Sheinbaum’s Bold Plan for Quintana Roo’s Future

Cancún, Quintana Roo — During her accountability tour, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo led the event “The Transformation Advances in Quintana Roo” in Cancún, which drew over 27,000 attendees. The gathering took place at the Tajamar Boardwalk, with Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa hailing the state’s rapid growth under the Fourth Transformation initiative.

Governor Lezama emphasized that former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador opened doors to development for the historically neglected southern regions of Quintana Roo, and that Sheinbaum has strengthened that momentum. She thanked federal support for investments in infrastructure, health, education, science, and social programs, and for efforts to address sargassum, as well as advances in indigenous and women’s rights.

Lezama specifically mentioned continued backing for strategic projects like the Maya Train, the Development Hub in Chetumal, and the state’s efforts to build a more peaceful, secure, and equitable society. Addressing political opposition, the governor warned that “conservative groups” are trying to derail these transformation efforts but asserted that Quintana Roo stands ready to defend Sheinbaum’s agenda.

She contrasted this era with the neoliberal past, which she said was marked by inequality and neglect, and affirmed that shared prosperity is beginning to take hold. “No other country has the fortune of being led by a woman of such strong convictions,” she added in praise of Sheinbaum’s leadership.

In her remarks, President Sheinbaum asserted that the Fourth Transformation has lifted 13.6 million Mexicans out of poverty, placing Mexico among the least unequal countries in the Americas. She attributed these advances to a 135 percent real-term increase in the minimum wage, an investment of 850 billion pesos in social welfare programs, and the execution of “strategic works” financed with funds recovered from corruption.

She also announced three new social programs in Quintana Roo: a support program for women aged 60 to 64, the “Rita Cetina” scholarship, and Salud Casa por Casa (Health House by House), which will be reinforced by the Farmacias del Bienestar initiative. In addition, she highlighted that 216 indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities in the state have received direct budgets to decide on priority projects in their regions.

Sheinbaum detailed a wide range of ongoing and upcoming infrastructure and social projects for Quintana Roo. These include the conversion of the Maya Train into a freight rail line, maintenance of key highways, the completion of the Nichupté bridge, upgrades to Isla Blanca, the construction of nearly 48,544 housing units, and the establishment of a new campus of the Rosario Castellanos University in Cancún.

She also confirmed plans for new hospitals in Chetumal and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, along with the creation of women’s support centers in each municipality.

The president concluded with a message of unity, declaring: “A government close to its people will always have the recognition of its people. I will never distance myself from the people of Quintana Roo or the people of Mexico. When one knows their strength and history, nothing can stop the people of Mexico. Long live Quintana Roo!”

Members of the federal cabinet and representatives of social programs were also present at the event.

The 850 billion pesos allocated to social programs has been widely documented in federal budget reports and social policy analyses, representing an unprecedented level of investment in “Bienestar” initiatives for 2025. President Sheinbaum’s administration attributes Mexico’s recent poverty reduction to this expansion of social welfare, coupled with significant increases in the minimum wage and the recovery of public funds once lost to corruption.

At the state level, Quintana Roo’s investment portfolio is also attracting international attention. Governor Mara Lezama has promoted more than US$2 billion in planned or active projects, ranging from the expansion of international airports and hotel development to efforts aimed at diversifying the local economy beyond tourism.