Sedena Accused of Hiding Bacalar Lagoon Retirement Home Plans

Chetumal, Mexico — As Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) proceeds with the construction of a military retirement home on the shores of Bacalar Lagoon, biologist María Luisa Villareal has condemned the federal agency’s assertion that the project constitutes a mere remodeling effort. Villareal criticized Sedena’s failure to disclose the full scope of the project, provide environmental studies, or ensure transparency in the process, calling it a direct violation of the environmental impact assessment exemption granted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

Regulatory Violations and Lack of Transparency

Villareal emphasized that the exemption granted to Sedena is complex and requires more than a simple declaration of no environmental, social, or economic impact. “It’s not enough for Sedena to send a letter stating, ‘We’re just doing a remodel, we promise there will be no impact,’ and leave it at that,” she said. “Authorities don’t grant exemptions based on good-faith promises alone. The agency must objectively and thoroughly demonstrate compliance with federal regulations.”

She explained that Sedena was legally obligated to prove that the project would not cause contamination, alter the ecosystem, or exploit natural resources, as stipulated by federal guidelines. “If you’re bringing in heavy machinery, dredging, filling land, laying foundations, and constructing a new building, then the ‘remodeling’ argument falls apart—and so does the exemption,” Villareal stated.

She further noted that if Sedena insists the project is only a remodel, it should not require expanded utility services or new infrastructure. “If agencies like the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) or the Potable Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA) issue permits based on increased supply demands for a new construction project, then it’s clearly not a remodel and the exemption no longer applies,” she added.

Environmental and Safety Risks

Villareal reiterated that the project does not qualify for an environmental impact exemption, particularly given its location in a fragile ecological zone. Bacalar Lagoon sits on an active geological fault and features an oligotrophic ecosystem highly sensitive to disturbances, as well as unstable slopes classified as high to very high risk by the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED). Any missteps, she warned, could endanger both the environment and nearby communities.

She also raised concerns about the project’s classification as a matter of national security, which she argued increases risks for both facility users and surrounding residents. “A project posing such risks to public safety contradicts the principle of harmlessness that justifies an exemption in the first place,” she said.

Public Demand for Full Disclosure

Villareal echoed public demands for Sedena to disclose the full project details, similar to the scrutiny applied to the Tren Maya railway construction, which also sparked protests. She urged environmental authorities to verify whether the project truly constitutes a remodel rather than new construction.

“Unfortunately,” she concluded, “the agency responsible for this project is setting a dangerous precedent by bypassing legal requirements and getting away with it.”