Cali is one of the cities that has the country’s biggest security challenges, In addition, this year there is an important agenda with the arrival of COP16 on October 21, for which the Mayor’s Office of Cali has arranged a series of measures to continue reducing negative indicators that the city had before Alejandro Eder’s term began.
Precisely for this reason, The mayor was present on 6AM Hoy por Hoywhich is broadcast from the capital of Valle del Cauca, to talk about all these issues and how they continue to work for the city.
Initially, he commented the following about security in Cali: “There are several levels, we have what is citizen security and against terrorism. Regarding the first, since my mayoralty began and With the help of the National Police we have been improving all the indicatorsIn fact, as my first acts since my election, I visited General Salamanca to ask for support with foot soldiers. In January, 300 police officers arrived, Today we have more than 6,000 and we have them deployed throughout the city.”
Furthermore, he added: “In this way we have been closing spaces for crime, we have reduced homicide by 20%taking into account that Cali was the city with the highest rate in the country in that aspect, which has resulted in a 65% reduction at the national level. Theft has also decreased and we have already captured 18 members of terrorist support networks.
Eder also spoke about security in rural areas, especially from Jamundí, a municipality that in recent weeks has been badly hit by the dissident group Jaime Martínez, and commented: “We have worked hand in hand with the mayor of this municipality, who is very brave, with the governor of Valle, working with the police, military and I must admit that the Ministry of Defense has reacted and they have confirmed that 18 platoons of professional soldiers are arriving“The call has been answered and that will contribute to better things not only in this area, but also in the north of Cauca.”
For his part, he also referred to the issue of total peace, saying: “I am a person who has dedicated my life to working for peace in this country, I was a negotiator in the process with the FARC, I worked for a decade demobilizing and reintegrating combatants. All the advances we had were possible because the will was accompanied by a forceful security policy, which is why it is necessary that for there to be peace, there is an accompaniment of a security policy, because these groups are too rich”.
How will security be ensured at COP16?
COP16 will take place from October 21 to November 1, and will be an event in which many visitors and invited countries will come to discuss environmental issues, however, an issue of concern is how it will be will guarantee security, prior to and during this forum.
Regarding this, the mayor of Cali mentioned: “COP16 is the most important global event for the care of biodiversity And it is part of the other COP, which is on climate change. This is the most relevant point on the global agenda of discussions between countries. Representatives from practically all UN member countries will come here., around 200 who will come to negotiate and agree on how the environment will be cared for.”
“When these people come here, which include heads of state, representatives of countries, around 80 ministers, businessmen, activists, green business entrepreneurs and This becomes a great opportunity for them to get to know our region and see Colombia in a different light.
Eder explained that this requires the organisation of various aspects of both logistics and security. “On security we have been working since February with the Ministry of Defense, General Salamanca has always played with Cali” and has already announced that 5,000 uniformed officers will arrive by October, that is, almost double Cali’s force. The good news is that in a few weeks the first 200 police officers will arrive and will gradually increase the number. which It will allow us security during the COP and progress so that after this we continue to take away space from crime,” said Eder.
