The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) informed through a press release the morning of this Friday the decision of suspending the tour of the independence torch through the different provinces of Costa Rica due to concerns for the security of the students who carry it, this because since the torch arrived yesterday its journey has been interrupted in several locations of Guanacaste and today in Puntarenas by protesters blocking the roads.

The torch will be transported to Cartago (its final stop) by air, Minister of Education Edgar Mora, traveled by helicopter to Esparza to receive the torch.

Today, the torch arrived delayed to Esparza, Puntarenas, at around 6:30 a.m. “Due to the inconveniences that arose since Thursday evening during the tour of the Independence Torch, and for the protection of the students and support personnel, we have reached the decision to stop the route of the touch by land in Esparza, the transportation to Cartago will be done by air”, says the press release.

The Ministry of Education will be offering a press conference later today to give additional details regarding this situation and hopefully will also provide details on how the rest of the traditional independence celebrations will be handled.

The Independence Torch represents the liberty and independence of Costa Rica and the rest of the Central American countries, its tour begins in Guatemala and concludes in Cartago, Costa Rica in a tradition that began in 1964. The torch was declared a National Symbol on September 14, 2005.

This is the first time that the torch will not be completing its tour by land in Costa Rica.

The labor strike is in its fifth day today, and the labor unions have already announced they will be going to Cartago this afternoon to continue their protests.