Business Leaders to Form Task Force After Easter to Address Chetumal Store Closures

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Business leaders in Chetumal will form interagency task forces after Easter to develop strategies aimed at preventing further commercial closures in the state capital, the head of the local business council announced.

Wilma Contreras Canto, president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), acknowledged that many establishments have shut down or moved to the informal sector due to high tax burdens. She said the groups will work with the Economic Development Secretariat (SEDE) and the Othón P. Blanco municipal government to find mechanisms to sustain the local economy.

Contreras did not provide exact figures on closures in the first quarter of 2026 but expressed concern over prevailing economic conditions in Chetumal. She noted that meetings have already been held with SEDE head Paul Carrillo to address issues affecting restaurants, hotels, bars, and other businesses that have closed or shifted to informality.

“We agreed that after Easter, task forces will be set up to find strategies that can reverse this situation and support the most affected entrepreneurs, and jointly find ways for businesses to keep opening and staying afloat,” Contreras said.

She explained that many opt for informality to avoid tax obligations related to salaries, rent, and permits, which in some cases has led to abandoning formal operations. “Many business owners cite personal reasons, but others have admitted they prefer moving to the informal sector due to the bureaucratic burden of paperwork; they find it tedious to keep documentation up to date. Also, if there are no sales, it’s hard to maintain commercial operations,” she added.

Contreras emphasized that even without sales, merchants must meet all fiscal duties. She also called for boosting trade with Belize and improving tourism from Belize, which is crucial for the local economy.