Cozumel Mayor Under Fire Over Child Abuse Remarks

Cozumel, Mexico — Following controversial statements by Cozumel Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez regarding the sexual abuse of a minor by a soldier, feminist groups and civil society have demanded his resignation. Despite a public apology, his lack of empathy and leadership has irreparably damaged his credibility.

The recent case of child sexual abuse on the island of Cozumel, where an active member of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) was linked to the abuse of a girl just nine years old, has unleashed a wave of indignation not only in Quintana Roo but throughout the entire country. However, what has truly intensified the social rejection has been the attitude and declarations of Mayor José Luis Chacón, who, hours after the incident became known, made comments widely considered inappropriate and absolutely inadequate for the gravity of the situation.

The incident was quickly replicated by national media, which gave broad coverage to the lamentable event. Yet, what rapidly turned from a painful occurrence into a crisis of confidence for the municipal government was Chacón's reaction. According to witnesses and accounts from those present, the mayor was apparently in an unfit state during his initial interventions. This, combined with the comments he made at that time, generated a wave of criticism from feminist sectors and civil society, who called for his immediate resignation.

“Taking this opportunity to acknowledge that some of my statements on this lamentable topic were not appropriate, and for that reason, I offer a sincere public apology to the girl, her family, and the entire community,” said Chacón Méndez.

In an attempt to calm the waters, the mayor published a video apologizing publicly for his statements, acknowledging that his comments were inappropriate and had deeply affected the victim and her family. However, this apology has not been sufficient to restore the credibility of a mayor who, far from providing a solid and empathetic response at such a delicate moment, demonstrated a lack of sensitivity in his declarations.

Furthermore, during his public apology, he referred to the linking to trial of the soldier Jairo N., who is accused of abusing the minor, in an attempt to show commitment to the situation.

The conduct of José Luis Chacón is not new on the island. This incident adds to a series of erroneous decisions and missteps by the mayor, which highlights a lack of leadership and, above all, the insufficiency of a work team that appears unprepared to manage situations of high social sensitivity.