Holbox, Q.R. — Roadblocks continue by Kantunilkín Ejidos who are demanding land use payment from CFE. On Tuesday, Holbox authority, Manuel Escamilla García, reported that tourist activity on the island has fallen considerably due to the dilemma.
He reported that the island has seen an 80 percent decrease in activity due to the ongoing dispute between the Ejido land owners and the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).
“On the beaches there are no longer any tourists, the streets are practically empty, fortunately there is no shortage of basic products since the ejidos reopen the way for drivers every hour,” he explained.
Roadblocks have been set up along the highway that leads to Chiquilá, the only road that offers passage to the island of Holbox. Elements of the National Guard, the Secretary of the Navy and State Police remain stationed in the blockade area.
The Director of Municipal Traffic, Valentín Chimal May, has been charged with coordinating with the other police corporations to reinforce security. He says that there have already been several angry disputes between drivers and the Ejidos who continue to block the road.
The road is opened once every hour to allow the passage of traffic, however, some motorists are not willing to wait, which has caused clashes, Chimal May said.
The Ejidos of Kantunilkín continue with the highway blockade on the road that leads to the port of Chiquilá, the crossing point for the island of Holbox, after the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) refused to pay them land use compensation to run an electric cable to Holbox.
The CFE has sent a letter to Ejido Commissioner Victor Pech Moo explaining that the right to compensation only lasts for 10 years (and has expired). “In accordance with Article 1098 of the Federal Civil Code, the right to compensation for legal easement of passage prescribes in terms of ten years,” CFE explained in their letter.
However, Pech Moo says that applies to civil law, not agrarian law.
