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The development of the
Changuinola I hydro project involves the mobilization or resettlement of
approximately 159 families, approximately 800 people - residents of the
indigenous communities of Changuinola Arriba, Charco La Pava, Valle del
Rey, Guayabal and Lazo, which are located in the areas where the most
important works of the hydro power plant and the future dam will be
built. Said communities will be flooded once the dam is erected and
this involves the last stage of the project's construction, currently
scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2010. By 2010 the
resettlement program of these four communities must be completed in its
entirety.
Why is it participative?
The Participative Resettlement
process carries this name because it has been designed following
community meetings and workshops, in permanent consultation and in
keeping with concerted agreements. In them, those involved have been
able to design and define, according to their needs, the homes and the
properties the company will provide for them. Participating in social
cartography workshops, they themselves have defined how they want their
new communities to be as well as the homes they will live in and where
they will be located.
They will live in their own surroundings
Thanks to the joint effort of AES
and the involvement of ANAM authorities with the aim of preventing
additional impacts, the relocations of residents who choose to resettle
inside the BPPS, might be made and they will continue to live on the
same lands their families have lived in for approximately 40 years,
because they emigrated to the area since 1968.
Indeed, Resolution
DINEORA-IA-086-2005 dated October 14, 2005, while forcing our company to
make every effort to relocate the communities surrounding the project
area, excluded that possibility that said relocation could take place
inside BPPS grounds. Our field work, however, quickly made us aware of
the concerns and needs of residents. It made us understand that several
of them felt that should they be relocated outside of the Palo Seco
Protected Forest (BPPS) grounds, their way of life would be adversely
affected. Given the above, we lodged an administrative petition with
ANAM to modify the aforesaid Resolution DINEORA-IA-086-2005 dated
October 14, 2005, in order to allow the relocation of persons inside
BPPS grounds, thereby limiting the geographical area residents would
have to travel. ANAM agreed to our petition modifying the aforesaid
resolution by issuing Resolution DIEORA IA-127-06 dated December 21,
2006.
The aforementioned reflects AES
commitment to complete the relocation process taking into consideration
at all times the needs and sensitivities of area residents to be
relocated and, above all, the willingness of AES to incorporate the
concerns and needs of residents as a comprehensive part of the
relocations plan design. Therefore, we can confidently state that
relocation options have been offered in all cases, with due
participation from the community, which has at all times (and will
continue to be) been willing to negotiate and listen to the concerns of
residents.
The resettlement process
In order to define the
resettlements, a previous stage consisting of a concerted diagnosis was
conducted. In it, a study or socioeconomic characterization of the
families and the communities was done. Methodologies were also applied
to analyze the occupation models, conditions, and existing needs, as
well as to formulate with them programs in the areas of housing, the
economy, social dynamics, technical aspects, and the environment. The
location of the new settlements and the homes, along with the
replacement of residents' properties, were established in a joint
fashion.
Once this stage was completed,
the resettlement process went on to analyze each case on an individual
basis, starting a period of negotiation in which families were given
ample autonomy in their negotiations with AES regarding their ultimate
decision. Following this, company officials visited each family to
provide information on land availability, whether for a house or farm;
work is done to reach a concerted agreement on the individual design of
the house and the farm improvement program gets underway. Subsequently,
the home is built and the family is transferred to their new place of
residence. Monitoring and follow-up of the new conditions of residents
is provided and the comprehensive support process is continued.
Public
hearings and community participation
The main focus of the company,
before and after the start of the construction of the Changuinola I
hydro power plant, has been the process of consultation, reaching
concerted agreements, training, and comprehensive support sessions with
the families to be relocated. They are the main guarantor of the
sustainability of this project. With this, the company seeks to provide
a real improvement in the standards of living of the five communities
neighboring the project which will be relocated, namely: Changuinola
Arriba, Charco La Pava, Guayabal, Valle del Rey and Lazo.
The AES team has done a
considerable effort through the company's Social Development Office,
which in conjunction with consulting firm Gestión Urbana, have handled
the process in a transparent manner and resorting to consensus. This
has enabled both parties to perceive a high degree of satisfaction. In
short, some data confirming this work should be pointed out:
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168
informative meetings, hearings, and group discussions.
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1,440 support sessions
(signing of agreements, selection of resettlement alternatives,
technical advice, follow-up with relocated families).
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115 coordination meetings and
gatherings with government institutions (ANAM, MINSA, MEDUCA, MIDA,
MICI, MIDES INADEH, Ombudsman's Office).
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Provided moving assistance to
9 families.
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14 participative workshops to
define proposals.
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14 cultural days and
meetings.
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77 workshops to strengthen
community organizations.
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38 training workshops on the
environment and health-related issues.
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10 activities in support of
community health.
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Provided assistance to 26
families (on such matters as social welfare, domestic violence,
alcoholism, among others).
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