( Spanish) –– The Puerto Rico Police reported in a statement this Sunday that they arrested five women and a man in the framework of a protest to demand the demolition of structures built illegally in a natural coastal area.
The detainees are being investigated for the crimes of obstruction of justice and trespassing in the facilities known as Muelle de Azúcar, in the municipality of Aguadilla, in the west of the island.
The press spokesman for the Puerto Rico Police, Axel Valencia, told that the six people arrested were summoned to appear in court on February 9. He added that several protesters started throwing stones at one point during the protest.
The authorities also confirmed that a man was injured at the scene of the incident. Police agents transferred him to a hospital in the region, where a doctor indicated that he had a gunshot wound with entry and exit, and that his condition was stable. Valencia said this occurred as a result of a shot fired by a private security guard at the structures.
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said the incident “is under investigation.”
“I have discussed the matter with the Secretary of Public Security. The matter is under investigation and we will know,” he said.
For her part, Mariana Nogales, a legislator from the opposition Victoria Ciudadana Movement and one of the people leading the protests, explained that the purpose of the demonstration was to denounce the delay in the demolition of structures built illegally between 2019 and 2020, which ordered by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) in May 2022.
Since the beginning of January, a group of people established a camp in the vicinity of this property, where they began a protest requesting the demolition of the structures that are located on the well-known Las Golondrinas cave, which has access to the sea and part of the coast of Aguadilla.
In May, the DNER issued an order to demolish several structures in the area that were built illegally due to their proximity to the sea.
“The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) ordered the demolition of the structures built on the Las Golondrinas cave through resolution and order. The construction of the buildings was carried out on the Las Golondrinas cave and in the maritime-terrestrial zone, resulting in an illegal use of maritime-terrestrial public domain assets. Likewise, they must obtain the necessary permits to carry out the demolition of the structures built on the Las Golondrinas cave,” DRNA press spokesman Joel Seijo said in written statements.
“The determination of the DNER came final and firm, so the demolition proceeds. Currently, it remains for the Permit Management Office to complete the evaluation of the demolition permit requested by Aguadilla Pier Corp. ”, he added.
