A Canadian citizen was murdered in Puerto Viejo, Limón and that showed the lack of security in the area: residents complain because there is not a police station and authorities are not able to build one this year.
Jorge Molina, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of the area, explained that an order from the Ministry of Health forced the demolition of the former police headquarters in the center of the town. Concerned about the situation, the Public Force was offered a space in the Chamber’s office, 3 kilometers away from the conflict area.
Puerto Viejo is an important tourist center but it has no police station. The Ministry gave an order, but Public Security destroyed the facility without having a budget to build it,
stated Molina.
According to the vice president, the closest stations to Puerto Viejo are located in Cahuita and Bribrí, 30 minutes from there.
Bernardita Marín, Deputy Minister of Security, declared that that there is no budget to build the stations the country needs, including Puerto Viejo’s.
The station would cost approximately 500 million colones.