Post image for Heavy-handed judges complicate domestic cases

Heavy-handed judges complicate domestic cases

by Garland M Baker on July 19, 2010

The intention of Costa Rica’s domestic violence laws is to protect — especially women — in cases of aggression or violence against a mate.

However, the law has been transformed into a law that creates a legal license to steal. Judges have not helped the situation at all. There are around 18 different medidas cautelares. This would translate into protective measures or injunctions in English. Most judges use only the harshest one, six months of complete separation of the parties involved. This is true even though in many domestic violence cases the charges are complete lies.

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Those planning now will reap future rewards

by Garland M Baker on July 5, 2010

Businesses, including hotels, real estate agencies, tour operators and developers, to name a few, need to plan their long-term Internet strategies today. Social media is transforming the world dramatically, and a simple Web site is just not good enough anymore.

Web sites, online advertising and Internet promotion have for many years been the primary means to market a product or service in Costa Rica to an international audience. The Internet is cheaper than print advertising, and it is an effective medium to reach a mass audience in the United States and other parts of the world, especially those persons in the planning stages of a Costa Rica vacation or retirement.

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Post image for Online U.S. hookers affecting sex tourism here

Online U.S. hookers affecting sex tourism here

by Garland M Baker on June 21, 2010

Social media like Facebook and Myspace, among others, have officially overtaken pornography as the No. 1 activity on the Web. Obviously, people have not lost an interest in sex, but clearly the marketplace is moving, growing and operating with relative impunity in the United States via social networks.

This kind of global social change has implications for Costa Rica, and it could mean that the problem of sex tourism will come to an end. However, on the other hand it could make it much worse. [click to continue…]

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Social networking endangers country’s image

June 7, 2010
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Internet social networking accelerates life in the 21st century. It also proposes challenges to everyone doing business in Costa Rica. More importantly, all the negative comments about Costa Rica are going to kill the country’s tourism future because the negative runs rampant through social networks. The country’s marketing system better catch up fast. The country [...]

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New type of tax status would spare expats pain

May 24, 2010
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There are several types of company structures in Costa Rica. The two most common are the sociedad anónima and the S.R.L. However, there are only two types of tax statuses, active and inactive. This fact complicates tax filings for expats and is becoming more of a problem every day due to the enforcement of the [...]

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Shaky domestic violence laws fracture families

May 10, 2010
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Domestic violence laws in Costa Rica seem to work when they should not and seemly do not work when they should. The law is also in direct contradiction to Article 52 of Costa Rica’s Constitution which states, “El matrimonio es la base esencial de la familia y descansa en la igualdad de derechos de los [...]

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Smart money checking out those failed projects

April 26, 2010
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There are international developers currently looking for deals in Costa Rica. The past boom in the country created some opportunities because many projects were left unfinished when the market fizzled in late 2008. They are looking for the money trees of the next boom. However, some opportunities that look good are not what they appear [...]

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