Tulum in need: why AMLO must take charge of urban growth
The President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, today reaffirmed his support for Tulum and its municipal president, Diego Castañón Trejo, recommending that he maintain good coordination with other government authorities to order urban development and combat drug consumption in this tourist destination.
During his morning conference today, Thursday, a journalist asked the president for the message he would send to Diego Castañón Trejo, who has been the municipal president of Tulum for two months following the death of Marciano Dzul Caamal.
Lopez Obrador urged the mayor to work in coordination with the governor, as well as with the Secretariat of the Navy, Secretariat of National Defense, and the National Guard.
“One of the problems that we have to continue facing, because it is already happening, is drug consumption, which should not be dominated by gangs. That drives tourism away,” he declared. “Tulum is a paradise, for its beaches and the archaeological zone.”
The President assured that he is in Tulum every 15 days to supervise the Maya Train and the Jaguar Park.
He stated that there was a lot of disorder and many invasions in Tulum’s growth, due to the trafficking of influence and corruption, which is why a new Urban Development Plan is about to be approved. In this regard, he also invited Castañón Trejo to put order in urban growth and approve this guiding document.
He emphasized that Cancun and part of the Riviera Maya have been successful because they have defined certain rules regarding urban development and maximum allowed heights.
“If they maintain those rules, natural resources are taken care of, the territory is taken care of, and Tulum will continue to grow,” he declared.
The President, who said he was aware of the illness that ultimately cost Marciano Dzul his life, affirmed that Diego Castañón has “a lot of work,” but that in the time he has been in office, he has not received any complaints against him.
He also took the opportunity to declare that in December they will inaugurate the Tulum International Airport, which is already indispensable because the Cancun airport is already saturated, and a large part of those arriving at that airport ultimately travel to the Riviera Maya.
This new airport, he assured, will allow for more tourist development to the south.
Here, he pointed out that commercial airplanes arriving in Chetumal are full because there is interest in this city and nearby tourist destinations, such as Bacalar.
Puerto Morelos
Regarding the matter, the President was questioned about the allegations of embezzlement of funds in Puerto Morelos, where 10 million pesos of federal funds were allocated to renovate Leona Vicario Park, but only the kiosk was renovated.
Furthermore, a workshop for cars was built next to the Municipality Union building at a cost of 7 million pesos, but something very different from what was authorized was constructed.
In this regard, López Obrador commented that if it is federal investment, from Sedatu, for example, it will be up to them to review, but they do not have any complaints or information of corruption.
If, on the other hand, it is a federal matter, he will refer this complaint to the governor, Mara Lezama, “who is responsible and whom we trust,” he said.
