In this area of northern Guayaquil, representatives of the committee request the Municipality to apply tarpaulin on roads and remodel the central park.
The constant robberies of people and homes, as well as the lack of police patrols, led the residents of five blocks in Los Geranios 1, north of Guayaquil, to take measures to stop the crimes of which they were victims.
A group of citizens, led by Byron Velasteguí and Julio Chiliquinga, decided to meet to coordinate actions with which they can defend themselves against criminals.
Velasteguí said that the first action they took was to unite the residents of blocks 3017 to 3021. Then they made a call to form a committee for improvements for the neighborhood.
He took the baton and was appointed president of the neighborhood group. The first action, Velasteguí said, was to surround the sector. “First, I put a down payment to start making, we sold food to raise funds and we started the work,” said the citizen.
The rapid passage of urban transport buses and the entry of motorcycles with criminals filled the residents of that area with anxiety. “Cars and buses passed at high speed, it was a danger for children, especially,” said the citizen.
Chiliquinga stated that the access of motorcycles led to robberies in the neighborhood. “Before, when there was free traffic in the sector, motorcycles were constantly in circulation and they got in to steal, they saw him standing at the door of his house and robbed him, because they had several exit points, along (Francisco de) Orellana avenue and for Las Orquídeas. Now they can’t do that anymore, “he said.
The next action that the neighbors took was the hiring of two guards. “About seven months ago they broke into a villa and robbed at dawn, they took material things while the owners were there. Seeing the desperation of the people we agreed to hire a person to open and close the door. As a result of that there have been no robberies, “said Chiliquinga.
Visitors can only enter the sector by authorization of one of the inhabitants. Your data is recorded by the guards to keep a record and control the passage of vehicles.
“Here we are 60 families, of which we collaborate 90% with 20, 10 or 5 dollars a month and with that we pay the guards and do more works,” said Velasteguí.
Chained vehicles, metal fences and other measures are taken by residents of La Atarazana who have been victims of robberies
On the afternoon of Tuesday the 4th, two workers were welding the fences around a sports field in the area. The two directors of the neighborhood committee inspected the works. This is one of the latest actions that residents are taking in this sector.
However, the committee has several requests that will be sent to the Municipality of Guayaquil in the coming days. One of them is the application of a new asphalt tent on the streets of the neighborhood. Likewise, they will request the installation of geriatric machines.
“With this we have more than fifteen years asking the Municipality to fix the park,” said Velasteguí.
Future projects in the neighborhood include the installation of general surveillance cameras and even the construction of a swimming pool for the use of residents. (I)
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
