U.S. embassy boosts police force in Manuel Antonio
Christmas arrived early in the central Pacific town of Quepos this year as municipal police unwrapped $14,000 worth of uniforms, global positioning systems, binoculars and other professional equipment donated by the United States Embassy.
The gift represents the embassy's first direct donation to a municipal police department, as the embassy tends to focus its efforts on developing national programs.
Yet, it's assistance that Robert Andrew wants to continue. "We hope to build on our success here," said Andrew, narcotics affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy. "We don't have anything planned, but it's something we want to grow."
The canton of Aguirre, which is most famous for being home to the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park and the port town of Quepos, hasn't been immune to the security problems that have trickled through the rest of the country. In fact, the canton's location on the Pacific coast and easy access to Costa Rica's principal highways have made it a destination for drug traffickers, said Mayor Oscar Monge in his remarks on Monday.
"This equipment will improve our efficiency and effectiveness as a police force," Monge said. "Just like chefs can't do anything without knives, bowls and pans, it was hard for our police forces to do their job without the proper equipment."
For Andrew, Manuel Antonio and Quepos seemed like a logical place to start.
"Dozens of Americans live here and many more visit every year," he said. "Anything that improves the security of this area, helps improve the security of all Americans."
Andrew said the civically active private sector, among whose leaders is hotel owner Harry Bodaan, helped spur the embassy's decision to begin with Aguirre.
The donation is separate from the $5.3 million in assistance for Costa Rica through the larger Merida Initiative, an anti-drug trafficking plan unrolled for Mexico and Central America unveiled in June of 2008.
