Costa Rica News – 38 CNE boats meant to respond to emergencies have not been used in six years. We have had plenty of emergencies but the boats have been stored due to lack of navigability certificates.
Hurricane Otto and Storm Nate are some examples of when they were desperately needed but the National Commission of Emergencies was not able to use them.
MOPT states that they could have been used without permits in such cases of catastrophe but that was not known at the time.
When the new president of the CNE found out the boats had been stranded for six years he started investigating why the navigability certificates have not been processed by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Those suffering from floods are left vulnerable without these life saving boats.
Evacuating people in danger should be priority to either get the permits in order or allow them to be used without permits.
