With an investment of thousands of dollars to condition it, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) reopened this Wednesday the Mona Island Nature Reserveclosed since the disappearance of the hunter Jorge A. Cordero Adorno59, reported in late February.
Farel Velazquezdirector of the DRNA’s Protected Natural Areas Bureau, explained that the agency used the closure period to prepare Isla de Mona for its eventual reopening, making improvements to the infrastructure, as well as removing trash. He estimated that the removal of waste required an investment of between $100,000 and $150,000..
“We are using this time to have the island in the best possible condition when the time comes,” he said. “The island is ready for visitors, with the required permits, to visit it.”
He added that the original plan was to reopen Mona Island sometime between July and August, but the threat from several weather systems forced the date to be postponed.
1 / 11 | Mona Island, a look at the inhospitable terrain and its impressive landscape. Mona Island is located at a distance of 45.7 miles from the west coast of Puerto Rico. – Ramon Tonito Zayas
Regarding the requirements to visit Isla de Mona and its marine extension, he specified that they will use the original format of a permission granted through the Auxiliary Secretariat of Permits and the Forest Permits Area of the DRNA. “Anyone interested in visiting the island has to go through that process,” he said..
“People can obtain permits to go on a one-day visit, stay overnight at the facilities, both on Sardinera Beach and Pájaros Beach, and take walks on the island. It is very important to obtain the proper permit and notify the staff on the island of your arrival,” he explained.
The cost for visitors depends on the activity and ranges from $3.00 per person per day to visit and $10.00 per person per night to camp. Also, a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total permit is required, and the remaining amount must be paid in full five business days prior to the date of the trip. For information, you may call (787) 999-2200, ext. 2858.
Velázquez anticipated that the DRNA will carry out another process of removing garbage and debris between October and November, prior to the start of the hunting season on Mona Island..
“Hunters who are going to participate in the season of this next cycle need the permits and go through the due draw established by the Department, that will be notified later,” he added, mentioning that the hunting season is scheduled to begin in December with bow and arrow, and that hunting with bow, arrow and shotgun would take place between January and March.
Police investigation shows no progress
On the other hand, the lieutenant Armando Morales Igartuadirector of the Missing Persons Division of the Criminal Investigation Corps (CIC) of Mayagüez, indicated to The New Day that the reopening of Isla de Mona does not mean that the investigation into the case of Cordero Adorno, whose disappearance was reported on February 21, has been concluded.
“The investigation is ongoing and will remain open until the person is located,” he said. “So far, the search has been unsuccessful.”. There is no additional information, everything related to the location of the phone device that he had had been done. The last information was when (Cordero Adorno) was moving there and when he arrived, but the exact location and that, the (telephone) companies could not provide that because there is no signal in the area,” he added.
As for a possible criminal angle, the lieutenant said, “so far, no angle is ruled out, in the investigative process nothing can be ruled out, but so far we have nothing of a criminal nature that we are investigating.”
On March 9th, after 18 days of searching by the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration (NMEAD), the investigation into the hunter’s disappearance was passed on to the Police CIC.
Morales Igartua urged citizens to communicate to the Police any information that can contribute to the case, by calling confidentially at (787) 343-2020.