Cozumel News August 21st, 2014

Follow me

Cozumel News August ^21st, 2014: Cozumel Schools Started the 2014-2015 School Year on Monday, Cozumel Hotel Occidental Allegro Fire, The Municipal Committee for the Prevention of Accidents in Cozumel Meets, PROFECO Cozumel  Suspends Five Car Rental Companies and Update on the Car Ferry from The United States.

Cozumel Schools Started the 2014-2015 school year

The 2014-2015 school year for the high school students of Cozumel began two weeks ago. There was an increase in enrollment of 3% for a total of 1,737 students. This year’s big focus is to work on lowering the staggering dropout rate through a program called “Build Yourself.”  

Kinder, Elementary and Junior High Schools started Monday in Cozumel! Here, they are called Kinder, Primary and secondary schools. The Cozumel School children are one of the first things that impressed me about this beautiful island. Regardless of economic opportunity, rich or poor, these beautiful children are well groomed and looking good in their school uniforms. I strongly believe that the United States Public schools would see an increase in discipline and focus on education if the children had uniforms. In the 2014-2015 school year 423 full-time schools will operate in Cozumel, with an increase of over 200 percent compared to 138 full-time schools operating in the last cycle. It was reported that in the past five years of operation, the program has generated an investment of 94 million 669 thousand 86 pesos in improvements, equipment and materials, so the investment this year of 184 million 307 thousand 521 pesos is double what was invested in the five years operating the program. The full-time schools are said to be the key to the new educational reform. In addition to academic training, a program of physical and cultural activities has been added that also includes a meal scheme under nutritional and health guidelines set by health authorities. The goals are to improve the quality of learning, optimize the effective use of school time and strengthen reading skills, mathematics, arts, culture and recreation, as well as the values ​​of inclusion and school life. This investment is intended to pay financial support to teachers, administrators and support staff of the schools. It will provide measures to improve school management, support for feeding students, equip dining rooms and kitchens, and pay for the construction and fitting of kitchens as well as operating expenses.

[coupon couponid=”6014″ coupon_align=”cctor_aligncenter” name=”Sergio’s Silver”]

Cozumel Hotel Occidental Allegro Fire

Over a hundred tourists were evacuated from the Hotel Occidental Allegro at dawn on Monday. No injuries were reported.The fire was large, and firefighters had to seek help for additional staff and vehicles with extra water.  The Naval Sector and Foundation of Parks and Museums came equipped to help. Due to heavy winds, the fire invaded the building housing the theater, offices, nine spa villas type structures with eight rooms each; well as the lobby that was a total loss due to the intensity of the flames. The causes of the accident have not yet been determined, but presumably could have been a short circuit. Stricken areas of the hotel were cordoned off because the structures suffered weakening. It will be closed indefinitely, while hotel managers conduct the assessment of damages for subsequent rehabilitation of the damaged areas.

[coupon couponid=”5834″ coupon_align=”cctor_aligncenter” name=”Fogo Do Brasil”]

COMUPRA Meets

The Municipal Committee for the Prevention of Accidents (Comupra), Cozumel, held their first regular session to discuss the prevention of accidents. The meeting was led by local authorities, with the assistance of members of coordination representing directors from various branches of the city council. According to an official press release, “it was agreed that with the Port Authority we will work together to implement measures to prevent and reduce accidents, protecting bathers, tourism and the general population.” A tourist lost his life earlier this month after swimming outside of the roped off area when he was struck by propellers from a boat. While circumstances and details of the accident have not been release, the subject of what measures must be taken to prevent these sorts of accidents was addressed at the closed session meeting. COMUPRA agreed to seek a meeting with the Association of Hotels Cozumel, Beaches Clubs, and other marine service providers, as part of the action to be undertaken to prevent accidents. One of the first aims is to improve maritime signaling.

[coupon couponid=”5732″ coupon_align=”cctor_aligncenter” name=”Albatros Charters Cozumel”]

PROFECO Suspends Five Car Rental Companies

The Federal Consumer (PROFECO) suspended five of eight companies that rent vehicles in Cozumel yesterday. An inspection was conducted as a response to several complaints. The penalty was the result of an operation in which violations of consumer law were detected. Sources within PROFECO reported that according to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-174-SCFI-2006 from “business-elements Information Practices for the provision of services in general,” and a surprise inspection was conducted around the island to verify compliance of the same. Among the anomalies detected by the federal agency, are not displaying prices and total amounts, not specifying what means of payment for the services they accept, and not providing a mechanism for reimbursement where appropriate. Also listed was ignoring the guarantees and listing the terms and procedures to make them effective. According to the Federal Consumer Protection Law, PROFECO could impose economic sanctions that range from 571 pesos to 2 million 236 thousand 925 pesos, if found to be in breach. At press time, five of eight had been suspended, verified by nearly twenty local inspectors.

[coupon couponid=”5702″ coupon_align=”cctor_aligncenter” name=”La Rumba Cozumel August Special”]

Update on the Car Ferry from the United States

The new ferry service will start next spring 2015 from Gulfport Mississippi to Progresso, Mexico.  It will also eventually have service to Cancun/Calica/Playa del Carmen. We are shooting for a website to be up in September, taking bookings by end of October and starting actual service in late April. Look forward to having you on board.

Like The Cozumel Sun? Help keep us going by Becoming a Sponsor!