Legislative Assembly Doubles the Buying Power in Golfito

As a destination for bargain shoppers looking to take advantage of tax-free items, Golfito became more enticing over night.
In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, legislators raised the limit for tax- free purchases in Golfito, allowing thrifty buyers to stuff more into their vans and trucks. Whereas before, customers could purchase a mere $500 worth of goods every six months, under the new law they'll be able to bring home $1,000.
Golfito is home to the Free Trade Depository ( deposito libre ), a duty-free shopping locale with especially attractive discounts on large-ticket items such as refrigerators, stoves and sound systems. The depository was established in 1990 to encourage development and tourism in the economically depressed southern region. In Costa Rica it's not unusual for newlyweds and families moving into a new home to assemble all their friends and family for a junket to Golfito, where each can use his or her quota to help fill the new house.
According to a statement from the bill's sponsor, the Citizen Action Party (PAC), the former quota was insufficient to encourage visitation to the zone, thus defeating the law's purpose. Statistics from the Regional Development Board of the Southern Zone (Judesur) show that the number of visits to the depository has dropped 25 percent between 1997 and 2007.
PAC legislators Alberto Salom and Oliver Pérez presented the bill in March of 2009 with the aim of restoring the purchasing power of the quota and this increasing commerce in the area. And the new law contains a mechanism to ensure the value of the quota doesn't depreciate over time.
“As of now, the value of the purchase card, as it's popularly known, will be reviewed regularly,” said Salom.
The Free Trade Depository is open to foreigners and residents alike. For more information, call 2232-1198.

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff

Revisions to Costa Rica's Traffic Law Blocked by Motion Judicial Review

Just when it seemed lawmakers were about to come to an agreement to reduce high fines contained in Costa Rica's controversial new traffic law, the left-leaning Citizen Action Party (PAC) blocked forward progress by requesting a judicial review of proposed reforms.
The move effectively ends debate in the short term over the traffic law – which has been criticized for penalizing traffic violators with fines as high as $500 – because it delays a vote until after a one-month review process by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV). The current Legislative Assembly is scheduled to leave office in two weeks.
The PAC made a similar motion three weeks ago with the final piece of legislation required to implement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States. That law is currently under review by judges, but probably also will not make it to the floor for debate before the assembly turns over.
“It's a regrettable decision,” said Jorge Méndez, legislator with the National Liberation Party, who was the leading proponent of the traffic law reform, according to the daily Diario Extra. “Thanks to this, drivers will continue to receive high fines.”
He added, “Our intention was to resolve this issue before we left.”
But Alberto Salom, leader of the PAC delegation in the current legislature, justified his motion by saying that the PAC was not the only political group in favor of putting the bill before judges.
“It's a right of a legislator. This was the time in the process (to send it to Sala IV). There wasn't another. …” he said. “I oppose the bill in the terms in which it is laid out.”
Judges will be reviewing the law for alleged violations of the rights of the disabled.
Reforms to the traffic law have been on and off the floor of the assembly since the law was originally approved in November, 2008. Following its approval, it became clear that a majority of legislators disagreed with the high fines as well as other elements of the bill. Legislators gave themselves an additional six months to discuss reforms, but weren't able to agree on changes before the law went into effect earlier this year.
As many as 21,000 tickets have been issued under the new law, which penalizes people who attempt to bribe an officer with a $415 fine, those who talk on a cell phone while driving with a $300 fine and those who fail to obey a stop sign with a fee of $300.

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff

Golfito Travel Nostalgia

In the early 1980's, Golfito began it's journey towards tourism. Check out this early Lacsa Airline commercial promoting the region. The end of the United Fruit Company's reign in Golfito and departure from town put a definite damper on the movements in that direction for more than a decade- but our tourism community is back on track.... "You can't keep a natural wonderland like Golfito down". Check out the landing strip back in those days. It was still in dual use - As a par 3 golf course for the Chiquita-Dole executives and as the local commercial air field. Cool!