is considering adjusting specific aspects of its regulatory framework and institutional organization for long-term migration management. By doing so, the government is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable response to the migration crisis, acknowledging that the problem isn’t fleeting or incidental, but structural and pervasive.

On a regional level, Costa Rica’s second vice president, Mary Munive, is scheduled to attend a critical migration-focused meeting organized by Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on October 22nd. This event illustrates the broad regional concerns about the ongoing migration crisis spanning from Ecuador to Canada. Migrants’ exposure to the deadly Darién jungle also underlines the severity of the situation.

The planned meeting seeks to stimulate dialogue on collective efforts to expand development capabilities and handle the migration phenomenon from a posture of humanitarianism and solidarity. We expect states like Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Cuba, Panama, Belize, and, of course, Costa Rica to participate.

The upcoming meeting indicates the urgency of a collective approach and commitment to resolving this dire situation. It’s a testament to different countries’ willingness to share their experiences, considering the diverse migration patterns, and devising effective policies in response.

However, it’s evident that a one-size-fits-all policy won’t successfully address the deeply ingrained migration issue. Differences exist in each country’s social, political, and economic realities that affect migration. Therefore, future interventions should be succinct, innovative, and multifaceted to deal with migrant flows effectively.

Coming back to Costa Rica’s regulation, while it offers a temporary solution to their migration issue, it also exposes the necessity for a detailed, comprehensive migration policy framework. Providing basic facilities to migrants is commendable, but without a framework to allow migrants to engage in authorized economic activities, the governments may find themselves facing a cycle of perennial problems.

Ultimately, the Costa Rica-Panama migration policy reveals much about the complexity of managing migratory flows. The forthcoming meeting in Mexico could prove instrumental in driving the necessary collective action to address the migration crisis in Central America. Ideally, the deliberations and outcomes from this meeting will inform new policies that address the root causes of this crisis, rather than treating just its symptoms.

The essence lies not in curbing migration per se but managing it strategically, humanely, and pragmatically. Only through such an approach can we harness the benefits and address the challenges of migration, fostering a win-win situation for all concerned.

Abdul Rafay Afzal: He is from Lahore, Pakistan currently a law student at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. He writes perceptive columns on geopolitics, international relations, and legal affairs etc. in more than 8 countries providing unique insights into the global landscape in different Pakistani and International Newspapers and Media outlets in English & Urdu languages. Email:rafayafzal555@gmail.com Instagram: @arafzal555

The post Migration Policy: An Analyses of Costa Rica and Panama’s Efforts and the Broader Migration Crisis appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

The Mexican government formalized the traditional medicine pharmacopoeia of the Yaqui People after two years of continuous work, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) confirmed today.

Federal and state government authorities, as well as the governors of the eight Yaqui towns, delivered the first copies that will be received by six thousand families in said towns.

Benefiting their communities

 The traditional governor of Tórim, Trinidad Contreras Buitimea, welcomed them in his native language and expressed to federal, state and municipal public servants that his people receive them with brotherhood, affection and love, with the gratitude of rolling their eyes for the first time to benefit their communities.

Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, federal Secretary of Culture,highlighted the importance of the existence of this material, which brings together the knowledge of one of the original cultures of Mexico that has withstood the passage of time and preserved its knowledge.

The deepest part of Nature

“The richness of herbal medicine has to do with the deepest part, which is the earth.  Nature can give us certain dangers and diseases, but in the same place it will give us the antidote and the herbs know that and you who have preserved the earth know it”, Guerrero expressed.

Alejandro Svarch Pérez, head of Cofepris,explained that, based on the Justice Plan of the Yaqui People, signed by President Andrés Manuel LópezObrador in 2021, the regulatory agency launched actions in favor of the preservation and recognition of medicine traditional of this town:

 Two years later, he added, “we have the first edition of this Pharmacopoeia of the native peoples: herbalism of the Yaqui people;  This specimen is a reflection of something unique: the collective construction of knowledge in favor of public health”.

 This first fascicle contains knowledge about the identification, collection, components and medicinal uses of 25 plant species, and was prepared under the advice and approval of more than 30 traditional doctors, who guided the staff of Cofepris and the Permanent Commission of the Pharmacopoeia of the United Mexican States.

 In this way, he stated, it is guaranteed that, through health regulation, large transnational corporations cannot usurp the knowledge of indigenous peoples or patent the healing properties of certain plants in other countries, leaving small national producers out of the market.

AdelfoRegino Montes, general director of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples,highlighted that herbalism and traditional medicine are an essential part of the ancient culture of indigenous peoples, especially the Yaqui nation, whose experts in traditional medicine speak through of plants and nature to heal the body and spirit.

The post Mexico Formalizes Pharmacopoeia of Traditional Medicine from Yaqui Native People appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

 Costa Rica returns from October 3 to 5 to the IFTM Top Resa tourism fair in Paris, one of the largest travel and tourism exhibitions in the world and the most important in France, with the goal of continuing to attract local tourists of the second European market in importance for our country.  The last national presence at this event occurred in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

 As part of the promotional actions, a campaign was activated in the Paris Montparnasse, Paris Nord, Paris Lyon and Paris St Lazare metro and train stations, through 230 screens that project a video of Costa Rica, from 6 of the tomorrow at one in the morning, along with three large illustrations of Costa Rica on the three canvases located in the heart of the Parisian Montparnasse station from October 3 to 9.

 These stations offer regional, national and international travel connections, allowing the promotion of Costa Rica to reach thousands of people. In addition, the Paris Montparnasse station is an ideal place to communicate during the IFTM fair by hosting metro line 12, which serves the Porte de Versailles station, IFTM Top Resa metro stop.

Changes and resilience

 In addition to this, the Minister of Tourism William Rodríguez was invited to participate on October 3 in the “International Panorama” exhibition, held for the first time in the history of the event, with the presence of tourism leaders from different countries and Zurab. Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the UNWTO.  The topic presented was “Changes and resilience”, focused on responsible tourism, so the minister talked about the successful examples of sustainability and responsible travel implemented in our country, as well as the best practices to inspire other nations to promote it and create awareness among tourists.

 “We are delighted to once again participate in the prestigious Top Resa Fair. Aware of the growing expectation among French consumers and wholesalers, we celebrate the opportunity to present the captivating offer of Costa Rica. Our country, appreciated by French tourists, stands out for its lush nature, a wide range of activities for all tastes and the authenticity of travel experiences. From couples trips to family adventures, from friendship to solo exploration, Costa Rica offers a unique destination. We appreciate the air connection, Costa Rican hospitality and our firm commitment to environmental sustainability, aspects that continue to attract visitors to our beautiful country,” said William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica.

32% of French people are inspired in their travel decisions based on the information provided by tourist offices and their websites, while 44% also do so with information provided by word of mouth or a family recommendation, hence that participation in Top Resa seeks to make it easier for them to choose the destination for their next vacation.

Other promotional actions

To have more visibility, the ICT partnered with the specialized tourism media TourMag, the main media present in Top Resa and an ideal website for French-speaking tourism professionals, tour operators, travel agencies, airlines and hoteliers, to share content of interest to our country.

A series of meetings and interviews have also been organized throughout the fair to publicize the news of the destination, the measures that are being taken to develop this sector and preserve the natural and authentic wealth of the country, as well as the upcoming strategies. to promote Costa Rica in the French market through appointments scheduled for ICT representatives with the press, industry partners, tour operators, airlines, among others. Every year, during the fair, a networking event is organized to talk with different partners and tour operators and this year it is sponsored by Costa Rica.

Finally, this October 4, the Minister of Tourism will attend a press conference with the presence of between 15 and 20 journalists, to whom he will explain what Costa Rica has to offer French tourists.

Top Resa, as this fair is popularly known, is organized every year by Reed Expositions France, a subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions, a world leader in the organization of commercial events, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, attracting 31 thousand professional visitors and more. of 1,600 exhibitors and brands during the three days of the event. France is the second source of travelers to the country from Europe; between January and August of this year, 49,624 tourists visited us by air, 11.5% more than in the same period in 2022.

The post Costa Rica Promotes Itself in Paris Metro Stations and Participates in the Most Important Tourism Fair in France appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

The historical relations between Venezuela and Costa Rica have been characterized by a shared commitment to democracy, regional cooperation, and mutual respect. Despite the geographical distance separating the two countries, they have developed strong diplomatic ties and have collaborated on various political, economic, and cultural fronts throughout history.

Simón Bolívar the unifier

The diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Costa Rica date back to the early 19th century when both countries gained independence from Spain. Venezuela’s liberation hero, Simón Bolívar, played a significant role in fostering these ties. Bolívar maintained close relationships with several Central American countries, including Costa Rica, as he believed in the importance of regional unity against colonial powers. His vision of a united Latin America contributed to the formation of organizations such as the Gran Colombia, which included present-day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and parts of Peru and Brazil.

In the early 20th century, Costa Rica and Venezuela continued to strengthen their ties through diplomatic and economic cooperation. Both countries shared a commitment to democratic values and pursued similar foreign policy objectives. During this period, cultural exchanges also flourished, with Venezuelan artists and musicians finding inspiration and opportunities in Costa Rica, and vice versa.

Regional initiatives

In more recent history, the two countries have collaborated on various regional initiatives. Both Venezuela and Costa Rica are founding members of the Organization of American States (OAS), an organization that promotes multilateral dialogue and cooperation among countries in the Americas. Both nations have actively participated in OAS meetings and have supported each other’s initiatives within the organization.

Challenges ahead

However, it is important to note that the political situation in Venezuela in recent years has affected the relations between the two countries. Costa Rica, along with several other nations in the region, has expressed concerns about the deterioration of democratic institutions and human rights in Venezuela. As a result, Costa Rica has taken a firm stance against the Venezuelan government and has joined international efforts to address the crisis in the country.

Despite these challenges, there are still areas of cooperation between Venezuela and Costa Rica. Economic relations between the two countries have been historically significant, with trade and investment flowing between them. Costa Rica has imported goods such as petroleum products, while exporting products like coffee, fruits, and vegetables to Venezuela.

Cultural exchanges have also remained an important aspect of the relationship between the two nations. Venezuelan artists and musicians continue to visit Costa Rica, showcasing their talent and contributing to the vibrant cultural scene in the country. Additionally, the Venezuelan community in Costa Rica has played a crucial role in maintaining ties between the two countries, fostering cultural understanding and promoting collaboration in different fields.

In conclusion, the historical relations between Venezuela and Costa Rica have been characterized by diplomatic ties, regional cooperation, and shared values. Throughout history, these countries have collaborated on political, economic, and cultural fronts, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral relations. Despite the challenges faced in recent years, there are still opportunities for both nations to work together and build upon their historical connections for the benefit of their citizens and the region as a whole.

The post The Historical Relations between Costa Rica and Venezuela: An Everlasting Friendship appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

“The number of people arriving exceeds the institutional capacity (…).  “We are overwhelmed.”According to the vice minister of the presidency of Costa Rica, Jorge Rodríguez, his country’s capacity to manage the constant and growing flow of migrants passing through its territory towards the United States has reached its maximum limit.

 And this was the reason given by the Costa Rican president, Rodrigo Chaves, for ordering this Tuesday the declaration of a “national emergency” with which he wants to have more economic resources to strengthen the capacities of the institutions in charge of addressing this situation.

 The measure was announced after the arrest last week of 25 migrants on the southern border after a confrontation with police officers who were trying to prevent street vendors in the area, which generated serious disturbances and caused great controversy in the country.

 Chaves, who will sign the presidential decree this past Thursday for the national emergency to come into force, raised the tone and threatened with deportations for foreigners who disturb public order in the country.

 “I have instructed the Ministry of Public Security to have a firm hand with those few people who think that the gentleness, kindness and generous heart of Costa Ricans can be confused with weakness,” he said.

 To migrants who arrive in Costa Rica and “behave badly, disrespecting the authorities, causing disturbances, the message is that they are going back to their country of origin, because we are not going to tolerate it here,” he warned.

 How has this situation come to this point?

According to official data from border authorities, as of September 23, more than 390,000 migrants had crossed the dangerous Darién jungle this year that separates Colombia from Panama.  This is the highest number ever recorded and far exceeds the 248,000 people who crossed it in all of 2022.

 After crossing Panama, Costa Rica is the next country along the migrant route.Since June, when about 900 migrants a day entered Costa Rican territory through the southern border, the flow tripled to 2,600-2,700 a day in August. “This situation now warrants declaring a national emergency, due to the number of people who are passing through our territory,” said Chaves.

 Once in Costa Rica, migrants take a bus that takes them directly to Los Chiles, on the northern border with Nicaragua.This transportation was implemented by the Costa Rican authorities to try to avoid crowds of migrants in their territory, but hundreds of them are also stranded because they cannot pay the US$30 that the ticket costs.

 This strategy, called “controlled flow,” is also applied in Panama, where migrants previously take a bus to travel directly to the Costa Rican border.Once they arrive in northern Costa Rica, many migrants resort to the service of “Talibans,” as transporters are known who take them to blind spots on the Nicaraguan border because they cannot pay the US$150 that Managua charges as a safe passage to enter regularly through the border point of Las Tablillas

Paso Canoas, symbol of the crisis

But it is Paso Canoas, on the southern border of Costa Rica, the border crossing that has become the greatest example of this migration crisis in the country.Although there is a migrant reception center about 15 km away, its capacity for less than 300 people was soon exceeded and a few months ago the authorities installed an open space on part of what was the landing strip of an old airfield, just a few five minutes from the border.

 The government thus intended to prevent migrants from having to wander through the town, where less than 20,000 people live.  But the fact that more than 60,000 people passed through this place alone so far in September made the services of this improvised camp also completely insufficient.

 “The situation is of a dimension that exceeds the capacity of the place and, as soon as you arrive, you are surprised by the overcrowding there is,” says Luis Ponte, coordinator of the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) project in the area.

 The few existing latrines are dirty or collapsed, there are hardly any showers or roofs to protect oneself from the 30 degree temperatures or torrential rains that can last for hours.  One of the biggest problems is perhaps the accumulation of garbage which, according to Ponte, can exceed 12 tons in just over a week, with the consequent health risk.

 “We are overwhelmed in the possibility of attending to in an ordinary way what these institutions could attend to.  “Just the amount of waste that accumulates does not even allow the Municipality of Corredores (to which Paso Canoas belongs) to deal, on a daily basis, with the garbage that is generated there,” the Vice Minister of the Presidency acknowledged.

 Every day large lines form to be able to take the buses to continue the journey north.  Between 500 and 600 people sleep each night on cardboard or, the luckiest, in small tents until they raise the money needed for transportation, which can take four or five days.

 To achieve this, the majority resorts to informally selling food or other products on the streets.  The situation became tense with some neighbors, who last month temporarily blocked the border and demanded a reinforcement of police to prevent so many migrants from wandering through the community, considering that they could spread diseases.

 “People arrive dehydrated and with physical injuries, swelling, viral infections… but also with emotional ailments after having suffered robberies or violence along the way.  They come with a need to be listened to with empathy, to feel welcome despite the conditions of that camp,” explains Ponte, whose organization provides support in the area by delivering medicines, collecting garbage and expanding the covered area of ​​the camp.

 As announced by President Chaves, the authorities will adjust their plan so that migrants board the buses elsewhere to avoid crowding at this point where the situation has already become almost unsustainable.

 What will this national emergency decree be for?

According to the country’s National Emergency Commission, the declaration of national emergency will allow the delivery of institutional resources from the State to offer migrants optimal conditions for “safe transit” and to meet the needs of the populations where the greatest number of migrants is concentrated.

Carlos Sandoval García, a professor at the University of Costa Rica who is an expert in migration, agrees that the declaration of emergency could provide funds to facilitate accommodation and transportation for migrants transiting through the country.

 However, avoid considering the current situation as “exceptional.”  In his opinion, this decision is due to the usual position that Chaves maintains regarding migration in a country where 10% of its residents are foreigners (mostly of Nicaraguan origin) and where controversy still resonates over recent unrest between migrants and authorities on the southern border.

 “This declaration is part of the president’s rhetorical tone and not so much of an articulated response strategy to what this humanitarian drama is.  He is characterized by a confrontational and polarizing style.  More than trying to resolve the issue of migration, it is about capitalizing political legitimacy from migration,” he believes.

 The main solution to this situation, the expert points out, lies in improving conditions in the migrants’ countries of origin to guarantee “their right not to have to migrate.”

 “More than a unilateral action by the government of Costa Rica or any other country, what is needed is a regional strategy, a summit of presidents that truly addresses the migration emergency we are experiencing and prevents forced displacement.  Going from the national to the regional is something key that is urgently needed,” he says.

 For the moment, the Costa Rican president was clear in his message to migrants who plan to pass through his territory in the coming months.“Whoever comes here is going to respect our laws, our police and the towns through which they will travel (…).  Those who are thinking about coming to Costa Rica should start meditating,” said Chaves.

The post “We Are Overwhelmed”: The Migration Crisis That Led the President of Costa Rica to Request an Emergency Declaration appeared first on The Costa Rica News.

 The Board of Directors of the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) resolved the Procedure for the penetration capacity of distributed energy resources (DER) by distribution circuit that are integrated with the distribution networks of the National Electric System (SEN).

 It establishes in detail the technical requirements, information and criteria to be considered by the distribution companies and the System Operator (OS) to determine the penetration (or accommodation) capacity per DER distribution circuit that is integrated with the distribution networks, SEN distribution.The measure communicated through Resolution RE-0095-JD-2023 was well received by the industry.

Extremely positive

 “From the Chamber of Distributed Generation we see it as extremely positive that ARESEP has completed a process of formalizing regulatory instruments derived from Law 10,086 on distributed energy resources; it has been almost 2 years of waiting for the implementation of the Law,” indicated William Villalobos, executive director of the Distributed Generation Chamber.

 One of the most relevant elements of this procedure, characterized as transparent, open, scalable and efficient that considers all the locations of the DERs in the circuits, is the methodology for studies of the safe penetration capacity of the circuits (hosting capacity).

 Because? 

William Villalobos indicated that it is because precisely since the entry into force of Law 10086, the competence and responsibility was granted to Aresep to issue the regulatory instruments that allow the law to be operationalized.

 And, a no minor detail is that when defining the field of application of this new procedure, an exception was made to the operating mode for distributed generation without delivery of surpluses to the network.

 In this regard, Villalobos observed: “This differentiation that Aresep has made that systems that do not deliver surpluses will not be subject to the capacity availability of the circuits is not only relevant; but also, it is a signal that gives the necessary legal security for the deployment of projects in this modality in the country, especially at times where renewable energies are essential to face the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.”

Significant delay in the strengthening of various circuits

 And he added: “It is important to note that, in the country there is a significant delay in the strengthening of various circuits in the country, the rates that were also approved by Aresep and published today, are a signal so that through this income achieve significant improvements for greater use of technologies in the field of DERs, and even the distribution companies themselves have recognized some limitations to advance in this, either due to lack of personnel or economic resources for said investments, hence, not having made this differentiation “It would have meant condemning the national photovoltaic industry to a process of serious slowdown of new projects.”

Solar generation

 Costa Rica today has 250 MW of installed capacity in solar generation distributed on more than 7,000 roofs in the country, and like in many countries, this is a reality that is here to stay.  According to the representative of the Distributed Generation Chamber, the activity will continue to grow and be strengthened with new business models such as the deployment of smart networks, virtual plants, energy communities, demand aggregators, among others.

 “Technology does not wait for regulation; And faced with this reality, what the market expects is that the regulation is flexible, adaptable and clear,” he concluded.

The post New Resolution Enhances the Dynamics of Costa Rican Renewable Energy Market appeared first on The Costa Rica News.