Social organisations and unions have succeeded in their 10-month campaign against the concession of the main road corridor in Costa Rica and its costly tolls.
The government announced on 22 April the cancellation of the San José-San Ramón corridor concession with Brazilian company OAS, following vigorous opposition from local residents and others, including ITF affiliate the Unión Nacional de Trabajadores de Obras Públicas y Transporte (UNATROPYT).
The announcement followed police repression of campaigners’ protests in the province of Alajuela on 11 April against the concession, which intensified opposition along the corridor.
The 30-year concession signed on 12 March with OAS covered repairs to and the extension of 57.9 km of the main road corridor in Costa Rica. Campaigners opposed the creation of five tolls that would raise the cost to USD$8 per trip, which they argued was too high and could affect the prices of freight and passengers transport. They stated that neither the government nor OAS had conducted studies on the environmental impact in the region and that corrupt government officials who would benefit from the scheme had allowed the company to win the concession.
ITF Americas regional secretary Antonio Fritz commented: "This is an important victory for UNATROPYT and the other campaigners and shows unions at the heart of communities fighting for social and economic justice. We hope the Costa Rican government will now approach the concession differently so that it brings benefit rather than harm to people."
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