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The Cozumel News in English, Vol 33

June 21-June 28, 2005

We would like to give special thanks for the very kind assistance of Israel Sanchez, a professional translator who has volunteered to help us with the more difficult passages. (Thanks, Izzy!). The simpler stuff was translated by the editors.

FERRY PIER IMPROVEMENTS GET UNDERWAY Por Esto

Next Monday, July 4th, the second stage of the work of enlargement of Cozumel's fiscal dock will begin, a project that will be useful for consolidating the port infrastructure of the island, informed the general manager of Quintana Roo's t Integral Port Administration ( Apiqroo ), Javier Zetina González.

The second stage investment will be seven million pesos and it is forseen that it will benefit over 3 million users taking into consideration both local use and the growth of tourism. There are now more ferries and more frequent arrivals which is why it has become necessary to enlarge and modernize the port facility.

Zetina González detailed that in 2004 the Apiqroo executed the first phase of the integral program of modernization of the fiscal dock which included enlargement and increase in the number of positions for laying up.

In the meantime, for 2005 the second stage of this enlargement was will involve construction of 900 square meters of dock and increasing the number of laying up positions for boats to six. ,
The width of the fiscal dock will be widened from its current 11 meters to 16 meters thus enabling a bigger flow ow people and vehicles as well as allowing for more order and security.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN Q. ROO Diario de Yucatan

As of March 2005 there are 1,855 companies with foreign investment found in the State of Q. Roo which represents 5.9 % of the total of the foreign businesses established throughout Mexico, a figure which totals, 31,181 according to inform the Secretary of the Economy for Q. Roo, Fernando Escamilla Carrillo.

Of the total private corpora. tions established in the State, the majority are found in the north in the cities of Benito Juárez, Cozumel's and Solidaridad's, he said .
There are 744 in Solidaridad, that represents the 40,1 %; In Benito Juárez, 608;Cozumel, 190, and in Othón P. Blanco, 119

The majority of overseas investments come from the United States and these are principally service related. . Foreign businesses are not much of a presence in the other municipalities of the state.

656 companies come from North American origin, 229 Italians, 154 Spaniards, 122 Canadian and 110 of Argentina.

SURPRISE FERRY PRICE INCREASE NOT WELL-RECEIVED BY ISLANDERS Por Esto de Q. Roo

The conspiracy of the two shipowners that cover the sea lane toward Cozumel, when incrementing in over aThe 20 percent rise in the cost of ferry service between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen continues to provoke unrest among the local population who consider this a criminal rate rise. They accuse the two ferry companies of conspiracy and the transportation director of Apiqroo, Javier Zetina González of taking a lukewarm attitude and have request that the governor of Quintana Roo, Félix González Canto intervene in the matter.
As we informed in the Saturday edition of Por Esto, the conspiratorial announcement by the two ferry companies, Cruceros Marítimos del Caribe y Ultramar, to increase ticket prices from 50 to 60 pesos on way for locals and 90 to 110 each way for tourist and other non-Cozumeleños as of the first of July came as a big surprise.
Users of maritime transportation as they are : Cozumel Citizens Juan González Robledo, Magali Ríos Márquez and Pedro Alberto Arroyo López, requested the mandatory intervention of the governor to negotiate these matters saying that the Friday increase great affect their family economy.

MORE PROTECT THE TURTLE CAMPAIGN NEWS Por Esto

For the first time on Cozumel, the turtle camp will have access to a veternarian who the veterinary that will evaluate the health of the chelonians that arrive at the island's coasts informed the boss of the Protect the Turtles program for the Offic of Ecological Management, Christopher González Baca.

He indicated that Saraí López Martínez is the specialist that will be in charge of evaluating the turtles' health and detecting diseases and other health problems of the species such a a dermatitis caused by mushrooms or bacteria, the presence of fibropapilomatosis, a virus than cause tumors to the sea turtles, and even shark bites. .
He explained that the veternary specialist would team up with the biologists,o Claudia Ilayali Sandoval Saavedra and Mauricio Avilés Mendoza, in order that in this season studies may be done that will bring enough knowledge about these chelonians to allow the implementation of better protective actions and and conservation of the species in the future. .
González Baca mentioned than the specialist arrived on June 27 and since then has been in charge of verifying that the turtles that arrive at Cozumel coast do not have a health problems.

He added that the turtle deaths can take place from the common aforementioned diseases, for shark bites -- but also from asphyxia. About this last cause of death, he explained that jellyfish are one of the sea turtles favorite foods and many times these get caught up with the plastic bags that people throw in the sea and the turtles choke on them and die. Which is why it's so important that people who attend beachside resorts and boat off shore pick up the trash that they generate.

He explained that important actions have been taken by the municipal Ecological Management office with their Clean Beaches 2005 campaign which involves the work of children and young people and raises their consciousness about the importance of taking care of the environment. .
He said that 170 children and young people of primary school, secondary school and pre-university studies participated in this project, clearing various beaches of the island each week and also taking part in recreational activities that contributed to their understanding of the importance of not littering and of taking care of the beach surroundings. .
The Clean the Beaches campaign finished off this past June 25 and at the closing ceremony it was announced that they had managed to collect 297 bags of waste matter, which were classified in the following way:

 

Counsel for the defense of Jessica Alejandra Beltrán Pizaña, accused as "The Gypsy" that steals a lot of jewels with superior value (up to 2 million dollars) showed a list of 98 proofs of discharge; Presume that the case may have to do with money laundering, traffic in jewels and or stealing cars to evade taxes, since the file is full of irregularities with altered invoices.

Raquenel Villanueva Fraustro indicated that her intention is not to accuse anyone in particular, but that an exhaustive inspection of the files of Jessica Alejandra Beltrán Pizaña alias alias "Vicki" o "Victoria González",
The supposed Gypsy that steals lots of jewels with the help of Verónica Uh Ku,
Who said in her moment that she had been deceived by Jessica, and had bumped into a series of irregularities,89 if which had been presented along with the court appointed council for the defense same that he enlisted in the 89 proofs that he presented along with defense counsel appointed by court María de Lourdes Turriza..
And the defense attorney says she has recived a series of threats and pressures attempting to sway her from accomplishing her work in Jessica's defense. .
With the presented evidence offered in defense of the supposed " Gypsy" a request was also made for an explanation as to how these jewels entered the island in the first place.

Right now than according to the altered invoices that appear, he sees clearly than the shopping have come true among themselves between the island's jewelry stores and that belong to the Diamond Port's same company.

She indicated that another defense point is what if the jewels were insured, it was not supposed to be the company nor its legal representative that initiated an investigation and accusation but the insuring company. por lo que se presume que los presuntos agraviados quieren cobrar doble.So that it is presumed that the presumed offended want to collect payment from look-alike.

LATE NIGHT POLICE RAID Diario de Yucatan

Shepherd Chan Poot, caretaker of the restaurant of the seaside resort Caletita, in Cozumel, was stopped by elements of Investigaciones's federal agency during an united operation with The Judicial state police and authorities of Migración, according to he got informed .The prisoner had a pistol within his power calibrate 38.
The inspection to detect drugs and fire arms began a 11 PM in the AFI parking lost. 4 nighttime centers were checked and in addition to the caretaker who was arrested, one foreign tourist was stopped who could not provide evidence of identity and a dancing girl from the club Platinos who did not have a document showing her nationality. .
House searches at the Caletita and Las Casitas public beaches were also carried out. .
It was at the first beach's restaurant where the officers encountered a 38 caliber rvolver in the moped of the caretaker of the place. He did not have to carry or use fire arms with are exclusively for the Mexician military forces 20 automobiles and the people that were finding themselves in them were searched over to long of the jetty. Also a motorcycle because his driver lacked possession documents was confiscated. The AFI said that this type of inspections will make of constant form to maintain the good security level at the island itself.

THE CROCODILES OF PUERTO DE ABRIGO El Semanario de Cozumel

They contemplate the relocation of several crocodiles that have lived in the waters of the Puerto de Abrigo marina for over 10 years.
The director of the place, Carlos Angulo López manifests that until now there have not been attacks by these animals' on people that frequent the marina,
Because the proper precautions are being taken of prohibiting people from swimming in the waters here.
But nevertheless, he manifested, they are in the process of talking with the Semarnat about where and when the animals might be safely relocated. . He commented that the biggest croc measures two and one half meters in length. (approximately 6 ft)..

Carlos Angulo manifested than they have detected two or three crocodiles in the zone, but that until now they have not been aggressive towards fishermen or any other people who visit this area.
The fact that he had encountered these animals' some attack, in spite of the fact that they take discarded dwell than 10 years in that place.

He said that if the crocodiles of Puerto Abrigo as they have come to be called, are a risk it is only because of their natural attack instinct and that they eat to survive. However, so far in the 10 plus years they've been living here, they've attacked no one and largely spend their time hanging out in the water around the docks looking for something to eat. .

He added that they can be seen in the afternoons when the fishermen return from the sea and begin to clean and gut their catches on the pier.

He pointed out that more preventive measures will be taken on this count as fishermen will be compelled to stop tossing the fish entrails down into the water as this is what the crocs love and it brings them in close to this place.

Manifested that fortunately not one you have ever been attacked b and these animal but they will not run more risks and it has been forbidden that people swim at that zone.

He also commented that they can be seen largely in the afternoons hovering around the docks having entered the port from where they lurk at other times in the mangroves at the entrance to Puerto de Abrigo. .

He established that they do not want to kill the beast but rather preserve them. And for this reason he is very concerned about taking the crocs to Punta Sur National Park where they run the risk that the crocodiles that already inhabit these lagoons will be very jealous and might fight with them or kill them.

And for this reason they are still on the lookout for a good place to relocate the creatures.

He considered that they are open to that the Semarnat accomplish a study and look for the way to catch them, but that not yet they know when time may carry them meanwhile The crocodiles appear during the afternoons and for the mornings they meet looking for food at the surrounding hotels or else they hide in the lagoon that exists in this zone..
Lastly he exhorted the community yet again, not to swim in this area.