Today, March 20th, Cumaná, the capital of Sucre state in Venezuela, has been without water for over three weeks. Entire communities and families in Cumaná, Araya, Marigüitar, and even Nueva Esparta are without this vital resource for bathing, cooking, or even just drinking. The supposed cause of this water crisis: a landslide in the Turimiquire area, triggered by an earthquake, which caused severe structural damage.
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Due to this problem, the current state governor declared a water emergency, which must be obeyed or those who violate it will face sanctions, fines, or imprisonment. The decree prohibits washing cars, watering plants, filling swimming pools or ornamental fountains, and performing any work that requires water, such as air conditioner and refrigerator maintenance. It also prohibits logging and burning. This decree, rather than a solution, has been seen as a mockery, since its aim is not so much to solve the problem, but rather to punish the excessive use of water.
Although the official version is that the problem in Turimiquire is due to an earthquake, many people claim that the collapse could be due to illegal mining activities, which may be supported by the government itself. We must remember that, according to investigations, some government officials control all the gold extracted from Venezuelan soil and sold both within and outside the country.
It has also been pointed out that one of the reasons for this collapse could be the lack of maintenance, since not only does Turimiquire lack continuous care, but all the country's important infrastructures—electrical, communications, hydraulic, and oil—are also neglected. Large-scale engineering structures, built in the last century, which transformed Venezuela into an emerging, developing country, are now abandoned relics, a ticking time bomb threatening to explode at any moment and cause total chaos.
It is painful, sad, and infuriating that a country with so many natural resources, such as rivers, springs, and waterfalls, has problems with water. It is outrageous to see a weary population queuing for miles to have a water truck fill a container, which then requires a miracle to make it last for washing, cooking, and even treating thirst. Not to mention the serious environmental and health problems that already exist because many desperate people use water from some contaminated rivers for cooking and bathing.
According to some websites I saw, today, March 20th, a month after this nightmare began, they've brought in machinery to remove debris, make repairs, and finally solve the problem. But the solution is just a rumor that's been circulating since day one, and it seems to be coming at a snail's pace because it still hasn't arrived.
These days, Venezuela won the Baseball World Cup, and the government (they're very good at issuing decrees) declared a non-working holiday so the people could take to the streets to celebrate. They were also quick to say we were a powerhouse in this sport, but what good is being a powerhouse in something if there's no investment, no conservation, if our basic needs aren't met? I repeat, Venezuela has many resources, but the problem is what its leaders do with them. It's not about surviving; it's about dreaming, growing, and as long as there are indifferent governments, even having water will be a luxury.
