• Reflection is a call to protect our destiny and culture    

• Ecotourism, respect for the environment, people and tourists  

As part of the celebration of the International Day of Tourism, the Departmental Government organized a conference on sustainable tourism, which included entrepreneurs who have been implementing environmentally friendly tourism practices. However, the most important assistance was that of young islanders, who contributed posters alluding to the protection of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, as part of a contest that was promoted as one of the activities in the celebration of the date.         

The winning poster was made by Sara Arango, student from the Modelo Adventista High School. As a prize, the student received a diving course, while the second and third place winners where Nicole Hernandez and Gillian Gordon from Cajasai High School.         

During the conference, young people had the opportunity to know the ancestral traditions of the Raizal culture, which contributes to reduce the negative impact that is generated in the ecosystems due to the traditional tourist exploitation.  

• Ombudsman Office enables three conciliation points in San Andres
• Seventy-two community leaders are trained to reconcile in their communities.

From today until next Thursday, those who have conflicts can choose to approach one of the three attention points that the Office of the Ombudsman has selected to seek consensus.

This event, which is coordinated by the Secretariat of Government, entities such as the Police Inspections, Court Offices, Notary Public, The Family Welfare Institute, and the Chamber of Commerce are participating in this campaign. Unlike the Office of the Ombudsman, these entities are offering their service at their respective headquarters.

The appointed Ombudsman, Tonney Gene Salazar, explained that her organization has enabled alternate venues, with trained professionals in conciliation in San Luis, at the Youth Center of the Santa Maria Estrella de Mar Parish; North End, at the Communal Center of the Barrio Obrero neighborhood and a third point of attention to citizens, at the Coral Palace.

•    A maximum of 62 people can visit the cay daily
     Closures will be implemented to help environmental recovery of the cay


At the end of a meeting with some tour operators on Monday morning, 26 December, Governor Ronald Housni Jaller announced measures to resume operation at East South East cay.

The Governor announced that East South East will close twice a year to protect the ecosystems and migratory birds. The first closure from 15 April to 31 May and the second, from 15 September to 15 November. According to carrying capacity studies, only 62 passengers can visit the cay daily, figure which guarantees the environmental balance of the atoll.  

Operators on their part must implement toilets on the boats or carry portable toilets and for security reasons, must be accompanied by another boat according to new rules.

* 200 families attended the call of the Secretariat of Health

“It is enriching to visit the neighborhoods and see the kind face of residents of the sector, to see the response to suggestions from our staff members exchanging ideas and giving solutions with a view to common benefits. This encourages us to continue with this work” affirmed Heyder Avendaño Departmental Secretary of Health at the Campo Hermoso neighborhood.

In this sector of the island and with this campaign, the 2016 campaigns of the Secretaría de Salud a Tu barrio closes and will be reactivated in the second week of January 2017.

Last Saturday, 17 December, the community of the Campo Hermoso neighborhood was visited by staff members of the Departmental Secretariat of Health performing different prevention and control activities to the inhabitants of the sector.

On the occasion of the year-end holiday season, the Secretariat of Health through the Environmental Health Unit informs the general community that for foodborne diseases to be avoided, the following precautions must be kept in mind when purchasing food for your consumption or for other people:

•    The tidiness of the establishment wherein food products will be purchased
•    Packaging conditions
•    Expiration date of the products
•    Proper handling
•    Read the general, nutritional, terms of use and storage conditions information of the product.
Measures were extended to fishery products. Please do not purchase if product has any of these:

From early in the morning, Governor Ronald Housni Jaller met with departmental authorities at the Security Council, to summarize the celebration of the patronal feasts.

The governor of the islands highlighted that the positive aspects of the celebration cannot be overshadowed by the bad behavior of some unreasonable men creating disorder in different sectors of the island. To counteract these incidents, the government announced strict measures for the coming year such as the organization of events at closed and safe places as well as more severe measures for motorcycles and vehicles.

“We had a coaches parade as was not seen a long time ago. It was nice and orderly. Troupe participated, the people were very happy and it proceeded normally”, said Governor Ronald Housni Jaller.