Residents of the communities of Punta de Mita and Emiliano Zapata, along with environmental advocates, rejected the proposal from the company Cantiles de Mita, part of the DINE Group, to move back only five meters the construction of a stone wall on Las Cocinas beach. This wall is a point of contention between the construction firm and the residents, who denounce the company’s actions as an abuse of power.
In a public assembly, the citizens demanded a minimum setback of 20 meters to safeguard the federal zone and the nesting area of the giant sea turtle, a species that requires large expanses of sand to nest, they explained.
During the meeting, held in the public square of Emiliano Zapata, activist Efraín López asked those present about the developer’s offer; the response was a unanimous “No!” to the five-meter setback. The residents reaffirmed their decision to reclaim 20 meters of coastline.
The environmentalist warned that Las Cocinas represents the last stretch of pristine coastline accessible to the community and a critical spawning site for marine life.
Due to the construction of high-end developments in the area, residents have denounced the fact that developers are reaping millions of dollars while the population’s income remains low. They also denounced the construction of a wall on the beach, which they consider a theft of public space and the rights of the residents of Bahía de Banderas.
Mayor Héctor Santana arrived at the meeting, causing anger and division within the community of Punta de Mita, who have denounced the mayor for his inaction throughout most of the conflict.
The residents’ discontent arose from the damage caused to Las Cocinas Beach by the company Cantiles de Mita, part of the DINE group, which is building luxury residences and has taken over the sandy area. At the same time, the company has removed a large quantity of rocks and vegetation, including mangroves from the federal zone. The protesters have only asked that the federal zone not be touched and that the affected areas be restored, but the company has refused.
The conflict, which recently escalated into road blockades and the arrest of protesters, has attracted the attention of federal authorities.
Although the Nayarit state government and the Ministry of the Environment have admitted that the project lacks a formal Environmental Impact Statement, construction has continued under police protection, maintaining tension in the area.
Source: jornada
