The Constitutional Chamber allowed a writ of amparo in favor of legislator María José Corrales, who had requested information on the environmental impact in Crucitas, in Cutris de San Carlos, to the vice minister of environmental management María Celeste López, of the Ministry of Environment (MINAE).
The institution was able to verify that the legislator requested such information on June 28th, 2018 in the Commission of Environmental Matters in the Legislative Assembly; however, in the absence of a response, she did so in writing on July 31st of that year.
It was until December 6th when she received a report. However, it didn’t have the requested information, so Corrales made a third request attempt on December 10th. Ten days later, the liberationist resorted to filing the appeal.
It is incredible that the government is not paying attention to Crucitas and forgot this is a national situation that is affecting us all. Crucitas is affected, not only environmentally, but socially, economically, in terms of safety and health,”
said the congresswoman.
The magistrates then granted 10 business days from the notification of this sentence for López or whoever is in her place to deliver the data requested by Corrales.
Minister Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, head of MINAE, acknowledged last December that illegal gold mining amounts to $90 million. Meanwhile, a study conducted by the National University (UNA) confirmed the contamination of rivers and animals with mercury used by illegal miners to amalgamate the gold.