It has long been recognised that Costa Rica has somewhat of a problem with its immigration system, with corruption being its biggest. However, Mario Zamora, who is now approaching a year as Immigration director looks as though he is sending the department in the right direction.

It was widely reported that he turned down a substantial bribe from a Chinese Human Trafficing group, which is thought to have totaled near $2.5 Million. This shows how dedicated this man is to the cause, and why he has become known as an anti-corruption hero throughout Costs Rica. Zamora said that he is not used to this kind of publicism and praise, and that he doesn't feel it is deserved, as after all he only did what he was supposed to do. Which really highlights the affect that corruption has had on the views of the population.

With regard to his task as Immigration director, it is now becoming clear, just how much work he really does have!! He currently has 12 staff who spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, dedicated to inputting the data from Visitors immigration slips onto computers. He stated that during his 4 year stint in this post, he wants to make the department 100% digital, and get rid of the backlog of paper work that has been neglected over the past. He is now talking of finding a source to fund his idea to outsource the digitalisation of the paper records, which is thought to need around $1 million to complete.

Other success stories so far under his administration include the power that he has given to regional offices to issue passports to Costa Rican citizens. This has now reduced the amount of people who come to San Jose and queue for hours on end in order to gain their passports. It not only reduces work for the San Jose office, but makes it a much more pleasant process for the citizens, reducing their travel time and costs, and generally making the whole process that much easier.

It is now hoped that all of this progress is just a taster of what is to come from Mario Zamora, and that he can go on to do great things in his reform of the immigration department.

A new scheme set up in the area of LImon on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, is encouraging local women to realise their dreams of owning their own businesses. This opportunity has ben given to these lucky women, as a joint venture between the U.S. chain Whole Foods Market and the Bangladesh-based Grameen Bank.

The scheme aims to give interested women the opportunity to of financing and professional business consultancy in order to get their business off the ground and into operation. So far it has received great response, and it is hoped that this continues and many local women can finally make their own living, how they want to!