Mexico officially rejected Royal Caribbean's proposed "Perfect Day Mexico" project in Quintana Roo due to severe ecological concerns regarding mangroves and the adjacent barrier reef. Taking advantage of this, Panama is actively pitching its own Puerto Barú mega - development to capture the company's massive cruise investment.
Puerto Barú is a controversial, private multipurpose “green” port development located 20 km from the city of David on the Pacific coast in the Chiriquí province of Panama. The estimated $250 million megaproject is designed to boost regional logistics, large - scale tourism infrastructure and create around 2.000 jobs, but has faced strong oppositions due to its location near critical mangrove habitats.
Mayer Mizrachi Matalon, politician, businessman and mayor of Panama City since 2024, wrote a message to Royal Caribbean, in which proposed to build the “Perfect Day” park in his country, after the rejection of the Mexican environmental authorities to this project in Mahahual, south of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is also located.
Through the social network X the Panamanian businessman also linked to cryptocurrencies, wrote: “Come and build your water park in Panama. We will expedite permitting, save millions and your guests will enjoy two oceans, the Canal, the ancient city, the most diverse jungle and the best connectivity hub in the Americas.”
The politician cited a report on the rejection by Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of this water park development in Mahahual, which had a project investment of $1.5 billion and was expected to generate about 4.000 jobs, which led him to be defended by Quintana Roo’s Governor Mara Lezama, against the criteria of the federal government presided over by Claudia Sheinbaum.
Environmentalists and Greenpeace heavily protested the site, citing severe threats to jaguar and manatee habitats as well as the Mesoamerican Reef. SEMARNAT announced the project will not be approved and Royal Caribbean subsequently pulled its plans, through the company noted it remains committed for future investments in the country.
It is unknown if Royal Caribbean already has a home port in Panama, from where cruise ships depart to tour canal or visit nearby countries, will be dissatisfied with this resolution, if they will modify their project or desist from it, as REPORTUR.mx has been revealing.
In the responses to this proposal for the establishment of this mega park in the Central American country, several Panamanian citizens point out that there are already water problems and that they would not allow the construction of a water park that consumes this resource and puts their mangroves at risk.
Link
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks a lot to read and note.