Mahahual, Q.R. — Perfect Day Mexico representatives say Mahahual mangroves have been found already contaminated, however, they are committed to its cleanup. They made the public announcement during a press conference earlier this week ahead of submitting for permits.
The press conference was held at the pier in Mahahual with Royal Caribbean’s Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schnider and its President of Royal Caribbean Group Mexico, Adler Brotman.
On Wednesday, the company announced that the 45 hectares of mangroves on the property where they will develop Perfect Day Mexico are already contaminated. During the conference, Jay Schneider explained that for years, the coastal wetlands have been used to discharge wastewater from the municipal treatment plant.
He reported that the municipality currently dumps sewage into the coastal area of Mahahual, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.
He said Royal Caribbean plans to build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.
The company representatives explained that the project is based on three strategic pillars which include environmental sustainability, economic benefit and community engagement.
On the environmental front, Royal Caribbean has developed a comprehensive plan that includes the use of advanced technology for water treatment, responsible waste management, emissions control and restoration of natural habitats.
Economically, the project promises significant benefits for Mahahual and the southern region of Quintana Roo with the estimated creation of over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction and operation phases.
One of the central points of Royal Caribbean’s plan is collaboration with the local community. According to Ari Adler, the project includes training and employment programs primarily aimed at Mahahual residents as well as support programs for tourism and service micro-businesses.
“Perfect Day Mexico won’t be a standalone development but rather an integrated project that will benefit the entire area. We want the community to be an active part of this growth,” Adler said.
Another goal is to have 75 to 80 percent of its supply be regional which would contribute to the creation of more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
They stressed that for now, the company is only carrying out site cleaning and that construction will not be started until all the required permits have been issued.
“At this time we will only carry out cleanup and debris removal tasks on existing structures within the property. No construction will be carried out without the proper environmental authorization.”
They also explained that the infrastructure that will make up the new complex will be built on top of existing ones. They said that the current parking lot, for example, will be demolished and transformed into a pool and that their new water park will be built on top of the existing one.
Royal Caribbean will also build a new artisian shopping village and grocery store and help rebuild surrounding roads to improve driving access to the town of Mahahual.
“With the opening of a new grocery store, residents will have access to fresh, local produce, while supporting regional suppliers and strengthening the local economy,” he explained.
The press conference was initially meant to be an outdoor tour of the company’s newly acquired property, however, due to heavy rain, an inside briefing was held instead.
According to Schnider, the Perfect Day Mahahual environmental impact statement (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental – MIA) will be submitted next month for assessment by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
Schneider says the company will submit their environmental impact statement (MIA) in October and estimates a review and approval process of between four to six months.
“We are committed to meeting every technical, social and environmental requirement before beginning construction. This project represents a historic opportunity for Mahahual and also a great responsibility to its natural environment and community,” Schneider stated during the media presentation at the Costa Maya pier.
The completed Royal Caribbean Perfect Day Mexico Mahahual park will include first-class tourism infrastructure and a revamped cruise port capable of receiving state-of-the-art ships that will strengthen Mahahual’s position as a key destination in the Mexican Caribbean.
