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The Root of Our Evils-Greed & Shortsightedness |
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Friday, 14 December 2007 |
 (JFS) Political apathy & ambitions combined with foreign carpetbagger developers, is having ruinous effects on tourism in Tamarindo and these effects shall soon spread throughout the region if left unchecked any longer.
There is a course of action that must be taken immediately in order to rectify this situation; a construction moratorium. Residents have long espoused this and more recently local & national institutions and the President himself have suggested the same, all or in part.
 Photo: A Carpetbaggers Dream
Both the local and national government appear to perceive development only in terms of its immediate short term economic effects: a higher rate of employment, a larger property tax base, increased economic activity, higher revenues from construction permits, etc. New construction is seen purely from a political term perspective. The intermediate (next political term) and long term effects of their lack of a proper long term perspective is now rearing it's ugly head; ecological destruction, environmental degradation & contamination and the debasement of economic prosperity within the community of Tamarindo and very soon regionally along the "Gold Coast". The principal industry is Tourism, not construction and unsustainable development.
A larger property tax base is self-defeating if overall property values decline. A temporary increase in Nicaraguan and National construction workers employment does not offset the failure of permanent tourism businesses that are negatively effected. More construction permit fees do not offset fewer business license fees, income and sales tax revenues, etc. A flurry of building activity does not create long term economic prosperity, if tourism is in decline because of it. And so forth. Short term benefits are jeopardizing long term prosperity.
 Photo: Our Future Look
“Further consideration” or “Further Study” (procrastination)---with the complete lack of remedial action, of any one of the myriad of the problems resulting from the unsustainable development that has adversely affected both the "quality of life"of permanent residents and the prosperity of business, is inviting a major disaster. Now that it is widely recognized that our potable water supply is in grave danger from over extraction, our ocean contaminated, that the condition of roads are or have been a monumental disgrace and embarrassment, etc.; immediate & decisive action is called for. The economic lifeblood of the community; Tourism, has declined substantially over the last two years. Remedial actions must be taken now or the very ills that are now widely recognized will cause permanent and irreparable damage to Tamarindo’s and other communities environment, ecology & economy. If the status quo remains unchecked any longer, Tamarindo could very well become Costa Rica’s first ghost town!
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