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In a regular session held on Thursday, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz urged Waldemar Quiles Pérez, the designated Secretary of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), to disclose the identities of the homeowners in La Parguera, a coastal area in Lajas experiencing heightened tensions over the ecological repercussions of coastal development.
The area is under scrutiny as environmental advocates assert that homes within the protected zone were constructed unlawfully. They have criticized Governor Jenniffer González Colón for allegedly attempting to shield her relatives, who own a residence there.
“I request that the designated secretary of Natural Resources supply me with the occupant names of all 160 homes and any others located in La Parguera,” stated Rivera Schatz. “I wish to ascertain who their relatives are, the nature of their connections, whom they support financially, and their political affiliations. We will document and investigate if they have removed any mangroves or conducted any unauthorized expansions. Some individuals are listing these properties as Airbnb rentals.”
On Tuesday, during a committee meeting, Quiles faced inquiries on the subject. He was also requested to revise Administrative Order 2025-01 to ensure that ongoing investigations remain active, especially regarding properties linked to the governor’s relatives.
Rivera Schatz’s remarks came after an initial statement from Sen. Eliezer Molina Pérez, who called on the relevant agencies to meet and evaluate the situation in La Parguera before making any choices. Molina Pérez cautioned about a possible clash between the federal and local authorities regarding this issue and speculated that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) might issue a ruling shortly.
“It’s likely that the EPA will announce a determination soon, and I question whether that ruling corresponds with the recent deliberations surrounding the nomination for the Natural Resources secretary,” Molina expressed.
Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde proposed summoning Samuel Acosta, the head of the examining officers, along with the former DNER secretary, to assess whether the administrative order in question was simply a continuation of prior actions.
