Cozumel News Vp; 4 4

COZUMEL LIFEGUARDS READY FOR ACTION Diario de Quintana Roo

Federal maritime zone authorities presented life-saving equipment valued at 130,267 pesos to the newly created municipal aquatic rescue unit this week. Civil protection director Daniel Álvarez Villanueva stated that the material will be of great use to the first-aid units;

"Moreover it's important to reinforce preventative measures, requiring life guards to pay attention and remain vigilant over their assigned areas." Álvarez Villanueva recounted that the project was initiated January 17 of this year, with not only trained lifeguards/aquatic rescuers, but newly posted information signs and warnings on east side beaches valued at 690,900 pesos.

Lifeguards received 10 radios, buoys, rescue rings and individual equipment packs. In addition, the team was provided with basic first-aide equipment, including life jackets, 180-meter rescue lines, oxygen equipment and masks.

RESERVE SUPPLIES MAINTAINED AT 80% DURING HURRICANE SEASON Novedades de Quintana Roo

With the initiation of the 2004 hurricane season, municipal authorities are formalizing agreements with grocery stores, gas, fuel and water companies. The city asks that these types of businesses maintain their warehouses and storage tanks with an 80 percent reserve, to be verified weekly, guaranteeing that the island will be provided for in case of a hurricane.

It's important to mention that these types of agreements are made annually because virtually all goods and materials consumed in Cozumel must be ferried over from the mainland. High winds and rough seas generally result in a suspension of freight service that could last up to 3 days, leaving islanders with an inadequate supply of food, purified water, gas and fuel.

COZUMEL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO GIVE SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKETS Novedades de Quintana Roo

Thanks to a grant from Mexico City's Monte de Piedad, the Cozumel Community Foundation will provide 1,000 low-income students with school supplies for the coming school year. As in previous years, the foundation competed for and was awarded a number of grants that directly benefit the local island community, including this 2004 project "On the Road to School" providing funding for 1,000 complete school supply packages valued at 186,000 pesos. Qualifying families with children in Cozumel's 25 public primary schools are invited to apply at the Foundation's offices between May 31 and June 18. Supplies will be distributed in August, one week before classes begin.

REBUILDING CALETITA PUBLIC BEACH Novedades de Quintana Roo

This week workers began rebuilding palapas and other structures at Caletita public beach, which were destroyed in a fire set by vandals last December. The cost for repairing the bathrooms, palapas and lifeguard tower, which were initially constructed just two years ago, will be approximately 450,000 pesos. At this time, no one has been charged with the crime.

HUMANE SOCIETY'S ART AUCTION A SUCCESS Diario de Quintana Roo

Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of 24 artists and an interested public, Cozumel's Humane Society art auction was a great success once again this year. Event organizers were able to raise 186,000 pesos, all of which is earmarked for the society's pet sterilization campaign.

MEXICAN ARAMADA SHIP HITS PUNTA LANGOSTA PIER Novedades de Quintana Roo

Mexican Armada ship, the Guillermo Prieto, suffered a mishap after depositing a floral offering at sea in honor of Marine Day. Due to an error in calculation, the heavy ship carrying a number of local school children and authorities, ran into the edge of a cruise ship pier. Fortunately there were no injuries except to the pride of the ship's captain.

After a Marine Day memorial ceremony where floral wreaths are left upon the sea, all of the invited guests were enjoying the peaceful return to shore. As the ship came within a few hundred meters of the pier, the vessel went off course by a few degrees and the ship's stern smashed into the pier, damaging that section of concrete and shifting the supports.

A spokesman for the Cozumel's Harbor Master commented, "Something like this happens every time an Armada ship of this size pulls up to our piers, but we've never had problems. They always repair the damage and that's it".

"BIG FISH" NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTOR BROUGHT DOWN Por Esto! de Quintana Roo

Jorge Santiago Soberanis Mex, an important figure in the the island's narcotics distribution network, was apprehended by AFI agents and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell. The arrest of the alleged narcotics trafficker, better known as "El Santiago", was made in the early morning hours as the accused was observed aboard his black motorcycle, operating with the intent to sell more than 20 bags of cocaine.

The arrest was made after a three-month investigation involving local and federal agents, initiated by a complaint filed by a local citizen. The presumed drug dealer's "modus operandi" was to take orders via his cell phone and then deliver the drugs to various bars around town.

Soberanis Mex's sales were reported to average about 80 bags of cocaine per day, and he is considered to be the number two man in the island's drug network. Police agents prefer not to give the name of the supposed kingpin of the narcotics ring, so as not to hinder future investigations that will hopefully lead to his capture.

RADAR GUN PIECES HARD TO FIND El Semenario Cozumel

Despite their effectiveness during the short time they were in operation, the island's two radar guns have not been in use for several months because replacement pieces are not readily available here in Mexico. Transit captain Rogelio Virgilio Domínguez Povedano indicated they have been unable to repair the broken radar guns because the parts are only available in the U.S.

He went on to say that during the time the guns were functioning, they were instrumental in forcing drivers to slow down, and responsible for lowering accidents on the cross-island and perimeter highways.

Captain Domínguez stated that 70 percent of Cozumel drivers operate over the speed limits, which are set at 40 km. per hour in town and 70 km on the highways, unless otherwise posted. He cited taxi drivers in particular as being guilty of generally driving faster than the legal speed limits. Finally the captain added that he hopes they can locate the pieces soon because it is almost impossible to legally prove speeding violations without this type of equipment.

CRUISESHIP TOURISM COULD END OVERNIGHT El Semenario Cozumel

Cozumel's government officials need to quit trying to levy false charges and taxes against cruise ship companies or they run the risk of losing business to places like Roatan, Xcaret, Belize and Majahual. Ship consignment agent Javier Guillermo Clausell warned that local government authorities are way off base when they announce plans to charge an additional port tax, purported to benefit the municipality and its residents. He says they shouldn't forget that they have competitors like Belize and Roatan, Honduras, and if cruise ship lines decide to create a Grand Cayman-Belize-Roatan route, Cozumel could be left on the outside looking in.

Speaking in a blunt manner, the local impresario emphasized that in order to confront the competition, authorities shouldn't be "inventing charges, taxes and other 'junk', as though Cozumel is the one and only island in the world. Instead we're a port who must compete with many others and we need to take great care that we don't cross the line".

When Guillermo Clausell was asked why he thought local government officials were insistent on charging these additional fees, he responded, "They're definitely trying to find a way to grab onto some money for their own personal enrichment, while pretending that they're looking to take from the rich and give to the poor".