And the Mayan Train?: Transfer of imported stones from Cuba to Mexico is suspended

2023-04-20 17:35:07

Text: Cuba News 360 Writing

The transfer of imported stones from Cuba to Mexico, destined for the Mayan Train project, was suspended by a court in the latter territory, after the complaint of alleged environmental damage in the operations.

In favor of various environmental groups from Puerto Morelos, which indicated the unloading and transport activities of the ballast rock that will be used for sections 5 and 6 of the Mayan Train, coming from Cuba, the First District Court of the state of Yucatán determined stop transportation.

Organizations such as Voces Unidas de Puerto Morelos, Puerto Morelos Sustentable, Latitud 21, Association for the Ecosocial Development of Women and Grupo Gema del Mayab are some of the environmental groups demanding, which also seek to stop the construction of a road adjacent to the mangrove. In fact, some hope that the suspension will become final.

In their plea, they stated that they were unaware of the existence of any authorization in terms of environmental impact for activities in the protected natural areas of the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve and the Puerto Morelo Reef National Park.

“The effects of the suspension are to paralyze the navigation and anchoring of the vessel called Melody on the coral community of the reef located in the protected natural area of ​​the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve, adjacent to the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park,” they confirmed. local media.

A little over a month ago, a Mexican diver and environmentalist reported alleged damage to an important section of protected corals in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, caused by a ship with a cargo of 20,000 tons of porphyrite (a type of rock) from Cuba. , which would serve as ballast for the Mayan Train project.

Alberto Friscione, also a filmmaker, filed complaints with the corresponding authorities to determine if the ship’s anchor caused significant damage to the reserve.

At the end of 2022, state media confirmed that the rajón stone that would be sent to Mexico was extracted in the Arriete quarry, in the municipality of Palmira, and then transported by rail to the yard of the Cienfuegos maritime terminal, where the warehouses.

The Mayan Train project, a railway proposal that covers some 1,500 kilometers and will link the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, has been supported, under an agreement by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for the importation of tons of stones from Cuba.