Cozumel News October 24th, 2013

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Cozumel News This Week October 24th – 28th:

In Cozumel News the approval of a sales tax increase, the first smoke free beach in Mexico, time to change the clocks, the Civil Registry document shortage, and Susan Bonnett’s Three Kings Day Drive.

Sales Tax Increase Approved

Law makers in Mexico have approved a 5% increased to IVA taxes in border towns. This will increase the already high tax from 11% to 16% on almost all products and services. This increase will affect Cozumel.

Since Cozumel imports almost all food and supplies from the mainland, the transportation cost is paid by the consumers in the form of higher prices. Adding a 5% increase to the already high sales tax is a blow to the low-income families already struggling to pay for necessities.

In the area of services, the concern is the inability to recoup the tax increase on services booked and paid for in advance. It was also noted the new ferry eight peso discount just awarded to local residents will almost disappear with the increase of the IVA.

To give a comparison, I researched sales taxes in the United States a couple of months ago and found that they vary from 0% in some States to a high of 7.25% in the California. The majority of the States charged a sales tax of 4% to 6%.

Playa San Martin Goes Smoke Free

A ceremony was held on October 17^th in Playa San Martin, on the East side of the island, declaring it the first smoke free beach in Mexico. Signs were placed along the 1.2 kilometers of beach designating the beach a non-smoking zone as well as boasting of the historical significance of being the first in public health.

Turn Back the Hands of Time

The time has come in Mexico to set your clocks back one hour this Sunday, October 27^th, at 2 a.m. The United States “falls back” on Sunday, November 3^rd.

Civil Registry Out of forms

I reported last week that the police were unable to hand out traffic violation tickets, because the outgoing administration left none in stock. The new administration has hit another problem; the Civil Registry has run out of all the legal forms. I visited the Civil Registry last week to order an original copy of my Mother’s Death Certificate and was told they are out of the form. They are also out of all other legal documents such as Wedding and Birth Certificates. If you are in need of any of the above documents, they have been ordered but the delivery date is unclear.

Good News if you are waiting for INAPAM cards (Senior Discount Cards). The new supply of INAPAM cards has arrived. For full instructions on how to apply for your Senior Card see the Living in Cozumel section of this website under “Important Documents.” https://www.thecozumelsun.com/living-in-cozumel-guide/important-documents/

Susan Bonnett’s Three Kings Day

Friend and long time Champion of giving to the community, Susan Bonnet, is ill and in the United States receiving treatment. She will not be back in time for one of her favorite projects, the Three Kings Day Drive. Susan spends months with an army of volunteers collecting donations such as toys, groceries, and other necessities to deliver on Three Kings Day to the poorest of families and seniors on the island. We need your help to make Three Kings Day happen in Susan’s absence. There is a lot of work involved in the collection of donations, and the sorting and packaging that leads up to the day of distribution. Susan’s volunteers are meeting the challenge but we need donations.

If you have any questions contact volunteer coordinator Kathy McGinn at woofem@me.com or 817-701-6513. To get the details on making a donation contact donation coordinator Gena Meyer at caribdivergena@gmail.com or 987-112-5116. All donations (100%) go directly to help the Three Kings Day recipients. Here is a copy of Susan’s suggested list of donations:

Cash – The money will go toward groceries and if we need to fill out any of the gift bags
Baby Bottles
Soccer Balls. We have a lot on hand now, but if you see a couple in the bin at Mega, feel free to grab them.
Tooth Paste, Dental Floss, Tooth Brushes
Small Sewing Kits – Carried by Dollar Tree
Candy
Lip Glosses/Nail Polish/Hair Items, the girls love this stuff!
Barbie’s or other similar dolls – used are great!
Footie Socks – if they’re white, they can wear them to school
Underwear – boys and girls, all sizes
Coloring Books, Crayons, Pencils, etc.

“Most of all use your imagination and have fun shopping”

Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II

The nursing home is Susan’s most recent undertaking. There are five nuns and eight residents living at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II. Susan has planted them gardens, cleaned up the area and most recently arranged for needed roof repairs so they didn’t have to move the residents every time it rained. We’ve added them to Santa’s Christmas list and here are some of the items they can use:

Baby Powder
Foodstuff (Treats for the gift baskets)
Large puzzle everyone can work on
Tools – the nuns do a lot of their own repairs around the home
Combs and brushes
Women: Clothing – size M, blouses, pullover robes, sweaters or light jackets, socks with the grips on the bottom
Vergillio – the only guy in a house of ladies. He has a great sense of humor and loves sport shorts with logos, t-shirts, socks, underwear, and baseball caps, easy to pull up pants and shorts (elastic waist or drawstring.
Restaurant gift certificates (for the nuns)
Any items you think these wonderful residents and nuns might like.