The Speleological Society of Puerto Rico (SEPRI) has offered to take over full administration of the Río Camuy Cave Park through a nonprofit model focused on conservation, scientific research and sustainable economic development. SEPRI, founded in 1976, conceptualized and advised the creation of the park in 1982 and helped train the staff that began its operations.
President Julio Rodríguez said the organization retains the specialized knowledge and experience needed to run the park, citing operational problems and deteriorating facilities. The proposal responds to initiatives by Camuy mayor Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez, Hatillo mayor Carlos Román and Lares mayor Fabián Arroyo Rodríguez, which have also drawn comments from Senate president Thomas Rivera Schatz.
Rodríguez recalled that SEPRI formally presented the Puerto Rico government a proposal to manage the park in 2009, when facilities were deteriorating and the state struggled to sustain operations. The initiative includes operations, finance, marketing and natural reserve management plans, plus tourism and economic development strategies. SEPRI cited the Public-Private Partnership Authority’s 2023 Desirability & Convenience Study, which found a conventional public-private partnership not recommended and contemplated that the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources contract the park’s operation to an outside commercial or nonprofit entity.
SEPRI called on the government, DRNA and legislative leaders to consider its proposal and open dialogue before final decisions.