In her first year in office, President Laura Fernández Delgado led the session of the Governing Council for Annexation on ground that had already been prepared by former President Rodrigo Chaves, who had built a network of individuals and groups aligned with his political project.
The president was applauded, and Chaves received even more applause as he greeted the crowd, blowing kisses and even shouting “we love you” to the hundred or so people gathered in front of the stage. On stage, both the president and members of the government showered the now-Minister of Finance with praise throughout the event. In total, Chaves was mentioned at least 12 times.
Fernández herself constantly reinforced this prominent role. On several occasions, she attributed the major projects and investments announced to Rodrigo Chaves’s administration, noting that they had begun during his tenure.
Dissenting voices, once again, faced obstacles in making themselves heard: members of the University of Costa Rica Student Federation (FEUCR) arrived without identifying badges—to avoid expulsion and aggression—and positioned themselves discreetly in the small plaza.
Only at the end of the event, during the press conference, did they unfurl a banner in protest reading, “Jaguar Economy: Taxing the People to Benefit the Rich.” At least eight government supporters stood in front of the banner to block it from being read.
We are witnessing displays of intolerance, mockery, shouting, insults, and a clear act of censorship by government supporters,” said Mariel Rojas, a member of the FEUCR board.
The group blocking the banner refused to explain why they were doing so. “If you stand in front of it, we can’t see it,” said one of the most persistent women. But even as the students moved back and to the sides, the group persisted in blocking the banner.
FEUCR members unfurled a banner in protest at the end of the official ceremony. A group of government supporters stood in front of it to prevent the message from being read.
While this was happening, a man—dressed like several others from the president’s office—arrived to oversee the blocking of the students’ banner.
Our view of the government is that the ‘Jaguar Economy’ focuses on taxing the people of Costa Rica to benefit the wealthy, big business owners, and those in power in the country,” said Mariel Rojas, a member of the FEUCR board.
The students’ departure was escorted by police, while several people around them hurled insults at them.
Government supporters booed FEUCR students as they were escorted by police to prevent attacks.
A historic investment?
For over an hour, backed by several pre-recorded and live videos, President Fernández outlined at least six promises for Guanacaste:
- Solar power projects in Liberia, Carrillo, Cañas, Abangares, and Nandayure, which, according to authorities, will generate electricity for nearly 200,000 people. Marco Acuña Mora, CEO of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), mentioned the Los Tecales solar complex in Nandayure, with an investment of nearly $50 million and a capacity of 20 MW, which would supply power to some 15,000 households.
- Guillermo Carazo, Minister of Housing and Human Settlements, presented the Zona Azul housing project, located near the National University campus in Nicoya. The project, he said, will cost ¢8.5 billion and benefit 250 families.
- The president of the Institute for Rural Development (Inder), Ricardo Quesada Salas, stated that ¢3,138 million will be allocated to projects involving road infrastructure, water systems, tourism, and agricultural equipment in cantons such as La Cruz, Bagaces, and Liberia.
- The president announced an investment of $150 million from the National Road Administration (Conavi) budget for the expansion of Route 21 in Liberia, a project she assured will resolve traffic congestion near the airport. She added that studies have already begun to convert the road to a two-lane highway between Comunidad de Carrillo and Nicoya.
- Regarding investment in health care, Minister Mónica Taylor said that the Costa Rican Social Security Fund will open two additional clinics at the Enrique Baltodano Hospital in Liberia to treat less complex cases, and announced an investment of more than ¢9,000 million for the new Nicoya health care area, planned for next year. Taylor also mentioned an investment of ¢54,000 million for the expansion of the Liberia hospital, a figure that the president herself reiterated as part of the package of health improvements for the province.
One of the event’s key announcements—and one of the few that was not merely a promise—was the granting of the first formal concession for artisanal sand extraction in the Tempisque River to the 18 families of the Nacascolo Sand Miners Association. Fernández stated that her administration plans to grant at least three concessions to organizations in Palmira, Paso Tempisque, and Filadelfia.
The representative of the Nacascolo Sand Miners Association spoke during the event after receiving the first formal concession for artisanal sand extraction in the Tempisque River, one of the day’s main announcements.
No mention was made of “Agua para la bajura”
The “Paacume” project, which later became “Agua para la bajura,” has been presented to the Governing Council in Nicoya since 2022.
This project proposes the construction of an 850-hectare reservoir to guarantee water for the communities of Nicoya, Carrillo, and Santa Cruz.
Former President Rodrigo Chaves announced the start of construction in 2023 and 2025, but this year there was no mention of progress during the Government session, although it was a central topic on Friday during the Legislative Assembly session in Guanacaste.
Pro-government legislators emphasized that 20% of the work has been completed, while opposition blocs consider this progress to be minimal.
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