Cleaning up Puerto Viejo, from a 2011 effort

Gecko Trail, a travel agency located in Puerto Viejo de Limon, along with the community school and the Asociación de Organizaciones del Corredor Biológico Talamanca Caribe (ACBTC), are currently working on a project to raise awareness about the growing problem of trash and debris on the beach and natural areas in their town.

The entities are planning a clean-up day in Puerto Viejo, on Friday April 13th, 2012. The project is aimed at learning about the solid waste management practices in Puerto Viejo, as well as the importance of getting the community involved in the effort.

The principal objective of the ACBTC – (Talamanca-Caribbean Biological Corridor Association) is the protection of the Biological Corridor, and it seeks to strengthen the connection between the protected areas and indigenous territories, and promoting the well-being of wild species of flora and fauna.

Starting in July 2009, the CBTC started a strategic alliance with ReciCaribe, given that, the CBTC assumes the responsibility for collection, classification and commercialization of the solid waste of Talamanca and the Recycling Storage Center.

The alliance put into place a strategy that permits the expansion of communities where they can offer their services, increase the volume of the recuperated recycled materials, promote alternative uses for the integral management of solid waste as well as the integration of different social sectors and demographics (young people, children, women) in its management, to give them added value and increase their economic viability.

If you’d like to help out or participate in this effort, for more information contact:

Contact: Xiogeidy Gutierrez
Email: admin@geckotrail.com
Phone: 2750-0452

Source: Costa Rica Star: Press Release: Clean-Up in Puerto Viejo de Limon Scheduled for April 13th

An immigration agent in Sixaola at the border with Panama has been detained after investigators found him in possession of a number of foreign passports.

Many foreigners living in Costa Rica have are here as “perpetual tourists”. They enter the country as tourists and receive an entry stamp valid for 90 days. The rules require them to leave the country before the 90 days expire and not return for at least 72 hours before they could get a new reentry stamp. So for those who didn’t want to take a quick trip out of the country every 3 months, it was a open secret in Puerto Viejo that you could pay a certain local taxi driver to take your passport to the border, pay a bribe to an immigration official and get the exit and entry stamps.

After control of the stamps was tightened up, corrupt officials were not able to change the dates on them and so this scheme required the passports to actually be held for 3 days to make it work.

Presumably the passports seized are those that were awaiting their 3 day “reentry” stamp and those people are no doubt also in serious trouble with immigration, possibly facing an expulsion from the country and a ban on reentry.

The immigration agent in question has been charged with fraud and made his first court appearance in San Jose on Monday.

At an emergency meeting today in Cahuita, residents and business owners gathered to find out more information and speak in support of businesses and houses which have been deemed in violation of the maritime zone law and ordered demolished.

Costa Rica has a law which prohibits construction within 200 meters of the coast unless a specific concession is granted. But Puerto Viejo and Cahuita have operated in a gray area in this regards for years with much of both towns built in this zone and no regulatory plan in place from the municipality and approved by the central government. So business owners and residents have built businesses and homes within the zone and with what they thought were the required approvals.

Last year’s demolition of two hotels showed that this was no idle threat and that the risks were real.  And now according to a survey by the Contraloría General de la República (CGR) there are some 76 structures identified which are in violation and demolition orders have been issued for nine of them, including some very well known businesses in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Cocles.  Many more structures could also be deemed to be in violation.

In Puerto Viejo, demolition orders have been issued for KOKi Beach Restaurant & Bar, Lazy Mon Bar at Stanford’s and El Diamante Supermarket. In Cocles, Hotel La Isla Inn. And in Cahuita, Sobre Las Olas Restaurant, Cabinas Sea Side and the National Park Hotel and Restaurant. Two private homes are also on the list.

Today’s meeting was called by the Talamanca Municipality who are not in support of the central government’s actions and are promising to coordinate legal action with the affected property owners to fight the demolition orders and make sure no more are ordered. But until a regulatory plan is approved for the area, the issue is likely to continue.

Melvin Cordero, the mayor of Talamanca stated that “this action will worse the situation in the province and especially in Talamanca, which has already been neglected by the central government”. He added that this also increases uncertainty about the legal system in the country which will harm investment and job creation in the area.

Sources who attended the meeting said that although there was broad support for the property owners affected there wasn’t a clear agreement on a legal or other strategy to fight the orders.

More: Diario Extra: ¡Peligro de Demolitión a Turismo y Comercio! En Cahuita, Cocles y Puerto Viejo, Contraloría pide acciones a “Muni”

A Costa Rica/Columbia film production called Dos Aguas is holding auditions in Puerto Viejo on the weekend of April 14 and 15.

The producers are seeking the primary leads for the film which will be two young women of African descent between 13 and 17 years of age. They are also looking for secondary characters: men, women, children, older persons of African descent, mestizos, whites, foreign nationals. No experience is necessary.

The auditions will take place at the Casa de la Cultura each day between 10am and 6pm. Those interested in participating in the auditions should write to tiempoliquido@gmail.com.

More:

• La Nación: Película tica Dos aguas busca a protagonistas
• Dos Aguas facebook page

Local guides have reported that turtle nesting time has started in Gandoca. So we can also expect that the first turtles will arrive at local beaches too if they haven’t already. Though they always come out a bit later than the ones in Gandoca, keep your eyes open for signs.

If you do see a turtle track including a possible nest, please do not tell anybody but try to hide it.

I spoke to the Organisation in Gandoca and they suggest the following. Leave the nest where it is as a natural nest is still the best chance to have them hatch. Try to get rid of any tracks and other signs that the turtle left the water at this point and put her nest there. You can use a rake to do so – just pretend you’re cleaning the beach. Then either make sure you can remember the spot or put a little sign only visible for you. Very important, don’t tell anyone, the fewer people know it, the better.

More information:

• Take a tour with a certified guide. You’ll have the best chance of seeing the turtles and will support the organizations doing the work to protect them.

Article by Nina Neidhart. Nina is the general manager of Gecko Trail Adventures, a Puerto Viejo based tour company which offers packages, transportation, tours and activities throughout Costa Rica. They specialize in helping clients to set up a customized and authentic experience of the real Costa Rica. More information at GeckoTrail.com.

The Almendro de Montaña Tree. Photo Allan Taylor

The ARA Project is teaming up with the Earth Day Network for a reforestation project! Contributing to the “Billion Acts of Green” campaign, on Earth Day (April 22nd) The ARA Project will be planting 100 almendro de montaña, the preferred food source and nesting tree of the Great Green macaw.

One of the main reasons for the drastic decline in the Great Green macaw population in Costa Rica is due to the deforestation, which not only decreases habitat, but also fragments macaw populations. The almendro de montaña is a tropical hardwood, and thus valuable to people for its durability. The macaws rely on them for the large nuts that it produces 6 months out of the year. They are one of few animals able to reach the fruit inside the extremely tough shell, and do so by cracking it with their strong beaks.

Great Green Macaws Cracking Almonds. Photo Allan Taylor

In addition to being a vital food source, the tree is also precious to the macaws for breeding. As an almendro grows, lower branches break off and make holes in the tree’s trunks. Macaws then enlarge these natural holes with their beaks and create a cavity in which they mate and lay their eggs. While enlarging the hole, a sawdust-like substance is created and is used for nesting material. The nests are essentially predator-proof, since the branches begin so high that almost nothing can climb up and harm the eggs or chicks. All in all, this tree is integral to the survival of this magnificent bird.

Planting these trees not only helps macaws, but people too! Trees combat climate change by metabolizing carbon dioxide and transforming it into oxygen. Tree roots hold down soil and reduce erosion, which in turn helps keep water sources clean and the creatures living in them healthy!

Help us help the planet, the community, and the macaws by participating in this fun event, taking place Sunday, April 22nd, starting at 9 AM. Volunteers and places to plant these trees are needed. Please contact Colline W. Emmanuelle to find out more about how to help: colline@thearaproject.org or (506) 8524-4675

Volunteers can RSVP for the project here: http://act.earthday.org/event/mountain-almond-tree-planting or get more information on the Ara Project at www.thearaproject.org

Colline W. Emmanuelle is the Education & Community Outreach Manager for The Ara Project. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has been involved with the Project since February 2011. In addition to macaws, Colline’s favourite animals include anteaters and yeti crabs.

The new Colegio Académico de Puerto Viejo de Talamanca would be built just behind the main road on Playa Negra across from the beach. The design is a dramatic step forward from the usual cement block painted blue school construction in Costa Rica and would be a big boost to the educational environment for the youth of the area.

The project is still in the early stages but it has already overcome a number of obstacles on its way to actually being built.

We’ll keep you updated as more information is available.

Additional info and photos on the Municipality of Talamanca page on facebook.

A group of some 150 protesters has occupied the six story building of the Contraloría General de la República in San Jose protesting decisions taken by the central government which they say do not respect their long term land rights.

Many of the leading figures in the protest seem to be from the South Caribbean with representatives of associations from Manzanillo and Sixaola among those at the event.

They are angry that they have lived on their lands for many years and even often have papers and documents proving their purchase of the property but that the central government makes decisions on land use and environmental protection which do not recognize the long-standing residency and rights of those people already living there.

More:

• Repretel.com: Campesinos se manifestaron en La Contraloría (video)
• La Nación: Grupo de campesinos toma Contraloría para exigir tenencia de tierras

The service is designed to maximize the number of days visitors to Costa Rica can spend on the Caribbean coast, rather than having to spend their first or last night in San José. Unlike other shuttles, it will not stop in San Jose itself which will make the timing and speed much faster and more reliable as other shuttles stop many times enroute before getting to the airport.

As an additional feature, they offer pick up right at the airport, rather than having you taking a taxi to Restaurant Calalu as Interbus and other operators require. There is a new restaurant, called Malinche, which is just outside the airport, turn right when you leave the terminal and walk 50 meters down the road, this will be their meeting point.

The price per person is $55 if a booking is made for 1 or 2 persons. If a reservation for 3 or more persons is placed, the price drops to $45 p/p.

The schedule is optimized so that it works with most arriving and departing international flights. Pickup time is always at 3:30 PM for the route from San Jose to Puerto Viejo and pickup in the Caribbean will be around 6 AM so you are going to be at the airport by 11 the latest. They recommend this transportation option for departures at 1 PM or later. Departures at 12.30 PM could also be possible but as it can some days take up to 5 hours to get to the airport even without other stops. There will be a short break of 10 – 15 minutes along the way.

And since the operator is Caribbean based there won’t be the issue that some customers have faced recently trying to leave the day or their flight which was that their driver was an hour or more late meaning some tense moments for customers trying to get to the airport in time for a afternoon flight.

The service can be booked on Gecko Trail Adventure’s transportation planner which is a searchable form showing shuttle, private, tour and bus transport options from any point to any other point in Costa Rica or from the Puerto Viejo Satellite transportation page.

Claudio Ambroso, president of Asociación EDACS has announced that Asociación Pro Niño together with Asociación EDACS/ArteViva are organizing on the 25th of February at 10:30 am an event “Let’s improve the Puerto Viejo children’s playground”.

The idea is that students will perform some remodeling of the place, under the supervision of adults, which will include painting, gardening and carpentry. There will be also musical performances by the kids and professors from the Escuela de Musica de Puerto Viejo/Pro Artes as well as art workshops. The objective is to raise consciousness about the importance of such a strategic place for our kids.

These Associations will donate paint, brushes, new chains for the swings, ropes and other materials in order to make repairs and will coordinate the remodeling process. However the event is not fully organized and they hope that many of you will spontaneously participate and bring something so that we shall transform this in an unforgettable day of creativity, harmony and awareness about children’ rights.

Mothers and fathers, bring your kids! Artists come share your art! Restaurant owners donate some beverages or food for the children! And especially all of you can support this project by coming and sharing and showing the level of commitment of our community.

Claudio thanks Juan and Jessica Martinez for the initiative and thanks all of you for spreading this message and participating in the event.

Among the things you could help by donating are:

1. Picnic tables and chairs
2. Concrete sewer tubes
3. Entire new gym/swing set
4. Concrete work (circular path inside the playground for small bikes)
5. Large sandbox
6. Plants for along the borders
7. Trashcans & Recycling Bins
8. Food and beverages for the kids and performers