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The Cozumel News in English
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Each week we select articles from local newspapers that amuse or interest us and then translate them into English. We wish to stress that these translations are literal --English versions of exactly what was originally written in Spanish by reporters for Por Esto, Diario de Quintana Roo, Novedades and El Seminario. It should also be mentioned that we cannot always verify the facts in the stories we publish here. We leave that job to the newspaper that originally published the article. We appreciate hearing from our readers so please feel free to E-Mail US your questions, suggestions and comments. You may also wish to consider starting a discussion on any topic below that interests you by posting on the Living on Cozumel Forum.
Note: These articles are a great deal of work to find and translate. They are under copyright. But we all know what a temptation it is to want to share interesting info all over the internet. We don't mind you copying short snippets. But .....
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The
Cozumel News in English, Vol 18
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Jan 1-15, 2005 |
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TAXI DRIVERS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LOCALS |
While Cozumel's taxi drivers benefit from the ever increasing number of tourists, the local population experiences a negative effect. The voracious cabbies deny service to locals in order to give preference to foreigners paying in dollars.
The current hotel occupancy in addition to cruise ship arrivals and tourists crossing over from Playa del Carmen via ferry mean that many locals are unable to get a taxi.
On Christmas Eve many taxi drivers refused service to Cozumelenos and national tourists, in order to transport foreign tourists. Taxi union inspectors actually had to hit the streets with their radios in hand, in an effort to force cabbies to provide service to island residents.
Taxi driver Victor Soberanis Ferrer confirmed that rising hotel occupancy numbers benefit their union and can actually increase the demand for cabs by 80 percent. Another hack, Rene Navarrete, concurred that all of the folks moving around during the holidays is a big help. He said that while there are problems for locals needing a taxi during peak hours, that this doesn't happen all of the time. He clarified that the union has enough taxis to satisfy the demands of the locals as well as the tourists. Edmundo Rivero, taxi #259, says he has also benefitted from the high demand.
Another driver who wanted to remain anonymous, confirmed that discrimination against islanders does exist, and that while no one talks about it openly, it is a practice that has been going on for a very long time.
WATERFRONT PROJECT ADVANCING |
Remodeling work along Melgar Avenue continues at a normal pace, according to the public works department and the company hired to do the project. They're working on both lanes of the avenue and only plan to take a short pause to celebrate the new year.
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Photo take Jan 20, 2005 standing in front of
the ferry pier crossing looking south down Melgar.
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Despite the fact that they had a small setback when they were waiting for asphalt to arrive, the project has never stopped moving ahead, according to workers.
The head of the construction company indicated that the delay occurred because the mix they use to replace the old asphalt overlay comes from the mainland. Since there was only one ferry company working at the moment, the materials didn't arrive on schedule.
Public works personnel deny that another factor that has detained the project is that many workers returned to their native cities and villages for Christmas and still haven't.
FIREMEN RECEIVE PAY RAISE |
Uniforms, equipment and a 14 percent pay raise were presented to the island'ss fire department corps last Thursday. During the same event, ambulance number 516, which had been in disrepair, was returned to the line up. In addition, 10 members of the aquatic rescue team received their uniforms.
The firemen received 26 work uniforms accompanied by a pair of boots. In addition, they were presented with 2 acetylene oxygen tanks with hoses, masks, gloves, and eye protectors which will complement their jaws of life @ equipment.
REPAVING NORTHERN COASTAL ROAD |
Cozumel's public works department announced that they will begin resurfacing the coastal road on the island's north end later this month.
They are presently taking bids on the project which will consist of 19,000 square meters of surface along this important street, according to public works director Ricardo Espinoza Freyre.
The resources applied to this particular project will amount to 755,338 pesos.
COZUMEL'S ELECTRIC RATES TOO HIGH |
The island's federal electric commission users indicated that the rates are definitely elevated. They say that the most recently billing was actually double the amount that they normally pay. For this reason, they believe it's necessary that the agency lower their rates.
In addition, consumers want to know what caused a recent 20-minute blackout on the island, which paralyzed commercial and tourist activities. Apart from that, the constant rise and fall of voltage often damages residents = televisions and other electrical appliances and the agency accepts no responsibility for this.
Some islanders are complaining that customers residing in an average size home are paying a minimal amount for their power, while others living in one small room are paying the same rates as a neighbor living in a large house. Others say that after paying a bill where they are charged the normal rate, the next invoice will be double or triple that amount.
In the case of Luciano Chan Itza, his most recent billing came in at 1, 058 pesos, when he has normally paid an average of 400 to 500 pesos for a two-month period. He said that when he went to the commission's offices to voice his unconformity, he was merely given some sheets of paper with meters drawn on them so he could track the meters at his residence. At the same time, he was told that he needed to pay the full amount shown on his bill, which he considers to be unjust.
For her part, Rubi Castillo Morcillo, also a consumer who went to pay her bill yesterday, manifested that she has been paying an average of 500 to 600 pesos for quite some time. However, she had just received a bill for 1,000 pesos. She said that the worst thing about the situation is that personnel at the electric commission = s offices were not interested in helping her find a solution and had done absolutely nothing for her.
All Rights to the Above Material are Reserved. If you feel you must copy and paste any portion of what you've read here, please give credit to Cozumel News in English at www.cozumelmycozumel.com. Thanks for your cooperation.
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