["Las Playas Son del Pueblo” carries with it a reminder to the
government and private interests that our beaches and natural
resources are not for sale."]
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PROTECTING PUERTO RICO’S COASTLINES & INDIGENOUS HERITAGE  
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Lola Rosario
July 11, 2023
NACLA Reports
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_ "Las Playas Son del Pueblo” carries with it a reminder to the
government and private interests that our beaches and natural
resources are not for sale." _

Alegna Malavé Marrero holds a bag that reads "The Beaches Belong to
the People" while serving as a panelist at the Yale University
conference on Rethinking Resilience in April, (Image courtesy of
Alegna Malavé Marrero)

 

Last April, Alegna Malavé Marrero joined fellow community activists
in removing the fencing and vegetative debris that block public access
to the Cueva del Indio Nature and Marine Reserve in the northern town
of Arecibo in Puerto Rico. A veteran of environmental protest, she
came prepared with Puerto Rico’s Council for Protection of
Archaeological Lands regulatory policy Laws 111
[[link removed]] and 112
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which dictate the protection and preservation of terrestrial
archaeological sites, including caves and caverns intrinsic to the
conservation of Puerto Rico’s natural and cultural heritage.

For the past seven years, both entrances to the reserve have remained
illegally obstructed by business magnate José González Freyre, owner
of Pan American Grain. González Freyre, who purchased land adjacent
to the Nature Reserve, placed fencing and debris around the caves,
effectively closing off access to the site. Home to a delicate
ecosystem of flora, fauna, rock formations and marine species, like
hermit crabs and the endangered green sea turtle, the reserve is also
an archaeological site featuring hundreds of ancient rock art carvings
from Puerto Rico's first inhabitants. Choosing April 9 for their
manifestation was no coincidence; it marked the 31st  anniversary of
the site’s designation as a Natural Reserve by Puerto Rico’s
Department of Natural & Environmental Resources (DRNA). In 2015, the
area was also named a Marine Reserve by the Puerto Rico Legislature.

According to these laws, it is a felony to appropriate, mutilate, or
loot a registered archaeological site. Further, by charging visitors
for parking, González Freyre is exploiting the site for personal
profit.

Involved in organizing since 2005, Malavé Marrero has long advocated
for protecting and preserving her country’s natural resources,
delicate ecosystems, and Indigenous heritage. From organizing
grassroots efforts demanding the demolition of an illegal construction
in Puerto Rico’s northwestern coastal town of Aguadilla, to
testifying at legislative hearings, to camping out for a week to
protest private construction on public land, her mission is clear: to
stop rampant development that is destroying Puerto Rico’s marine and
nature reserves.

As spokesperson for Defending la Cueva del Indio
[[link removed]] (DCI-681), an educational, community-based
organization promoting the preservation of the Indigenous cave located
along the region’s coastal route PR-681, Malavé Marrero is
determined to safeguard its cultural significance. On April 9
activists managed to remove part of the fencing, but community access
to the caves remains closed.

Formally trained as a socio-spatial planner—focusing on land use
based on ample citizen participation and sociological knowledge
applied within an urban context—Malavé Marrero uses her knowledge
of Puerto Rican regulatory policy to educate communities about illegal
land use and the threats posed to agricultural and natural resources.
She does so against the backdrop of current Governor Pedro
Pierluisi’s pro-statehood administration — one that
prioritizes the interests of private investors. In this interview,
Malavé Marrero shares insights on the current political climate she
describes as “a threat not only to those of us living in Borikén
[[link removed]] [Puerto
Rico’s Indigenous name] but also to all of the natural species of
marine life that call this their home.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

LOLA ROSARIO: When many hear the word “coastline” they think of
beaches, but in Puerto Rico it’s more than that. Share with us what
other coastal areas are being negatively impacted.

ALEGNA MALAVÉ MARRERO: In the town of Salinas, in southern Puerto
Rico, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Bahía de Jobos
[[link removed]] is among 30
reserves managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration [NOAA]. It is an area made up of mangroves and beaches.
Despite the on-site presence of guards from the DRNA, there have been
documented witnessings of mangrove burnings and illegal construction
of docks. Community members have been organizing since the 1980s,
trying to protect the area known as Paso del Indio y Cueva León due
to its ancestral significance. A place inhabited since the times of
our Indigenous Taíno forebears, residents there are resisting
displacement and fighting to protect their natural area.

It’s important to understand the mangroves’ critical role in
forming the Estuarine Reserve’s barrier between the open sea and dry
land, especially during times of flooding. Deforestation and burning
of mangroves are also destroying bird nests and marine life. All of
this is happening in the federal government’s presence . It must
not go unnoticed; there have to be consequences.

[Alegna Malavé Marrero poses next to the entrance to the Cueva del
Indio Nature and Marine Reserve, which has been inaccesible to the
public since 2016. (Photo courtesy of (Alegna Malavé Marrero)]

Alegna Malavé Marrero poses next to the entrance to the Cueva del
Indio Nature and Marine Reserve, which has been inaccesible to the
public since 2016. (Photo courtesy of (Alegna Malavé Marrero)

LR: How does the government’s pro-privatization stance factor into
the equation of further endangering marine life and the
archipelago’s Indigenous heritage?

AMM: Pedro Pierluisi's administration insists on using Joint
Regulation (JR) 2020
[[link removed]],
legislation pertaining to the Evaluation and Issuance of Permits
Related to Development, Land Use, and Business Operations [this
legislation was nullified by Puerto Rico Supreme Court
[[link removed]] in
March 2023]. JR 2020 would reconfigure land use, but by renaming it an
“Emergency Joint Regulation” Pierluisi’s government is ignoring
the court ruling and instead using it as a tool to facilitate the
deregulation of territorial plans, allowing illegal constructions in
natural, agricultural, and historical reserves. As a community
organizer for the Asamblea de Pueblo (People's Assembly), I was tasked
with educating communities about the dangers of JR 2020 and the
importance of active citizen participation in public hearings and
submitting comments to protect livability in the communities from
commercial encroachment and displacement.

When we see what’s happening in the neighborhood of Islote in the
northern coastal town of Arecibo with the Cueva del Indio Nature and
Marine Reserve, this administration’s position is
clear — privatization and dollar signs trump any environmental
concerns. In 2016, José González Freyre
[[link removed]] closed
off access to the archaeological site. When activists attempt to
access the area, Carlos Mena, administrator of González Freyre’s
property, rebukes them by brandishing a firearm and charging between
$10 and $35 for vehicle parking. Their privatization of the area was
nothing more than usurpation and exploitation.

In July 2022, Islote community leader Lauce Colón Pérez reported the
land appropriation, citing the DRNA's 1974 demarcation limits relevant
to Puerto Rico's maritime terrestrial zone. According to the
demarcation, the direct access route to Cueva del Indio that was
established is currently being privatized by González Freyre. As for
my organization, at DCI-681 our mission is to preserve the cultural
significance of the Cueva del Indio with the goal of developing a
sustainable management plan that conforms to the highest environmental
and social standards. By forming alliances with community
organizations, the municipality of Arecibo, the DRNA, and the
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, we would formulate a cohesive
program — one that centers education on environmental and
cultural protection.

LR: Thinking about land use and development, the slogan “The
Beaches are Public Domain” comes to mind. Can you take us behind the
scenes for a closer perspective on its meaning?

AMM: Our work is about much more than chants and rallying cries.
“Las Playas Son del Pueblo” carries with it a reminder to the
government and private interests that our beaches and natural
resources are not for sale. Consider the situation in Cueva Las
Golondrinas, a marine cave located in the northwestern coastal town of
Aguadilla. Between 2019 and 2020, businessman Carlos Román González
illegally obtained permits through his construction company, Aguadilla
Pier Corp (APC), to begin building permanent structures on top of the
cave. Over the past few years, there have been countless protests
demanding that the DRNA order the demolition of the property
[[link removed]] (which
includes a gazebo and an equestrian facility).

During a manifestation this past January, things got very intense. As
unarmed activists approached the heavily guarded complex, taking
videos and shouting, César Toledo Montilla, a member of Román
González’s private security detail, fired at the crowd of
protestors. One of his bullets landed embedded in the lower leg of
environmental advocate Ángel Luis Torres Rosado, who was subsequently
rushed to a nearby hospital. Torres Rosado eventually healed from his
physical injury; however, everyone understands the severity of what
happened. That bullet could have easily ended someone’s life. In
this environmental struggle, the stakes are high. We’re up against
corruption and folks with deep pockets — it has been reported
that Román González has made hefty monetary contributions to both of
Puerto Rico’s main political parties, the PNP [New Progressive
Party] and the PPD [Popular Democratic Party]. Our commitment to the
statement “the beaches are public domain” is non-negotiable.

LR: As a sociologist, what role does your academic background play in
advocating for the coastlines vis-à-vis your interaction with police
and local authorities?

AMM: I, and others, are in this struggle because we are fighting for
this country we love so much. Being passionate about our heritage,
natural resources, and the environment moves us to do what we do.
Trained as a sociologist, I’m well attuned to the dynamics of
protest. As activists/cultural advocates, our emotions are
inextricably tied to this work — as I discussed earlier,
potential dangers exist. That’s why when I’m present at these
manifestations, I watch over the physical and emotional safety of
those in my group. Further, as the daughter of a nurse, our collective
well-being is one of my priorities.

When it comes to local authorities, it’s crucial to be mindful of
their role. The police represent an inherent capacity of elected
officials/government to control its citizens. What I denounce is the
illegal use of force in their _authoritative power_ against
activists — it’s visible in how the police are equipped with
protective shields, helmets, batons, teargas, handcuffs, and sometimes
even with guns. Clearly, they are present to _maintain order_. This
being the case, I’m certainly not going to start arguing with them
about Joint Regulation 2020 or other local ordinances. They’ll say
(as a few have said to me in the past), “I don’t know about those
laws, I’m just here following orders.” So, I avoid debating
legalese with them; I save that for when I’m in court testifying
against illegal construction. Then, after presenting evidence in the
form of video, photographic images, and missing permits, we wait for a
judge to order the demolition of said construction. It is this
document I show to the senior police officer in charge of the squadron
at a given protest. By giving them the facts, I’m reminding them
it’s their job to ensure the law is upheld.

LR: And, are you seeing changes in those instances? Is the rule of law
being followed?

AMM: In Puerto Rico, the government continues to allow illegal
constructions in protected nature reserve areas. Where I am seeing
change is in greater awareness of public domain land use and the
legalities thereto. As environmental justice seekers, we need to
utilize effective strategies in our fight. We do so through the use of
knowledge of [legal] policy and education. 

One instance that stands out recently relates to a wall [we painted
on] at the beach
[[link removed]] in
Sol y Playa on the west coast of Rincón, in protest of the illegal
construction of a condominium pool directly adjacent to the shoreline.
I heard a police officer referencing environmental law, which makes me
very optimistic. This is a step in the right direction because now we
have law enforcement officials becoming engaged and informed of the
laws that are being broken. 

_LOLA ROSARIO is a New York City-raised Afro Boricua cultural
storyteller and spoken word poet. Her work focuses on feminism,
cultural identity, and social justice issues impacting her ancestral
homeland of Borikén._

_The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an
independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and
critique U.S. imperialism and political, economic, and military
intervention in the Western hemisphere. In an evolving political and
media landscape, we continue to work toward a world in which the
nations and peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from
oppression, injustice, and economic and political
subordination.  For more about NACLA and our work, read our history
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* Puerto Rico
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* Environmental Justice
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