LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT PROJECTS PRESENTED BY UNDP AND THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR THAT SEEK TO BENEFIT THE RAIZAL COMMUNITY

· The initiative will work with the Raizal Community through the Secretariats of Public Services and Environment, Tourism and also Agriculture and Fisheries.           

This Wednesday, February 13, the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, presented to the Governor in charge, Juan Francisco Herrera Leal, three projects to support the territorial entity that will benefit the Raizal Community. These initiatives focus on recycling, agriculture and gastronomy.

"We had a meeting with the Ministry of Interior where they evaluated and studied productive projects for San Andres, which will benefit the Raizal Groups, since it is intended to support recycling, the planting of tomatoes and the realization of a gastronomic project by means of the Secretariat of Tourism. The projects were presented, reviewed, the work that has been carried out during these 90 days was recognized and we hope that within 45 days we can have these projects underway with all the elements that were part of these proposals,"said the Governor in charge, Juan Francisco Herrera Leal.

On the initiative of recycling, the secretary of Public Services and Environment, Johan Mancilla Fayllace, said that it will be a plan that will target the community of the Schooner Bight sector.

"The idea is that the Schooner Bight Ethnic Recycling Association can recycle up to 20 tons of plastics and pets that are entering the landfill directly. The Government of the Department, through the Secretariat of Public Services and Environment, will give to this company the usufruct of a property for five years. This until the company has an economic stability and reaches a point of balance for support,"argued the head of portfolio.

Mancilla Fayllace added that this initiative will not only focus on the protection of the environment, but will be a source of fixed and profitable work, since the Archipelago work is for sustainable development, which is able to meet current needs without compromising the resources and possibilities of future generations.

"This company, consisting of 15 Raizals, will benefit the island community by reducing the amount of waste directly entering the landfill,"added the secretary.

The Departmental Government of San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina is committed to the environment and community development, which is why it supports this initiative that seeks to address the problem of waste in isolated communities, using eco-friendly techniques that do not endanger the resources of the Archipelago.