With drinking water sources contaminated by mining operations, residents in the communities of La Pinita, La Cerca, La Laguna and El Naranjo staged a work stoppage yesterday, Monday 3 March demanding their relocation and the resumption of the trucking in of water for household use that was suspended by Barrick on 13 February.
The residents blocked the main street in La Cerca from 5am, inconveniencing employees and vehicles traveling on the Maimon-Cotui road. Dozens of police and military personnel in the area threatened to unblock the road by force. Priest Wilfredo Acosta led the protest together with members of the Nuevo Renacer committee representing the communities in the mine area. He called on the governor of Sanchez Ramirez province Teresa Inoa to help resolve the situation. Arriving at the site at 10:30am, she told the protestors that President Medina had told her on Friday, 28 February that the government would supply five-gallon water bottles to the communities, while the relocation of the families takes place. She said that Agua Deny water supply truck would provide the service, the same one hired by Barrick. She committed to holding monthly meetings with Nuevo Renacer and Fr. Acosta to work on the families’ relocation. The first meeting was set for 3 April at the Cotui provincial government headquarters. Following the agreements, the road blockage was lifted.
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