Mayors propose consortium to reopen Camuy Caverns Park

These caverns are part of an expansive network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved by the world’s third-largest underground river, the Río Camuy. (Discover PR)

By THE STAR STAFF

The mayors of Hatillo and Lares, Carlos Román Román and Fabián Arroyo Rodríguez, are taking a decisive stand by proposing the creation of an intermunicipal consortium to effectively manage Las Cavernas del Río Camuy Park.

They fully supported a Senate initiative designed to establish a clear framework for the equitable distribution of responsibilities and funding, decentralizing decision-making, and ensuring that all development and conservation efforts prioritize the public interest over external or privatizing agendas that lack community involvement.

These stunning caverns are part of an expansive network of natural limestone caves and underground waterways carved by the world’s third-largest underground river, the Río Camuy. Yet, they have remained closed for far too long. “Recognizing the critical importance of this cultural heritage, the mayor of Lares and I are advocating for an intermunicipal administrative model that encompasses Lares, Camuy, and Hatillo. This model guarantees equitable participation from all three municipalities in the park’s management, promoting sustainable, transparent, and participatory practices based on technical capacity, territoriality, ecological conservation, and shared community benefits,” said Román Román. “Our goal is to preserve the park under a municipal management model rather than succumbing to privatization, as has been suggested by Camuy’s Mayor Gabriel ‘Gaby’ Hernández.”

Both mayors are adamant that the proposed model must be established through legislative action and have called on Senator Josian Santiago to file the necessary legislation. “This marks the first crucial step toward creating a management framework where all three municipalities are fully and actively engaged in overseeing the park and maintaining its facilities for public enjoyment,” they stated.

“The proposed model is in complete alignment with Governor Jenniffer González’s vision articulated during a recent meeting focused on developing a comprehensive work plan to ensure robust participation from all three municipalities regarding the present and future of Las Cavernas Park,” added Lares Mayor Fabián Arroyo Rodríguez. “This model is crafted to reflect and prioritize their interests.”

Román Román and Arroyo Rodríguez highlighted that over 70% of residents in the vicinity of the park engaged in the project. Critical infrastructure, including sidewalks, parking lots, administrative facilities, and entrances—all located within Hatillo—serve major caves such as Tres Pueblos Cave, Empalme Cave, and La Ventosa Cave. While Lares also oversees significant areas of the park, it has historically faced exclusion in crucial decision-making processes.

Both mayors are unequivocally opposed to Camuy’s request to transfer the entire park land to their municipality. “In public statements, the mayor of Camuy has expressed a clear lack of financial capacity to sustain the park’s operations without private investment. Furthermore, it has been estimated that at least $20 million is required to rehabilitate and position the park competitively on a global scale. Our proposal seeks mutual collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA),” they emphasized.

The mayors firmly asserted that the establishment of an intermunicipal consortium and a governance agreement under the supervision of the DRNA will create a solid collaborative framework that ensures transparency, shared responsibility, and appropriate oversight in managing the National Park. They reiterated their strong opposition to a single municipality overseeing the park and underscored the urgency of reopening it as quickly as possible.