CR - THE BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF COSTA RICA’S CARIBBEAN COAST
“We are very worried for our Indigenous land, because from the beginning, when they developed this plan among the officials… they never took us into account. They didn’t inform us. We had no information. The government never tried to get our participation over the proposal.”
The local government along Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean coast is pushing to approve a regulatory plan for the region that many residents say would open it up to a wave of development from high-end resorts that would transform their lives and their homes. They fear for the fate of the local environment, the forest, the reef, the pristine coastline, their community, and their future.
Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Michael Fox
Additional camera work: Rosa Fox
Additional Video: YouTube @RobinRaePhoto
University of Costa Rica television, Quince-UCR
TRANSCRIPT
Michael Fox (narration): Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Jungle. Sun. Surf. Gorgeous beaches. Some of them, ranked the prettiest in the world. And much of it, largely undeveloped, especially compared with the rest of the Caribbean. Here’s an example…
This is Cancun. And this is the Coastline south of Puerto Viejo, just north of the Panama border. Until just a decade ago, these were dirt roads. But tourism and development have driven in fast. Boutique hotels, high-end supermarkets, and more tourists than ever before.
Mickey Ryan: We have a lot more people than we used to. And what this town used to be no longer exists. What it’s brought is just you know as we know worldwide is gentrification, is gentrification and development.
