Tulum, Quintana Roo — President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly rebuked Pedro Álvarez Icaza, head of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), during a tour of Parque del Jaguar on Thursday, demanding he not put regulations above the needs of citizens.
The exchange was captured on video by a local media outlet. Sheinbaum, accompanied by Governor Mara Lezama and other officials, listened to an explanation about the park before turning to Álvarez Icaza and ordering him to “authorize it.”
After taking a few steps, she stopped and addressed the federal official again.
“Look, you have to govern with common sense and for the people. When the rule is placed above the people and common sense, it’s wrong,” she told him. “Don’t comply with the rule; that’s what I’m telling you.”
Álvarez Icaza nodded and smiled.
Sheinbaum arrived in Tulum partly to address growing discontent in the tourist destination, which is facing a severe economic crisis.
Listens to Service Providers
During the tour, Sheinbaum was intercepted by a group of tourism service providers and cooperative members who complained about restrictions imposed in the protected natural area.
One person said his assigned area had been mistakenly classified as a recovery zone, despite already having tourist infrastructure. Sheinbaum asked Álvarez Icaza when the problem would be resolved. He replied in two months, but she rejected that timeline.
“No, what, what, what!” she exclaimed. “You’ll resolve it before the end of July.”
The group thanked her and handed over written petitions. Sheinbaum declined to be interviewed, saying she would hold her press conference the next day.
Sheinbaum Begins Tulum Agenda
Sheinbaum arrived in Quintana Roo around 3 p.m. and held a private meeting at the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport. She then toured Parque del Jaguar on foot and in a park cart, accompanied by Governor Lezama and other state and federal officials.
She also met behind closed doors with local business leaders to discuss issues affecting the economy.
Sheinbaum is expected to stay overnight at the Holiday Inn in Tulum and lead her morning press conference, “La Mañanera del Pueblo,” from the municipality on Friday. On Saturday, she will inspect progress on the Tren Maya project. On Sunday, she will hold a press conference in Puerto Morelos to announce a comprehensive plan to address the sargassum seaweed problem, a key priority during her visit.
