We are raising funds for our legal defense fund to fight the proposed 4th pier. In order to sustain our lawsuit as we appeal it to the Mexican Supreme Court, we are now asking for help outside of Cozumel. We have been fundraising locally for over a year.
Cozumel is already threatened by the cruise ship industry as it is the biggest cruise ship ports of call with often 8 ships docking daily. The proposed 4th $25 million USD 800-yard long pier, would have capacity for an additional 11 cruise ships and 40,000 tourists to Cozumel each day.
It is intended to be built on top of Villa Blanca Reef, the only open public reef left in San Miguel, and the last beach downtown that hasn't been usurped and privatized by the tourism industry. What’s left of Cozumel's shallow reefs will be destroyed to build endless rows of beach clubs along the island’s coast. The fundamental environmental and human rights rights, and way of life of Cozumeleños, will be lost and the underwater ecosystem that makes Cozumel a world class diving destination will be destroyed in favor of above water cruise ship tourism.
Muelles Del Caribe SA de CV, the company behind the megaproject, is owned by the Yucatan based Molina family, and is represented in court by its President Rogelio Tirzo Casares. The Molinas are one of the Yucatan Peninsula's wealthiest and most influential families since colonial times, owning many businesses in the tourism sector. They do not reside on the island.
On January 26, 2022 the Citizens Collective of Island Cozumel requested a court injunction to suspend the project, notifying the authorities responsible, that the “Right to the city” and other fundamental human rights of the people of Cozumel was not respected and the mega-pier puts at risk the ecosystem of the island. On April 11, 2022, Judge Pamela Lopez Swain granted the injunction, issuing a “definitive suspension” of the piers construction until the case is resolved.
It has since been proven that Muelles Del Caribe SA de CV did not receive a proper permit for their concession to build the pier, nor did they conduct their legally obligated public consultation with Cozumuleños before construction.
On March 31, 2023 Judge Third of the District del Centro Auxiliary of the Fourth Region seated in Xalapa, Veracruz, Rodolfo Pedraza Longi handed down this decision that the Citizens Collective of Island Cozumel (CCIC), a group of concerned Cozumel citizens formed in opposition to Muelles Del Caribe SA de CV’s proposed 4th cruise ship pier, were not from the island. Despite the fact that CCIC members submitted notarized Instituto Nacional Electoral voting cards and proof of residence cards, produced and signed by the Secretary General of the Ayuntamiento of Cozumel, in an earlier deposition. The Third Court of the District of Cancun, under Judge Pamela Lopez Swain had confirmed the legality of these documents when issuing a definitive suspension injunction against Muelles Del Caribe’s construction in 2022.
Undeterred by this decision and this grave miscarriage of justice, we are appealing our case to the Supreme Court of Mexico and are building our Legal Defense Fund to support these efforts. We are fighting powerful regional and international interests with millions at their disposal but with the crowdfunded donations of thousands of supporters we have managed to hire lawyers. With $30,000USD we would have enough to sustain our fight in the courts until the end of this year, and address the threats the cruise ship industry presents to our island. With the small donations from many we can continue fighting the powerful few on their level!
We pay $2,900 USD + tax per month to sustain this lawsuit. We are now asking publicly for help.
This gives us time to get through the low season as an island that depends on tourism and keep fighting. The business owners will step up once the season picks up again, but in the meantime, can we count on you?
We would be grateful if you can also share this campaign with your networks and with international media that can help draw attention to our cause.