Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date: 04-01-08 08:39
Chip,
Are you just here to stir the pot? You've been given all the information there is about Victor Gonzalez. If I summarize for you, will you drop it? It really is a sore subject for those of us that love Culebra and love the Culebrense. Culebrense, in case you are not aware, is a description of the local residents.
Gonzalez bought the land that leads to the helipad and blocked it off via several methods over several months (trees, concrete blocks, etc.), thus blocking the access to the far side of Flamenco Beach (and the helipad) that the Culebrense had enjoyed since the Navy left in the 70s. He managed to get a local, Pan, arrested and charged with trespassing. The Culebrense fought hard in court to force Gonzalez to open the access, which he was obliged to do pursuant to the outcome of the court case. Thus, the Culebrense have gained back their access to Flamenco Beach and the helipad. All beaches in Puerto Rico are public, free-access beaches - no one has the right to claim them or block access to them. Along the way, Gonzalez has continued to do stupid things with the land, including bulldozing centuries-old volcanic boulders, which leads to runoff onto the unspoiled beaches below, and erecting a concrete "bird-watching" eyesore of a tower. Gonzalez is not a Culebrense; in fact, he is not even Puerto Rican. The point is - if you come to an unspoiled place and decide to make it your own, at the expense of the locals, the locals are going to put up their best fight. And trust me - a couple thousand Culebrense up against one newcomer that doesn't get it - it's not pretty.
So, can you see now why the Culebrense paint him as anti-Culebrense? It's too bad someone has put the community's feelings forth in graffiti. Perhaps next time you are there, you could organize or join a volunteer effort to clean it up?
Happy Diving!
Debbie
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