Truckers Make Their
Demands Known Trough
Protest
Just the way it was
planned, a number of
truckers took over the
General Cañas (Alajuela
- San José) highway in
protest to call the
attention of the
government to listen to
their demands - reduce
the cost of diesel.
The truckers formed a
caravan in an act of "totuguismo"
slowing down traffic to
the speed of a turtle on
the General Cañas into
San José,
The Policía de Tránsito,
however, were successful
in detouring the
truckers away from the
centre of San José, as
the truckers made their
way to Casa Presidencial
in Zapote.
The action caused a
serious bottleneck on
the busiest highway in
the country and in the
downtown streets running
parallel to Avenida 2.
Trucker Álvaro Mondragón
made it clear that the
truckers in the protest
action were not
affiliated with any
particular group or
union, rather they came
together in solidarity
against the actions of
the government which has
been unable to control
the price of diesel
fuel.
The viceministra de
Transportes Viviana
Martín and the
viceministro de la
Presidencia Roberto
Thompson agreed to meet
with the truckers for a
dialogue on a solution
to their demands, which
include the stopping of
foreign trucks entering
Costa Rica empty looking
for a load, taking work
away from Costa Rican
truckers.
In addition the truckers
want changes in the
taxes on parts,
lubricants, batteries
and tires that are used
by the big trucks.
In exchange and forming
part of the dialogue is
that the truckers will
respect the vehicular
restrictions placed on
them in circulating the
Gran Areas Metropolitana
(GAM) - greater
metropolitan area.
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