The Akumalian

The Akumalian

Akumal's Newsletter for its Extended Global Community
Quintana Roo, Mexico

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Central Security Network - Akumal

Akumal Security Proposal

By Juan Antonio Huerta and Laura B Wolfe

It has become apparent that without a proper security network and a professional visible security presence in Akumal, the break-ins and other potential criminal acts will continue and most probably increase. Unfortunately, this is a reality.

Central Security Network ( CSN AKUMAL)

Our best ‘crime deterrent’ is a highly visible security presence throughout all of Akumal. As most of you are aware, Puerto Aventuras recently beefed up their security program to meet the challenge of the rise in crime in the area.

While we do not discourage the use of the various private security companies scattered throughout the Akumal area, we strongly suggest that a CSN and reporting system be established that would coordinate security for all areas represented by the Akumal Council.

The Security Committee has designed the CSN for Akumal and has hired a Central Security Coordinator to manage the CSN. This Security Coordinator will report directly to the Chairman of the Security Committee who would, in turn, reports to the Akumal Development Council Board of Directors. It is imperative that this tight line of communication be drawn when dealing with our security Issues.

Security Coordinator –
Juan Antonio Huerta has been chosen to carry out these responsibilities. He is the property Manager for CEA and has the required experience for this job. If anyone would like to see his Resume it is available upon request.

Job Description:

· Operate and Maintain all surveillance equipment

· Hire and supervise Security Personnel. Provide quotes from competing local security companies to be submitted to the Security Committee.

· Report directly to the Security Committee of the Akumal Council

· Communicate directly with the local police as well as the Director of Public Safety in Tulum

· Maintain direct contact with all private security in Akumal, establishing a common radio channel.

· Assist in the case of any security incident involving tourists, with the authorities and or medical assistance

· Follow up with any cases that have been taken to Ministerio Publico

· Maintain good relations with the pueblo and the community as a whole in order to best carry out the goals of the Program.

Cost and Payment responsibilities
The determination of cost responsibility and assessment by the Akumal Council Board will be prorated on a per bedroom basis and allotted to the areas that receive the benefits.

For example, we will not be charging cameras or security personnel located in Akumal North to someone living in Jade Beach, Akumal Sur, or Adventuras Akumal.

However, there will be a concerted effort to incorporate all outlying areas of ‘central’ Akumal into the Central Security Network. The Security Coordinator will immediately begin to work with the Community Representatives of the entire Akumal community in an effort to maximize our security efforts for all of Akumal.

The point, here, is that for this project, there should be a rather large disparity between the ‘assessment’ of North Akumal and Akumal Bay as opposed to the assessments of Jade Beach, Akumal Sur, Puerto Aventuras, etc.

BUT, it is important that these more remote areas of Akumal do participate both financially and in hooking into the Central Security Network.

For now, I leave you with what we want to start out with. It is not a lot to ask. With just $50 USD per bedroom, we can work until Dec. 31st. South Akumal, Jade Bay and Aventuras Akumal would pay $15 per bedroom according to the services they would get.

Immediate Attention Needed

Akumal Bay
One of our best defenses is a strong, professional appearance. By this we mean the face we want the public and any potential ‘bad guys’ to see:

· We must have well dressed professional security personnel performing well-defined security duties. A raffle will be started and our goal is to raise $10,000 pesos for uniforms. (Explained at the meeting. )

· We must also have adequate, visible, security cameras. Note: Though cameras are useful primarily in ‘retrospect’, the visibility of surveillance cameras contributes substantially to the desired professional ‘face’ we want to put forth.

Both a camera and well-dressed security professionals will be highly visible at the front entrance, with additional cameras placed strategically on the paid parking lot, and on the beach.

Cameras, as mentioned, help promote the desired ‘appearance’ however the best tools we will employ will be good, visible personnel and good radio communication within and throughout the security system of all the areas represented by the Akumal Council.

The Security Coordinator would be able to immediately set up an office in one of the CUIA spaces available on the cancha. This office would house equipment related to the cameras. Additionally, this would be the office for security personnel with minimal office equipment as outlined in the budget.

It is highly recommend that we move as quickly as possible to set up this Central Security Network for Akumal.

North Akumal
Several recent break-ins in North Akumal would suggest that special attention is required in this particular part of our community. (We have also heard of a recent break in at Aventuras Akumal. )

The addition of surveillance cameras and well-dressed professional security personnel at the front arch and on Akumal Bay will provide a much more secure appearance. However, North Akumal must be further addressed if we are to have a realistic chance of making Akumal secure.

Currently, several properties have their own private security already in place. That’s fine and is to be encouraged.

However, this committee highly recommends that the proposed CSN include security personnel positioned at both the front and back doors to North Akumal.

Front Door to North Akumal:
The Security committee suggests that we reintroduce the guard at the entrance to North Akumal (just past the tennis court of Las Casitas.) Later on there could be a chain. For the moment it is important that the entrance be manned by CSN personnel who would report to the Akumal central office.

In addition to having this entrance to N. Akumal manned by security personnel, there would be a camera looking over his shoulder.

The camera located at this N. Akumal entry point not only supports the security guard, but it also allows the Security Coordinator to monitor and insure that this station is being run according to instructions. We do not want to obstruct anyone with a legitimate reason from entering North Akumal.

The Police Station at the N. Akumal entry point
In addition to posting security at the entrance to North Akumal, the Security Coordinator would work closely with the municipality and the municipal police on a regular basis.

First on the agenda has been to explain to the police our plan for the chain and security guard at the N. Akumal entrance. We were not granted permission to put a chain at this time.

Additionally, we will request that we be allowed to ‘fix up’ the police station located there, e.g., paint and clear the area so that the first image you see approaching the pluma is a clean building with POLICE written on it. Painting that building and cleaning the area around it will add tremendously to the impression we want the public to see, even though our personnel won’t be using that building.

North Akumal Back Door
Security at the arch, cameras on the beach and eventually re-introducing the pluma and guard at the entrance to North Akumal will help keep the ‘front door’ closed, however we would still have a wide open back door at Yal Ku (at the border of Sirenas.)

This area (other side of Yal Ku) must be secured if we truly want to have a chance of securing North Akumal and Akumal Bay. Currently it is very easy to slip into Akumal from the other side of Yal Ku. And, just as easy to slip out.

Securing this area will require security personnel working for the Central Security Network. The personnel would be posted along the Yal Ku border between Sirenas and Akumal. Russ Motley is the representative for that section and they have already built a guardhouse. (picture to be shown at meeting)

Financing
We will present a budget that coordinates the areas outlined above. There is a general feeling that most of the community is aware that we need to tighten our security.

Community Representatives
Aventurus Akumal - Memo Essy
Jade Bay - Co Van Overeen
North Akumal Section F -
North Akumal: Section G: Mary Carmen Domani
North Akumal: Section H: Mary Henderson & Rhett Schober
South Akumal: Claudia Munoz
Yal Ku Norte: Russ Motley

We will be asking these people to help us with this project in the are of financing and communication.

Additionally, the businesses on Akumal Bay need to be assessed differently and will be approached directly by the Security Committee.

This would also include those businesses on Yal Ku (Oscar and Sal).

HOW TO JOIN THE CENTRAL SECURITY NETWORK - AKUMAL

$50USD/ bedroom for Main Bay and Akumal North

$15 USD/ bedroom for Jade Bay, South Akumal, Aventuras Akumal and Yalku North.

New Budget will be presented in January for 2011 fees.

Bank Information

Account Name : El Consejo de la Comunidad de Akumal, A.C.

Scotiabank . Deposit in Pesos . Account No. 22000019399

USD Account No. 22000000345 Clave : MBCOMXMM

Intermediary Banks:

JP Morgan Chase

New York , NY

SWIFT: CHASUS33

ABA: 021000021

Bank of America

New York, NY

SWIFT: BOFAUS3N

ABA 026009593

Bank of New York

New York,NY

SWIFT: IRVTUS3N

ABA : 021000018

You can wire the money or make out a check and deliver it to Laura's office.

SPECIAL REMINDER: YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THE AKUMAL COUNCIL BY SENDING IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES IN THIS SAME WAY.

JOINING THE SECURITY NETWORK DOES NOT MAKE YOU A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.

Thank you, Juan Antonio Huerta and Laura B Wolfe

P.S. Keep checking the Akumal Council web site for updated information.

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