Communities in Colombia and Dominican Republic protest local development projects

In Ibagué, Colombia, residents and community leaders of Arboleda del Campestre have expressed support for the Municipal Council and Personería's decision to deny permits for the construction of the Materno Infantil Hospital. While the community does not oppose the healthcare project itself, they demand that the city first address critical infrastructure issues, including water supply, sewage systems, mobility, and environmental protection, to ensure the area can support such a large-scale development.

In the Dominican Republic, residents of La Cuaba and Pedro Brand, supported by the Confraternidad de Iglesias Evangélicas, continue to protest against the installation of a waste disposal center. The 'No Vertedero en La Cuaba' movement has maintained a permanent camp for 119 days, citing concerns over environmental risks and the proximity of the project to residential areas. Spokesperson Fabio Correa argued that current studies fail to accurately reflect the number of nearby families and questioned the transparency of the permit approval process.