The Minister of Public Safety Mario Zamora Cordero recently confirmed that Costa Rica is currently in diplomatic talks with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to formalize an offer made by the Asian nation to donate a National Police Academy.

The offer by the Chinese leadership was revealed by Minister Zamora during a recent Committee of Revenue Affairs Meeting, where he was called upon to give details about how funds from the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) are being utilized with regard to national security in Costa Rica.

According to the Minister’s declaration, the new offer from the PRC would be similar to the previous donation of the National Stadium in La Sabana, which included financing and construction.

The IADB funds that had been earmarked for the construction of the National Police Academy were around $22 million, part of a comprehensive loan package of about $67 million that will be administered by the Ministry of Justice. The funds are intended to fund a government initiative called Prevention of Violence and Empowerment through Social Integration. The Minister explained that, should Costa Rica accept the National Police Academy offer from China, the $22 million would instead be used to improve the Fuerza Publica and police infrastructure across the country. Minister Zamora explained:

“It is important to note that we have 660 precincts nationwide, of which 80 percent are in need of some sort of investment, and 135 of them have been declared by the Ministry of Public Health as occupational hazards and thus unfit for operation.”

The Minister added that he is waiting for the release of funds from the Ministry of Justice to invest them in strengthening of programs like DARE, which have been successful in preventing young Ticos from turning to drugs.

The PRC has been stepping up its presence in Costa Rica and the Caribbean region over the last few years. Aside from the National Stadium, China has also donated hundreds of patrol cars for both Fuerza Publica and the Transit Police.

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, political analysts are closely following the growth of Chinese influence in the region, taking note of the increased Chinese immigration in Caribbean island nations where the PRC has donated stadiums. A dear reader from Dominica recently reported a brand new road built by the Chinese.

Some analysts speculate that the PRC is buying up loyalty that was once enjoyed by the United States and Canada, and that the previous influence of those two North American giants in the region could soon be an afterthought.

Source: La Fragua