Local Mayor Reflects on Community Priorities and Challenges
“Oswaldo Betancort should continue his policies, even if they are not the ones I would pursue if I were president.”
“I know Pedro Sánchez was unable to fully enjoy the island as he had to address the fires and many other issues, and everyone deserves a break that should be respected.”
Isidro Pérez, the mayor of San Bartolomé, stated during the “A Buena Hora” programme on Crónicas Radio this Monday that he did not wish to compare with other councils but implied that his municipality utilises funds for festivities much more effectively. He took the opportunity to detail some ongoing projects and lamented the difficulty in having the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, respond to their requests. He also claimed that while Armando Santana has been vocally critical of the management in Arrecife, it might actually be the leaders of the Coalición Canaria who are most interested in this situation.
– The Councillor for Festivities in Arrecife, Echedey Eugenio, suggested that those who criticise the San Ginés expenses should look to San Bartolomé, which has also been generous.
– Nothing could be further from the truth. Historically, the festivities in San Bartolomé have always commenced on the first Monday of August and concluded on the 24th. This has not changed. I understand Echedey’s need to justify the criticism received regarding the festivities in Arrecife. In San Bartolomé, an afternoon of traditional games can cost the organisation about €1,500 for prizes, attracting over 650 participants. The Noche de Parrandas, which attracted between 2,500 and 3,000 people according to the local police, costs less than €10,000. We are not here to compete. I have seen the controversy surrounding a single concert in the capital that allegedly cost €750,000. With that amount, I could organise the San Bartolomé, Playa Honda, Güime, El Islote, and Montaña Blanca festivities for two years. The bingo event we held in San Bartolomé attracted nearly 1,000 players, with a prize cost around €1,500. It’s not about the money spent but how you engage the community. That’s a success for us. I won’t compare myself with other councils, but €750,000 is what I would need to support a family respite centre for two years, and that’s truly my focus on social policy.
– So, are you suggesting that with more effort and creativity, similar outcomes can be achieved?
– Yes. This year, we revived the traditional women’s canary wrestling, and it was a success. We also organised a popular gymkhana, run by a neighbourhood association with a minimal budget, which was also a resounding success. I want to commend the Councillor for Festivities and the other departments involved. It’s laughable that San Bartolomé provides more scholarship assistance to students than Arrecife. I would not engage an artist whose presence could cast doubt on other areas of management.
– You are responsible for the upkeep of educational centres. How is the new school year shaping up?
– Everything is in order. We’ve done an excellent job. We just completed the necessary touch-ups at Playa Honda school, and we have had to reorganise spaces at Ajey school. Everything is ready for the new academic year, and while I am unsure if Fernando Clavijo will be present, the Education Minister is definitely attending. I maintain a very good relationship with him and we are in constant contact. He mentioned he would be at the unitary school in Güime on the 9th. I would love for Fernando Clavijo to come as well to update me on the Playa Honda health centre, from which I have yet to receive information.
– Are you still unaware of the health centre’s status?
– No. The president visited the commencement of works at the Alcalde Alexis Tejera Lemes school, where I provided him with a folder of information, but it seems he lost it. I sent him a message not long ago, but I have not received a response; however, we will keep pushing. Recently, some Playa Honda residents mentioned that if we were not heard, they might organise a petition amongst the community, and I told them to count my support. It’s a necessity.
– By the way, there seems to be an uproar about a construction project.
– As usual, where there is construction, there is noise. I was particularly worried about the volume of traffic due to the excavation being carried out, but it’s going very smoothly. This is the largest public work funded entirely by this council in its history, totalling nearly €6 million. The commotion is due to the planned 118 parking spaces within the project. The construction company has informed me that if all goes well, the excavation—the most disruptive aspect—should be completed by the end of this month.
– Is Lanzagrava overseeing the work?
– Yes. It’s a local company from the municipality and they are working at a very good pace. The assessments conducted showed promising results, but when they began digging, they encountered more rock than expected, which has caused delays and noise. Once completed, residents will appreciate the investment this council has made. We must remember that the facilities which were there for culture, sport, and associations date back to 1999, when Playa Honda had a population of 3,000. Twenty-six years later, the population has exceeded 12,000, and the facilities need to reflect that growth. It will be an energy-efficient building, featuring 18 spaces for community groups, libraries, audiovisual areas, exhibitions… The more community groups we have, the better society functions.
– Were you able to speak with Pedro Sánchez?
– I did not have the opportunity. The president’s presence on the island is always a chance to raise visibility. I understand he could not fully enjoy the island because he had to deal with the fires and other numerous matters, and everyone deserves a well-deserved break. We should take pride in having personalities like the president, Kortajarena, or Pedro Almodóvar as admirers of our island. We are entering a rather complicated loop in politics, as regression won’t be easy.
– What regression are you referring to?
– I mean that when we enter into specific policies prevailing in northern or eastern Europe, Italy, France… where the polarisation towards the far-right is dismantling a social safety net established over many years, if we regress to darker times, it will be challenging to regain the social protections and rights that Spaniards deserve. A party leader, who is the third largest in Spain, cannot talk about sinking a boat that provides humanitarian assistance. We are losing our sense of humanity.
– This sounds like a pre-campaign speech. Do you think there might be an advance in elections?
– I don’t believe so. The political landscape of agreements and pacts is here, and if the president decides on an advance election, we will have to go to the polls and fiercely defend progressive policies. I am convinced that there will not be an early election. The left in this country needs to engage in real educational efforts.
– Does the PSOE have a spy in Armando Santana, who continually criticises actions in Arrecife and claims that the best mayor would be Alfredo Mendoza?
– I haven’t read anything, but I have heard rumours that Armando Santana has released a few articles. Perhaps it’s worth considering that those who are interested in such policies are the ones who have placed him on the Cabildo’s Government Council and wish to create confusion. I know he had a meeting with the Cabildo president recently, which he even posted about on social media, and I find it quite sad that it is newsworthy for a president to meet with a mayor, whether it’s me or the one from Tías.
– With the more recalcitrant mayors.
– No, other mayors merely need to lift the phone for assistance. Others like me have to almost beg for a response. Presidents are meant to act in their capacity and comply with the precepts of the Cabildo Law, assisting municipalities, especially those with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants like San Bartolomé. He may continue implementing his policies, although they are not the strategies I would pursue if I were president.
– Has there been any news regarding water issues in August?
– The Cabildo should focus on water issues. A month ago, they claimed to have purchased 5,000 membranes to enhance water production, but the problem is not production; rather, we have pipes that resemble sieves. On a positive note, I must say that Domingo Cejas always answers his phone. Residents in El Islote went 21 days without water in August. I announced that if we could all reach an agreement, San Bartolomé would fully allocate FDCAN funds for water. They did not respond to that request. I have the Arrecife street project licensed and awarded, and in collaboration with the water councillor, I told him to halt it because it hosts the most water leaks on Lanzarote. Now, the Cabildo wants to reclaim the cooperation plans from previous years, from 2020 to 2023. I have no issue with those from 2020 to 2022, as all have been executed. However, regarding 2023, I paused this project to channel the water efficiently, intending to first lay the groundwork before executing the project. And now they expect me to return that money because the work was not completed. These inconsistencies are infuriating as a mayor because, ultimately, I will have to refuse their request for fund reimbursement since the non-execution of this project was not my responsibility.
