Comments on: President Solis won’t support tourism “bailout” bill as written

By: mhogan

mhogan — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:54:00 +0000

Agree with the insanity of basing business activity on government forecasting and then asking for bailouts when they fail to materialize. I suspect there are a number individual cases where there is more to the story than meets the eye — like government broken promises. On a personal note, I believe the government of CR is one giant machine aimed to lure people into the country withs promises it has no intention of keeping. One case in point: when we invested (heavily) in Costa Rica under an “inversiones” program, we received residency with certain conditions in order to sustain that residency. They were clearly spelled out. Guess what? a few years down the road, a “new” condition was added: you must join the CAJA. This was not the written agreement specified under terms of our residency, just an add-on. How about the Pensionado Program where you could import a vehicle and personal belongings without duty — changed. When the government has no honor, what do you expect of its people. Projections are one thing; totally different are promises.

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:04:00 +0000

It is an interesting line of argument to contend that when a government agency issues a mistaken economic forecast on which investors rely only to lose money, those investors are then entitled to a government bailout to compensate them for their losses.

Would it follow that if a government agency forecast a lower unemployment rate than materialized, those who quit a job to look for another one only to be able to find one are entitled to government compensation?

Would it follow that if a government agency forecast a lower inflation rate than materialized, anyone who invested in CDs and lost money is entitled to government compensation?

Would it follow that if a government agency forecast a better job environment for college graduates than materialized, un- and under-employed college graduates are entitled to government compensation?

I can understand holding government accountable for actual blunders, but since when are future forecasts actual blunders? Doesn’t everyone know that there is an element of guesswork when anyone forecasts anything? Doesn’t everyone also know that it’s up to them to do their own homework about their own businesses when it comes to making projections about the future?

Of course, there’s an easy solution to all this: Shut down the tourism institute. If government is going to be held responsible for a mistaken forecast, maybe it shouldn’t be in the forecasting business to begin with. Let the private industry do its own forecasting.

And if after liquidation of the ICT there’s any money left over, go ahead and refund to those who paid the taxes.

Really, these folks keep carping about how they want more government support, only to turn around and complain that the quality of that support is so poor that they deserve more government support as compensation. I say get rid of all government support and let the industry stand or fall on its own merits.

By: richard schlinder

richard schlinder — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:03:00 +0000

Any time there are funds dispersed to private businesses,it opens the door very wide for favoritism and corruption.Who’s to say who gets what and how much?? On another line.
I was in the tourism business for 22 years.Tourism is always playing catch up. They have three or four good years followed by a recession for one or two years. This last recession since 2009 has been unusually long.The problem with this is it is the employees that suffer to most. Not the business owners.

By: disgsted

disgsted — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:59:00 +0000

Money will just go into their pockets and nothing change. Maybe some business need to go belly up, and pare down. USA did bailouts and many just filed bankrupts ask Solar company and a few other POOF money gone.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:36:00 +0000

So the goverment of Costa Rica is saying things are not going well in tourism now. Everyone has been saying that the numbers in tourism are misleading in Costa Rica. Unemployment in CR is 20% not 9% like the goverment says. Food costs are getting really kind of crazy. When is the Costa Rican goverment going to change when there is 40% unemployment. I know many Costa Rican that are now trying to leave the country because there is little hope to find a job. The media is not even talking about suicide rate in Costa Rica i have heard of a few stories of people killing themselfs over not able to find jobs and banks forclosing on homes and cars.
Pres Solis has lost control of his cabinet ministers and now congress is under control of PLN corupt bastards. As long as there is rice and beans Costa Rican will never stand up against a corupt system.

Melvin Jimenez ex chief of staff you are useless person.