Q COSTARICA — From Casa Presidencial, President Rodrigo Chaves has taken charge of the Central Bank’s policy on the dollar exchange rate, according to Claudio Alpízar, the presidential candidate for the Esperanza Nacional Party (National Hope). Alpízar claims the president’s main goal has been to reduce the state’s debt payments on loans, no matter the fallout. “The Central Bank has been very hesitant to step in and manage the dollar’s decline, even though this has hurt key parts of the economy like tourism,” Alpízar said. He also announced he wouldn’t keep the current Central Bank president, accusing them of “disinterested participation” as the dollar’s value dropped. This week, it was reported that the Central Bank holds the highest level of international (US dollar) reserves ever.