Letter to the Editor:
Over 20 years ago I moved to Isla Mujeres, Mexico for my overall health and wellbeing. I bought a little place along what is known as the “airport strip” and had 20 beautiful years of quiet and tranquility enjoying this most peaceful time of my elderly life.
Then in March of 2019, some brainiac from CFE decided to put a giant mega plant (generator) along the airport strip without any consideration for the people who have lived along the airport for many years.
On their own CFE placed this monster of a machine in front of many existing homes, the worst location that could have been chosen, whereas there were many other alternative locations that were and are still available on the island that would not cause adverse effects not only to the humans who live along the strip, but also all of the wildlife living both in the many trees along the street and more importantly disturbing the migration of our beautiful turtles who come to shore each summer to lay their eggs.
Not only is the noise generated from the mega plant well above any legal limit, it also spews toxic diesel fumes into the air for anyone living or driving by to inhale. It seems like it is a toy that CFE plays with. In fact two weeks ago they blew a transformer from one of the poles which caused two loud explosions which resulted in two fire balls being shot across the street over houses and finally into the Caribbean.
This could have caused a major disastrous fire due to the palapas on these existing homes. Prior to the two explosions you could actually hear the generator having problems. If I heard it why didn’t the engineer controlling the plant notice it. Of course that is a rhetorical question.
Pretty sure the brainiacs from CFE are not having breakfast, lunch, dinner or trying to sleep in front of the generator. What alternatives do we have, who are residents of Mexico, to have our voices heard at CFE and other authoritative agencies? All our health concerns have been ignored for almost six years. Attempts to get any information from CFE have been ignored or we have been lied to and at times threatened.
I am not discounting the fact the island, unfortunately due to overbuilding, needs at times to have back up power. The people who live here who call Isla home deserve better. Not to mention that when there is a need to use the generator the power surges it causes have resulted in many people losing appliances and other electronics in their homes. This happens more than it should not to mention structural damage to homes the generator has caused.
I along with may of my neighbors have tried to have our concerns heard. Desn’t anyone care about our lives? Who do we talk to? Who will listen?
I cannot imagine what tourists think of when they drive or walk down the street when it is running? I see many of them covering their ears and others actually trying not to inhale the toxic fumes that fill the air.
One has to wonder what they write on Trip Advisor or tell their friends when they get back from vacation. Not a great sight or sound for future investment or increased tourism is it?
From,
Give Us A Break and Hear Us!
