AGP Executive Report

Pensions Overhaul: Costa Rica is moving to scrap “lavish” lifetime pensions for former presidents, with a “zero-tolerance” bill sent to Congress that would end payments for all ex-leaders, including Rodrigo Chaves and President Laura Fernández. Tourism & Health: The government is pushing the “Wellness Pura Vida” strategy to position Costa Rica as a longevity and nature-based mental wellness destination. UN Leadership Buzz: Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki has joined the race to become the next UN secretary-general, as the Security Council prepares another informal poll. Drug Enforcement: A Costa Rican national was sentenced to 20 years in the U.S. for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, with sales coordinated from Costa Rica. Local Safety & Crime: U.S. and Costa Rican authorities seized large cocaine shipments tied to Mexico’s CJNG in La Guácima. Sports: Costa Rica hosts the opening stop of the 2026 International Racquetball Tour at Escazú’s Costa Rica Country Club. Energy Watch: Gas prices are set to shift in September, with regular expected to fall while super may rise.

UN Leadership Push: Ecuador’s Ivonne Baki has joined the race to become the next UN secretary-general, as the world body weighs candidates to replace António Guterres and pressure grows for a woman to finally break the “glass ceiling.” Local Politics: President Laura Fernández has sent a bill to Congress to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents, with no exceptions. Disaster Response: Fernández toured flood-damaged communities in Limón as lawmakers pressed for an emergency declaration for the Caribbean coast. Public Health Reform: Costa Rica changed healthcare waiting-list rules so priority is based on clinical risk and severity, not just how long someone has waited. Economy & Cost of Living: RECOPE says regular gasoline should be cheaper again in September, but warns of possible price increases if its tariff request is approved. Labor & Trade: Corbana opposes using the Anker method to set a living wage for banana producers, arguing it misreads Costa Rica’s conditions. Security: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” to the U.S., where he faces federal drug trafficking charges. Environment & Science: A new deep-sea coral species was identified off Costa Rica, so unique it required a new family for classification.

Former-Prez Pensions Overhaul: President Laura Fernández has sent a bill to Congress to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents, with no exceptions and no grace period, citing that payments to seven ex-leaders have topped 5.469 billion colones. Airport Car-Rental Clarity: Adobe Rent a Car outlined how pickup and shuttle service work at SJO and LIR, including where travelers check in and how contracts are completed. Healthcare Waiting Lists: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health changed the rules so priority is based on clinical risk and severity—not just how long someone has been waiting—using five categories from immediate care to moderate priority. Drug Enforcement Push: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” (Gilbert Bell Fernández) and “Compadre” to the U.S., tied by authorities to the Gulf Clan and facing federal trafficking charges. Recycled Plastic Housing: A mother in Alajuelita built her home using about 7 tonnes of recycled plastic blocks through Habitat for Humanity and partners. Mobility Apps Survey: A CID Gallup study found 80% of Costa Ricans use mobility platforms, with strong approval for pricing transparency and driver identification. Route 27 Innovation Challenge: Globalvia launched an open call to reuse highway waste—especially tires and plastics—into circular-economy prototypes.

UN Leadership Watch: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is reported as the frontrunner to become the UN’s first woman Secretary-General, with a preliminary Security Council ballot giving her a strong start ahead of a December election. Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors alleging major cocaine trafficking through Costa Rica tied to the Gulf Clan. Healthcare Reform: The Ministry of Health changed waiting-list rules so priority now depends on clinical risk and severity—not just how long someone has waited—using five categories from immediate to elective care. Economy & Industry: Costa Rican manufacturers are pausing investments and cutting staff as the colón strengthens, with the exchange rate named the top threat to competitiveness. Environment: Corcovado National Park was placed on “red alert” over sewage discharges, failing infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Sports & Tourism: The World Surf League returns to Playa Hermosa for the Garabito Surf City Pro, boosting Central Pacific tourism. Culture & Film: Former Costa Rican film commissioner Marysela Zamora joins Iberofic leadership to push women in audiovisual media and more Spanish-language content. Business & Dining: Fogo de Chão opened its first Costa Rica restaurant at the Sheraton in Escazú.

Audiovisual Leadership: Former Costa Rican Film Commissioner Marysela Zamora will keep working at Iberofic, pushing women’s leadership and more Spanish-language audiovisual content across the region. High-Stakes Justice: Costa Rica extradited “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors alleging major cocaine trafficking links to the Gulf Clan. Healthcare Reform: The Ministry of Health changed waiting-list rules so priority now depends on clinical risk and severity—not just how long someone has waited. Economy & Industry: Costa Rican manufacturers are pausing investments and cutting staff as the colón strengthens, with the exchange rate named the top competitiveness threat. Environment Watch: Corcovado National Park faces a “red alert” over sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Science & Nature: Deep-sea researchers identified a genetically unique bright-yellow coral, Laurinque elenya, requiring a new coral family. Sports & Tourism: The World Surf League returns to Playa Hermosa for the Garabito Surf City Pro, with Costa Rican surfers chasing home momentum. Culture & Community: Escazú’s Feria Nacional de la Tapa de Dulce spotlighted ancestral cane-sugar traditions through tastings, music, and sugar-mill tours.

Drug War Update: Costa Rica extradited alleged kingpin “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors saying they helped move cocaine through Costa Rica toward North America. Public Health Policy: The Ministry of Health changed how Costa Rica manages healthcare waiting lists, prioritizing patients by clinical risk and severity—not just how long they’ve been waiting. Protected Areas Under Pressure: Environmental groups put Corcovado National Park on “red alert,” citing sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Economy & Industry: As the colón strengthens, manufacturing firms are pausing investments and cutting staff, with the exchange rate named the top competitiveness problem. Education Rights: Costa Rican education unions filed an ILO complaint over restrictions they say unlawfully limit collective bargaining. Environment & Science: Deep-sea researchers identified a new genetically unique coral species near Costa Rica, creating a new family for classification. Search & Safety: Rescue teams continued searching for a missing hiker in Chirripó National Park.

Drug Trafficking & Extraditions: Costa Rica extradited cartel-linked “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with prosecutors saying they helped move cocaine through Costa Rica toward North America. Healthcare Reform: The Ministry of Health changed waiting-list rules so priority now depends on clinical risk and severity, not just how long someone has waited. Protected Areas Under Pressure: Environmental groups put Corcovado National Park on “red alert,” citing sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Local Economy & Jobs: Manufacturers paused investments and cut staff as the colón strengthens, with the exchange rate named the top competitiveness problem. International Diplomacy: Costa Rica recalled its top diplomat in Nicaragua for consultations amid worsening human rights and violence under the Ortega-Murillo regime. Environment & Science: Researchers identified a new deep-sea coral off Costa Rica, creating a new coral family in the scientific record. Surf Tourism: The WSL returns to Playa Hermosa with the Garabito Surf City PRO 2026, expected to draw surfers from 19 countries. Education Rights: Two major education unions filed an ILO complaint alleging Costa Rica restricts collective bargaining for public education workers. Culture: Escazú hosted the National Tapa de Dulce fair, celebrating ancestral cane-sugar traditions.

Healthcare Reform: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health changed how it prioritizes patients on healthcare waiting lists, moving away from “time waited” as the main factor and instead ranking by clinical risk, severity, and impact on quality of life, with new categories from immediate care (P0) to moderate priority (P4). Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited cartel-linked kingpin Gilbert Bell Fernández (“Macho Coca”) and Gabriel Lozano Bonilla (“Compadre”) to the U.S., where they face federal drug trafficking charges in New York, with authorities citing alleged ties to the Gulf Clan. Economy & Industry: As the colón strengthens, Costa Rican manufacturers are pausing investments and cutting staff, with the exchange rate named the top threat to competitiveness in a new industry survey. Environment: Environmental groups placed Corcovado National Park on “red alert,” citing sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Local Life & Safety: Rescue teams continue searching for a missing hiker in Chirripó National Park, while Escazú hosted the National Tapa de Dulce fair celebrating ancestral sugar traditions.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited cartel figures Gilbert Bell Fernández (“Macho Coca”) and Gabriel Lozano Bonilla (“Compadre”) to the U.S., where they face federal cocaine trafficking charges in New York, with authorities linking them to the Gulf Clan. Economy & Jobs: As the colón strengthens, Costa Rican manufacturers say they’ve paused investments and cut staff, citing the exchange rate as the top competitiveness threat. Diplomacy: President Laura Fernández recalled her top envoy in Nicaragua for consultations amid worsening human rights conditions and alleged transnational espionage. Labor Rights: Education unions SEC and ANDE filed an ILO complaint, saying new rules restrict collective bargaining for public education workers. Environment: Environmental groups put Corcovado National Park on “red alert” over sewage discharges, failing infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Public Safety: Search teams are still looking for a missing hiker in Chirripó National Park. Culture & Food: Escazú hosted the National Tapa de Dulce fair celebrating ancestral cane sugar traditions. Local Life: San José’s mayor says about 2,300 people are living on the streets and is urging urgent government action. Health & Climate: Doctors warn El Niño could raise risks for cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, kidney and allergy problems, especially for vulnerable groups. Sports: The World Surf League returns to Costa Rica at Playa Hermosa for the Garabito Surf City PRO 2026.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited cartel-linked “Macho Coca” Gilbert Bell Fernández and “Compadre” Gabriel Lozano Bonilla to the U.S., with authorities citing DEA ties to Colombia’s Gulf Clan and alleging large-scale cocaine trafficking via Costa Rica. Economy & Industry: The strengthening colón is hitting manufacturers hard, with companies pausing investment and cutting staff, according to the CICR’s latest survey. Diplomacy: San José recalled its top envoy in Nicaragua for consultations as concerns grow over Ortega-Murillo rights abuses and cross-border violence. Politics & Protest: Opposition figure Ariel Robles called for a “plantón” demanding OIJ funding and Rodrigo Chaves’s resignation, after recent demonstrations defending the judiciary. Environment: Corcovado National Park was put on “red alert” over sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding. Public Safety: Search efforts continue for a missing hiker in Chirripó National Park. Labor Rights: Education unions filed an ILO complaint over restrictions on collective bargaining for public education workers. Health & Climate: Specialists warned El Niño could raise risks for cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, kidney, and allergy problems.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited top alleged trafficker “Macho Coca” (Gilbert Bell Fernández) and “Compadre” (Gabriel Lozano Bonilla) to the U.S., with both accused of cocaine trafficking linked to the Gulf Clan and facing federal court in New York. Missing Persons: Search teams are still looking for 58-year-old Reynaldo Pineda Lizano, lost while hiking in Chirripó National Park, with Red Cross crews using multiple routes and canine support. Environment & Infrastructure: Corcovado National Park has been placed on “red alert” over sewage discharges, crumbling infrastructure, and chronic underfunding, warning of a wider protected-areas breakdown. Local Culture: Escazú hosted the National Tapa de Dulce Cultural Fair, celebrating ancestral cane-sugar traditions with tours, demonstrations, and music. Tourism & Sports: The World Surf League returns to Costa Rica at Playa Hermosa for the Garabito Surf City PRO 2026, boosting the Central Pacific’s visitor draw. Public Safety: An El Niño health warning highlights risks for vulnerable groups, including cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, and kidney complications.

Drug Enforcement: Costa Rica extradited two alleged traffickers to the U.S., including “Macho Coca” and “Compadre,” as authorities point to the country’s role in cocaine transit and renewed cooperation with international partners. Regional Crime Crackdown: Panama’s “Operation Jericho” leader “Comanche” was extradited from Colombia to Panama, with accusations linking him to the Gulf Clan and cocaine routes that reportedly touch toward Costa Rica. Politics & Protest: Ariel Robles is pushing a “plantón” to demand Rodrigo Chaves’ resignation and more funding for the OIJ, as tensions with the judiciary keep boiling over. Presidential Controversy: President Laura Fernández is again at the center of backlash after a rapid shift on “luxury” pensions for former presidents, with critics calling it a flip-flop. Public Safety & Health: Doctors warn El Niño could raise risks for cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney and skin problems, especially for vulnerable groups. Immigration Update: Costa Rica will open a special category for about 10,000 rejected or pending asylum cases, granting work authorization while files are reviewed. Science & Culture: Deep-sea expeditions identified a new golden-tree coral family off Costa Rica, and researchers also reported a new endemic night frog found in coffee-growing areas.

UN Leadership Push: Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan is gaining momentum in the race to become the next UN secretary-general, with South Africa’s SADC chair Ronald Lamola urging support for a first woman leader as the Security Council’s first straw poll signals shifting momentum. Homelessness in San José: Mayor Diego Miranda says about 2,300 people are living on San José’s streets and asks the Fernández government to coordinate an urgent national response. Security Secrecy: President Laura Fernández signed a decree classifying a wide range of security and intelligence information as a “state secret,” including key procurement and spending details. Immigration Update: Costa Rica will reopen a special category for about 10,000 rejected or undecided asylum seekers, with work authorization while cases are reviewed. Health Warning (El Niño): Doctors warn El Niño-linked heat and weather shifts could raise risks for cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, skin, and allergy problems—especially for vulnerable groups. Night Air Ambulances: Costa Rica approved nighttime air ambulance rules for only five airfields/airports plus SJO, targeting critically ill patients when delays aren’t possible. Justice Under Fire: Thousands protested to defend the judiciary amid escalating clashes between courts and the executive. Corruption Trial: Prosecutors are seeking up to 396 years for former Banco Nacional treasurer Ricardo Olivas Valle over alleged embezzlement of ¢3.293 billion. Biodiversity Find: Researchers identified a new endemic night frog species in Costa Rica’s coffee-growing areas, boosting conservation and eco-tourism interest.

Homelessness Crisis in San José: Mayor Diego Miranda says about 2,300 people are living on the streets of Costa Rica’s capital and has asked President Laura Fernández for urgent national leadership to coordinate help. U.S. Immigration Case: ICE detained Costa Rican community member Tonny Quesada-Ramirez in New Jersey; neighbors launched a GoFundMe that topped $36,000 to support his legal fight. Night Frog Discovery: Researchers identified a new endemic night frog living in Costa Rican coffee plantations, highlighting how sustainable farming can protect biodiversity and boost eco-tourism. Health Risks From El Niño: Costa Rica’s medical college warns El Niño could raise cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, allergy, kidney, and occupational risks—especially for vulnerable groups. Security Secrecy Decree: President Fernández signed a decree classifying a wide range of security and intelligence information as a “State Secret,” including parts of budgets and procurement. Immigration Update: Costa Rica will reopen a special category for about 10,000 rejected or undecided asylum seekers, with applications starting Sept. 1. Night Air Ambulances: A new national protocol allows nighttime air ambulance transfers to five airports/airfields plus SJO for critically ill patients. UN Spotlight: Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan leads early UN secretary-general straw polls, with the process expected to conclude in October. Russia-Ukraine Arbitration: Former Indian Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was appointed by Russia as arbitrator in the Oschadbank dispute; Costa Rican Dyalá Jiménez will preside the tribunal.

International Justice: Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud has been appointed by Russia as an arbitrator in a major investment treaty fight tied to Ukraine’s Oschadbank, with Costa Rican former trade minister Dyalá Jiménez presiding over the three-member tribunal; the dispute centers on claims of hundreds of millions of dollars in lost assets across Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Diplomacy & Security: President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Costa Rica’s Laura Fernández about boosting bilateral cooperation and sharing Ukraine’s security experience, while Costa Rica’s Lina Ajoy took over as SICA secretary general aiming to restart high-level political dialogue across Central America. Judiciary Under Pressure: Thousands of Costa Ricans protested to defend the judiciary amid a widening clash with the executive, as Fernández continues to back her claim of an “institutional coup d’état.” Public Safety: Fernández signed a decree classifying a wide range of security and intelligence information as a “state secret,” including parts of budgets and procurement. Migration Update: Immigration will open a special category for about 10,000 rejected or undecided asylum applicants, allowing work authorization while cases are reviewed. Health & Economy: Costa Rica confirmed 14 hepatitis A cases linked to water contamination, and inflation stayed negative again in July as prices fell 0.47% month-on-month.

Night Air Ambulance Expansion: Costa Rica has approved nighttime air ambulance flights under a new national protocol, allowing transfers only from five airfields/airports plus SJO—Limón, Palmar Sur, Coto 47, Tobías Bolaños, Daniel Oduber, and Juan Santamaría—aimed at critically ill patients when waiting for daylight isn’t possible. Democracy Protest & Judiciary Clash: Thousands joined a “Plantón por la Democracia” in San José and across provinces, backing the judiciary amid President Laura Fernández’s continued “coup d’état” claim and broader concerns about executive interference. Corruption Trial Update: The former treasurer of Banco Nacional, Ricardo Olivas Valle, faces prosecutors’ final-stage request of up to 396 years in prison for alleged embezzlement of ¢3.293 billion. UN Secretary-General Race: Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan is leading the early UN race after a first Security Council straw poll, with Israel-linked media attention on her background as the process heads toward October. Cost of Living: July CPI fell 0.47% month-on-month, keeping Costa Rica in negative year-over-year inflation at -0.28%. Wildlife & Health: OIJ seized axolotls and other exotic animals in a trafficking probe, while the Health Ministry confirmed hepatitis A cases tied to a water-related outbreak, now totaling 14. Science & Nature: A new “coffee frog” species was discovered in Costa Rica’s central Pacific, raising concerns about pesticide risks in plantations. Dole Earnings: Dole reported 2.9% Q2 revenue growth to $2.499B, but adjusted EBITDA fell 14.8% as sourcing and shipping costs weighed on profits.