The Socialist Group in the Lanzarote Cabildo has denounced “a new episode of waste and opacity” concerning the island’s president, Oswaldo Betancort, regarding a trip to Texas expected to cost over €250,000 of public funds.

Concerns Over Lack of Transparency

The party claims that “the contract was processed through a privately selected company, a model that prevents transparency regarding the actual breakdown of expenses and how they are allocated.”

Financial Crisis Versus Extravagance

Spokesperson for the Socialist Group, Ariagona González, reminded the public that “the Cabildo is in technical bankruptcy, a situation that has already forced the cancellation of projects and commitments made to the citizens.”

“It is an absolute contradiction: while initiatives are being suspended due to lack of funds, Betancort finds over a quarter of a million euros for a trip to Texas. The island is facing a water crisis, a housing emergency, and cuts to basic services, yet the island’s president prefers to allocate funds to political marketing.”

Issues with Outsourcing

González warns that “this outsourcing system shields access to key information such as invoices, fees, travel costs, allowances, production, and logistics expenses, thereby reducing transparency and making public scrutiny difficult.”

“A private company is handpicked specifically to conceal how every euro is spent. This is not an isolated mistake; it is a pattern of opacity. There is no proven return for the island, no serious economic report, and no measurable objectives. There is only propaganda funded by public money while the Cabildo admits it cannot meet its commitments,” concluded the Socialist spokesperson.