Speech
Abelardo de la Espriella  ·  2026-09-17 21:31

Declaración del Presidente Abelardo De La Espriella posterior a la Agenda Territorial en Riohacha

Today we have come to La Guajira to govern from the territory, to listen directly to its authorities, to the governor, to the mayors and above all to make decisions, because this is a government that makes decisions and executes them. I want to refer to three issues that are extremely important. First, safety. We just concluded a security council meeting in which we comprehensively reviewed the main challenges facing the department of La Guajira in this area. We are talking about citizen security, territorial control, migration and borders. La Guajira has a strategic position for Colombia. and requires coordinated and permanent action by the State. I have given clear instructions to the public force to strengthen its presence and operational capacity, to combat criminal structures and protect communities. As you know, when the State makes a decision, it achieves results like that of the blessed minor narco-terrorist . And we will continue to do so with resolve and determination to free the Gira water once and for all from insecurity. In response to the migratory phenomenon, I have given clear, express, and precise instructions to the Director of Migration Colombia to immediately take charge of the situation, come to the territory, learn firsthand what is happening, and coordinate with the authorities the necessary actions. Migration and the challenges of our border cannot be managed from a desk in Bogotá. You have to come here to do it properly. I also requested the Attorney General 's Office to strengthen its presence and capacity in the department by increasing the number of personnel available to bolster investigations, prosecutions, and the institutional response to crimes affecting the people of La Guajira. Second, the miracle of the regions. Today I sat down with the governor and the mayors to listen directly to the needs of La Guajira and turn them into concrete actions. I didn't come here to promise projects that we won't be able to pay for later. He is coming to make serious, responsible and financially viable commitments and to put the entire national government to work to turn those projects into reality. In terms of drinking water, we will move forward with an approximate investment of 7.5 billion pesos for La Guajira, 4 billion of which will be used to immediately address the drinking water supply needs in La Guajira. 2 billion to advance solutions in Uribia and the Upper Guajira. 500 million for Maicao and 1 billion to launch the plan to ensure the provision of drinking water and basic sanitation. For Río Hacha, the nation has allocated 22 billion pesos to advance the stormwater drainage project. We need the district to contribute 700 million pesos to make this long-held dream of Ribacha a reality. In housing, we are going to reactivate the Bertulfo Álvarez peace citadel in Fonseca. The Ministry of Housing already has 22 billion pesos funded, contracted and available to finish the 180 homes that were left pending. Only 20 were delivered. In energy. La Guajira and the entire Caribbean need fundamental solutions. Our government allocated 1.5 trillion pesos for the payment of air energy in order to protect the continuity of service. Of those resources, 300 billion have already been transferred from the Superintendency's Business Fund , precisely to guarantee immediate liquidity in the payment chain. But I want to make that absolutely clear. Every peso that is sent will be monitored accordingly. There will be no room for corruption or political maneuvering here. I'm going to get my hands on La Guajira, but every peso that's sent will be monitored as it should be. I have also asked the Ministry of Mines and Energy to move forward with an orderly, reliable and financeable energy transition, giving priority over the next 12 months to regulation, network expansion and additional generation. The enormous energy wealth of La Guajira must translate into investment, employment, development and better living conditions for the communities. In health, what was agreed upon? We have resumed efforts to make the high-complexity hospital in Ribacha possible, a project that includes 100 new beds. Furthermore, I have instructed the Minister of Health to make the transfers to finance projects to strengthen services for 10,498 million pesos in the city of Rio Hacha, Dibuya and Manaure. We will also begin to design a differentiated health model for La Guajira and we will support the strengthening of the School Feeding Program (PAE) to advance the second food ration for the children of the department. They're going to have it. [applause] And we are doing all this despite the financial difficulties we are facing. They didn't even leave us the pot because they took the scraped pot to the agriculture department. I have told the Minister of Agriculture, a son of this land, that we must now structure a financial vehicle that will allow us to put the Cercado dam on the Ranchería River into operation. It needs to be done now. Our vision is to develop a large multipurpose project that includes irrigation districts, aqueducts, and hydroelectric power generation. with the objective of irrigating more than 17,000 hectares of land in the department of La Guajira. We need to return to La Guajira, a competitive center of agricultural production. In addition, we will assist 4,000 small livestock farmers affected by El Niño with hay bales, haylage, and small-scale on-farm irrigation systems. I also asked the minister to work together with Finagro and the Agricultural Bank on the restructuring and normalization of the agricultural portfolio affected by this economic emergency. We cannot, Minister, put pressure on people in the midst of this disaster we are experiencing. In infrastructure, I ordered a review of the possible co-financing and inclusion in the National Development Plan of the Francisco el Hombre Way. and review [applause] the package of tertiary roads for the waters of Pirar, Urumita and Villanueva. And we are going to take advantage of the enormous tourism potential of this magical and cultural land. Furthermore, I am already committed to moving forward with the canoe project for the Ranchería River. The governor's office already has two boats. We're going to provide the other 13 that are needed, and we're going to do it quickly. And we are also going to expedite the technical review of the Aurora theater so that it can be processed immediately under the tax-for-works scheme. These announcements cannot be filed away in an office, a department, or a ministry in Bogotá. This is going to become a reality and I will be following up on it , because this region is in my heart. I am a son of the Caribbean and I have a special affection for this wonderful department. Here, where the country begins, the miracle homeland must begin, and we cannot do it if we do not reclaim La Guajira after so many years of neglect by the central power structure. There is a son of the Caribbean who will give La Guajira and the entire Caribbean the place they deserve in the homeland of miracles. That is the miracle of the regions, dear compatriots. Mayors and governors shouldn't have to make a pilgrimage to Bogotá to find an official to listen to their needs. We will come here to the region. We come to the territory, we make decisions here, and we will return to the territory to verify that everything that has been organized and done is fulfilled and materialized. La Guajira has waited a very long time and the moment has come when La Guajira will stop waiting for the Tigre government. Now we need to move from needs to projects and from projects to facts, to works. Third point, I want to refer to the University of La Guajira. I have instructed the Minister of Education to open the necessary investigation into the management practices at the University of La Guajira. I want the actions of Rector Carlos Robles to be reviewed, in light of countless very serious events that have been brought to the attention of the national government. Nobody here is a king. I didn't come here to protect anyone. Those who violate the law will pay the price in the Tigre government, and I have ordered a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Education and have forwarded the information I have received to the Attorney General's Office . I have asked that it be rigorously established whether there are irregularities, and if elements are found that indicate so, that they be dealt with accordingly, under the rule of law, and that whoever has to fall, falls . Our new delegate at the university will be a daughter of this land, Mrs. Maritza León Vanegas. I want to be absolutely clear. I respect university autonomy, but autonomy does not mean absence of controls or immunity from the law, let Guajira know this and let the country know this. The University of La Guajira belongs to the academic community and to the people of La Guajira. Public resources allocated to education must be managed transparently and must be at the service of students. Let it be investigated and let the truth be established. My commitment to La Guajira is unwavering. This land is in my heart. I didn't come here to give speeches and hold meetings that lead nowhere. I came here to bring solutions to a people who have waited a long time for them . La Guajira has been very patient. I don't have that much patience, so I'm going to resolve the situation in La Guajira as soon as possible. Today more than ever, the Tigre government stands firm for La Guajira and firm for the homeland. May God bless La Guajira. Thank you, dear friends. Thank you, Mr. Governor and dear mayors.