Cozumel News Vol 11

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CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON FISH HATCHERY Novedades de Quintana Roo

About a year ago Francisco Sabido Cruz came up with the idea to invest in a Tilapia fish hatchery. Together with his family he began looking for ways to obtain credit so that he could begin commercializing his idea by obtaining a space in Cozumel’s municipal market.

Yesterday he laid the cornerstone stone on the first of seven tanks with the capacity to hold up to 250 Tilapia. The fish will be ready to sell by May of 2005. At the same time that Señor Cruz is raising fish, he plans on cultivating pineapples, a fruit that was once grown for resale by many of the island’s farmers.

The total investment is 687,947 pesos. Agriculture and small business assistance programs, as well as the department of economic development have covered 68 percent of that amount.

Francisco Sabido, excited to see his efforts to start a family business finally coming to fruition, commented that he hopes to create a total of 22 jobs between the two projects.

He added that a full-grown Tilapia fish can weigh up to 500 grams and monthly production should be between 500 and 600 kilos. The cost per kilo fluctuates between 25 and 30 pesos in the marketplace.

In an effort to avoid monopolistic promotion practices aboard cruise ships bound for Cozumel, local businessmen have enlisted the help of attorney Luis Manuel Rivero Rodríguez. According to the Chamber of Commerce’s president, the group is looking to implement a regulatory framework that will control the politics that currently dominate commercial promotion of Cozumel.

Due to the difficult economic situation and the high level of competition in San Miguel’s downtown, organized business and chamber members began meeting and analyzing the situation. Their goal is to create a proposal that will serve as a plan for economic renewal of downtown as it relates to tourism.

“The ship promoters and agents spread negative information about competitors and the island itself, propagating information that suggests that it’s dangerous to venture off the main avenue. Their plan is to channel pedestrian tourists to the businesses that these agents promote. In addition, they put out false information about sanitary and hygienic conditions in local businesses and restaurants.”

Just three weeks alter being named fire department commander, Carlos Mis Ortegón confirmed that 90 percent of the department’s fleet has been repaired and stands ready for ser vice at a moment’s notice.

When Mis Ortegón took the position there were only three units in service and the remainder of the equipment was out of circulation. At that point his first priority was to bring the department fleet back to 100 percent.

The chief and his “right arm”, Manual Vera Garma, with the support of city hall, began rehabilitating and repairing all of the fire department vehicles. They’re especially proud of the return of “Lingo”, fire truck number 3. The vehicle has been out of service for nine months, but thanks to a 143,000-peso investment, it’s back in circulation.

Various units were painted and all now sport the fire department’s logo, inscriptions and the fire emergency phone number.

The also changed oil and filters, and checked brakes and lights on the majority of the units.

Cozumel’s fire department has a total of 10 vehicles, including a Jeep, a wagon, an ambulance, a pick up, fire engines and water trucks.

Chief Mis Ortegón reiterated that at this time 90 percent of the department fleet is in good condition and ready for action.

Benito Preza Peraza, president of the Quintana Roo marine turtle protection board, declared that it is impossible to control the devastation of the marine turtle population in neighboring countries in the Caribbean. He concludes that only international ecology treaties will be able to stop the killing of turtles. But if these countries aren’t driven to do so, there’s no way to obligate them to comply.

He indicated that there are 20 standard turtle camps in Quintana Roo and four in the process of being established. During a recent monthly meeting in Cozumel, it was proposed that each municipality be separately responsible for its own protection programs. They stated that this option would provide more continuity for the various programs, and cited Cozumel as a prime example.

Three different government levels administer Quintana Roo’s registered turtle camps and some are also supervised by nongovernmental organizations. In Cozumel there are two registered turtle camps, one that is administered by the local government and another by the parks and museums foundation.

All of the various committees have joined with other Mexican states in an effort to save the marine turtle from extinction. However, in countries like Belize, turtles are commercialized in the streets without any control whatsoever.

Benito Preza Peraza said that Mexico has signed international protection treaties for this species as well as a number of others. Unfortunately there are still countries like Belize that have not signed these types of agreements.

The president believes that Quintana Roo’s fishermen try to respect preservation agreements, but neighboring countries continue to plunder the Caribbean’s marine turtles

Hurricane Frances was responsible for an additional 6 cruise ships making an unscheduled stop in the port of Cozumel. In an effort to avoid last week’s hurricane, the “floating hotels” elected to detour away from Frances and make a surprise stop on the island. The result was a 25 percent increase in business for restaurant and shop owners all along San Miguel’s waterfront.

This represented pure oxygen for the tourism sector that had been languishing for several weeks in an almost paralyzed state. Last Saturday night all of the downtown nightclubs and bars were filled with North American tourists.

Carlos Velásquez Cabrales has been dismissed from the police department according to police chief Rudy Erosa Navarrete. As warden for the island’s municipal jail, Velásquez Cabrales is accused of bringing liquor into the detention area, which ultimately lead 56 prisoners to mutiny.

The chief informed that guards would intensify inspection of articles, food and beverages brought into the jail, guaranteeing better security for the prisoners and their families, as well as the guards themselves.

For the time being, beginning this Sunday, they will prohibit the introduction of any bottled beverages because they might contain intoxicating substances. At the same time they will put security filters in place whereby visiting family members will be revised by qualified personnel and in accordance with the visitor’s gender.

Police department authorities state that none of the prisoners who staged yesterday’s early morning rebellion were seriously injured, nor were the agents who reestablished the peace.

However, some did end up with black and blue marks as a result of the exchange of blows between the two groups. Public security subdirector Carlos López Avilés is said to have suffered a strong blow to his arm.

The day the riot broke out, there was a total of 57 prisoners in the jail, including inmate Meller Hiller Puc. Hiller Puc is considered to be the principle instigator of the ruckus, and is currently serving 7 years for robbery and assault.

It appears that police department officers are afraid to speak to the press and have been ordered to say nothing, allowing their superiors to handle the situation.

López Avilés promised to disclose the results of the investigation on Monday, along with the name of the policeman who supposedly received 300 pesos for bringing bottles of tequila and gin into the jail.

This is not the first time something like this has occurred. In a past incident, prisoners started the jail on fire, electrifying the cell doors and causing serious damage. In this case the prisoners were incited by Enrique Cab Seguara, a.k.a. “The Devil” who is a free man on the outside today.

Six senior citizens have been afforded the opportunity to once again be a productive member of society and improve their quality of life thanks to the “adult volunteer grocery baggers” program. Municipal social services authorities, the national senior citizen institute, and Chedraui supermarket head the new program up. The objective is to generate employment opportunities for older Cozumeleños, who continue to be victims of age discrimination in this country.

The six “grandparents” that are part of the program agree that this type of assistance is “fabulous because most people don’t realize that in reality we’re still capable of working”.

María Imelda Perera, 66 years of age, lives alone and depends on a small pension for survival. On various occasions she has looked for work as a cook, but has only encountered rejection due to her age. Many potential employers are afraid she might have an accident. “Yes, I can do a lot – put me to the test”, she said.

The new group of Chedraui baggers asks for the community’s support, stating that even though it doesn’t look like a difficult job, this type of work requires mental and physical attention.

Alfonso Hernández Ponce, who recently became a widower, considers that although he lives with his son and his grandchildren, “one always feels that they are in the way. That’s why we need to work and feel useful”.

The work schedule for the seniors is Monday through Saturday, from noon to 5:00 P.M.

While the local government says they stand behind the crusade to clean up garbage here on the island, sanitation workers don’t have the equipment they need to fulfill their jobs. Many department employees work without uniforms and some have only sandals for footwear. The garbage men state that they aren’t protected against lesions and infections, and are requesting boots, gloves, and additional attire.

The public service department recently received 2 motorcycles, a street sweeper, and 180 uniforms, which were paid for by the tourism promotion trust and several other organizations. The workers, however, state that this is not enough. The street cleaners explained that when they have solicited a uniform or equipment, their bosses say that there isn’t any money to purchase the items. As a result, workers are obligated to continue using their own clothes and wearing huaraches.

NO MONEY FOR TRASH COLLECTION
For her part, Hilda Romero Orono, tax collection official, commented that there are 19,000 commercial users that should be paying a monthly fee of anywhere from 300 pesos to several thousand for garbage pick up. She specified that the only way to identify those who are not paying and collect from those businesses would be through the property tax department.

Romero Orono estimated that if you have 19,000 property owners and each one pays 300 pesos, you could accumulate a total of 5.7 million pesos. This money could serve to auto finance the public service department and provide equipment, personnel uniforms, and maintain the island’s garbage truck fleet.

Union head Milton Zavala informs that the city council will respond to CANACO’S (Chamber of Commerce) request to relocate taxi stands at the group’s next meeting. The chamber petitioned for regulated taxi stands designated to provide service between downtown to the different cruise ship piers.

The business group proposes that three separate areas along Melgar Avenue be reserved for waiting taxis – 5th Street, the ferry pier, and the museum – so that tourists have the opportunity to choose which taxi stand is most convenient for them.

According to CANACO various businesses pay a commission to cabbies for every customer they drop at their door. This practice results in partiality toward certain shops and the saturation of a very small area of San Miguel by the majority of the cruise ship passengers.

Last May the chamber put forth a proposal to rescue the island’s downtown section, which included relocating taxi stands and organizing more cultural events in the plaza.

During the last council session, members read the proposal, but were unable to reach any kind of agreement.

The union leader indicated that it is “very difficult” to regulate something like this, but the council will study the situation.

While the director of a municipal assistance program swears that the city has paid their bill, staff members of a local appliance store say it’s just not true. Elektra personnel claim that city hall still owes them 600,000 pesos for domestic appliances purchased to assist local flood victims. However, Martin Aké Solis of AVES insists that the bill was paid last week.

As a matter of fact, workers from this particular company went to the courthouse to insist that they be paid the 600,000 pesos, and were assured that the bill would be taken care of within two weeks.

According to company employees, the city actually received funding to pay for the appliances on July 10, but has yet to let go of a single peso.

Last Friday Aké Solis declared that the municipality had indeed covered the debt, and even told flood victims that they could now begin submitting their vouchers in exchange for replacement appliances.

THE ANSWER

After going to the municipal palace to demand payment, Electra personnel insist that what Aké Solis says is simply not true. Moreover to prove that payment had not been made, the company states that city hall has now made a new agreement to pay, but Elektra is afraid to talk about it for fear that it might fall through.

This situation has created inconformity among local citizens who lost their appliances during the flooding in June. While they struggled to be included in the assistance program and managed to obtain a voucher, the city government has yet to make the coupons valid.

Raquel Pérez Mac, local president of the Institutional Revolutionaries Party (PRI) assures that her party will win the upcoming election without forming coalitions. While it has been suggested that the party consider certain alliances in order to guarantee victory, Pérez Mac says it already in the bag.

Actually the municipal government does have an aquatic rescue team consisting of 10 individuals who began work in March at ten of the island’s public beaches. Meanwhile the Workers Training Institute is providing instruction to 25 more. However, because of the large numbers of locals and tourists on the beaches, the island needs even more aquatic rescue experts.

As we have mentioned, despite the fact that Cozumel hosts more than 3 million tourists every year, it was not until last March that the first rescue team was formed.

Cozumel has 35 beaches, but only 10 are public because the rest have been concessioned to restaurants and hotels. Some of the concessioned beaches provide trained lifeguards to assist clients, but beaches used by locals must depend upon municipal lifeguards.

Daniel Alvarez Villanueva, civil protection director in charge of the rescue corps, says that it would ideal to have at least one or two lifeguards for each beach. However, this adds up to a lot of people and the funding allotted just won’t cover that many lifeguards.

He said that the actual group and equipment that they have is sufficient. In fact, he indicated that since the program began, they have reduced the number of ocean drownings in public beach areas.

The Comercial Mexicana chain confirmed that their company won the right to buy waterfront property owned by the federal electric commission. The CFE is preparing to turn over the location and remove installations from the property.

Engineer Carlos Castillo Xicotencatl, a CFE representative for Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, informed that the property was put up for public auction some two-and-a-half months ago and various enterprises were interested because of the excellent location. It was determined that Comercial Mexicana presented the best project and was willing to pay a high price.

He said that he doesn’t know the actual amount of the sale price, but the property should be ready for turnover in about a month.

The CFE built its first plant on this property, but it has become obsolete and the commission has moved all of its plants to the industrial zone.

The engineer said he doesn’t know what Comercial Mexicana’s plans entail, but the company is entitled to use the property as it sees fit – be it supermarket, hotel, or anything. At this point, the CFE has nothing to say about it.

Castillo Xicotencatl informed that the electric company’s payment office will be relocated to one of their properties in colonia San Miguel and their automatic payment machines will be placed in more convenient areas such as commercial plazas

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