Great News on Tenacatita
February 20, 2012 11:15AM IP/Host: ---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net
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I know this is the wrong forum but I had to post the news. I just got this from Dobie.
We seem to be getting closer and closer to the day when there will once again be free access to Tenacatita beach. The concession (right to develop the beach) has been given to the County of La Huerta as a tourist destination. Rodenas' concession was revoked for non payment of taxes and it wasn't renewed because at the time Rodenas applied for renewal, they no longer had a concession to renew because it had been revoked earlier. La Huerta has said they will return possession of the beach to the ejido.
Ultimately it looks like Rodenas/Villalobos may lose everything, even his supposed 42 hectares. The ejido lawyer, Everardo Rojas Contreras came to a meeting yesterday in El Rebalsito to give an update on what's happening legally. Although the woman Villalobos bought the land from in the early 90's, won a Supreme Court decision against the community of El Rebalsito, she never took possession of the land. Villalobos assumed her decision would apply to him too, but with legal decisions, you can only get what you ask for and it turns out Villalobos never asked for possession of the land, he just took it. Another mistake Villalobos made is in 2006, when property titles, signed by the President of Mexico, were given to the individuals (Mexicans and foreigners), who were in possession of the land Villalobos is claiming, he never contested them. Now he's saying they're not valid; but titles in Mexico are meant to be the ultimate security that the land is in fact yours and no one can take it away (except, of course, the government if they want to expropriate it for a road, airport, etc.)
The State Supreme Court justices ruled in favor of the ejido in October, saying the beach was to be returned to the state it was in before the eviction on October 4, 2010. Rodenas appealed. The appeal was heard on Dec. 28 and the decision should be forthcoming soon. Rojas says he's 99.99% certain we'll win the case.
In July, Mexicans will go to the polls to elect a new president, residents of Jalisco will elect a new governor, and locally we'll be voting for a new head of the county of La Huerta. All these positions are now occupied by members of the PAN party (the party of businessmen and the rich). Fernando Guzman Perez is running for governor. As secretary to the present governor, Emilio Marquez, he was instrumental in allowing Villalobos to violently evict residents and tourists from their homes and businesses on Tenacatita beach. When leaders of El Rebalsito went to Guadalajara (capital of Jalisco) to try to reach a compromise with Villalobos, Guzman Perez took Villalobos' side and didn't even let the people present their case.
Now that elections are coming, he seems to have changed his tune. He knows that in order to win the election, he needs votes from the coast. Rojas says he's working with Guzman Perez, who is now inclined to help get the beach opened. Of course it's hard to trust a turncoat, but at least he won't be actively fighting against us. Rojas has been meeting with other state officials and there's lots of support for opening the beach and allowing people to go back to work. With the bleak economic picture in Mexico, taking away jobs is not a very popular subject. Rojas said they're trying to get the beach open before Semana Santa (Easter time), when Mexicans take to the beaches in droves.
Rojas began the meeting in town by thanking me and all of the extrajeros (foreigners) for our help in the struggle. That includes all of you (this email goes out to 100 people) who have contributed financial, emotional, moral and physical support to the people of El Rebalsito. In Mexico they say, "la union hace la fuerza" which means theirs strength in unity. I do believe that ultimately justice will prevail.
dobie
A lot in Melaque Mexico in winter and Victoria BC in summer - 2000 Fleetwood Bounder 31 W
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03 Tracker ZR2 Towed
Excalibar Towbar and SMI Stay in Play braking
Each of Us who have spent time at Tenacatita would like to see a return of the Land to those folks who operated the Restaurants along the Beach and of course the RV Park and Hotels.
I just hope that if The Land is given back development will only be allowed in a controlled manner, with proper Water and sewage treatment. I would hate to see a return to the slovenly conditions that existed before the Bulldozers cleaned it all up!
Restaurants ,by all means but with proper sanitation and Food Safe Kitchens!
This could be a start of something to be proud of.
Rob & Jean
98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..92 Tracker 4X2
Yes it is at the NW corner of Tenacatita Bay, N of Melaque/Barra de Navidad and W of La Manzanilla ~5 miles as the crow flies. I'm watching a truly magnificent sunset over it now... with a bit of Corralejo Tequila.
Yes it is at the NW corner of Tenacatita Bay, N of Melaque/Barra de Navidad and W of La Manzanilla ~5 miles as the crow flies. I'm watching a truly magnificent sunset over it now... with a bit of Corralejo Tequila.
Wish we were there. We are in the middle of a snow storm right now. It just put down 12" in the last 12 hrs. Are you on Tenacatita Bay right now?
A year ago April we drove down toward there. There were green metal cattle gates and about a half a dozon Federals in the middle of the road.
We turned around and went further north to a beach about 10 miles off the highway, through a gate with one guard who courtiously let us through. Then we drove down through mango groves past an old deserted resort to the beach. There was absolutly no one there. So we stripped off and enjoyed the sand, sun and cool breeze having it all to ourselves. I don't recall the name of the beach right now.
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