20 January 2020 Newsletter

In this issue:

    • “Death in Yucatan” Consular Town Hall Meeting
    • Security Update as of Monday January 20, 11AM

“Death in Yucatan” Consular Town Hall Meeting

On January 14, 2020, the US and Canadian Consulates hosted a Town Hall Meeting to provide the foreign community the information we need in the case of a foreigner’s death while living or visiting Yucatan. About 150 Canadians and US Citizens squeezed into the back room of Flamingos Restaurant to hear from a panel of experts ranging from Consular staff, a Notary Public, Mexican immigration, a lawyer, the Yucatan State Civil Registry and a local funeral home.

The key takeaway from the meeting is that residents and visitors to Yucatan should plan ahead in the event that a death occurs here.  This means taking the time now to get your documents in order and share key decisions with friends and family both in Yucatan and in your home country. There are far too many details to include in a Newsletter, and this is the type of long-term information better suited to a page of its own on our Website.  So to read all of this information, visit our new Death Preparation and Procedures page.

Here is the contact information for the panelists who were present at the meeting, who are able to provide further information:

You can also read another summary of the meeting written by long-time Progreso snowbird resident Russ Hilderley at https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2020/01/flipflops-and-tank-tops-sockless-in-sandals-and-dying-in-mexico/

Security Update as of Monday January 21

The recent rash of break-ins and purse snatchings that have been taking place in the east side of Progreso appears to have died down over the weekend. There is definitely an increased police presence in the community and perhaps that is discouraging incidents.

We cannot emphasize enough that the best response to this type of situation is an increased focus on prevention — secure your home so that robbers can’t get in, and walk through the streets with as few valuables as possible.

Also be aware that the laws on self-defense are very different here in Mexico than in the US or Canada. Self-defense is only allowed in proportion to the actual threat that is taking place. Unless an individual is causing you bodily harm, the use of a weapon or deadly force against a thief in your home or on the street could result in legal problems for you. We will provide more information about both prevention and self-defense in the next issue of Beach Area News that will be released later this week.