The Behemoth Walks
She's walkin' and talkin'. Welcome to the world Hotel Riu!
It’s taken a few years, hundreds of Nicaraguan workers, widespread sickness, death and environmental degradation, but the Hotel Riu is walking and talking. The 701 room behemoth on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste coast opened it’s doors yesterday reported La Nacion’s Alejandro Arley. But will its baby steps be more like a death march?
Across the northern coast major resorts & condos projects have been taking a hit. Of course mammoth projects like the 5-star Riu started long before the tourist dollars stopped spilling over the rims of goblets of the obscenely rich and famous. It’s all about timing and the the global economic meltdown is the only train pulling into the station.
But it’s been an interesting journey. Located on 380 hectáreas en playa Matapalo, en Sardinal, Carrillo, Guanacaste, the project has employed 1500 employees during construction. Local environmental organizations have complained about the employees as an environmental hazards — 200 employees live in “barracks” on the property. Costa Rican health officials began monitoring the site after more than 100 workers fell ill and one worker died after exhibiting intense nausea, stomach pain, headaches and vomiting. “Nuestro Pais” reported that Riu had destroyed mangrove trees during construction.
Local community-based organization “Confraternidad Guanacasteca” has tried to get an injunction on construction and now the opening of the hotel. Costa Rica, which has prided itself on keeping beach fronts public, has increasing given concessions to exclusive resorts, condos and marinas which make beach access very difficult for your average “tico” or under-$500-a-night-tourists staying elsewhere. Hey, membership has its privileges.
Meanwhile, President Oscar Arias was to show up for the inauguration and celebrate yet another sign of progress and development. Will he be back next year to give the eulogy?
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