TULUM, México – In a significant development for Tulum’s archaeological zone, authorities from all three levels of government recently held a meeting with artisans, traders, and workers from the local area. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposal put forth by these individuals, seeking integration within the ambitious projects of the Jaguar National Park and the Maya Train.
Following a prior meeting with Tulum’s Mayor, Diego Castañón Trejo, and the Secretary of Government, Cristina Torres, the local traders reached out to the College of Engineers and Architects to structure a project aimed at connecting the new entrance to the front of their plaza. This proposal was then presented at a follow-up meeting held on the afternoon of Monday, July 10.
In an interview after this second meeting, Secretary of Government Cristina Torres, accompanied by Rubén Raziel Ek Cruz, the Director of Cadastre in Tulum representing Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo, and Margarito Molina, the delegate of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), mentioned that they listened attentively to the requests made by the traders. The commitment from the authorities is that the traders will present their project, which will be analyzed by the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu).
“The various traders in this area made a series of requests. They propose adapting the project, and the agreement reached is to develop an architectural plan in coordination with the College of Engineers and Architects, under the guidance of the municipality. This plan will then be evaluated by Sedatu for its feasibility. That’s the summary. It is evident that both the federal and state governments’ instruction is to listen to them and seek the best possibility where nobody is left out,” stated Secretary Torres.
Ernesto Pavón Gutiérrez, the Sedatu representative in Quintana Roo, emphasized that dialogue will continue throughout the project, ensuring that the traders’ demands and requests are heard.
“It’s a conceptual project that is currently being established, and what we want is to listen. There are various alternatives, and the project itself is in a general conception phase. There are individuals responsible for both the execution and conceptual aspects of the project, to whom we will submit this proposal. The important thing is to listen to them so that the benefit extends to everyone,” explained the federal official.
He further disclosed that the overall work on the project should conclude by October or November this year. The evaluation of the proposal will take place, and they hope to provide a response in the coming days.
Local traders expressed their concerns, emphasizing that they have been engaged in commercial activities within the archaeological zone for over 50 years. They strongly oppose any exclusion from the authorities’ plans, as hundreds of families depend on this trade for their livelihoods.
The integration of artisans, traders, and workers from Tulum’s archaeological zone into the Jaguar National Park and the Maya Train project represents a crucial opportunity for the local community. By working closely with the authorities and presenting their project for evaluation, the traders are striving to ensure that their voices are heard and their contribution is acknowledged.
