Comparto esta importante reflexión de Keenan Adams, gerente de El Yunque, publicada en LinkedIn, en reacción al anuncio del proyecto Esencia en Cabo Rojo.
“I’m posting this now, so in 10 years, we can evaluate if this project stayed in alignment with their current claims. One key aspect missing from the discussion is the substantial “tourism incentives” this project will receive: a 40% tax credit, 100% construction and sales tax exemptions, and a 90% income tax exemption. A recent study by the local government quantified the ROI at just 3.2% for such projects in terms of tax collections. We need to ask ourselves about the invisible burdens these projects create and whether that 3.2% ROI is truly worth it.
Here are my concerns:
https://t.co/ycqpr2CB2w biggest concern is that as soon as the “luxury” residents see local people on the beaches and bike trails, they’ll feel “unsafe” and policies will change to restrict access, similar to what happened in Dorado, where access is now denied. This area is currently a very popular spot for biking and camping.
2.Cabo Rojo has a unique character. I vacation there at least twice a year because of its cultural vibe. Will this cultural asset be impacted?
3.Putting a golf course next to the beach is not a “green” practice. No matter what “setbacks” are used, excess fertilizers will end up in the ocean, affecting the reefs. Instead of just stating “we’ll do setbacks,” we should commit to monitoring nonpoint source pollution and taking the necessary measures to prevent any increase in harmful substances. This development is also adjacent to a National Wildlife Refuge.
I think we should assess projects from a framework of sustainable or regenerative tourism. A framework that can easily identify “greenwashing”, one that holds developers accountable to promises made during the initial phases. One that monitors the environmental and other social factors. No doubt this part of Puerto Rico would benefit from economic development, but we should evaluate does this actually increase the well being of the residents, vs creating a bunch of low wage jobs. They have an opportunity to do things right, but only time will tell…
***This is my personal view as a conservationist and does not reflect the views of my employer (which has nothing to do with the West region).