Foul odors had taken over the alley in a community in Guarataro, in the Libertador municipality of Caracas. A sewage pipe, damaged by the strong earthquakes that shook Caracas last June, was causing problems for two families who shared the same dividing wall.
The complaint reached Officer Joanny Gómez of the San Juan Parish Community Police Service, who took charge of the case. The officer told Últimas Noticias The affected neighbor arrived at the Community Outreach Office of the Bolivarian National Police Force as a requester, on the recommendation of community members. He recounted that, tired of the situation, the man, around 40 years old, decided to file a formal complaint against his neighbor for a sewage leak.
The citizen told the official that the problem originated days after the double seismic event of June 24, when sewage began to flow from a pipe in the house next door and spread towards the small porch of his house.
The stench was unbearable, and access to her property was becoming difficult due to the accumulation of water on the sidewalk and street. She noted that when she tried to park her motorcycle inside her house, it would fill with the foul-smelling liquid, forcing her to temporarily rent a parking space. She added that these events were beginning to worry her because she has two young daughters, one of whom suffers from asthma.
He said that, despite having tried to resolve the problem directly, the neighbor argued that he did not have sufficient resources to have the damage repaired.
Gómez, with extensive experience in resolving community conflicts, summoned the other party involved to hear their version and thus have a complete picture of the situation that affected the coexistence and health of both families as well as that of the sector.
Mediation. On the appointed day, both parties went to the Community Outreach Office of the San Juan parish. Officer Gómez proceeded to conduct a mediation session. The first thing she did was listen to each party's concerns in an atmosphere of respect and cordiality.
During the meeting, the accused neighbor stated that, while he was aware of the problem, the costs of repairing the pipe exceeded his financial means at that time. He explained that he, too, was being affected by the sewage leak, but he had not anticipated this emergency after the earthquakes and, therefore, did not have the money to fix the pipe.
The complainant reiterated that the foul odors were affecting his family's quality of life and that it was urgent to resolve the problem. He understood his neighbor's difficulties and suggested resolving the conflict peacefully and jointly.
Commitments
The dialogue allowed both parties to reach a settlement agreement. They committed to sharing the costs of repairing the damaged pipe for the benefit of their respective families and to restore sanitation to the community.
“The agreements established were that the accused and the summoned party would repair the pipe, sharing the costs,” Gómez explained.
Furthermore, they agreed to establish a preventative maintenance plan to prevent similar situations from occurring again in the future.
The complainant accepted the apology of the accused and expressed his willingness to collaborate in whatever was necessary to expedite the repair work.
The residents signed a commitment agreement outlining the terms reached and expressing their willingness to resolve the problem peacefully and restore harmony to the area.
Gomez noted that, at the same time, the Community Police will monitor the resolution of the case.
Regulation
The mediation was carried out by enforcing the provisions of the Ordinance for Citizen Coexistence, Civics and Community Peace Justice of the Libertador municipality, in particular, article eight, which recognizes as a fundamental value "the peaceful solution of controversies and the application of alternative means for the resolution of conflicts", a principle that guided the intervention of the officer of the Bolivarian National Police Corps.
Likewise, Article 13 of the ordinance establishes that the inhabitants of the municipality must "assume an ethical and civic conduct, avoiding any action, omission or manifestation contrary to public order, respect for people and their property, in consideration, tolerance and recognition of their rights."
This provision was reminded to both parties during the mediation, and the importance of maintaining respectful conduct was emphasized.
The legislation in detail
Citizen coexistence. According to article 11 of the Ordinance for Citizen Coexistence, Civics and Community Peace Justice of the Libertador municipality, it is all conduct, civic, peaceful and harmonious attitude assumed by a community and its individuals in accordance with the law, the norms, the values and principles established as duties and rights of citizens, without affecting tolerance, good living and good customs.
- Contrary conduct. Article 13 urges the avoidance of conduct or activities in the use of movable or immovable property that cause annoyances or disturbances to social peace, regulated in the ordinance or in other current legal or sub-legal regulations.
- Environmental context. The ordinance calls for the preservation of public and private property and facilities, as well as the environmental context, in good working order and condition.
- Public services. Article 23 also defines as an offense the failure to promptly repair damage caused to public utility infrastructure when such repairs are the responsibility of the user. Inaction may result in fines or penalties.
