• New Marina in Quepos promises 3,000 jobs
The project will be the largest and most modern of the kind in Central America. Investors offer jobs, training, and environmental protection.
Mauricio Herrera U.
The project called Marina Pez Vela, being built in Quepos, will dock up to 300 vessels up to 61 meters (200 ft) long, will create 3,000 jobs, and will promote technical education and the protection of the environment.
Thus, mentioned Mr. Harold Lovelady, president of the company, who will be visited by the President of the Republic, Oscar Arias, at the site where the marina is being built, in the port of Quepos.
The construction works will be finished in August of 2008, and in 2010 a dry dock will be operating for the repair and maintenance of the vessels.
The initial investment is $16.6 million and once in operation it will employ 1,000 people in the marina and 2,000 in the adjacent infrastructure.
Besides the marina and the dry dock, the project includes a 100-rooms hotel, 60 condominiums and a shopping centre.
When the project was proposed in 2001, it raised doubts in the community, in relation to the environmental impact it could have on the Manuel Antonio National Park and on the fishermen in the area.
Organizations, such as the Fund for Costa Rica, and the Association for the Conservation of the Titi Monkey expressed, in the past, their concern about the lack of planning existing in the projects for tourism in the area of Quepos.
Lovelady assured that the Pez Vela Marina has taken all the provisions to keep away from contaminating the waters and having negative impacts on the national park.
“At first, the people from Quepos, including the Municipality, were opposed, but, later on the company gave lectures and explained about their plans and how they would reduce the impact on the environment, and the people opened up”, indicated Eduardo Córdoba, President of the Fishermen Association in Quepos.
Marina Pez Vela donated a bridge over Suya Creek and, jointly with the National Institute of Education (INA), will train young people of the area to do the work of repair and maintenance of the vessels.
The construction is being carried out by Meco and the design was prepared by Zurcher Architects. The “strategic legal advisor” is the attorney at law and ex-Vice-president Luis Fishman.
Luxury between the sea and the jungle
floating comfort
Those desiring to dock their yachts at the Pez Vela Marina must pay from $16,000 for a 10 meter space (32.81 ft) in the pier, up to $530,000 for a 26 meter (85.3 ft) space.
There, the members will have refuelling services, drinking water, electricity, Internet and cable television.
Among other attractions, the project promotes the closeness to Manuel Antonio National Park, tranquil waters “like in a pool” and sport fishing for tuna, mahi-mahi, and sail fish.
More: La Nacion Newspaper
