Iracema Correia São Tiago, 78 years old, is the businesswoman who, since July 2023, has been trying to claim part of the Vila de Jericoacoara area, a tourist destination 282 kilometers (km) from Fortaleza. She was married to businessman José Maria Machado, who acquired Fazendas Junco I and II in the 1980s. After the couple’s divorce, Fazenda Junco I, which currently covers part of the current Vila and the Jericoacoara National Park, would have been transferred to ex-wife.

The businesswoman’s initial claim, made in July 2023, covered more than 73 hectares. In an agreement with the Government of the State of Ceará, signed in May 2024, Iracema Correia declared to renounce the areas occupied by housing and with public interest, while the State will guarantee her around five hectares of unoccupied land.

The decision, however, has been suspended for 20 days since the 14th, after the local Community Council requested to evaluate the terms.

Sought by O POVO, the firm Yasser Holanda Advogados Associados, which represents the businesswoman, explained that Iracema Correia São Tiago was married to José Maria Machado until 1995. Zé Maria, as he was known, was a businessman from the municipality of Sobral, 233 km from Fortaleza.

“He is known in the region as the owner of “Firma Machado” and some farms, including Fazendas Junco I and II. He acquired properties in the region in 1979, with the aim of cultivating cashew and coconut trees, types of plantations encouraged at the time by the Brazilian Institute of Forestry Development (IBDF)”, he declared in a note.

According to lawyers, at the time the farms were acquired, the area was not operated by tourists. Zé Maria passed away in 2008. In addition to being a businessman, he was the son of Manoel Machado de Araújo, founder of Bancesa, a bank based in Fortaleza and which declared bankruptcy in 2003.

According to the representatives, it would not have taken Iracema Correia 40 years to claim the land in Jericoacoara. After her divorce, “she had other priorities” and only in 2004, with the help of her children, did she try to pass the property into her name.

Upon discovering that the State had taken part of her land, she initially agreed not to contest, due to the time that had elapsed. However, after the family decided to take over the business, it was identified that the State had reserved registered properties, this being Fazenda Junco I.

In addition to the current Village, within the Farm area are parts of the Jericoacoara National Park, created by Federal Government Decree in 2002 and expanded in 2007. According to the businesswoman’s representatives, in 2010 she requested compensation from ICMBio for the expropriation of the areas within the limits of the Park, but, without receiving payment, went to court in 2017 to discuss the amount of compensation.

A judicial examination would have recognized the ownership of Iracema Correia São Tiago, leading it to initiate a conciliation process with the Institute for Agrarian Development of Ceará – Idace. After confirming their right, the case was sent to the State Attorney General’s Office (PGE), where it underwent inspections and analyzes to identify areas and social impacts.

Finally, in the formal agreement with the State, Iracema must renounce several areas that include residences, inns, restaurants, streets and other properties with improvements or that are of public interest, in order to recover part of its property.

Conflict with the Jericoacoara Community Council

The Council that represents the residents of the village declared that the negotiations between the businesswoman, Idace and PGE took place without the community being informed.

They claim that they only discovered the situation at the beginning of October, when trying to obtain a title to create a vegetable garden and a live pharmacy on land allocated to them by Idace 10 years ago. However, they were informed that the area already had an owner and could no longer be transferred.

On October 11, Iracema São Tiago’s lawyers approached the Community Council. At the time, the family stated that they were not opposed to providing another piece of land for the garden, in another location.

“From the conversation, the Council discovered that it was not just a piece of land, but several sensitive areas in Jericoacoara, such as areas of coconut trees, the top of Praia da Malhada and the forest of Vila Calango. Essential areas for the preservation of the community”, commented the entity’s lawyer, who asked not to be identified.

The community questions the increases in family-owned areas over time, especially in the Jericoacoara National Park region. They state that the increases are not explained in official documents, and there are no clear records about the origin or way in which these lands were acquired, which raises doubts about the legitimacy of these properties.

This Tuesday, the 22nd, the Council filed complaints with the State and Federal Public Ministry, ICMBio and the Union, and informed the State Attorney General’s Office (PGE) about the elements that require investigation. The entity still has until November 4th to comment on the agreement proposed by the State Government.