Cozumel, Q.R. — The Mayor of Cozumel says the municipality will not support the construction of a fourth pier. On Thursday, Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez confirmed that City Hall has sent a letter to federal officials clarifying they will not provide approval to expand the SSA Mexico Pier.
According to Cozumel Mayor Chacón Méndez, the letter also included confirmed non-support for the Cabo Mantarraya project, a beach club that was to be part of the pier expansion.
“In Cozumel it’s the people who rule, who decide. Cozumel will first protect its environment and development,” José Luis Chacón said Thursday. “I have already signed the no-vote on the Mantaraya issue and I have also already signed the no-vote on the SSA Mexico. That’s how we’re working together,” he explained in a video.
“Both myself and Urban Development have already told them that there will be no support for that project. We have already signed and submitted it,” he said regarding the fourth pier expansion.
The letters were sent by the Cozumel City Council in response to a technical opinion requested by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). The opinion was requested from Cozumel authorities regarding the suitability of both projects, a procedure that is part of the environmental assessment to which all projects are subject.
Chacón Méndez clarified that City Hall is not against new investments as long as they are sustainable.
The proposed expansion of the SSA Mexico dock is worth 882 million pesos and would allow for larger cruise ships, specifically deep-draft vessels, to dock the island. The expansion project was initially announced in August of 2019 but immediately faced legal challenges from environmental groups.
In June, the company promoting the expansion, Muelles del Caribe SA de CV held a press conference announcing the official court ruling in their favor.
