Get to know Neymar’s ‘Brazilian Caribbean’, criticized with PEC of the beaches

Brazilian soccer player Neymar is one of the partners in an ambitious project that aims to transform a 100 km stretch of the northeastern coast into the “Brazilian Caribbean.” Together with the real estate developer Due, in addition to actor Rafael Zulu as a partner, the plan is to build 28 high-end properties between Pernambuco and the north of Alagoas. However, the player’s project has generated controversy and criticism, especially from environmentalists who oppose the so-called “PEC of the privatization of beaches”. 

The Proposed Constitutional Amendment, created in March 2022, provides for the end of the Union’s exclusive ownership of the coast. Which would make Neymar’s project feasible to privatize the beaches. Experts say the text opens loopholes in the law for the creation of private beaches. 

Last Monday, PEC 03/2022 was the subject of a public hearing at the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) of the Senate, bringing even more attention to the project.

A part of the coastline where the project is being developed is owned by the Federal Government and is managed by the Navy due to environmental protection laws (LAW No. 9,605). The controversy escalated when the Al-Hilal player announced in an Instagram video that he was involved in the creation of the “Brazilian Caribbean Route” with Due. He stated that the goal was to transform the northeastern coast and bring social and economic development to the region.

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Although the project was announced a week ago, it is already in the construction phase. One of the developments, the Residencial da Villa Carneiros, is located in Praia de Carneiros, in the municipality of Tamandaré, Pernambuco. The project offers apartments ranging from 24.89 m² to 87.23 m², with exclusive access to the beach, as well as other amenities such as sauna, SPA, swimming pools, gym, among others. There are also options for properties up to 218.05 m².

In response to the criticism, developer Due said it was “complying with the strictest environmental protection laws” and developing projects to preserve the environment. The company also guarantees that the projects will not suffer impacts, whether positive or negative, with the PEC of the privatization of the beaches.

Despite Due’s assurances, the reaction to the project was negative among environmentalists. In addition to Luana Piovani’s criticism, actress and socio-environmental communicator Laila Zaid published a video commenting on the project, calling Neymar an opportunist and arguing that the project can cause damage to the ”country’s coastal ecosystem” and that PEC 03/2022 ”proposes a destruction of coastal biomes, reduces access to free leisure and connection with nature of the population and also finances the climate emergency!”

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