Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The federal government’s decision to deny environmental authorization for Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day project in Mahahual has drawn sharp criticism from a local civic planning council member, who argues it deepens the neglect of the state’s southern region.
Jaime Aguilar Cheluja, a member of the Citizen Planning Council in Othon P. Blanco municipality, said the rejection by Environment Secretary Alicia Barcena cancels the legitimate aspirations of residents for orderly development. He accused the government of applying a “containment policy” to the south while continuing to promote growth in Cancun.
“For more than 24 years, we have been waiting for the same boost that Cancun receives,” Aguilar said. “Now, ignorance and a populist government have prevailed, harming the people of Chetumal and southern Quintana Roo.”
Aguilar noted that while Cancun is adding over 100,000 new hotel rooms without opposition, the south is denied projects like Perfect Day. He also criticized the rejection of consultants from the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU) who sought to remove thousands of hectares from the urban development plan to regularize informal settlements.
“The modification to the Urban Development Program was validated through public consultation forums but has not been published,” he said. “The highest authority of the ‘wise people’ denied environmental authorization for an investment project in an urban zone with a valid plan that promotes development.”
Aguilar called on residents to organize and make their voices heard, as opponents of the project did. “It’s not fair to cry like children over what we don’t know how to defend like men,” he said.
