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Marina Development Shelved by Owners
Posted by Editor | August 2, 2008 | Categories: Economic Development |
 Site of the proposed marina. Graphic courtesy of La Nacion |
Grupo Caribeño Internacional S. A. has put their plans to build a marina in Puerto Viejo on hold.
The news comes via a letter that the company’s president, Jan Kalina, wrote on July 31st to CIMAT, a government body whose regulatory approval would’ve been required for the project to go forward.
The project would have built a 100 berth marina (reduced from the original plan for more than 400 berths) and accompanying development totaling some $40 million US.
The project had been strongly opposed by many groups in the area which called for a more sustainable development model for the community and were concerned about the damage to the coral reef which recent studies had shown that while less than 9% of the reef remained alive, there were possibilities of regenerating the reef.
In his letter to CIMAT, Kalina complained that the opposition was “a minority, not the [opinion of] the people of Puerto Viejo”.
The company asked that the project be shelved but left open the possibility of restarting the development in the future “if there are better opportunities”.
Source: La Nacion: Plan de marina en Puerto Viejo se archiva.
Comments
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I figured this was going to happen.
Given the prognosis of the US economy and a general shift away from enviromentally damaging projets, the marina was doomed from the beginning.
Along with SUV´s yachts are becoming a dime a dozen on Ebay.
Thank goodness. We just drove down to Dominical via Jacó and saw two 20+ story condos looming over the beach. Very distressing. There are currently 50 permitted condo projects in the Jacó-Hermosa Beach area. I agree with you, PV. Luxury condos are a dime a dozen in south Florida now.
Puerto Viejo back to Dark Ages….
Isla Moin yacht owners will be docking on the reef instead of Marina.
That will be environmentally friendly…..
This is a sad day for Puerto Viejo. A small minority of mainly expats have cealed the fate of this small town by sending the biggest tourism investment ever offered packing and taking its 2000 new jobs with it. Congrats on shooting yourselves in the foot. But whos worried? Have another hit and continue to bitch about the crime, trash, potholes and that curious raw sewage smell engulfing town while it is slowly seeping into Playa Negra ( Btw anybody know what happened to the Blue Flag?) Who cares about those who needed these jobs to feed their families and educate their kids. Hey, its just another day at the beach, lets park our cars in the sand and keep on surfing. Pura vida
Saratica I share distress regarding 20 story condos but this is a marina. That would be boats.
Tamanaco… I really doubt the few gringos in the area with absolutely no voting rights in the country had much to do with it.
I think potential investors (if there were any) just crunched the numbers.
And Jerry… I am not sure what yachts you are talking about. I have been here 4 years and never seen a yacht.
Colinsito,
You’ll see them soon once Isla Moin Marina is open. It’s only 50km up north. They will be stopping by on the way to Bocas and dock them of our reef and beautiful beaches.
And believe me, I hope very hard that I’m wrong.
Colinsito,
I never said gringos. Not having the right to vote in this country has not deterred a small group of mainly foreigners against the marina trying to override the will of the people. Lets check the facts. True is that there was a election that resulted in the current government and the people had yet another chance to have their voices counted regarding TLC (CAFTA) which includes the law of concessions which in turn includes the law of the marinas. The Ticos themselves have clearly spoken yes to all of the above whether foreigners like it or not.
What tnis whole thing proves to me is that the marina project wasn’t very serious in the first place.
If investors are capable of putting up dozens of millions to invest, then it’s a foregone conclusion that it’s not a somewhat disorganized opposition that will make them back down.
As far as I am concerned, the only people who have benefited from this so far are land speculators who sold parcels with inflated prices with a marina project as part of their sales pitch. I fully agree with Tamanaco as to the impact on the locals.
And the fact is that marinas are not necessarily environment hostile: it’s how they are built and managed. Somebody here asked about the Blue Flag on Playa Negra: It was lost because the beach is now considered polluted and not up to the Blue Flag standard. That has been the issue here: focus. Where are all the environment-conscious people asking for a beach cleanup ? If people here consider the beaches clean, I am sorry, but a lot of them need education real fast. And, just so people know, the Blue Flag organization ALSO gives Blue Flag certifications to marinas world-wide.
I have spent most of the last 7 years living in and around Puerto Viejo. I am very thankful to see different programs and groups begin working together on creative projects to design a healthier and unique regional development plan.
I would be very excited if this discussion may include the listings and/or participation of groups of whom are in the design, discussion, or implementation process of sustainable development programs (anyone out there that could list some?).
Anyone who is pro-Puerto Viejo, is pro-ecology, one way or another. What are some other projects/opportunities that are creating jobs and diversifying the local economy while being realistic about a sustainable environment?
Before my return to the U.S. 10 days ago, a friend mentioned they were working on a new Association for a platano/banana processing facility in Margarita. ANAI is working on a biofuels project using cane and banana/platano. What are projects in the area that are expanding an economy based in tourism?
God bless!
On Tuesday Aug 5th all environment-conscious people interested in participating in a day of beach cleanup are welcome to Parquecito at 7AM. Water, softdrinks and batidos are being donated to participants but bring trashbags if you can. Hope you can make it.
Picking up the trash of the beach will not get you Blue Flag back, Tamanaco. It’s a raw sewer which flows to the sea which creates ecological disaster in this area. Having Water Treatment Plant is the only solution. Keep in mind that everyone here have septic tanks and most of these septic systems are either outdated or improperly installed. One of the positive things of Marina deal was Water Treatment Plant for the community.
By the way the marina is not gone. Keep in mind that it is only put “on hold”. There is legislation being work on by Assembly which will allow easier implementation of these types of projects. So by my account this project is as much alive today as it was a week ago. No one invests millions for plans and enviromental studies to just walk away that easy.
Pura Vida!
Jerry I agree 100 % with you. Of course I realize that picking up the trash wont get the Blue Flag back nor solve the larger problem regarding the pollution of Playa Negra. But it sure makes the place look nicer and cleaner for us who live here and our visitors. And it also an oportunity for those who claim to be sooo concerned about the environment and PN to really step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is and at least help clean up the unsightly trash littering all over the place. These are of course the same people who have no problem with three illegal “gas stations” in town where gas is stored and poured in large quantities in some neighbors garage under no regulations or controls whatsoever and clearly is a ticking time bomb and fire hazzard in addition to an obvious environmental disaster. They are of course the same people who,in their newfound interest in PN, also conveniently forget the effects of the 250 acre banana plantation with its decades long run off of pestisides and fertilizers. That might have something to do with the now dead corall in PN but is totally overlooked by their “experts” in their rants against the marina. Its clear to me this is all politically motivated and has little to do with environmental concerns. These people still have the tired wilted “Mi corazon dice No al TLC” bumperstickers on their oil leaking gasgustlers and refuse to accept its over. To them I say put your ears to the ground, and mark my words, that thunder you hear approaching is a hord of multinationals and millionair investors heading this way. Maybe when they arrive we will save our ocean by finally receiving a Water Treatment Plant, the bananera will be turned into a reforested environmentally sustainable golfing community, the Blue Flag and marina will return to Playa Negra. Cheers
Tamanaco,
For the coral state, you are exactly right. It has been a known fact in the scientific community that the destruction of the coral on the caribbean coast of Costa Rica is DIRECTLY a consequence of the plantations runoffs and the dumping of raw sewage in the water.
Most people here blame the earthquake 15 years ago, but the destruction had already started. And it is ongoing and getting worse.
There is a real problem with the blue bags used in banana plantations that are now discarded offshore and are killing wildlife such as turtles and sharks. Not only Playa Negra, but all of the beaches from PV to Manzanillo are in a sorry state. You need wings to stay above the trash on the shore line. As for the gasoline in town problem, I personally choose to drive to Marguerita or to Penshurst to refill.
One side benefit is that when I go to refill, I give my lungs a break from inhaling polluted road dust which around here everybody seems to accept with a shoulder shrug.
Claiming that a marina would harm the marine environment at this time is a sham.
The real question that needs to be asked is the same the cops ask on the scene of an homicide: Qui bono ? Who benefits ?
That’s the real target ! Too bad a lot of people prefer knee jerking to brain working. Pura Vida, yeah, right !
We just returned from PV where we did a story on the area for those “tourists” in Panama who need to leave the country every ninety days.
Although we found PV to be just plain “cool” for a number of reasons and enjoyed our stay, what we remembered most was our first impression when we arrived. Far too many dogs wandering the streets, many of them darned unfriendly, and the overflowing garbage cans everywhere. Walking along the beach we were also struck with the amount of garbage washed up on shore as well.
With a little effort this unique little town could be a real showpiece for CR, Many of the unique trendy restaurants and shops are making an effort to put on a clean and friendly face, but the town needs to do its part too.
A little tourism training wouldn’t hurt either. We had a problem with our credit card being accepted by one of the scooter rental places. After just standing in line in the hot sun for an hour waiting to get into the bank, then being told our “internationally accepted card” was no good in Costa Rica, we were in no mood for more problems. When we asked the clerk at the scooter rental place why things were so hard for tourists in CR she suggested, “if you don’t like it, maybe you should go to another country.” Your tourism board would shudder at that kind of attitude towards someone who is just trying to spend money in your town.
As an outsider we have no right to comment on the marina development, and we do certainly respect those people who love PV for its natural charm and did not want a development on this scale, but it seems some sort of compromise would work for everyone. Maybe if the developer would pave the road into town and relocate the marina somewhere less environmentally sensitive the much needed jobs and investment would follow?
Gary - I just arrived a couple of days ago and my first impression of the town is the same. There is nothing charming or quaint about the road being in such bad state, sewage running freely into the ocean, abandoned sick dogs, and mountains of trash. I am sure if a marina would open its doors all these issues would be taken care of in short order. Nobody in their right mind would drop $40 million without taking care of these problems besides I am sure the increased tax revenue alone would pay for these improvements.
Now with credit crunch PV has no chance getting serious investments. Plus crime increase will scare many potential buyers in this area. I wish we could do something about it. Do you have any ideas?
Award winning scientists from Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (Cimar), of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) published their research findings from their 25 year long study regarding the state of our corals in todays La Nacion. Its now aboundantly clear that the results from this extensive research debunks once and for all the thinly veiled arguments presented by Comité Unido Caribe Sur y Talamanca against the proposed marina on environmental grounds. Roch Magnan is right. One should ask who stand to gain from keeping Puerto Viejo & Talamanca from paving their road to prosperity and out of poverty? Read the full article ; http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/septiembre/29/aldea1703640.html
Tamanaco: Regardless of the marina issue, I’m not understanding your argument regarding the coral reefs, which I snorkel frequently and see with my own eyes.
The La Nacion article basically says:
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The reefs of Cahuita National Park, in Limon, are losing the enormous diversity of coral species.
Scientists deny that those colonies or reefs are recovering.
Seven species have disappeared.
That the coral that’s replacing the species is stronger, yes, due to it’s surviving the passage of chemicals sedimentation, etc. and that they’re not as beautiful as what they’re replacing.
The quantity and quality (diversity) of the corals was much higher in the 70s and 80’s than it is now.
Of of many reasons sited are erosion from development that kills the coral and the use of agrochemicals.
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You’re saying a marina would help this environmental situation out?
I’m just wondering that your point is…