Zulia, September 7, 2023 (Press Mincomunas) – This Thursday, in a significant event for the Coquivacoa parish of the Maracaibo municipality, Zulia state, there was a discussion focused on the Communal Economic Circuits and the sustainable development of Lake Maracaibo.
This meeting, at Santa Rosa de Agua Community, brought together several authorities, including the Minister of Communes and Social Movements, Jorge Arreaza; the president of the Foundation Center for Studies on the Growth and Human Development of the Venezuelan Population (Fundacredesa), Isis Ochoa; community spokespersons of the parish and producers associated to the territory.
The day began with a plenary session where they presented the results of the previously organized work tables.
In these tables, the spokespersons collaborated on identifying and planning the essential economic activities, with a vital focus on fishing, tourism, gastronomy, and handicrafts.
Production and fishing
One of the most emotional interventions came from Darwin Guerra, representative of the Council of Fishermen, Fisherwomen, Fish Farmers, Aquaculturists (Conppa), and native of Santa Rosa de Agua.
Guerra stressed the imperative need to strengthen socio-productive projects in the fishing sector, pledging his support to President Nicolas Maduro to guarantee the population’s access to fish protein.
Silfredo Ortega, a Conppa Gran Chevoche spokesman, proposed to replace a mini fish processing plant. He explained the need to acquire resources such as a storage and refrigeration room, fish-cutting machines, and trimotorcycles for production distribution.
Ortega also emphasized the fundamental support required by the fish and hook fishermen in the area. “With this project, Minister, and hand in hand with the hook fishermen, I believe that we are going to give battle to this blockade, to the economic war that we are living here in Venezuela,” he said.
Preservation
Jonana Moran, spokesperson for the Communal Economy and representative of the Añú Santa Rosa de Agua Commune, presented the observatory of indicators and highlighted the importance of taking care of Lake Maracaibo as a vital resource for the community.
He called for the mangrove preservation and advocated for a harmonious development friendly with nature.
Minister Jorge Arreaza reiterated the vitality of the lake as a source of food, transportation, and tourism for the region.
He expressed the need to protect this natural resource and sustainably promote its development.
Arreaza emphasized the active participation of the Communal Councils and the Communes as community forms of government, stressing that power must serve the people and that organized citizens are the true rulers.
Finally, Isis Ochoa, president of Fundacredesa, stressed the need to learn from past experiences and avoid valuable projects getting lost along the way. She emphasized the importance of building a culture of peace and life in contrast to war and death.
She said, “This exercise of being a government is hard work. It is a pedagogical effort. We were not born learned.”
The conversation concluded with a call for unity and strengthening ties between the communities and the central government to achieve sustainable development and preserve this vital resource in the region.
