Bacalar Mayor Prioritizes Festivities Over Violence as Municipality Marks 15 Years

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — As Bacalar prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary as a municipality, Mayor José Alfredo Contreras Méndez is focusing on carnival prizes and tax incentives while largely ignoring the violence plaguing communities like Limones, critics say.

In his third term, Contreras Méndez has prioritized events such as the Carnaval 2026 awards and a motorcycle giveaway for residents who paid their property taxes on time. Meanwhile, the southern town of Limones and other areas continue to suffer from roadblocks, disappearances, and violent incidents that have gone unaddressed by local authorities.

Bacalar has transformed from a small community into a recognized tourist destination over the past 15 years, but rapid urban growth has strained infrastructure and led to environmental damage in the Laguna de los Siete Colores. The recent surge in violence highlights deeper institutional and social challenges that persist despite claims of economic progress.

Since becoming a municipality, Bacalar has had only two mayors: Alexander Zetina Aguiluz, who served six years with the now-defunct Partido Nueva Alianza (Panal), and Contreras Méndez, who is in his eighth year of leadership. This lack of political alternation has raised concerns about concentrated power and stagnation.

A solemn session to mark the municipality’s 15th anniversary is scheduled for February 16 at 10:00 a.m. in the Domo Artesanal in the Centro neighborhood.