By Isabel Bernardini
Photo of houses in Santa Catalina, Venezuela. Credit: https://caleidohumano.org/delta-amacuro-santa-catalina-lleva-6-anos-sin-luz-electrica/
Have you ever experienced a blackout? And if you have, how long has it usually lasted? Maybe a few minutes? An hour?
Well, for a small town in Venezuela, this has been the reality for seven years. Santa Catalina is a small river side town with a population of around 1,500 citizens, located in the northeastern state of Delta Amacuro in Venezuela. In 2017, the lives of the people changed, as the town lost its access to electricity and clean water. Such a simple right like the access to power and sanitized water was taken away from the people of Santa Catalina. This meant that the citizens of the town had to find new ways to live and make do with what they have, adopting new lifestyle changes that became their ‘normal’ way of doing daily activities.
Delta Amacuro is a remote state, situated between the delta of one of the largest rivers in South America, the Orinoco, and the Caribbean Sea. It consists mostly of small towns far from each other; it is difficult to move from one point to another, unless you travel by boat. Most of the population of Santa Catalina are fishermen families of low economic backgrounds who have lived there for various generations. Despite its remote location, and the hard times, almost none of the citizens have left the town, since it is their home.
A few families have access to small power generators, which have been donated to the local school. However, thanks to their geographical location, the town’s only water supply is the Orinoco River, so people must take water from the river all the way to their homes to have available for daily consumption.
Despite their struggle, the people of Santa Catalina have found ways of surviving in the rough conditions they were thrust into. For instance, they are a self-sufficient community, growing their own fruits and vegetables and catching fish in the river, since it is all they have available.
Additionally, to create a sense of normalcy, they have found ways to survive in the harsh conditions they now face. Around sundown, many people gather at the river to shower, collect water, and catch their evening meal. This time has become a ritual where neighbours come together, offering support and reducing the solitude of their lives in darkness. What started as a necessity for survival has evolved into an opportunity to bond, and in the process, the situation has helped bring the community closer together.
Moreover, these people have not only lost power and access to clean water, but they have also lost any way of communicating with the outside world. The little access to news which remains can be accessed through their phones, with these communications mostly only reporting national events. Additionally, the situation of the town is not widely known; it is not something that is broadcasted in the news, so even most Venezuelans do not know what is happening in Santa Catalina.
Despite the ongoing power shortages, the people of Santa Catalina have not given up. However, that is not because they prefer this life. Their repeated requests for assistance have been ignored by the electricity company. Nonetheless, the residents are reluctant to leave, as their families have lived there for generations, and it is all they have ever known. For the children, it is the only way of life they are accustomed to.
In the face of unimaginable hardship, the people of Santa Catalina continue to persevere, holding onto their roots despite the overwhelming challenges they face. Their strength and resilience in the face of adversity are not only a testament to their determination, but also to the deep connection they share with their land and each other. While their struggle for basic rights like electricity and clean water continues, the community’s unwavering spirit and solidarity have become their greatest resources.
Isabel Bernardini is the current Culture and Outreach Officer for the Latin American Society at King’s College London. She is from Venezuela, and is currently studying Business Management.
