| |
Small Islands Voice Global Forum
Success story from Old Providence and Santa Catalina
And finally an example of successful community-led planning comes from June Marie Mow of Old Providence and Santa Catalina (Caribbean). In March of 1994, the Minister of the Environment of Colombia, in an answer to a request from native islanders, decided to support and lead the first stage of the land use planning process for Old Providence and Santa Catalina - the Municipal Development Plan. At this time, a major fight between the citizens of the islands and outside development groups was taking place in Old Providence that had become front-page news throughout Colombia. Determined to allow community participation in the planning process for the first time (a right granted in Colombia by the 1991 constitution), the Ministry of the Environment appointed a local woman to facilitate this unique planning process. Ms June Marie Mow arrived in Old Providence and personally went to every church, school, community group, government office, village centre, farming and fishing organization, explaining the development plan and setting up democratic elections so that every sector of the community had representatives on the development planning committee.
The Municipal Development Plan, which bans ‘mega-projects’, was completed and approved by the local council in September of 1994 and was one of the first municipal development plans in the history of Colombia. The plan is unprecedented in its methodology, environmental planning, and basis in native cultural realities. This is a successful visioning process; it is the framework for the Land Use Plan (2000), the Sustainable Tourism Development Plan (2001) and the Plan of Action for Ecotourism (2002). Pressures to develop mass tourism and cruise ship facilities, as well as plans from outsiders to take over the fragile economy of the islands, have failed. Old Providence and Santa Catalina retains a high environmental conservation value, and its cultural integrity, which native islanders have fought to keep.
It is possible, and we firmly encourage local people, and grassroots organizations to begin the visioning process using the bottom-up approach, and to let their voices be heard. They have much to gain, if they can make contributions for the best future of present and future generations.
| |
Small Islands Voice Global Forum is maintained by Administrator with WebBBS 5.01.