Costa Rica: SETENA Holds RIU Hotel Liable Despite Irregularities

The RIU Hotel of Spanish Capital has environmental liability, despite the various irregularities and criminal proceedings, the disappearance of a mangrove forest & underground stream, and the lack of interested in the community.

The document was sent this past Wednesday and was delivered a little more than six months after the submission of a failed plan called Sardinal Regulator - Matapalo, in Carrillo, Guanacaste.

This time the so called 'Regulatory Plan of Maritime Zone' in Canton of Carrillo - Guanacaste, Costa Rica, was approved under pressure and several legal requirements were ignored.

Gadi Amit, Vice-president of the Guanacaste fellowship lamented the lack of transparency throughout the process, as he was never informed of several agreements or assisted in any legal or technical meetings to get the approval of the document.

Amit stated that the procedure was made by SETENA without being approved by the Municipality of Carrillo. Mayor Carlos Cantillo submitted the document, he is a staunch defender of the hotel company.

The Fellowship leader recalled that there are issues to be resolved, such as the disappearance of the mangrove, the piping and diversion of the Huesera stream, and the elimination of public streets.

On the other hand, Amit reported that SETENA has been pressured by the Presidential House, the Company and the Costa Rican Institution of Tourism, because the hotel has scheduled the opening of the second building at the end of November, and they're already behind schedule.

Amit said he will appeal SETENA’s decision and will submit several proceedings to the Court of Justice.

The regulatory plan was financed by a program from a the Inter American Bank known as Bid Castro, with hotel operations in 16 beach communities in Guanacaste and Puntarenas and are a prized transnational hotel & real estate company.

From Costaricanorth.com