Report of 1st recorded visit to Corralejo

Where: Corralejo, under big tree in the centre of the community
When: Wed 6th April 2011 11.30
Who: Chela, Holly, Saul (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 33 adults, 10 kids, + 2 puppies & 4 dogs

Purpose: To discuss the issues re sharing of the well the Corralejo community has, which Villa de Guadalupe & Cinco Senores would like to share.

Pre meeting discussion – approx. 50 families in Corralejo, majority of the men are in the USA working, the age of the community is uncertain, approx. 2 generations.

Introductions & points for discussion/today’s agenda
Cinco Senores – 7 people attending,
San Lorenzo – 2 people attending
Corralejo – 15 people attending incl. Juan Bocanegra – delegado
Villa de Guadalupe – 9 people attending

We introduced ourselves, Chela gave a little history of the collaboration of Cedesa & Rotary on the water projects, including the formation of the Consejo (citizen’s council).

Chela asked for proposals for co-ordinator & record taker, a couple of people pointed to eachother, & we all laughed.

Leonila was elected as secretary (because she can write fastest), & Hilda the Corralejo rep. of the Consejo was elected as co-ordinator for today’s meeting.

Hilda asked (on instruction) what is the purpose of today’s meeting?
- To discuss water
- We’re to talk about the possibility of Corralejo sharing their water with us.
- Humberto said”because Chela told us to & Laura gave us a ride” he’s the young man that has begun working with Cedesa, potentially as a promoter.
- “there’s only a few people from Corralejo community who have come to this meeting, & we cant make the decision for the community, there is a water committee but they didn’t want to come”
- Chela”we’re here to see if we can open a dialogue between the Corralejo & the communities that would like to share the well, what is your opinion & what can you suggest? – Sapasma can intervene but we would like to avoid conflict & just discuss this.”
- Chela “we would also like to talk about the technical aspects, like how deep the well is & the quality of the water”
- “we don’t know that, the water committee does”
- Chela asked if they were invited, & apparently they were but have declined to attend.
- We need to present our findings to the next Regional meeting with the presidencia, as this was one of the topics raised to resolve.
- “we never had water, we did a solicitude & got animated, & worked hard, it took a long time, & the other communities got discouraged & gave up, we stayed the distance”
- Corralejo have had this well for 12 years.
- There was much discussion back n forth about VdG’s involvement or not, & awareness of the meetings, & costs. VdG have apparently made several large payments but according to Corralejo none of the money has reached them, & they believe they are entitled to at least some reimbursement for the large cost they paid to have the well installed, & piped.
- Money has been paid to the presidencia & the large tank & some piping was installed at VdG but there was disagreement between the land owner & the pipes going on their land down to Corralejo from VdG… govt wanted much wider space than was necessary.
- Various amounts were quoted including an amount to build a clandestine well as they were desperate.
- A new pump would be needed as VdG is a long way up hill from Corralejo, & Corralejo currently pay a fee each month for the electricity.
- Chela suggested it is a good idea for the communities to come together to make an agreement & then inform the authorities what they have agreed.
- Leonila said there is very little chance of pulling together a meeting in Corralejo with the water committee, they are not interested, & they fight amongst themselves.
- Both communities asked for our presence at their assemblies, they said it would keep things calmer & more productive, as these assemblies are usually pretty contentious.

Cinco Senores described their water situation, they only have water from the river (during summer very shallow & slimy) they can not dig wells because too much hard rock.

Juan Gonzalez also does not have water.

It seems to make sense for Cinco Senores to join with Juan Gonzalez & ask for a well.

Option seems better for VdG to have their own well, & share with San Lorenzo, than to try to resolve the current issue & to have to pump the water such a long way & all up a steep hill.

Maybe there is a concession that could be bought for VdG & legalise the clandestine well?

It was suggested that we (as a team) go to visit the water committee here in Corralejo & ask if they will attend an assembly on the topic of the well.

General discussion – Saul described a little about the sanitarios secos workshop, they met & wrote up the solicitud, then Holly worked for hours to get it sorted to present to the presidencia. Solicitudes are not just a list of names but a cover letter & also signatures of the petitioners.

Enrique (from Cinco Senores) asked about a solicitude for rubbish collection, Chela & Holly suggested recycling & compost would be a better option.

The meeting finished at 1.40pm

We were treated to a meal of rice, nopal, soy & avocado, beans & tortillas with delicious aguas of Strawberry & Jamaica.

Following lunch the team & some of the Corralejo community walked to the houses of some of the water committee reps. One member came to a mini meeting at which we briefly described what we were trying to achieve, ie a meeting with the committee & the Corralejo community to decide what they were prepared to offer with regards sharing the well & what they expected in return, ie what conditions they wanted to impose.

This meeting lasted approx. 25mins. Margarita will see what they can arrange (15th April not possible)