Big news this weekend out of Playa Guiones in Nosara, Costa Rica where the fourth leg of the CNS or Circuito Nacional de Surf for national championship was held. Jairo Perez beat Jason Torres who is the leader of the 2008-2009 DayStar’s CNS Tournament. Jason and Jairo both Jaco natives have known each other all of their lives, and have seen each other grow in their surfing skills. The powerful showing of Jairo whose determination proved he has what is takes to be national champion surprised fans and sponsors too.

According to the latest numbers, 15,000 people lost their jobs in Costa Rica during the month of December 2008 . Business closings and reduced revenue due to lower international consumer spending are the main reasons. Simply listen to the latest newscast and you will hear about worldwide job loss and rising unemployment in the economic superpowers. Costa Rica depends mostly on tourism for its revenue but it has reached out in the past to attract manufacturers to augment that revenue. But that is not even a good hedge bet today, Sylvania announced it will be closing its plant in Pavas, leaving another 200 josefinos unemployed.

Unfortunately, business closings will not stop with the Sylvania plant. Leading economists are predicting the cliche “things are expected to get worse before they get better.”  Many in the international banking business say the economic downturn will last more than two years. Last year, Costa Rica’s unemployment level was near 5% and in 2009 is expected to rise to 6%.

In an thinly veiled attempt to reduce the economic downturn effects on job loss, UCCAEP, Costa Rica’s union of private businesses said it will be presenting a bill to congress called the “Law of Employment Protection in Moments of Crisis”. Their proposed law would present temporary changes to the more…