134 Families in Cozumel Finally Receive Long-Awaited Property Titles

Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa recently handed over 134 property titles to families in Cozumel, marking a significant moment of social justice. These families had been waiting for years to gain legal ownership of their properties. The titles were issued by the Secretariat of Sustainable Urban Territorial Development (SEDETUS).

In addition to the family properties, the Cozumel City Council received seven titles from the Agency of Strategic Projects (AGEPRO) for properties where urban infrastructure had been developed but remained state-owned. These properties are now municipal assets.

Governor Lezama emphasized the importance of property ownership, stating, "It took a woman leading the state government to understand the value a property title represents, and its importance to a family that has worked hard to build a heritage."

She also highlighted the significance of municipal assets, which have historically been transferred from the federation to the municipality through the state. These assets include sports fields, streets, avenues, and cemeteries. Governor Lezama added, "This government is not arrogant; we invested, rescued, rehabilitated, and spruced up these properties, and now we hand them over to the municipality."

During the property title handover ceremony, Governor Lezama was joined by municipal president José Luis Chacón Méndez, AGEPRO director José Alberto Alonso Ovando, and SEDETUS director Armando Lara De Nigris.

Governor Lezama also announced that starting January 1, 2025, the VAT on products will be reduced to 8% from the current 16%. This change represents a significant economic stimulus for all Cozumel residents.

In reference to the property title handover, Governor Lezama said, "In this different government, the new way to govern is to deliver social justice, and social justice is to hand over property titles that guarantee the legal certainty of land."

She criticized previous administrations for failing to deliver property titles, accusing officials of waiting for bribes. "Today, in this honest and responsible government, those corrupt people are no longer in SEDETUS; they were dismissed because in this government there will be no one who steals the people's money," she declared.

Among the first recipients of the property titles were Arcelia Muñoz Castillo, a 30-year resident of Cozumel, and Tereso de Jesús Chalé Chalé, a disabled maintenance worker at a local beach club.