US Senator Confirms Maduro Minister Bought Costa Rica Property with Drug Money

The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury has been looking into Vladimir Padrino, Venezuelan vice president of Political, Security and Peace Sovereignty (Venezuelan Minister of Defense), and his role as a close key figure to Nicolás Maduro.

Padrino’s official role is focused on maintaining loyalty of the US armed forces but is accused of buying property in Costa Rica with money from drug trafficking. His name does not appear in any companies or real estate in Costa Rica but, according to the DIS, authorities are “corroborating names of possible relatives” to Padrino. It is possible he sent the money to his girlfriend or a relative and the property was bought with fake documents.

The investigation started even before he took office last August. They are being carried out with the help of the Ministry of Security and the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration and the Foreign Ministry.

“Vladimir Padrino, do not forget to include your girlfriend in Costa Rica and the ranch that you bought with the money you got from the drug traffickers,” US Senator Marco Rubio said.

Costa Rica Electric Vehicles & Green License Plates

Electric vehicles will be given green license plates that correspond to privileges in parking and driving. This is part of the Government’s strategy to promote the use of this type of vehicle.

Part of the new official National Plan of Electric Transportation is that cars with green licence plates will not be subject to vehicular restriction of circulation. They may use special parking spaces in public and private lots. Additionally, they can park at meters without paying.

The document also mentions that actions will be taken to regulate exonerations of spare parts of electric vehicles as well as manage financing agreements with preferential conditions for those buying electric vehicles.

Of the 2.5 million registered motor vehicles circulating, only 528 are zero emission vehicles. Owners of these electric vehicles can obtain the new green plates via a process of substitution before the National Registry.

From Symbolic Creatures To Insight Beings

Costa Rica’s Moín Mega Shipping Port Finally Opens

The Moín Mega Port is officially open as of Thursday afternoon. This is great news after 10 years of trouble surrounding the construction of this artificial island, the largest infrastructure project that has been developed in the country.

Controversy surrounded the project from the beginning. It was set to be operational by 2016 but delay after delay came up. Just 10 days after the award, the State was sued for publishing the tender without needed technical studies .

The project faced opposition from the National Banana Chamber, the Workers’ Union of Japdeva, and environmentalists. There were protests by workers and transporters too. Even once construction finally started there were troubles. The route built to access the Container Terminal of Moín was constructed on the wrong geographical coordinates. APM Terminals announced a further 13 month delay in July 2017.

The first berth became operational in October 2018 but what followed was controversy over what type of ships the port attends. The second berth is now in operation.

El Nino & the Costa Rica Drought

Many parts of Costa Rica are facing drought when rain was expected. This is due to an unusual climatic phenomenon. This same El Niño phenomenon will cause temperatures to rise up to three degrees in March.

The most affected areas are the Caribbean and the north. Agricultural zones suffer the most as this affects crops and livestock. Rain deficits near the Chirripó River are over 60% this year.

Almost every year, we see heavy rains between December and February and this was expected to accompany El Niño again this year. Instead of floods, however, we face drought, a very unusual El Niño.

The Ministry of Finance is expected to authorize the disbursement of ¢5,210 million to address the effects of this phenomenon. This will go to building irrigation canals and river diversion, serve the fishing and aquatic sector, and buy animal feed.

Legends of Owls

Liposuction Lost Of Life in Costa Rica

A 28-year-old woman, Eileen Bravo Córdoba, lost her life shortly after undergoing liposuction at the Habibi Clinic in Escazú. She suffered a cardiac arrest but overcame it. It happened again and it was not possible to save her.

It seems she had an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis to the anesthesia. The College of Physicians needs a family member to come forward with a complaint in order to start an official investigation and sanction, if appropriate, the surgeon.

The owner of the clinic said that the establishment has all the necessary permits in order. The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating five complaints of malpractice in other aesthetic clinics. A similar case caused the death of another woman undergoing liposuction in November.

The Penal Code punishes culpable injuries with up to one year in prison as well as being disqualified from the profession for up to two years. Culpable homicide is punishable by up to eight years in prison and five years of disqualification.