On Saturday, 20th September, around 300 people gathered in front of the Cabildo Insular of Lanzarote to defend hunting activities and protest against what they perceive as an unjust treatment, filled with deception, cutbacks, and a lack of dialogue from President Oswaldo Betancort.

Key Demands Presented

During the event, a manifesto was signed, which will be submitted to the local government, outlining six key demands from the community. Among these demands are: the call for meteorological alerts not to be used as an excuse to cancel hunting days without applying the same criteria to other outdoor sports; the automatic rescheduling of suspended hunting days; ensuring the sector has at least 50% representation in the Insular Hunting Council; and the restoration of traditional areas and training fields that have been prohibited during this legislative period.

Support from Local Politicians

PSOE councillor Benjamín Perdomo attended the rally to show support for hunters and harshly criticised the actions of the current president. “This year, hunting days for rabbit have been reduced by four and for partridge by five. However, Oswaldo appeared in a video alongside the councillor from the Canary Islands government announcing that hunting days would be extended due to a plague. That is a lie and a fresh deception of a sector that deserves respect,” he stated.

Lack of Communication

Perdomo also expressed regret that, in the past five weeks, the community has requested up to seven meetings without receiving any response. “And now, only after the mobilisation of 300 hunters, they announce that Haría will be opened. That is not respect; it is pure opportunism,” he affirmed.

Criticism of Government’s Actions

The socialist councillor further decried the “constant improvisation” of the local government, as demonstrated—he said—by the unjustified one-month delay in opening the training field, originally planned for March, and the closure of the cross-field for partridge hunters, which was permitted during the previous legislative term.

Call for Dialogue and Solutions

“The hunting sector has historically known how to coexist with the natural environment and build bridges with the primary sector. Criminalising and attacking this activity makes no sense. What is needed is solutions, opening a dialogue, and guaranteeing certainties. What should not happen is to continue deceiving hunters, farmers, or the residents of this island,” concluded Perdomo.