Communities of La Higuera Urge Kast to Respect Institutional Processes and Reject ‘Secret Approval’ of Dominga Project

Original article: Comunidades de La Higuera piden a Kast respetar institucionalidad y no aprobar «por secretaría» el proyecto Dominga

On the eve of the national march against the «No to Dominga» campaign, representatives from communities and organizations in La Higuera sent an open letter to President José Antonio Kast expressing their concern over a potential «secret approval» of the mining-port project, demanding full respect for environmental, administrative, and judicial institutional frameworks.

The nationwide mobilization, scheduled for October 31 in various cities across the country, aims to voice public opposition to Andes Iron’s initiative and defend the Archipelago of Humboldt.

In this context, the La Higuera communities call on the government to listen to those who live in the region and depend directly on its ecosystems.

The statement is supported by representatives from artisanal fishing groups, tourism operators, farmers, rural drinking water committees, members of the Chango people, and environmental, cultural, and sports organizations, as well as residents from the areas where the project is proposed.

In their letter, the communities highlight their years of participation in the formal mechanisms associated with the environmental evaluation of Dominga, providing observations and engaging in administrative and judicial complaint proceedings.

«The appropriate action is for outstanding processes to continue through institutional channels and for no attempts to be made to force a project approval through exceptional administrative means. We trust that the President will respect the operation of institutions and the decisions made according to Chilean legislation,» the organizations stated.

Respect for Procedures

The letter reminds that the Dominga project has undergone three previous environmental evaluations, all rejected, and that the company has utilized the legal avenues available to attempt to reverse these decisions.

Given this situation, the communities argue that pending disputes should be resolved through the appropriate procedures, without interventions that could undermine judicial independence, disrupt the environmental evaluation process, or create an exceptional pathway for authorizing the project.

«Economic growth cannot justify undermining institutions or jeopardizing the natural and cultural conditions that sustain our communities’ development,» emphasized the local community.

Request for Dialogue

The communities state that they have yet to have the opportunity to present their concerns and proposals for La Higuera’s development directly to the President.

For this reason, they have requested a dialogue opportunity and invited the President to visit the commune before making any decisions related to the project.

«We want the President to tour our coves, learn about our biodiversity, engage with families, and understand that La Higuera already has economic activities and life projects that depend on healthy ecosystems,» they stated.

They also urged authorities to consider a diverse array of stakeholders from the territory, not just those who support the mining and port initiative.

A Development Proposal Based on the Region’s Capacities

In their letter, the organizations emphasized that over the past decade, they have promoted actions to protect the Archipelago of Humboldt and enhance economic alternatives related to artisanal fishing, nature tourism, aquaculture, sustainable farming, and environmental education.

The initiatives mentioned include the establishment of tourist information offices, the implementation of environmental interpretation centers, and the development of experiences aimed at valuing biodiversity, local culture, and the traditional knowledge of coastal communities and the Chango people.

According to local tourism sector estimates cited by the organizations, more than 2,500 direct jobs would be associated with tourism in the area. The communities believe that this sector can continue to grow through public investment, improved connectivity, infrastructure, training, promotion, and long-term policies.

«Protecting the Archipelago of Humboldt does not mean opposing development. It means safeguarding the conditions that enable the construction of a diverse, resilient local economy compatible with the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage,» they stated.

The organizations assert that the future of La Higuera should not be solely dependent on a limited-duration megaproject. Rather, they propose a territorial strategy that strengthens existing activities, considers cumulative impacts on ecosystems, and protects the opportunities for current and future generations.

Finally, the groups reiterated their willingness to engage in dialogue with the government and present a long-term development proposal for La Higuera, based on the conservation of the Archipelago of Humboldt, economic diversification, and strengthening local productive activities.

We will continue to provide updates.