RE-ACTIVATION OF PROCESSES WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

NATION OF THE ARCHIPELAGO OF SAN ANDRES, PROVIDENCE AND ST. CATALINA

RAIZAL COUNCIL (RAIZAL AUTHORITY)

COMMUNIQUE

TO THE INDIGENOUS RAIZAL PEOPLE

San Andres island, June 3rd, 2024

We are pleased to announce the re-activation of several of our processes with the National Government, during the past week. We appreciate and recognize the seriousness and commitment of the Government of President Gustavo Petro with the Indigenous Raizal People of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providence and St. Catalina as we work on the following critical matters:

1. RAIZAL AUTONOMOUS STATUTE

2. RAIZAL’S SEAT IN CONGRESS (“CURUL RAIZAL”)

3. LANDS, BUILDINGS AND OTHER GOODS FROM THE S.A.E. (Sociedad de Activos Especiales) TO BE DELIVERED

4. HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA

About the RAIZAL AUTONOMOUS STATUTE, the issues like TERRITORY/LANDS, SELF-GOVERNMENT, and FINANCE -probably the three most fundamental issues-, and that still need to be agree on with the Government and the Indigenous Raizal People, will be developed in the coming weeks and months, seeking to have all those vital issues completed by December 2024.

Concerning the project of law regarding the RAIZAL’S SEAT IN CONGRESS (“CURUL RAIZAL”), it is estimated to be presented to Congress in the month of July 2024.

As to the LANDS, BUILDINGS AND OTHER GOODS from the S.A.E., these will be clearly identified on site, on the three islands; and the plan is that these properties be put to the “use” of the Indigenous Raizal People, hopefully as collective properties, to serve for the empowerment, for productive and welfare purposes for us as a People.

All those processes, along with others, are amongst the issues requiring high level dialogue with the National Government, starting with President Gustavo Petro, that the Raizal Council (Raizal Authority) seeks to maintain.

In the coming days and weeks, we will seek to socialize to our community with further information about these processes.

These are crucial times. None of these can be accomplished without God’s guidance and discernment.  I ask for your continued prayers, support, and active participation in each of these processes as we continue building our Indigenous Raizal Nation.

Yours truly,

ALBERTO GORDON MAY

President

Raizal Council (Raizal Authority)

(See signed communique here)