The Socialist Group in the Lanzarote Cabildo has denounced a new episode of wastefulness and lack of transparency from the island president, Oswaldo Betancort, regarding a trip to Texas that will cost over €250,000 of public funds.
Unjustifiable Spending
The contract was awarded through a privately chosen company, a process that prevents the public from seeing a detailed breakdown of the expenses and their specific applications.
Financial Crisis
Ariagona González, the spokesperson for the Socialist Group, reminded the public that the Cabildo is in a state of technical bankruptcy, which has already led to the cancellation of projects and commitments made to the citizens.
Political Marketing vs. Community Needs
“It is absolute incoherence: while initiatives are 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 essential services, yet the island president prefers to allocate money to political marketing.”
Concerns About Transparency
González warned that this system of outsourcing protects access to key information such as invoices, fees, travel expenses, allowances, production, or logistics costs, reducing transparency and hindering public oversight.
A Pattern of Opacity
“A private company is hired specifically to conceal how each euro is spent. This is not an isolated mistake; it is a pattern of opacity. There is no accredited return for the island, no serious economic report, nor any measurable objectives. There is only propaganda funded by public money while the Cabildo admits it cannot meet its commitments,” concluded the Socialist spokesperson.
