Bacalar, Q.R. — The First District Court granted a provisional suspension in response to a new injunction filed by local organizations. The second suspension was issued in addition to the suspension granted earlier this month to a residential group.
The First District Court based in Chetumal admitted a new injunction against the construction being carried out by the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) on the shores of Bacalar Lagoon.
It is the second time a court has ordered the suspension of the construction project. The first suspension was issued earlier this month to residents Ángel Gabriel Pool Navarro and Luis Cárdenas Alavez, but was ignored by Sedena.
The new lawsuit, which joins the suit filed by residents, was filed by the non-governmental organizations Proyecto Justicia Común (Projuc) and Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment AC, which issued a statement announcing the new suspension order against the project.
In March, residents of Bacalar demonstrated against the construction of what is supposed to be a rest home by the Sedena. The project is being built in the federal zone of the Bacalar Lagoon across from the San Felipe Fort, a historical heritage site.
The organizations who were granted a second suspension say “the project, identified as a hotel, began without the necessary environmental permits or with a public consultation process with the community.”
Projuc and DMAS filed an indirect Amparo lawsuit arguing that the project poses a serious threat to the ecological balance of Bacalar Lagoon, “which violates the right to a healthy environment, the right to participate in environmental matters and good governance with the residents.”
They said the district judge granted the provisional suspension Tuesday. Civil organizations indicated that the provisional suspension is intended “to immediately halt” the actions that endanger the environment and cultural heritage of Bacalar as it temporarily halts the construction.
They added that the preliminary hearing on the case is scheduled for April 28, during which the granting of a definitive suspension will be analyzed. This would halt the construction work until the ruling on the Amparo trial is issued.
