The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has reported that the island’s president, Oswaldo Betancort, has added new expenses to the controversial trip to Texas. This includes the hiring of a personal photographer for €10,000 and the travel of five senior political officials: three councillors and two island directors.
Criticism of Excessive Spending
“Oswaldo Betancort has become the official tourist of Lanzarote, and he is doing it with public money. He is off on a tour with his photographer and entourage while we are cancelling services, experiencing water cuts, and the Cabildo is in technical bankruptcy,” said Socialist councillor Benjamín Perdomo.
The PSOE of Lanzarote highlights that this institutional trip has already cost residents €254,370, awarded to a private company through a contract negotiated without public announcement or real oversight.
Now, an additional €10,000 for a personal photographer has been added—an entirely unnecessary expense in the midst of an economic crisis and budget cuts. The travel of three councillors and two island directors cannot be justified. This is not economic promotion; it is personal promotion and leisure trips funded by taxpayers,” Perdomo lamented.
Questionable Participation
“It is particularly incomprehensible that the island’s Councillor for Education is part of this trip when she has no competence in foreign trade or tourism and gastronomy promotion,” Perdomo emphasised. “What does her participation contribute to an event that, according to the Cabildo itself, focuses on promoting local products? No official explanation has justified her inclusion in the delegation, and her involvement only highlights the lack of rigour with which this trip has been organised.”
Moreover, the Socialist Group points out that Lanzarote has been exporting wine, salt, aloe vera, and quality organic and gourmet products to international markets for years, thanks to programmes and agreements promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Proexca (Government of the Canary Islands).
“There was no need to stage a million-euro spectacle. The serious and rigorous work already being done has successfully opened markets, solidified commercial relationships, and supported the primary sector and businesses without the need for a media show in Texas,” Perdomo explained.
Ongoing Crisis
The PSOE reiterates that while the island is facing a water emergency, a housing crisis, and the suspension of key sector projects, the president of the Cabildo continues to inflate political spending, accumulating advisors and trips that offer no real return for the citizens.
“Lanzarote is not in need of photos; it needs solutions. This self-promotion model by Oswaldo Betancort is proving to be very costly,” concluded Perdomo.
