11 failed attempts to re-open Montellano

There have been eleven attempts by different businessmen over the past 6 years to re-open the mills at Montellano, but all have been rejected by the Central Bank.

This information was released by José Gilberto Corniel, President of the Asociación de Colonos y del Frente Unido Para el Progreso, an organisation dedicated to promoting the revitalization of Montellano.

He said an investment of US$30 million was needed to repair the mills and bring the cane fields back into production. He added that the Central Bank requires the payment of US$10 million to cover the debts left with Banco Intercontinental (Baninter) by the Cañabrava company and it's president Julio Hazim. In addition, there are outstanding payments due to the State Sugar Council (CEA) on account of the mill lease amounting to US$500,000 annually.

The Montellano mill facilities were occupied on Thursday by hundreds of people to mark the start of a campaign to bring employment back to the area.
Montellano was created with the construction of the mill in 1918 and for nearly a century has been the only source of income for the residents. It's closure has meant poverty and misery for the local people.
"Given the problems of tourism in the north , where many hotels have laid off employees and the construction sector is zero, the situation of the people here has deteriorated," said Corniel, adding that  delinquency, drug addiction and prostitution were on the increase.

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