The coastal city of Cartagena is gearing up for the arrival of 31 heads of state, who will be in attendance for the upcoming Summit of the Americas on April 14 and 15.
The summit brings together leaders from North and South America to discuss a variety of issues affecting the region. The theme for this year’s summit is “Connecting the Americas: Partners for Prosperity.”
The city is going to great lengths to present a positive image to the international community. The homeless will be rounded up, fed and bathed, the prostitutes will be confined to a specific area and vendors will not be allowed to sell liquor on the beach, according to Mayor Campo Elias Teran.
“I ask all the understanding possible. This summit is not every day, it’s done almost once in a lifetime. I invite all of Cartagena to colloborate. We need to support the summit, the country’s image and the city,” Teran said to local media.
There will only be minor traffic delays while presidential convoys make their way from the airport to the site of the summit, according to General Ricardo Restrepo, the police commander of the Carribean region.
Close to 14,000 police and military will join Red Cross and Civil Defense staff for the duration of the summit. The Navy will also be on hand to intercept any unauthorized vessels off the coast of Colombia.