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Protest at Serapio Lopez
Day Four: Protest makes for Progress

By Samantha Pollock

Protesters took to the tarmac this morning in a drastic attempt to be heard. A day that began with frustration is closing with a sense of relief.                   

It is day four of the protest at Serapio Lopez elementary school in Nosara town and a resolution is in the works.  Thursday October 13, protesters met with a representative from the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) to discuss settlement terms.

While no formal decisions have been made an official complaint is being drafted with the acknowledgement of the ministry detailing each of the complaints towards the current principal. Parent protesters agreed to have current Kinder garden teacher, Seidy Ugalde, as the  temporary principal instated for the remainder of the current school year with hopes that a rotation of principals will take place in the coming year.

Through rain and shine both parents and students have held their ground, standing outside the gates surrounding the campus, refusing to give in to the worst of the rainy season nor the neglect of relevant authorities. With the threat of more drastic modes of civil disobedience, the protesters finally received the acknowledgement they were seeking, when a representative from the MEP responded to their request.

Sulay Salas Valenciano, Nicoya’s Regional Director of the MEP arrived in Nosara just after 12 am. She was greeted by an eager and growing crowd of protesters, happy to receive her.  The evening of Wednesday October 12, protesters sent a message to the ministry threatening to create a road block - between the L’aqua Viva hotel and the Pelada beach entrance on Route 160 - if they did not receive a response by 9 am the following day. A spokesperson for Valenciano told VON that the director would not be able to attend the protest before 9 am because she was in the hospital in Nicoya.

Determined to send a message to higher authorities, the protestors migrated towards the nearby Nosara airport. Eduardo Cespedes, a longtime employee of Nature air and the Nosara Airport told VON that the protesters threatened to break down the gate if the guard did not let them onto the airstrip. The guard subsequently allowed the seemingly peaceful protesters into the airport grounds, they proceeded to occupy the airstrip. 

According to Cespedes a flight from San Jose was set to land within 45 minutes of the occupation. The flight was cancelled before leaving the ground, Cespedes would not confirm whether the cancellation was due to the protest or inclement weather. The protest spoiled at least four potential passenger’s plans including a mother and daughter heading to San Jose for doctors’ appointments that – VON was informed - took months to book. 

By 9 am more than 50 protestors were spread out across the tarmac, the numbers increased as word of Valenciano’s arrival spread. The protest was triggered when frustrated parents and students of Serapio Lopez decided it was time for a new principal at the school. Parents are concerned that the conditions at the school are unacceptable and not conducive for learning or good health. 

Principal Cardenas Caravaca has been involved in a number of scandals throughout his time as principal. According to protesters he has been in hiding for the last two weeks, avoiding angry mob of parents demanding change.                   

 
   
 
   
 
   
 


Seidy Ugalde (right of the picture), current Kinder garden teacher, will be the temporary school principal

 

More Regional News

Mel Gibson returns 39.4 hectares of Maritime Land Zone

It seems that actor and movie producer Mel Gibson wants to bury legal litigations, and therefore decided to return 39.4 hectares in Barrigona Beach, a Maritime Land Zone area that corresponds to the Municipality of Nicoya. 

Defender scolds Municipality and Ministry of Health for not contracting Red Cross During Nosara Fiestas

The Defender of the People (Defensoría de los Habitantes) brought to the attention of the Municipality and the Ministry of Health that in the fiestas held between January 27 and 31, the Nosara Association of Development contracted the services of a private ambulance instead of the Red Cross.

Samara’s first cooperative looks to use excess wood productively
Free “Walking for Life” beach and rural walk planned for October 30th

A new non-profit cooperative has been organized in Samara under the direction of Marco Antonio Campos Campos. Farming, Industrial, Tourism and Multiple Services Cooperative of Samara, (COOPESAMARA), aims to commercialize wood products, improve tourism, promote employment and improve the quality of life of its associates, their families and the community...

Protests at Serapio López School
Parents close school to protest before the MEP

Even though the heavy rains wouldn’t let up on Monday, October 10, about 50 parents followed through on the threat to close Serapio López School. On Monday, before the first sunrays lit the sky, they closed it as a means of pressuring the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), since as they commented they want the director removed from the school.

Another Step toward a Safer Samara
Director General of Preventive Police met with community

Persistence is slowly paying off for Samara’s Security Committee as they receive more attention from officials in their quest to improve security after the murder of an Argentine tourist a few months ago. On Thursday, October 6 about 30 people attended a meeting with Director General of the Preventive Police Ivan Dumani Sáenz and other police officials.

Nicoya's Municipalidad Hunts Down Tax Evaders
Pedregal, several shrimping companies and even Mel Gibson owe millions

Nicoya's Municipalidad is determined to recover 313 million colones in taxes owed by three companies that operate in the area and has therefore initiated a recovery process by notifying each of them.

Tourist Police Update Nosara Community On Latest Activity
Tourist Police reports increase in feedback from through anonymous calls

Wednesday September 28, the tourist police held an open meeting for members of the Nosara community. More than 20 people attended the meeting held in the main lobby of L’aqua Viva hotel, 56 individuals were personally invited. Attendees were briefed on the latest police activity and given a chance to voice their concerns.

 

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