The Socialist Party (PSOE) has voiced support for the hunters on the Island, who gathered once again outside the Cabildo this Saturday to denounce what they describe as the deception and manipulation orchestrated by President Oswaldo Betancort. Over 300 people attended the event, signing a manifesto to be submitted to the island’s governing body, as noted by the socialists, who acted as both spokespersons and witnesses to the frustrations of the affected individuals.

Criticism of Local Governance

Socialist councillor Benjamín Perdomo expressed support for the hunters and fiercely criticised Betancort’s strategy: “This year, hunting days for rabbits have been reduced by four and by five for partridges. Yet, Oswaldo appeared in a video alongside the Canary Islands’ government councillor, announcing an extension of hunting days due to a rabbit plague affecting the agricultural sector. Once again, this is a lie and a new deception that erodes the trust of a sector that deserves respect,” he stated in his remarks.

Calls for Dialogue and Action

The councillor described it as an “absolute sham” that over the past five weeks, hunters have requested seven meetings without any response from the Cabildo president. “Now, only after the mobilisation of 300 hunters, they announce that Haría will be opened. This is not respect; it is sheer opportunism and a desperate attempt to respond now that the sector has demonstrated they have been misled,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, Perdomo reminded that the unjustifiable delay in opening the training field, which was supposed to commence in March but opened a month late, “is further evidence of the improvisation and lack of management this government is known for.” He also mentioned the closure of the cross-field for partridge hunters, which was permitted during the previous legislative term.

Insistence on Respect and Protection

According to the socialist councillor, hunters have historically been a group that knows how to coexist with the natural environment and build bridges with the primary sector, “aware of the importance of maintaining a balance that allows for both territorial protection and agricultural activity.”

In this regard, Perdomo emphasised that the PSOE in Lanzarote rejects “the criminalisation and continuous attacks on hunting activities” and demands that the Cabildo finally listen to the sector’s grievances: “What is needed now is to provide solutions, open dialogue, and ensure certainty. What shouldn’t continue is the deception of hunters, just as it should not apply to farmers or residents of this island.”