ORGANIZATION OF AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY: PÁSCALA DEL ORO, SAN LUIS ACATLÁN, GUERRERO, MÉXICO

Abstract

Objective: To know and analyze the organization and election of the authorities of Páscala del Oro, municipality of San Luis Acatlán, Guerrero.
Methodology: A questionnaire was applied to 30 people over 18 year-old using the snowball technique. The organization structure of the community, election of authorities, participation and decision making was investigated. The information was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: It was found that in addition to the Commissariat and Commissariat of Communal Property, there are eleven community support committees: stewardship, truck, backhoe, potable water, health, electric power, drainage, primary, secondary and high school and, committee of the DICONSA store. They are elected at the general assembly, where the community members have the decision making, leaving the rest of the population aside. The Commissioner and the members of the committees remain in the position for one year, while the Commissariat for Communal Property stay for three. 87% considered that the authorities are responsible for the activities carried out in the community.
Study limitations: The results can not be generalized to other communities, given that it was a study aimed at key informants.
Conclusions: Participation and decision making focuses on community members; the interviewees are not clear about how the election of the authorities is carried out, the time of responsibility in the position and the penalties for noncompliance. Therefore, it is important to encourage the participation of women, young people and men who want to be representatives of the community.