POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

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CHAPTER 4 POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

The local health clinic reported a full-time population of 261, consisting of 121 females and 140 males living in 33 households. The local now former Delagado the locally elected municipal representative, reported a population of roughly 200 within the town, and 347 including K55 see below for description of K55 and extending south a couple of kilometers. Observations indicate that there are 50 houses that are occupied by full-time residents. Contradictions in these numbers are due to a number of causes, including poorly defined geographical boundaries and a highly transient population. The average number of occupants per household can range from four to eight, depending on which population and household estimates are used. Household occupancy is highly varied because some households are occupied full-time by families and other are occupied by fishermen whose family lives somewhere else. The central community itself is rather small, stretching back from the beach only 7 houses at its widest point. The majority of housing is clustered around the central area of Mahahual, but households are dispersed along the southern coast for 15-20 km. There are less than 80 houses within a 2-km stretch south of the central community, of which approximately 50 are occupied full-time. There is also a dispersed settlement several kilometer inland from the main village, referred to as K55 because this marks the 55 th kilometer of road from the main highway indicated by a highway marker. There are 13 additional houses with full time residents in K55, and three or four more that may be occupied part time or under construction. K55 was originally settled as an agricultural area, but is becoming the focal point for controversy because it is the planned location for the displacement of coastal residents. When tourism development begins, relocation will present many problems for coastal residents that continue to engage in marine activities. For example, fishermen will be further away from their equipment and will be unable to monitor it during storm events or to prevent theft. Other residents simply do not want to live at K55. Key informants and observations indicate that K55 is also not nearly as pleasant a place to live as on the coast. K55 is hotter and bug-infested because the ever-present sea breeze that cools residents and blows the mosquitoes away does not adequately reach K55. 21

CHAPTER 5 INFRASTRUCTURE