PRIVATIZATION STRATEGIES OF PUBLIC SPACES IN THE BEACHES OF SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

Abstract

Pozos Colorados is a beach in the city of Santa Marta (Colombia) whose tourism and real estate expansion process does not follow any coastal urban management plan. This generates large socio-environmental impacts, such as the displacement of artisanal fishermen, the degradation of mangrove areas, and land and coastal grabbing of public spaces. One of the causes for the absence of planning is the regulatory gap for the coastal zone since Colombia lacks specific regulation for marine-coastal territorial management. Regulation is fragmented, and the territorial entities, responsible for sanctioning and recovering beach spaces do not fulfill their responsibilities—in the case of Pozos Colorados—even when violations are documented or visible. Given a general state of impunity, in order to create exclusive access to the beaches that surround large real estate projects in the sector, some condominiums use a type of legal simulation to convince beach users that certain public spaces are reserved for the exclusive use of condominium owners. By analyzing primary information, secondary data, and direct observation, this article illustrates one of these strategies.