Colombians Return
the economic crisis in Spain
probably a wave of Colombians seeking to return home, but accompanies them the anguish of uncertainty, the scourge of unemployment, re-adapting to everyday life, the uncertainty. Remittances increased from U.S. $ 1,300 million in 1999 to U.S. $ 4,842 million in 2008. Four departments account for 72.4% of them: Valle, 28.6%, Antioquia, 16.6%, Cundinamarca, Risaralda 15%, 12.2%.
By Luis Carlos Lozano O. (*)
about four years ago began to sink the boat of the English economy. Now it has sunk in deep water, where the government of RodrÃguez Zapatero has not found lifeline despite the various reforms to economic policy has been applied recently to rescue survivors of the crisis.
4,200,000 unemployed, including thousands of compatriots. Some 11,000 did not return to get a job, ended up with unemployment (unemployment), extraordinary aid, which have already been deleted with the current political reforms.
To make matters worse, now support the increased cost of energy, transportation, food, clothing, safety social, taxes, leases. Moreover, the absence of work may not renew residence and work permits, less can apply for dual citizenship. And we have the possibility of having some kind of business in this country, we feel directly affected by the crisis, which has fallen nearly 50% use the services to be provided as remittances, international calls, tourism , sales of food products, etc..
a dilemma currently live in Spain, where the crisis has bottomed out and has been anchored there, feel the effects of the economic crisis in all its manifestations, both English and immigrants from everywhere, including our compatriots. Most Colombians registered in Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bBilbao, who are suffering the rigors of this harsh situation, are from the Coffee.
It senses a surge of thousands of Colombians who intend to return to the country, but they came with the anxiety of insecurity (not live here), the scourge of unemployment, re-adaptation to daily life, uncertainty What I can do there? What resources? Furthermore most of our compatriots unfortunately unknown programs that have the Colombian government to enable them to facilitate their return, for the lack of outreach and ongoing communication of officials from the consulates and the Embassy of Colombia in Spain with his countrymen.
The case of Jose Luis
I make a brief story of one of the hundreds of stories from fellow citizens who have reached my ears: the case of Jose Luis, Bogota, 52 years old, married, father of 3 children, two university students in Bogotá and a minor in Spain. He owned a small business in Colombia, which sold and settled in the community Castilla La Mancha, Spain.
arrived here in the "golden", about 10 years, created a curtain installation company with the resources he brought with him a bank loan made in Spain. The company started with great success. Did good work and good money for six years. There were up to splurge, like a good Colombian party animal.
Due to the success he had acquired a mortgage on an apartment, bought a good car, constantly traveling to Colombia. Since starting the economic crisis the company began to decline until the failure to close. Lost investment, the bank seized the apartment, the car had to sell it for support, is now one of the thousands of unemployed. His second wife, who was English, left him because I had no money, is currently suffering from the disease cirrhosis.
Due to its financial failure is dedicated to drink alcohol to assuage their grief, miss her good to remember their tragic past and present. He longs to return home, but has no economic resources, is misplaced and without support.
Return or resist
Although we are in the information society and have better statistical methods in earlier periods of immigration figures remain difficult to meet.
The National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs cross their data to gain a more realistic overview of immigration, but many immigrants get go unnoticed to those authorities, including many Colombians, for obvious reasons, as having entered and being illegal the country, some engaged in illegal activities and some for lack of opportunities for regularized.
known According to statistics, states that the Colombians who live abroad are about four million. A phenomenon that dates from the Colombian economic crisis of 1999, the worst in 70 years.
The main destinations for Colombians who migrated between 2000 and 2005 were Spain (30%), United States (27%) and Venezuela (17%), countries which together received 74% of total of Colombians left the country in that period.
An indicator of the evolution of Colombian foreign influx is remittances. Increased from 1,300 million dollars in 1999 to 4,842,000 dollars in 2008. Four departments account for 72.4% of remittances: Valle del Cauca, 28.6%, Antioquia, 16.6%, Cundinamarca, Risaralda 15%, 12.2%, including less proportions.
Hundreds of families have had to go back to separate the effect of unemployment in Spain, hitting especially hard on immigrants. Nevertheless, most have decided to resist, pending a favorable change to give them a break economic.
"Despite the hardships, the Colombians in general do not want to return," says the Consul. "Here you have good quality of life and fear to get there without jobs coupled with insecurity and the uncertainty of whether they can return to Spain. "
The cultural factor also influences when making the decision to return. For the children of immigrants Colombian families who have lived here more than five years , a very important part of their lives, this is your country have grown here, this is their environment and have adapted to customs and academic training, which is one of the great difficulties they encounter when they arrive.
return The plan has not had the desired effect because legal immigrants, which has cost time, effort and sacrifice to achieve stability and bring his family, he feels little enthusiasm for losing the benefits you have acquired in exchange for a small amount, leave without knowing if they can return and what the future holds for his family.
immigrants against the English have higher capacity to address the crisis, because we know the "two worlds". Colombia is a country of permanent crisis, and we know it, accept it, live and share.
English Instead the decades leading a good life, now feels more closely the plight, more difficult to bear. Such is the fact that suicides have increased, hospitals are overwhelmed by queries related to emotional, psychological and heart. Have also increased divorce.
As difficult as the situation in Spain, it is advisable to hold, is one of the most listened to suggestions by immigrants, especially if you do not have English nationality, since the return can lead to loss of their roles and living conditions you have here are not comparable with those of our country.
Therefore, we are facing major advantage of our assets, adaptive capacity and creativity to find our sustainability in the midst of acute crisis, that we Colombians are trained to live. Therefore, we are going on here is one more, very difficult indeed. Continue to increase the odyssey of return.
(*) Colombian lawyer and writer, a correspondent in Spain.
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