Costa Rican
Legislators Are
Above The Law
Notwithstanding
an eviction
order by the
Ministerio de
Salud (Health
ministry) that was
to have been
executed at 2pm
Wednesday, the
40 legislators,
their assistants
and support
staff will stay
put in their rat
and cockroach
infested
buildings for at
least another
year.
Yesterday
afternoon the president of the
Legislative
Assembly, Luis
Gerardo
Villanueva,
assured that 450
people who had
no place to go
would be staying
in their offices
until a solution
could be found.
For her part,
the ministra de
Salud, Maria
Luisa Avila,
said that if and
the rest of the
people would
provide her with
a statement
absolving her of
any
responsibility,
the eviction
order would not
be carried out.
The Salud
eviction is for
three buildings
that make up the
Legislative
Assembly complex
east of downtown
San José: the
Sión, the Casa
Rosada and the
Castillo Azul.
The problems
date back to
2005 when Health
ministry
officials first
issued a health
warning which
was never
complied with.
The same
occurred in
2007.
The problem,
according to
Villanueva is
that there has
been no
planning.
"Two years were
lost in moves
for a new
building, the
funds and
opportunities
were also lost.
This past month
every time we
open a drawer
there has been a
surprise. All
these problems
could have been
avoided", said
Villanueva.
The legislative
head said that
the Health
ministry will
not be placing
the customary
seals of closure
on the
buildings. |
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