The Socialist councillor, Benjamín Perdomo, has emphasised that this situation represents “an act of significant negligence that endangers public health and cannot be dismissed as merely an administrative error.”
Political Responsibility Demanded
The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has called for immediate political accountability following the distribution of castor bean seeds by the island institution, mistakenly believing them to be beans. This is particularly alarming as castor beans contain a substance that is highly toxic for human consumption.
Health Risks of Castor Beans
Castor beans contain ricin, one of the most dangerous natural toxins known. Ingesting just a few seeds can trigger symptoms including vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, multi-organ failure, and even death within 36 to 72 hours. There is no antidote, and treatment is limited to supportive medical measures, making this error an extremely serious public health issue.
The PSOE has reported that upon discovering the mistake, the Agricultural Farm began sending text messages to farmers requesting the immediate return of the seeds for destruction. “This indicates that the institution was aware of the seriousness of the situation and the associated risks, yet the Cabildo has failed to inform the public about this grave issue through an official statement to ensure maximum transparency and protect citizens,” Perdomo stated.
Call for Transparency
In this regard, the Socialist Group will officially inquire at the next plenary meeting about how many farmers received these seeds, the number of batches distributed, and how many have already been recovered and destroyed, stressing that transparency on this matter is “imperative.”
Accountability of Officials
The Lanzarote PSOE reminds that the direct responsible for this issue is Gladys Acuña, an advisor to the president on agricultural matters, and thus her resignation should occur “immediately.”
“President Oswaldo Betancort cannot continue to ignore this issue. If he wishes to demonstrate even a minimal level of institutional responsibility, he must dismiss his advisor or demand her resignation today. Anything less would mean accepting this grave error, which undermines the credibility and integrity of his government,” concluded Perdomo.
