Will Buenaventura be taken away from Valle del Cauca?: the debate on the creation of the Pacific Coast advances

The aim of this proposal is to forge “true development.”

The proposal to create a new department of the Pacific Coast has sparked controversy and debate in the affected regions.

This initiative, led by House representatives Cristóbal Caicedo from Valle del Cauca and Gerson Montaño from Nariño, It seeks to separate Buenaventura from Valle del Cauca and unite it with other municipalities of Nariño, Cauca, and Chocó to form a new territorial entity.

The bill, which has the support of 30 parliamentarians, proposes the inclusion of 10 municipalities in Nariño, 4 in Cauca and Buenaventura del Valle, under the premise that these territories share a backwardness that could be overcome with the new legal figure.

However, this proposal has generated strong rejection, especially in the regions that would lose territory.

«Buenaventura as capital»

One of the most controversial aspects is the possibility of Buenaventura becoming the capital of the new department.

Local leaders have expressed concern about the economic and administrative implications this would have for the Cauca Valley.

Cristóbal Caicedo, representative of Buenaventura, defends the initiative, arguing that it is an opportunity to forge “the true development” that the Afro and indigenous communities of the region need.

#PacificLittoral #department

With the signature of more than thirty parliamentarians, it was filed with the General Secretariat of the @CamaraColombia he #Bill for the creation of the #Department of the #PacificLittoral in #Colombia.

Representatives Cristóbal Caicedo Angulo and… pic.twitter.com/TlHhAwRf6A

— Cristóbal Caicedo Representative (@CRISTOBALCAIC10) August 20, 2024

«The no of Nariño and Chocó»

In Nariño, the proposal has not been well received. Gerson Montaño, representative of Tumaco, has pointed out that the creation of the new department is a campaign promise of President Gustavo Petro, but many local leaders fear that the territorial division will negatively affect the cohesion and development of the region.

Similarly, in Chocó, voices against the proposal point out that the creation of the new department could generate economic and administrative imbalances.

Cauca is also at the centre of this debate, as four of its municipalities would be part of the new department.

Uncertainty about the future of these regions has generated concern among the inhabitants, who fear losing their cultural and territorial identity.

«A debate that divides the country»

While the project’s promoters say that this is a necessary step for the development of the Colombian Pacific, the proposal has divided opinions throughout the country.

For example, the Colombian Pacific Development Corporation (Conpacifico) has adopted a neutral position, highlighting the importance of Gustavo Petro’s government speaking out on the matter.

Thus, the creation of the Pacific Coast department would not only redefine territorial borders, but would also have profound political, economic and social implications for the regions involved.

With the bill now under debate in Congress, the future of this proposal remains uncertain as affected regions prepare for the potential consequences.

🔶 A bill is presented for the creation of the department of ‘Litoral Pacífico’, its capital would be Buenaventura and Cauca would lose the municipalities of Guapi, Timbiquí and López de Micay.

This would be the way to achieve resources and progress for this forgotten region of the country. pic.twitter.com/ooXhwkCcTK

— 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐒 (@Regional_col) August 28, 2024