Mesoamérica Foundation

Virtually abandoned, no hours of operation, garbage piled up. What clinic or education center?

Clinic, what clinic?

According to the IRS, Brazos Abiertos collected $22,000 USD in 2006, $247,619 USD in 2007 and $40,083 USD in 2008 for “operating” a clinic in Merida. 

That is a total of $255,321 USD.

The image to the right is the rendering of the building where the “clinic” is supposed to be “operating” since March 2010. It has the appearance of an abandoned building: there is no sign as to hours of operation, its gated is padlocked and neighbors report that there is seldom anyone present.

More curiously, who, exactly, is the legal owner of that building?

City officials dispute that Brazos Abiertos is the legal owner of the building located at Calle 72 #463-A, Colonia Centro

According to public tax records supplied by the City of Merida, the legal owners of that property are Tugores family (Hector, Lizbet and Felipe).  According to City of Merida officials, “Brazos Abiertos, Inc.,” or “Brazos Abiertos, A.C.,” or “Fundacion BAI, A.C.” are legal fictions under Mexican law – no such organizations exist as far as municipal authorities are concerned, and no such organizations own any real estate in Merida.

This information can be verified, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the offices of the Catastro Municipal, Calle 65 #503, between 60 and 62 Streets.

Brazos Abiertos, as evident in their July 2007 newsletter, available by clicking on the image to the right, claims that they purchased the building located at Calle 72 #463-A, Colonia Centro, in downtown Merida for their clinic. 

The City of Merida disputes this, stating that the legal owners of that property, which is zoned exclusively for residential occupancy, are three Mexican siblings.

When they were contacted, the Tugores family state that they had never heard of “Brazos Abiertos” before in their lives.