Business and Banking News

Our country is undergoing a process of profound structural changes, changes that deepened with the imposition of the FTA with the United States and going the opposite direction to the welfare of the majority.

Such transformations are inspired by neoliberal conceptions of wealth concentration and disappearance of all those entities that had come to be cornerstone of what later known as the Rule of Law, as the welfare state, as the State Outreach.

In recent times, has been on the table for discussion of political and economic spheres hegemonizing real power in our country, the energy issue, specifically, the issue of electricity, to date, has been largely in the hands of ICE.

Over recent years are countless initiatives of bills one way or another seek to transform radically speaking, the conception of the provision of electricity to the national population to take their historical and traditional concept of public service solidarity, making it a mere commodity, for profit and to increase private capital have already been introduced in this strategic aspect of national life.

This occurred, for example, the 7200 law that authorized the private power cogeneration for the longest time ICE finances bled, reaching a scandalous extent that producing just 12% of national electricity generation, were carried to their private coffers nearly 30% of the electricity sector of ICE. Redondísimo Business!

We are now facing a new offensive of the business capital to increase the supply of electricity. The Arias administration first, and now, along with business chambers and some well-known media, new initiatives have been promoting legislation to expand the inclusion of private capital in electricity generation.

Only that, in what proved to be a scandalous business under the Act 7200, rather questionable legally, morally and ethically, now use the blackmail of fear, arguing that the ICE is “unable” to provide all the energy that the country occupies in the short, medium and long term, and therefore the field should be open to the private sector with virtually no restrictions whatsoever. It has gone as far as trying to alarm the public with blackouts assumptions “and upon us,” but approved the current electricity bill.

By contrast, some parliamentary forces for which the promotion of common good is still a democratic value, are pushing another bill in which the ICE would be “armed” for a new phase of his successful career in the field of electricity supply to the population, so that had sufficient tools to implement the construction planning of new projects for the provision of electricity demand to come.

However, such is the gluttony of the capital that the aforementioned electric bill was rejected on the verge, without even allowing a debate moderate and comprehensive legislation that will have a powerful impact on the future of the country.

Fortunately, the destruction of the highly successful model of electric power that gives us the ICE has not been accomplished, thanks to the diverse resistance has been practicing in the same parliament and outside it, through highly supported arguments, technically and scientifically, that the ICE, if allowed and if you stop putting obstacles and tripping, can continue to produce future electricity demand nationwide.

This patriotic and civic work to prevent the transformation of national power in a matter of mere commodity for private profit, requires the support of the people, the people in these times when you notice an increase in pressure to dismantle the role of ICE in this model.

With much joy and hope we have learned that the trade unions and trade associations ICE, grouped together as one in the historical and FIT-ICE, are determined to demonstrate in support of this public property which is the electric model by ICE, and that make explicit their defense thereof with a first street action in the month of the Nation, September, and over.

As we see, is exemplary action doors as part of what we call Citizen unionism because unions raise this flag ICE electrical service with a sense of patriotism and nationalism, for the entire population. In this context, all trade unions and social organizations to join such an effort must

In addition, displaying its responsible attitude towards these causes, the FIT-ICE is already being prepared an alternative proposal on the subject of future electricity needs of the country, fostering a national discussion on the future electric Costa Rica.

Three elements seem to be strong to consider the matter. First, the electricity can not be reduced to a mere commodity for purposes of private gain, and second, that we as a country to be responsible in the management, preservation and use of renewable energy sources, and third, that the State must continue to provide this service for social and successfully as it has done until today, through the Costarring Electrical (ICE).