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Getting a Feel for Buenaventura
Marthadela Tamayo González
Nuevo País Project
Antilla, Holguín, Cuba

A

ctivist José Ernesto Morales
Estrada (from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights)
and I visited the Republic of Colombia
in October as electoral observers for
their local elections. This was made possible y the Cuban Observatory of Human
Rights, in alliance with Civil Rights Defenders. I had the opportunity of participating as such in Buenaventura, in the
Valle del Cauca Department. It is the
largest city in the Pacific region and the
country’s principal port. More than 60%
of its commerce enters through this
place. It is also one of the main narco-

trafficking corridors; it also serves as
one of them principal places for the
movement of illegal money and weapons
from and to Central America and Asia.
In addition to this geostrategic location,
there is also its biodiversity and wealth
in natural resources. Despite its high
level of economic development, it is one
of the poorest cities in Colombia. Half a
million people live in the district, according to the 2015 census, and 80% of
them live in poverty. Homelessness is at
43.5%. Buenaventura is the Colombian
city with the highest number of blacks.

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