Cozumel News January 21st, 2014

Follow me

Cozumel news January 21, 2014, features the Magno Air Festival coming to Cozumel on February 10th, Inflation spiraling, and Cozumel Calesas.

Cozumel Magno Air Festival

On February 10^th, the Magno Air Festival (Magno Festival Aereo) will be held in Cozumel. This will be one of the largest air shows ever held on the island. An official bulletin from Mayor Fredy Marrufo Martín, confirmed that Cozumel will host the celebration commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Mexican Air Force. The Mexican Air Force became an official branch of the Armed Forces on February 10, 1944.

The President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, will be leading the ceremony. This will be the first time in the history of Mexico that the high command of the Mexican Air Force will meet at Cozumel’s Air Force base. The celebration will also unveil the Memorial built to honor the Historic 201 Squadron which fought in the Second World War.

The Festival will include troops dropping from helicopters and the flying of various types of aircraft, both current and historic. The Supersonic Northrop F-S Tiger Air crafts that bear the insignia of the Mexican Air Force will be displayed. The Air show and ceremony will be a momentous day for both the Mexican Air Force and the Island. Cozumel will be in the National and International lime light.

Inflation Spiraling

Owners of Restaurants, Taco Stands, and snack bars have changed their menu prices. The President of the National Chamber of Restaurants and Spicy Foods explained the necessary increases are due to the 5% VAT increase in the border areas of Mexico, bringing the total tax to 16%.

Added to the situation, other increases such as LP Gas, fuel, meat products, and soft drinks, have forced some restaurants to consider removing certain dishes from their menu all together. A drop in sales is predicted, but will more than likely not be completely realized until the second half of the year, when the slow season starts. It is anticipated that many small businesses will be forced to close their doors.

Cozumel Calesas

Right on the heels of the problems facing Cozumel’s Department of Ecology with the death of the ocelot, the alarm has been raised again about Cozumel’s Calesas. A Calesa is a horse drawn carriage used to give tourists rides in the city.

There has been an outcry of concern from the community about the treatments of the horses for quite a while on the island. At one time, I was under the impression that the Calesas would be eliminated completely.

There have been three carriage accidents in the past two weeks, two in the tourist area and one in the cross roads. There was a separate article about an over turned carriage that had been contracted privately for a party at night time. The accident was caused by the carriage not being visible at night. I am not certain this accident is one of the three, or yet another incident.

Cozumel’s Department of Ecology is in charge of inspecting the Calesas. Eliot Reyes Novelo, Director of Ecology, acknowledged that there is a lack of enough staff to carry out daily review of the physical condition of the horses.

There are only two inspectors on staff and they must address citizen complaints and verification, leaving them with only enough time to do inspections twice per week.

Lizama Ricardo Escalante, Director of Transportation, said the staff we have is insufficient to meet the workload related to the inspection and review of the public transport carriages. An increase in the workforce has been requested and it is expected that in the coming weeks staff from other Agencies will be relocated to the Department of Ecology.