More than 200 families who have sold traditional products for generations in El Hobo fear for their livelihood due to the relocation ordered by the authorities.
Diario del Huila, Panorama
In a dispute that combines tradition, subsistence and urban progress, the stationary street merchants of the municipality of El Hobo, in the center of the department of Huila, face a radical change in their way of life. The ruling issued by the Second Judge of the Neiva Circuit has determined that the Mayor’s Office must relocate these vendors within a peremptory period.
The court order, dated October 10, 2017, instructs local authorities to transfer the merchants, who currently occupy the public space in the Simón Bolívar park and along the road, to the “Parador Turístico” permanently. .
This decision is based on the need to clear the area due to the construction of the 4G Neiva-Campoalegre-Pitalito-Mocoa-Santana highway, a project developed by the concessionaire Ruta Al Sur.
However, for merchants, this relocation represents more than just a change in location. For years, these families have depended on the sale of products such as oats, almojábanas, biscuits and quesillos in that area, making it a traditional stop for travelers heading to the south of Huila and the interior of the country. The resistance to abandoning their positions lies in the conviction that their current location is vital for their survival.
«We demand that you help us with a dignified relocation«said Nancy Polanía, representative of the Association of Street and Stationary Vendors. During a peaceful demonstration held last Friday, sellers requested adequate conditions to ensure they maintain their sales levels, as they have done until now. They have also requested the intervention of the governor of Huila, Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera, to find a solution that satisfies all parties involved.
Nury Nidia Jiménez Montealegre, popularly known as ‘La Mona’and who has dedicated his entire life to selling cucas and almojábanas in the vicinity of the Simón Bolívar park in the municipality of Hobo, expressed his discontent by stating that they feel mocked by the local authorities.
«There is no right to have been deceived with this ruling. Yes, we knew it existed, but the previous mayors and governors played with us. They had no right to do so. We are more than 200 people who depend on this trade in the central square. We are a support and agents that move the economy of this population«, expressed Jiménez Montealegre.
«We are protesting peacefully. We are not in a position to start a fight. What we want is a fair relocation. We want support and not arbitrariness like what they plan to do to us. They have only given us two months to be relocated«exhorted Jiménez Montealegre.
Lilia Johana Bernal Gómez, another of those affected, asked the authorities to put themselves in their shoes and understand that many families depend on this ancestral craft, which did not emerge overnight and has survived through generations. «We don’t have any more work. This is the only thing we know how to do and what allows us to support our families.«, declared Bernal Gómez.
Way out of the crisis
In the face of this crisis, the mayor of El Hobo, Yhon Albert Mora, assured that he has been working hard since taking office four months ago. During this time, several meetings have been held with street vendors in the municipality’s central park to inform them about the ruling resulting from a Popular Action related to the occupation of public space.
The court ruling established three stages: first, the characterization of the sellers; second, a temporary relocation; and third, a permanent relocation. Although previous administrations have attempted to address the problem through working groups and infrastructure studies for a definitive relocation, the municipality of El Hobo faces unique challenges.
The mayor recognizes the difficulties, especially the limitation of resources to build an adequate structure that meets the needs of merchants as food providers. Despite several meetings having been held to date, time is of the essence, since there are only two months left to comply with the court ruling.
«It is a complex situation«said the local president, referring to the urgency of finding a viable solution given the circumstances and the deadlines established by the ruling.
Sellers proposal
For their part, Nancy Polanía and the merchants indicated that they have a clear proposal: abide by the temporary relocation while defining a permanent place that guarantees their livelihood, but that this temporary relocation be authorized in the same place where they are today and which is reason for discord. They argue that the proposed “Parador Turístico” is not viable for them, since it lacks the necessary and attractive conditions to attract customers.
“The idea is that they leave us where we have currently been working, while they define the final hostel for us, since the one at the exit of the town is not viable for us, it passes a ravine, where there is a fishing boat nearby and it emits bad smells. We sell food, We already did the work and it never worked. We depend on the central plaza”.
In this context, the mayor has announced his intention to explore other options, such as negotiating with landowners near the Ruta al Sur. The objective is to find a location that meets the needs of merchants and is favorable both for them and for the urban development of the municipality.
“There is a possibility of speaking with owners of properties that are on the Southern Route, to look at all the possibilities that allow the relocation of the sellers of almojábanas, cucas, biscuits, oats, barley, cheeses, among many other foods that are offered to travelers as they pass through this emblematic municipality in the center of Huila”.
As the relocation deadline approaches, uncertainty and tension increase in El Hobo. Will it be possible to reconcile the interests of merchants with the demands of urban development? This question remains pending while authorities and merchants look for a solution that protects both the traditions and progress of the community.
