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Wildlife
Ministry of Health and Municipality Look to Eliminate Street Venders

By Oliver Pérez

Friday morning, June 22, a group of officials from the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Nicoya decomissioned merchandise from a group of women street venders that display their products in front of the Court of Justice in the city of Nicoya. 

The group of women, the majority heads of households, arrive every day at the southeast side of the courthouse in Nicoya, almost before the first rays of sunlight shine, to sell tortillas, squash, atol made from corn, rosquillas, chicheme and other agricultural products. 

The female group comes from Los Hondores, Las Casitas and Matambu.  Even though the Municipality conditioned a building for them known as the Mercado de las Guayabas, they decided more than two years ago to sell in the streets, affirming that no one comes to this market. 

The problem for the women is that the Ministry of Health forbids street vending, principally of food, as stated by the high court Sala IV, which supports the eradication of street vendors as they infringe upon environmental rights and people’s health.

 



On Friday the 22nd, the sellers were surprised at 9 a.m. by the operative, and the presence of the Public Force was necessary due to the refusal of the women to hand over their merchandise. The Ministry of Health is responsiable for decommisioning all of these products and destroying them since they don’t have a sanitary control. 

According to Gabriel Sotelo, inspector for the Ministry of Health, the procedure starts with the act of decommissioning, and they also perform an act of destruction in the case of perishable substances.

This day, on the Facebook social network of Naum Masis, treasurer of the Development Association of Matambu, dozens of users made declarations against the decision of both institutions.  

For example, Marianela Castillo remarked about the “humble people trying to bring food to their kids, while those who sell drugs in the view and patience of everyone; I don’t understand the so-called “laws” of this country….”

Miriam Retana, one of the sellers, expressed to VON that she doesn’t understand the attitude of the Municipality and Ministry of Health if they are working honorably. 

“Here we are making a living for our families. We prefer to be here and not go and ask the government to give us anything. Here we manage. It’s true that 50 meters from where we are, there is a little market, but no ones goes there, so it goes better for us here,” Retana, from Las Casitas, manifested with anger.

For his part, the mayor, Marco Antonio Jimenez, laments what happened but said that the laws must be respected. 

“They have to know that street vending is prohibited; we understand the bad situation of the population, but unfortunately we have to act. All of these sales are not permitted. The women affected have the little market so they can sell their products but they prefer to be on the street in the sun and rain. We don’t understand,” explained the mayor. 

The muncipality is working on a project to remodel Las Guayabas market and give more space for this type of sales.

 

More Regional News

Pictures and News of the Month

The Voice of Nosara brings you a brief recap of June stories you might have missed.

Montaña River Flooding May Wash Away Bridge Fill

The concern is twofold for the residents of Nosara when it comes to transit routes in their community. The roads are in poor condition and the Moñtana river bridge is unfinished.

Wealthy US Citizens dumping Passports to Avoid Tax in Costa Rica

As taxes continue to rise in the United States, the upcoming expiration of the Bush Administration tax cuts and a proposed 55 percent tax increase on the horizon for the wealthy, an increasing amount of the United States’ wealthier population is disillusioned.

Health Department Shuts Down Artisan Tables in Samara

On Friday, June 22, representatives of the Ministry of Health shut down the tables where local artisans have been selling their wares. This is the second time the artisans have been shut down and left wondering where to go or what to do to continue working and supporting their families. 

Representative Mendoza Supports Nosara’s Demonstration

Juan Carlos Mendoza, legislative representative of the Citizen Action Party (PAC-Partido Acción Ciudadana), recently visited Nicoya. VON took advantage of the opportunity to talk to Mendoza and get his opinion about the possible demonstration by Nosarans and the project of the Costal Territories law. 

About 2000 From Nosara Will Protest on July 25th
• Demonstrators Will Demand Pavement for Route 160

Members of different social and community organizations from Nosara will march to Nicoya July 25th to request that the government incorporate pavement over route 160 in the budget. 

Commission Reports that 90% of Proposed Regulatory Plan is a Cut and Paste Job

On Wednesday, June 6, the Administrative Commission of nine community representatives presented an extensive report to the Municpal Council of the Canton of Nicoya, recommending that the council completely reject the proposed regulatory plan elaborated by the Spanish company Inypsa.

Nicoya Mayor Will Protest Against the Government on July 25 Celebrations

Marco Antonio Jimenez Muñoz, mayor of Nicoya, Guanacaste, announced that he will protest against Laura Chinchilla Miranda’s government, on the Day of Annexation because of the "deplorable state of national roads in this area.”

Pictures and News of the Month

The Voice of Nosara brings you a brief recap of the May stories you might have missed.

The Order to Close Pedregal is for Land that Was Not Being Exploited

Several Nicoyans are asking themselves how is it that the company of Pedregal can continue to work on the site of La Calera, at the entrance to the city of Nicoya. The reason is that the Environmental Administrative Tribunal, which ordered a temporary cessation of Pedregal in Nicoya, made this resolution due to a second site where the company was working in 2009.

Servicentro Nicoya Under Scrutiny for Closing Passageway and Possible Illegal Construction

Servicentro Nicoya, located 100 meters from La Anexion Hospital, is under the watchful eye of the Municipality of Nicoya, the Controller General of the Republic, the Environmental Court and residents of the El Carmen neighborhood. 

Nosara’s Economic Forecast Looks Sunny

As the dust from dry season settles metaphorically and literally, merchants and business owners in Nosara are counting their spoils.

Rising Prices Hurt the Pocketbook

First the price of gas went up, next the price of bus tickets and finally the government added a 13% tax on products in the basic food basket. It’s time to take out the calculator and grab the pocketbook because everything is going up in price and your bill could reach an unforeseen amount. 

Mystery of E.Coli in Carrillo’s Estuaries Goes Unsolved

This year Carrillo only earned one star instead of two in the Ecological Blue Flag program because of a study that revealed high presence of E.Coli in the beach’s estuaries. Although so far the ocean water is still safe for swimming, that could change if action is not taken to find and remedy the problem. 

Nicoyan Auditor Owes Municipality 15 Years of Taxes
• Municipal Council Approved Sending Case to the Controller
• Official Was Suspended for Three Months

At the same time that ministers of the Republic have been under investigation for evading taxes, the internal auditor of the Municipality of Nicoya, Gilberto Lizano Elizondo, has also been under investigation for evading real estate taxes since 1997, as detailed in a report by the directive organ that investigated the case.


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