Residents of the La Rinconada sector in the Gómez municipality of Nueva Esparta state celebrated the rehabilitation of the emblematic Tacarigua water tank, an infrastructure built in 1940 that will once again supply water to about 2.500 families in the town.
The project, which included the complete restoration of the old cistern with a capacity of 57.000 liters of water, was carried out directly by the people's power after being elected in the National Popular Consultation held on November 23, 2025. As part of the project, the beautification of 40 facades on the main street of Tacarigua was also carried out.
Euridy Zabala, spokesperson for the Pozo de la Vieja Community Council, explained that the initiative sought not only to address a basic need but also to reclaim a symbol of local identity. "This tank is part of our history; restoring it meant bringing back to life a space that belongs to us," she stated.
Authorities highlight participatory management model
The mayor of the Gómez municipality, Emilio Velásquez, toured the facilities and highlighted the efficiency of the community democracy model promoted by the National Executive. "Once again, the people's power demonstrates its capacity to execute projects with quality and in record time. This project won last year and today it is 100% complete, thanks to the collaboration with our governor, Marisel Velásquez, and the joint work with the community," the local leader stated.
Velásquez added that the restoration included a special tribute to Marcos Ordaz, known as "Marcos from Chuchú," a local farmer and self-taught musician, remembered for having built his own violin. "This is also a way of paying tribute to our people and our culture," he stated.
For his part, Johan Tovar, state director of the Ministry for Communes and Social Movements, emphasized the symbolic value of the project. “More than just restored infrastructure, what we see here is an act of dignifying collective memory. The people of Tacarigua have transformed their community history and brought to light a heritage that had been forgotten,” he stated.
Community mobilizes towards the March 8th consultation
The tank handover ceremony also served as the launch of the campaign for the first National Popular Consultation of 2026, scheduled for March 8th. This year's consultation aims to recognize female leadership in the assemblies and community structures of the island state.
Community spokespeople called for massive participation and urged everyone to spread the message throughout the community over the next 15 days. "We're going all out for this new consultation. The slogan is clear: Commune or nothing. Here, the organized people continue to decide their future," said one of the neighborhood leaders during the closing of the event.
