Puerto Rican surfers are standing up, defending the Rincón area, which is threatened by the construction of an asphalt bike path across the ocean.

Protests and clashes between police and demonstrators have been going on for approximately two weeks, resulting in several clashes and arrests.

One of the surfers' movement spokespersons, Ramón Díaz, head of the Desde Cero Puerto Rico program, told DUKE: "We are demanding an update to the design of a 2002 bike path. This design currently lacks adequate boundaries for building walls and a pavement in the Rincón maritime-terrestrial zone. We are requesting a meeting with the Highway Authority and the municipality of Rincón with interested groups to redesign this project."

Ramón explained that the boardwalk they are attempting to build was designed in 2002 and that it "does not take into account coastal erosion following the major hurricane impacts of recent years."

One of the most serious aspects of the construction, according to Ramón, is "the construction of a wall on the beaches of Indicador and Marías. That infrastructure will end up in the water, affecting the reef," he says.

The community has organized, set up a camp in the area, and dedicated themselves to stopping the construction company's work.

They managed to arrange a hearing in Aguadilla on Friday, where the issues will be discussed between the parties. Ramón said today in a live broadcast that he "doesn't trust" there will be a positive outcome. "We're prepared for the worst," he reflected, indicating that they must remain in the fight.

Last Saturday there was a large demonstration attended by about 5000 people, according to Ramón.

What they propose is that an alternative design be made to the bike path and the entire construction that does not affect nature as they estimate the original design will.

On the website https://paseoresponsable.com/, where they provide daily updates on the events, they wrote yesterday: "We have repeatedly attempted to establish dialogue with the Highway Authority and the Municipality of Rincon, the entities responsible for this project. To date, we have not received any response or any request to establish dialogue."

“The work continues, as does the silence of the agencies, while our outrage grows, causing our resistance to take a more energetic and combative stance. We are deeply uncertain about the construction company's next steps, as their work and work sites are not adequately announced to the community and residents directly impacted,” they added.

"By remaining in the dark, the coalition, residents, and organizations have had no choice but to resist the deforestation work, seeking to delay it. By doing so, we seek to prevent irreversible damage to the maritime zone and ecologically important and sensitive areas," they explained.