The Popular Party of Lanzarote has put forward a proposal for the re-signification of the Cruz de la Plaza de Las Palmas monument in Arrecife. This initiative aims to restore this historic symbol and provide it with a new interpretative framework that highlights its cultural, social, and heritage significance.

Details of the Proposal

This was explained by the vice president during Thursday’s plenary session, where she included the proposal in a motion presented last July. The initiative did not succeed, as it received votes in favour from the Popular Party, VOX, and Councillor Armando Santana, while Coalición Canaria and Nueva Canarias abstained, and the PSOE opposed it.

The initiative details that the necessary procedures should be initiated to declare the cross a Bien de Interés Cultural (Cultural Asset of Interest), which would ensure its protection and preservation as part of the island’s historical legacy. Additionally, the legal report from the Cabildo de Lanzarote clearly states that there is currently no request to redefine this monument.

Supporting Cultural Heritage

María Jesús Tovar, Vice President of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and member of the Popular Party, remarked that this initiative “is a way to preserve our collective memory, ensuring that the cross is understood not only in its religious context but also as a cultural symbol deeply rooted in the lives of generations of residents of Arrecife.”

Tovar added that “what we seek with this proposal is to provide legal and heritage security to an element that is part of the living history of the city and deserves to be protected as a Cultural Asset of Interest. Lanzarote cannot afford to lose pieces that identify us as a people and contribute to our shared heritage.”

Enhancing the Historical Integrity of Lanzarote

The Popular Party believes that the heritage protection of the cross not only responds to a commitment to the memory and identity of Arrecife’s residents but will also enrich the island’s historical-artistic ensemble. This will provide future generations with the opportunity to know and appreciate this monument from a cultural perspective.

In this way, the Popular Party reaffirms its defence of the traditions, history, and symbols that are part of Lanzarote’s collective heritage while promoting a calm and constructive debate regarding the management of island heritage.

“We deeply regret that Coalición Canaria, Nueva Canarias, and PSOE do not heed the demands of the residents of Arrecife, who are urgently calling for the preservation of this monument, which is undoubtedly part of the religious history of the capital,” concluded Tovar.