Ilha do Mel residents protest access control system installation

Residents of Ilha do Mel, located in Paranaguá, Paraná, staged a protest on Wednesday to prevent a vessel carrying access control turnstiles from docking at the Encantadas pier. The community is resisting the implementation of a new monitoring system proposed by the Government of Paraná.

Protesters argue that the current infrastructure is inadequate to support physical barriers, noting that the pier is in poor condition and could face significant congestion and queues. Residents have called for improvements in basic sanitation, waste management, healthcare, and education to be prioritized before the installation of the equipment. Some community members suggested that digital monitoring, such as facial recognition or online registration, would be more effective than physical turnstiles.

The project, managed by the Institute of Water and Land (IAT), aims to organize the flow of people to the island. The first phase involves registering approximately 1,600 residents, a process expected to continue through December 2026. While the government stated that the initial phase does not involve entry fees, the community had previously expressed opposition during consultation meetings held in March.