Little light in Costa Rica's Electricity Institute

The state-owned Costa Rican Electricity Institute, the ICE, faces uncertainty as it confronts fierce competition from major international telecommunications companies.

The spotlight has centered on last year's projected $520 million losses, the suspension of the Diquís hydroelectric project, the naming of a chief who failed to meet the qualifications for the job, and the transfer of employees of its Racsa subsidiary -- who had already received a generous pay-off.

As a result, the Government Council decided on Tuesday to suspend six members of the ICE board for four months, pending an investigation own the accusations.