| Death in Puerto Aventuras Causes Locals to Take Action |
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| Monday, 14 August 2006 | |
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August 13th, 2006
A local business owner sent us the following letter to let us know what is going on in Puerto Aventuras. Hi Friends, Yesterday, in front of Puerto Aventuras, we had another fatality. A young 25 year old mother was killed as she had an accident with a taxi cab. Her family began blocking the carreterra with rocks. Other people joined in and soon there were hundreds of locals blocking the highway, refusing to move until the government did something. The police came dressed in riot gear but armed with an attitude that they wanted to protect the people blocking the highway. At a certain point, the police negotiated with the group of civil disobedience and persuaded them to open one lane of the carreterra. It was all done calmly and yet the locals were firm in their conviction that they were not leaving until something was done.Carlos Joaquin, the President of the Municipio was there as well. He told me he had three traffic lights in storage in Playa del Carmen but that the Federal Government had to give their approval. Obviously, he gained their approval because soon after he announced to the people that work on topes and traffic lights would begin at 10am. The people said great! Then we will block the highway until 10am. They say the traffic was backed up to Cancun. So at 9pm last night, workers began installing topes. Today they continued work building topes like they have in Puerto Morelos. They say the traffic lights will be installed within a week. It is a bit of a mess with lots of police officers and construction workers around but at least there is hope for a safer future for the more than a 1000 people who must cross that road at least twice a day. As you know, it was about one year ago when we all signed petitions asking for the government to install a traffic light and speed bumps (topes).Through the maze of government offices, we learned that the carreterra was under Federal Jurisdiction and we have been stymied. In this past year, three more people have died. Could we have prevented these deaths if we were more civilly disobedient earlier. I don't know. However, as a community, I feel we have a moral responsibility for the children who will grow up without parents because of these tragedies. We are all building anew reality here. Let's make it safe and happy for everyone. I have spoken with Fred DeVos whom many of you know as the Administrator of the EduCenter in the Poblado. He has lived here for many years and has done wonders with the education system in the Poblado. I hold him in the highest esteem and have asked him to administer a funding program for the children and families that have been affected by these senseless accidents. In total there have been more than 60 people killed in front of our door. Fred is now compiling a list of those affected and I am asking you to make a donation. I will have a lockbox at Tiramisu where you can make a donation in person. We are open Tuesday - Sunday from 8am - 11pm and on Mondays from 3pm - 11pm. Or if you won't be here, please advise the administrator of your condo or house to come by with a donation. Or If you would like to send a donation by DHL you can send it to me at: Donna Carey c/o Restaurant Tiramisu Edificio E, Local 5C Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo 77750 (984) 873 5654 We will accept donations until August 27 and then we will give the money to Fred to disburse. So if you are interested in participating, please do it now. Don't wait for manana. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again in the future. Thanks, Donna Comments (0)
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