Cozumel News Vol 10

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The Cozumel police department has requested that Robert James Whitney be deported to his country of origin, according to department sub director Carlos López Avilés. Whitney’s inability to pay for damages to a department desk is cited as the reason for the deportation.

As you may recall, at approximately 2:55 A.M. on Wednesday, an American by the name of Robert James Whitney was discovered inebriated and lying in the public way. Local police transported Whitney to the municipal jail where he became agitated and subsequently damaged police department property. As a result, the tourist was detained for a longer period of time, as public security officials demanded restitution for the old, but still functional desk.

On Friday López Avilés announced that Whitney would be deported to his hometown of New York City.

According to the data released by the department, Robert James Whitney is 32 years of age, single, and owner of a construction business in New York. López Avilés said that it is doubtful that Whitney is a business owner, since he doesn’t even have enough money to pay for the damaged furniture.

The tourist stated that he has lived on the island for a month.

This week’s El Seminario newspaper features American Paul Ellis on their “Personality Profile” page -- a section of the newspaper normally reserved for island natives or long-time Mexican-born residents. The publication states that they decided to break with tradition and dedicate the column to Ellis because “not just any 60-year-old jumps into the ocean, knowing the risk of sharks and boat propellers”. The article goes on to say that most importantly, Ellis’ action served for something. He wanted to call international attention to the importance of protecting coral reefs and the environment in general.

Paul Ellis was born in 1943 in Norfolk, Virginia and is a graduate of Wake Forest University. He later entered the Marine Corps and served as a medical pilot in Viet Nam.

Ellis attempted to swim from Cozumel to Cancun a number of years ago, but after 11 hours was defeated by fatigue and difficult water conditions. Two-and-a-half years ago he decided to try again, consulting with an Olympic trainer, a nutritionist, and a psychologist, while training six days per week and logging some 2,500 miles.

Ellis said that he and his family first came to the Yucatan peninsula 25 years ago and it was then that he first discovered the spectacular reefs in the area. When he returned to dive some time later, he noted the beginnings of deterioration and decided he wanted to find a way to call attention to this problem. He elected to originate his swim in Cozumel, a Mecca for diving enthusiasts, and end it in Cancun, which has been a popular tourist destination for 30 some years.

Ellis underscored that we need more people that are willing to attempt missions like his and we need more recognition of organizations, foundations and citizens that are doing something for the planet. He added that there is a need for help with funding projects that educate society on the importance of saving our natural resources.

Among other curiosities about Paul Ellis, he is a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce and the director of a major business school in Texas. He has three children who were a bit skeptical when they heard about their father’s plans to swim from Cozumel to Cancun, but were the first to congratulate him when he achieved his goal.

The veteran teacher left the Puerta Maya pier at 2:00 AM, accompanied by various boats filled with reporters, friends, medical personnel, and the Mexican Navy. 14 hours later, after a 56-kilometer swim between Cozumel and Cancun, Paul Ellis reached land at 4:35 PM.

The possibility of sharks, water temperature, and an oncoming cruise ship made for a difficult swim, according to Ellis, but he arrived safe and sound. He smiled as he experienced the joy of completing his mission and the thought that he had done something for the area’s coral reefs.

The story of Paul Ellis – starting with his idea, then his first attempt to swim to Cancun, the rigorous training, and finally achieving his goal – will all be part of Duke University-University of Texas documentary that focuses on ocean conservation.

Just one day prior to the beginning of classes, stationary stores, uniform shops and shoe stores were cleaned out as parents waited until the last possible minute to outfit their children for school.

Purchasing the stipulated school supplies, uniforms, black school shoes and athletic shoes during Cozumel’s low season puts extreme financial pressure on many local parents, particularly those that have two or three children enrolled. Some residents are obligated to pawn their valuables in order to purchase all of the required school materials.

Parents that we interviewed outside of the various pawn shops underscored that when school costs come together with monthly rent payment, their economic situations become very complicated.

Yesterday work began on the replacement of aboveground electrical wiring with new underground cable along Cozumel’s Melgar Avenue. This undertaking is the third from the last phase of a project aimed at modernizing 2.5 kilometers of San Miguel’s waterfront, at a cost of 100 million pesos.

In this particular stage of the project, the investment will total approximately 39.5 million and should be finished by December 31, 2004. Authorities state that the effort will be of great benefit the island’s 75,000 plus inhabitants.

Governor Hendricks Diaz, Gaxiola Montoya of the CFE, and Cozumel mayor Carlos Hernández Blanco will officially kick-off the project on Thursday when they break pavement on the north end of the avenue.

Ricardo Espinoza Freyre, general director of urban development and public works, announced that this new phase comes on the heels of the phone, water, and cable companies completion of their individual projects along Melgar Avenue.

Espinoza Freyre stated that the crews would work along the lane that circulates from north to south along the waterfront, which hopefully will present fewer problems for tourists and business owners.

Despite the fact that a number of Cozumel security alarm companies advertise that they have a direct line to the police department, public security sub director Carlos López Avilés says that this information is false. He adds that there is absolutely no type of coordination between any local security alarm businesses and the police department and that they cannot be responsible for the services these companies advertise.

The interviewee indicated that they have never had an agreement with these companies, nor have they ever met with them regarding any kind of coordination effort. He said that alarm and home security companies promote this idea because it helps them bring in more clients for their services.

“In any case where a security company discovers that there is someone breaking into a home, we are at their disposal. But the call for assistance will arrive via telephone and will not come by radio or some sort of internal circuit,” explained López Avilés. He added that it would be extremely difficult to establish direct communication with these security companies because the equipment and channels they use are internal.

At the same time he stated that up to this point there have been no customer complaints regarding an alarm or private security company deceiving customers. López Avilés warns that should the police department receive such a complaint, they will then ask these businesses to stop this type of false advertising.

What many have only dreamed of is now a reality.

It will no longer be necessary to go to Miami or some other port to board a cruise ship. Soon you and your family will be able to pack your bags and board a ship right here in Cozumel.

The island’s executive director for Puerta Maya, Alberto Uch Mezo, commented that a U.S. company has made the decision to operate the Windstar cruise ship out of Cozumel beginning in 2005.

He noted that this experience would be very different, because passengers will travel aboard a luxury yacht with five masts that has a 308-passenger capacity.

Beginning January 16, 2005, the ship will head for Honduras bay, Isla de Utila, Isla Roatan, and will include stops in Puerto Cortez, Omoa, Belize and the Costa Maya, before returning to Cozumel.

He underscored that the island will benefit greatly, because everyone purchasing a Windstar cruise will logically be arriving on Cozumel via air, and will in turn be booking lodging at local hotels, eating in local restaurants, etc. The cruise ship itself will also give the island an economic boost, purchasing all of their supplies, fuel, water, and other necessities on the island, as well as creating new jobs.

Best of all, many local families who have always wanted to take a cruise can take advantage of this opportunity.

The Windstar company is located in Seattle, Washington, and operates three sailing yachts, noted for their ability to visit the “hidden” ports throughout the world that cannot be accessed by the larger cruise ships. Windstar’s stamp of “casual elegance” offers a sophisticated touch to cabins and suites with ocean view, innovate culinary arts, their selection of fine wines, friendly service, charming ports and complimentary aquatic sports. Guests will enjoy recent upgrades such as LCD flat screen televisions and DVD players, as well as the newly decorated cabins and common areas.

Humane Society president Monica Velasco says that the organization has been successful over the last seven years in diminishing the proliferation of homeless cats and dogs with the sterilization of some 4,000 animals. However, she states that it will be nearly impossible to win the fight without the help of additional volunteers and the cooperation of local government authorities.

Velasco, who is president of Cozumel’s Humane Society, informed that they began their efforts in 1997 and have had excellent results, but there is still much to do. The group is willing to continue working so that the homeless animal population doesn’t continue to grow, but she emphasized that the society alone can’t pretend to solve the problem. “It’s important that more veterinary clinics join the crusade and offer low-cost sterilizations, so that pet owners will bring their animals in for the surgery,” she said.

Velasco informed that the organization’s statistics indicate a population of approximately 15,000 dogs with a much lower number of cats, and that their goal is to sterilize 70 percent of Cozumel’s homeless dogs.