Annexation of Guanacaste Ceremony in Santa Cruz This Year

On Tuesday, the Central Government announced that Presidenta Laura Chinchilla and her governing council (cabinet) will be in Santa Cruz for the 188th anniversary of the Anexión del Partido de Nicoya (Guanacaste) and not Nicoya as is the tradition

The presidenta will also be visiting various communities such as Liberia, La Cruz, Bagaces, Cañas, Santa Cruz and Nicoya in Guanacaste.

Nicoya mayor, Marco Antonio Jimenez, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, claiming that the Government has not fulfilled the promise of investment and infrastructure that was promised to the county.

For his part, the Minister of Communication, Francisco Chacon, said the decision to the Governing Council has nothing to do with the troubles of the Nicoyan mayor.

On July 25 Costa Rica commemorates the annexation of the province of Guanacaste which occurred in 1824. Prior Guanacaste was part of Nicaragua.

‘Guanacastecos’ have always been well identified with Costa Rica and take pride in being a part of this country. Proof of this is their famous slogan ‘de la patria por nuestra voluntad’, which means ‘part of this country by our own choice’. This annexation by choice celebrates Costa Rica’s core values of democracy.

The day is celebrated with a national holiday and activities and events, ie. parades, folk dances, typical music, cattle shows and more especially in Guanacaste.