Pura Vida

….Praise The lord and Pass the Prozac.

You make some excellent points. I just hope that whatever happens, the best result for the community is achieved.

Let me be clear, I encourage community envolvement and a respectful informed debate on the issues. Puerto Viejo have many real and pressing issues that needs to be addressed such as a rising crack and insecurity problem that already affect the community today. The lack of professional schooling and training in the different aspects of tourism and plain customer service is another. All which could be adressed by community involvment and with the help of local business community. However to go back to the potential marina, that is still undergoing its lengthy feasibility and approval process, I do not believe that Puerto Viejo can afford to say no to development that will bring jobs, infrastructure, security, watertreatment processing plants and taxincome for one of the poorest municipality in the country. This without giving up a single inch of national park, or the otherwise environmentally protected areas, that allready encompasses some 89% of the whole Talamanca.

We live in a changing world and Puerto Viejo is evolving with it. We cannot stop progress nor should we. Puerto Viejo is not a secret anymore.

The $500 million Isla Moin, a stone throw north of PV, will attract an estimated 83% of all leasure boat traffic on the caribbean seaborder. Their 500 slip marina will be filled with boaters looking for a day trip. Would we rather have them tie up to our floating marina inviting them to spend their day (and money) in PV or just anchor up on our reefs on their way south. To the south Panama is increasing its efforts in bringing tourism to Bocas del Toro and in turn increase boat traffic from the south of our borders. See http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/julio/15/economia1620692.html

The existence of a marina would also impede drug trafficking by it hosting coast guards, immigration officers and drug enforcement agents.

In addition to the economical and security benefits for the area a marina in PV will bring control to the increasing boat traffic along our beaches and help minimize the potential environmental effects.

Unfortunately, I feel the postings against the marina are more tainted by bitter social resentment than clearheaded arguments.

I really don’t get Tamanaco’s second point. So you’re saying that people shouldn’t get involved in their community and their government and try to make positive changes? All I was saying is that the internet is a free place for the exchange of ideas and if the Marina people don’t seem to be winning hearts and minds they can start their own website or do whatever they wish. Or they can ignore public opinion if they don’t care about public support and if they already have the support of the officals needed to move the project forward.

I just don’t understand why all those who care about the marina issue can’t just stick to debating the issues and instead feel they have to attack the personal integrity of those they disagree with.

Maybe Editor just forgot.

Secondly, I want to point out that Costa Rica is a democratic country governed by laws. If the marina project fullfills the legal requirements, set by all applicable governement institutions in order to protect our natural resources and the environment, the marina will have the green light to go ahead. Our personal opinions, no matter what they are, have nothing to do with this strictly legal process. Therefore Marina Ecologica New World have no reason nor obligation to host a “pro-marina” website.

Second, I do have a personal opinion that the marina development will NOT benefit locals in the long term and if I have spoken out against it personally in comments it is due to this. Perhaps some of the locals see money and jobs. However, a large corporation coming in to build such a project doesn’t have the commitment to the local community that the current small business owners do. Do you really think a large corporation will get their furniture made locally? Will support local restaurant owners? Will support local businesses making handicrafts? Etc Etc. It will all be imported from Asia no doubt. Sure there will be jobs for locals but will they have a long term commitment to that staff in the same way many of the current employers have?

Third, the environmental implications are clearly unsettled. There’s been plenty said on this topic already so I won’t repeat it but many locals also agree this project will change the place they love for the worse.

Fourth, this is an open forum as is the internet in general, supporters of the marina can comment here and have done so, supporters of the marina can put up their own pro-Marina website. I do sometimes resent that because we didn’t grow up there that we’re somehow criticized for expressing our opinions and wanting to make the place we live in what we believe is the best place for everyone. As such, I would personally appreciate people remember that their are human beings behind all these comments and when a comment takes on a negative attack mode, it is hurtful and unneccesary. Why not instead of attacking those who believe the marina is bad for the community do you not argue the issues themselves and give us sound arguments for the marina?

Doug Dosdall
Editor, Talamanca News and Puerto Viejo Satellite.