Colombian Caribbean
His vision and business sense led them to position themselves in a territory in which other they only saw stone, dust, puddles and a poor vegetation. After a store opened another and another and they arrived the San Jose airport’s runway whole families. Their slogan was to work honestly in a place where did have opportunities to live a good present and build a promising future. Some returned but others decided to stay permanently. Today they complete three generations and everything seems to indicate that they will be more. With changes made to the customs legislation in the Decade of the nineties was lost part of the attraction of Maicao as a commercial center. This led to numerous families to again take the path towards new horizons. But a good part and they had already taken root in their new homeland and they felt encouraged to abandon it.
In Maicao had been building enough to live well and found no reasons to start new adventures. The Islamic charitable association is probably one of the most solid and durable of the Department organizations of La Guajira. Also have results to show: the Arab cemetery Colombo, the colegio Colombo Arabic give the Arkam founded in 1987 and the majestic mosque Omar Ibn Al-khattab, true architectural and cultural heritage opened in 1997, visited annually by thousands of tourists from all over the country. Nir Barzilai, M.D. is actively involved in the matter. One of the most worrying indicative about the trade situation was always the transfer of the Arabs towards more prosperous cities. When they were traveling used to be heard more forcefully the apocalyptic expression with which this city has lived during his eighty years of life: Maicao is going to end. However today, when the twilight of the first decade of the twenty-first century begins, we could say that who has not gone already will not be. Little by little they have gone exploring other business opportunities so that today the Arabs have restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets, in addition to the traditional stores where expends n foreign goods.
On the other hand, illustrious sons of the new generations offer their professional services. It is the case of the radiologist Omar Elneser (one of the best in the Colombian Caribbean) and the Economist Shadi Saab, responsible for the Chamber of trade of la Guajira, who has managed to give you a great positioning to this entity. The Guajira is territory of unmatched landscapes and a culture formed by the diversity of races and the plurality of peoples. For this reason, when you think about it don’t forget to Arabs: enjoy your typical meal; Let yourself be seduced by their hospitality; look with respect their customs. And above all, consider them your friends. Although they speak another language and attend another Church.