“Oswaldo Betancort’s reckless management has reached unacceptable limits. We cannot even imagine this president handling a crisis like the pandemic.”
The Socialist Party of Lanzarote has condemned the president of the Cabildo and the councillor for Agriculture, Oswaldo Betancort, for committing “extreme negligence” by failing to inform the public that his department distributed castor bean seeds, mistakenly believing them to be beans, “despite being a highly toxic substance for human consumption.”
Legal Obligations Ignored
María Dolores Corujo, the General Secretary of the PSOE in Lanzarote and a member of Congress, reminded that the General Public Health Law 33/2011, the National Civil Protection System Law 17/2015, and the Island Councils Law 8/2015 require administrations to guarantee immediate and truthful information to the public in any situation that poses a health risk.
“The Cabildo was aware of the dangers of castor beans and should have immediately activated the protocols for informing the public. Its silence is not only unjustifiable but also constitutes extremely serious negligence,” Corujo stated.
Dangers of Ricin
The PSOE of Lanzarote emphasises that ricin, present in these seeds, is one of the most dangerous natural toxins. Ingesting just a few seeds can lead to vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, multi-organ failure, and even death within hours.
“The Cabildo not only distributed poisonous seeds, but also concealed this extremely serious matter from the public, failing to fulfill its legal obligation to inform. This issue cannot be resolved with a phone call; it requires communication through official channels in a matter of such severity,” Corujo added.
Accountability Demanded
Corujo demands immediate accountability from Oswaldo Betancort, as the incident illustrates reckless management of such a sensitive area as Agriculture and a concerning lack of commitment to public health on the island. “We cannot even imagine this president managing a crisis like the pandemic,” she concluded.
