Chiquilá, Q.R. — Residents of the port town of Chiquilá blocked access to the island of Holbox in protest of CFE. The large group of townsfolk blocked passage to the ferry docks for both vehicles and tourists on Wednesday.
The group complained that that every Thursday, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) cuts power to the community for several hours.
For several weeks, CFE employees have been carrying out maintenance and remodeling work on the Kantunilkín-Chiquilá section, which has generated power cuts in Chiquilá, San Ángel and Solferino.
However, locals say they have reached their limit since the blackouts occur every Thursday, and sometimes on Wednesdays, without any warning.
Protestor Miguel Cáceres said that they have gone to city hall and the power company and asked that they be notified of the CFE power cuts since they know there is work being done, but he says they do not provide notice.
Lázaro Vicencio Hernández, the former mayor of Chiquilá, confirmed the power cuts saying they usually last from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., but he said “the straw that broke the camel’s back” was Wednesday’s blackout which began at 4:00 a.m. and continued into the late afternoon in some areas.
Area restaurant owners are also finding it difficult since their refrigerators are without power for an entire day.
