Submitted by adriana.romero on Wed, 10/19/2022 - 22:13

Cerrejón signs new consultation agreements with 21 indigenous communities

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19 October, 2022. Cerrejón has signed new consultation agreements with 21 indigenous communities, located in the municipalities of Manaure, Uribia, and Maicao, in compliance with the provisions of Constitutional Court ruling T-704. The consultation processes were accompanied by the Uribia Secretary of Indigenous Affairs, the Maicao Ombudsman’s Office, the NGO Wayuu Nation, and the National Authority for Environmental Licenses (ANLA). With this signature, Cerrejón has already reached agreements with 240 indigenous communities in the framework of ruling T-704, out of a total of 405 indigenous communities, which established that the company should carry out an immediate mitigation plan for the communities in the area of influence and consult with them on the necessary compensation regarding possible impacts caused during the company’s entire operation. 69 communities that have signed agreements have been represented by the NGO Nación Wayuu.

“Today, once again, with the support of Cerrejón, we were able to file protocols with twenty communities in the framework of ruling T 7-04. It is a life opportunity because in one way or another we are looking for them to develop projects within their territory, framed within this ruling. We applaud the initiative and thank Cerrejón for their support," said José Silva Duarte, president of the NGO Wayuu Nation.

The agreements included the implementation of impact mitigation measures such as water management projects, vegetation covers and strengthening of environmental and participatory monitoring systems with the communities. Additionally, compensation measures were agreed to address social and cultural impacts through income generation projects, including sheep, goats, cattle and other inputs related to livestock activities; cultural strengthening initiatives including harmonization rituals and new engagement protocols; as well as community infrastructure, such as construction and/or improvement of traditional bowers, multipurpose spaces and/or cemeteries.

"The meeting we had today is very beneficial, we are going to receive it very well because we need it. For us it has been a blessing from God, we suffer from many needs and we agree with the protocolization that we made here," said Teófilo Gómez, authority traditional of the Puay community.

The projects respond to proposals raised autonomously by the representatives of each community and, for their implementation, the self-management of the different initiatives by the communities will be respected.

To this date, as part of the 240 agreements reached in the framework of the Constitutional Court ruling, Cerrejón has made progress on the implementation of agreements reached with 187 communities through fulfillment of approximately 723 initiatives under the following 6 lines of social investment: 

  • Infrastructure for water solutions: Irrigation systems, construction of hydro-silos, improvement of reservoirs, storage tanks, tank cars.
  • Infrastructure for education: Improvement and conditioning of educational infrastructure and recreational bowers.
  • Infrastructure for basic sanitation: Tank projects for water storage, wastewater treatment units, sanitary units.
  • Income generation projects for communities: Seed plan for handicrafts, breeding of goats, sheep and bovines, planting, bread crops.
  • Infrastructure for the general benefit of the community: Improvement of cemetery, construction and improvement of arbors.
  • Cultural strengthening projects: Training on cultural issues, improvement of artisanal, livestock and agricultural techniques, relationship protocols, oversight committees, harmonization rituals.

After a conscientious consultation process based on dialogue, today the communities are working on the materialization of their initiatives focused on improving the well-being of their families. Cerrejón accompanies the communities in the definition and execution of their actions through visits to verify compliance with this implementation process.

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Cerrejón signs new consultation agreements with 21 indigenous communities
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Cerrejón has signed new consultation agreements with 21 indigenous communities, located in the municipalities of Manaure, Uribia, and Maicao, in compliance with the provisions of Constitutional Court ruling T-704.

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Cerrejón signs new consultation agreements with 21 indigenous communities