Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Residents of the Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta neighborhood tore down a fence Wednesday night that workers had installed to block access to Playa 72 from Fifth Avenue, vowing to keep the beach open to the public.
“No one should restrict access to the beach, and we won’t allow it. Enough of the abuses by politicians who want to take everything,” said resident José Ángel Pérez.
According to residents, the property known as Chen-Zubul has no title deed. They claim the now-defunct developer DeryMaya sold lots and issued fraudulent purchase-sale documents.
“During the installation of posts and a metal mesh to close the access from Avenida Colosio, a large man showed up claiming he had orders from the government to put up the fence, without specifying whether it was municipal or state,” Pérez said.
Neighborhood founder Sonia López warned that no one can touch the land while it remains in litigation. “The only rightful possessors are the people who founded the neighborhood, and we will defend that the access remains open to enjoy the beaches,” she said.
Resident Juan Alcocer said they will defend the coast because no politician or business owner has a title to seize national land. Roger Pérez added that the area must remain untouched because much of the vegetation is mangrove forest, home to diverse wildlife and a vital green lung for the city.
Another founder, Julio Cano Novelo, identified the man who appeared during the attempted closure as Sergio Rodríguez, who he said was involved with the former DeryMaya and is believed to be behind the effort to take over the land.
