The colombian pacific: public management and institutional capability of the coastal towns

El pacífico colombiano: gestión pública y capacidad institucional de los municipios costeros

27 years after the enactment of the Municipal System Reform in Colombia, the reality of the so-called small municipalities is far from the more developed municipalities. Municipal autonomy has been subtle for small and peripheral territorial entities where reforms have failed to affect the struc- tures of domination and political control. These municipalities have lacked a state presence, there is only the presence of the security forces. The delay that they suffer. among other factors, is caused by the institutional weaknesses that these entities present to assume a local management. The article pursues to make visible the institutional weaknesses in order to guide the development of public administration in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with legal requirements of the Pacific Coast municipalities. These all are under the sceneries of the Law 30, 1993 have difficulties to satisfy the constitutional responsabilities.