The right to free, prior and informed consultation (FPIC) is a fundamental and collective right of the indigenous and tribal peoples in the world. The right to FPIC is briefly referred to as the Right to Prior Consultation. It is the right of these peoples to be consulted on whatever law or administrative actions that the states are planning to do, and that could directly affect them, positively or negatively. This right is referred in the Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization of the United Nations; and it was adopted by Colombia in the Law 21 of 1993.

In the Archipelago of San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina, there will be a meeting with the Raizal People, as part of the process for prior consultation  on the proposed National Development Plan 2022-2026 (PND 2022-2026) of the Colombian Government; meetings will be in San Andres island, and also in Providence island; this consultation will be especially on whatever issues are in the Plan that could directly affect the Raizal People, positive or negatively. This consultation has been taking place with all the ethnic peoples of the country, in each one's territory. In San Andres Island, the meeting will be on Friday,  January 20th, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Christian University site, in the section of South End (Km 14 #2-29). In Providence island, the meeting will be on Saturday,  January 21st, 2023 at the Junin School, in the section of Old Town.

The invitation to participate in the prior consultation is extended to the Raizal People - its authorities, its representative institutions, raizal organizations, and raizal people in general. The People are to share their opinions and expectations in matters of development, according to their cosmovision, agenda, and needs, but it has to be framed into the vision of the Colombian Government, and according to the strategical structure of the Plan drawn by the Government.

The National Development Plan 2022-2026 is structured into five strategic themes, which the Government called transformations, and they are as follows: (1) Territorial Ordering, (2) Human Security and Social Justice, (3) Human Right to Food, (4) Productive Economy for Life and Climate Action, and (5) Regional Convergence. For each one of these themes, the Government has proposed a number of programs, which purpose is to reach the development goals that the State aspires to in these four years - 2022-2026. Where do the Raizal People fall in these programs?

The expectation on the prior consultation of the National Development Plan 2022-2026, is that the People get to know the strategic themes and the programs in each theme of the Plan. This way, the people could agree, disagree, or propose modifications to the programs, or propose additional programs in each one of the themes, that could help to reach more directly the goals of the indigenous Raizal People. It is also expected, as possible, that the people would give concrete measurements of their development goals for this four-year plan. 

Additional to the invitation to the meeting in the Archipelago, the people would be able to participate online through a VIRTUAL DISCUSSION FORUM, or by email.

You can read the government-proposed National Development Plan 2022-2026, and the proposals of the Raizal People, and the Black Communities that are available, through the following links:

1. National Development Plan 2022-2026- BASES  (Departamento Nacional de Planeación) 
2. Binding Regional Dialogues - Proposal from Providence (Movimiento Veeduria Civica Old Providence)
3. Binding Regional Dialogues  - Proposal from INRA RTC  (Indigenous National Raizal Authority -  Raizal Territorial Council)
4. Contributions from the Raizal Diaspora (Raizal Diaspora)
5. Development Plan for Black Communities, Raizales and Palenqueros 2022-2026 (Consultative Commission of Black Communities, Raizales and Palenqueros)

 The following documents are complementary information that could broaden your understanding of the PND 2022-2026:

• Process flow for the prior consultation of the PND 2022-2026.
• National Development Plan 2022-2026 - SUMMARY for the ENCP (Departamento Nacional de Planeación)
• Recommendations to the PND 2022-2026 (Consejo Nacional de Planeación)
• Observations to the PND 2022-2026 (Consejo Departamental de Planeación)
• Multi-Year Investment Plan 2023-2026 (PPI) - PUBLIC HEARING in San Andres island (Departamento Nacional de Planeación)
• Multi-Year Investment Plan 2023-2026 (PPI) - Conclusions from the Public Hearing in San Andres island
• Binding Regional Dialogues  - Press Release (Departamento Nacional de Planeación)

The results and inputs that will come from the Raizal People toward the National Development Plan 2022-2026 will be in the hand of the National Space of Prior Consultation of the Black Communities, Afrocolombians, Raizales and Palenqueros (ENCP), which is the one to concert or negotiate with the Government the final version of the Plan; this should be ready by the end of the month of January or outside time the first days of the month of February, 2023.  By the middle of this year, the Government will present the final version of the PND 2022-2026 to the Congress, to be discussed, and to become a law. 

Truly,

Jairo Rodriguez Davis
Raizal Delegate. Planning Commission
NATIONAL SPACE FOR PRIOR CONSULTATION FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES, AFROCOLOMBIANS, RAIZALS AND PALENQUEROS (ENCP)
Mobile phone: (+57) 315-292-5855
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