Mexican President’s Update on Calica’s Lands in Playa del Carmen

Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, has clarified the status of lands used by the company Calica in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. She stated that there was no expropriation of these lands. Instead, they have been declared a Natural Protected Area.

Sheinbaum Pardo plans to send a letter to U.S. congress members and the White House to update them on the situation. "There was never an expropriation. The lands belong to the company. The issue arose when they expanded beyond their authorized exploitation area, causing damage to cenotes and aquifers," she said.

The company was informed about their over-exploitation, but they continued their activities. This led President López Obrador to change the land use designation. However, Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that this is not an expropriation. Instead, the area is now a Natural Protected Area where material exploitation is prohibited due to environmental concerns.

Sheinbaum Pardo also highlighted that the construction of the Maya Train was financed with public funds from the Mexican Government. "The Maya Train was built with public funds, as can be seen in the public account reports. Every peso invested in the Maya Train came from the taxes paid by Mexican citizens and was used to construct this project," she stated.

Sheinbaum Pardo announced that the government is seeking to reach an agreement with the company to avoid legal conflict. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the matter will be resolved in court. She concluded, "We will inform both Congress and the White House to prevent misinformation. We are also exploring the possibility of reaching an agreement to avoid any legal conflict. If this is not possible, the matter will be decided in court."