# San Andrés institutional, infrastructure and maritime crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/san-andrs-institutional-and-infrastructure-crisis > Updated: 2026-10-19T22:06:40.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 4. San Andrés is experiencing a period of systemic instability involving infrastructure, economic, and institutional challenges. Economic and tourism organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, have formally requested that Colombian national authorities address long-standing infrastructure issues at the Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport, describing the facility as a severe ‘bottleneck’ that has remained unresolved for over 12 years. Concurrently, the archipelago faces an institutional crisis following atypical elections and a reduction in its share of the national budget. In October 2026, President Abelardo de la Espriella announced an investment package exceeding 35,000 million pesos for housing, water, and basic sanitation, specifically targeting the Raizal population and post-Hurricane Iota repairs in Providencia. This followed a confrontation between the President and local leaders, including Governor Girley Ordóñez Bowie and Representative Elizabeth Jay-Pang Díaz. The President accused local officials of attempting to block government-ordered interventions at the Departmental Hospital to prevent the ‘theft of public resources’ and questioned the management of the environmental authority, Coralina. In response to allegations of irregular contracting, parallel payrolls, and the deterioration of medical equipment, Minister of Health Ana María Vesga announced an exhaustive audit of all contracts and resources, deploying forensic and technical teams. Attorney General Gregorio Eljach confirmed that five experts from the Procuraduría will travel to the archipelago to investigate potential anomalies, including contracts that may have favored relatives of departmental authorities and reports of unpaid workers. ## Claims - The Colombian government will issue a decree on November 30, 2026, to establish maritime baseline coordinates for the San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina archipelago. (corroborated by 10 sources) - President De La Espriella confronted local leaders Girley Ordóñez Bowie and Elizabeth Jay-Pang Díaz regarding their alleged interference with the government-ordered intervention of the Departmental de (corroborated by 5 sources) - The government has requested a coordinated investigation by the Procuraduría, Contraloría, and Fiscalía into alleged corruption in the San Andrés archipelago administration. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Allegations include the existence of a parallel payroll at the hospital. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The national government announced an investment exceeding 35,000 million pesos for housing, water, and sanitation in San Andrés and Providencia. (single source) - The government plans to build 100 housing solutions in Providencia, including 30 units specifically for the Raizal population. (single source) - The San Andrés Departmental Hospital is under intervention by the National Superintendency of Health. (single source) - The Ministry of Health will deploy a forensic team to audit hospital contracts. (single source) - The Procuraduría is sending a team of five experts to San Andrés to collect information. (single source) - Investigations are looking into contracts that may have favored relatives of departmental authorities. (single source) - Hospital workers have reportedly gone several months without receiving salaries. (single source) - The investigation includes potential mismanagement of hazardous waste. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: San Andrés Hospital faces investigation over alleged parallel payrolls Colombian authorities are investigating the San Andrés Departmental Hospital for alleged irregular contracting, parallel payrolls, and unpaid staff following a national health superintendency intervention. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-to-sign-san-andrs-baseline-decree-after-48-years ### 2026-10-17: Colombia to establish maritime baselines for San Andrés archipelago Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella will sign a decree on November 30 to set maritime baselines for the San Andrés archipelago, while also ordering corruption probes in the region. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-andrs-and-providencia-receive-housing-and-tourism-updates ### 2026-10-03: San Andrés faces political instability and budget cuts San Andrés faces social and political fragility due to an institutional crisis and a significant reduction in its national budget allocation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-andrs-faces-political-instability-and-budget-cuts ### 2026-09-20: San Andrés business groups demand urgent airport improvements Business and civic groups in San Andrés are demanding urgent government intervention to fix the Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport, citing a decade-long infrastructure bottleneck affecting tourism. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-andrs-business-groups-demand-urgent-airport-improvements --- Cite as: San Andrés institutional, infrastructure and maritime crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/san-andrs-institutional-and-infrastructure-crisis