The Ombudsman’s Office called for an urgent intervention of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the Ministry of Health in the mining activity, which takes place in Crucitas.
This intervention is requested “for environmental, social and health impacts.” They argue that although the Office of the Prosecutor and the Ministry of Security are in the area, they believe it’s appropriate that Health and Environment support these actions to a greater extent.
The institution requested the Ministry of Health to inform, in a period of no more than five working days, the delimitation of the area of potential impact, in coordination with the corresponding local government, as well as the protocol for the detection of possible cases of health issues by contact with mercury, a definition of sanctioning actions for implementing an illegal economic activity and establish a coordination with the Environment portfolio for a comprehensive approach to the problem.
She also recalled that since November 2011, the First Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice confirmed the annulment of the concession to extract gold from the mine located in Cutris de San Carlos.