The study should be “as broad as possible” and address “in depth” the alternatives from the socio-economic, environmental, territorial and connectivity perspective. «This would be the main port infrastructure project that the Government of the Canary Islands would assume », highlights Sebastian Franquis, who recalls that the budget for the planned work amounts to about 200 million euros. “For this reason alone, the preparation of this study is required,” emphasizes the counselor, who requests his appearance before the Parliament of the Canary Islands to explain the importance of the agreement reached yesterday between the regional government and the Cabildo.
Other circumstances
“No alternative is ruled out, because there is no particular interest in having the infrastructure built in one place or another”, clarifies Pedro Martín. The island president states that, “at the time”, other sites were studied “and the best option seemed to be Fonsalía. The Port of Granadilla did not exist». In the 29 years since the construction of the dock in Guía de Isora was planned conditions and circumstances have changed, which makes it clear that the decision on the future of maritime connections between the Western Islands resulting from evaluating the five proposals must respond to “an adequate balance between the economic and environmental interests of the island of Tenerife.”
Pedro Martín is insistent in the search for the «greatest possible support» of Tenerife society through study, analysis, assessment and «the consensus of the citizens». He says this taking into account that this document “will define the maritime connections between the Western Isles in the next 30 or 40 years.”
The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing and the Cabildo identify several criteria prior to the formulation of alternatives to the Port of Fonsalía. Among them is the study of current and future maritime traffic and mobility needs between the islands of the Occidental province, their social and economic relevance and the environmental effects on the island territory to develop sustainable infrastructures. The study of alternatives must also take into account a detailed analysis of the effects on the roads between the metropolitan and industrial areas and the different existing ports, to be developed or to be expanded on the Island.
Martín and Franquis do not allude to the fact that the execution of the port in Fonsalía has been ruled out. After certifying that the Environmental Impact Statement of the project has lost its validity, “a stage is closed,” says the counselor. “We are proposing that a new environmental impact assessment of the project be carried out after carrying out a study on the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives for the maritime connection of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife”, underlines the island president.
“I am convinced that this matter will not be part of the debate in the PSOE regional congress from now on. I believe that with today’s agreement (yesterday) we have managed well the demand that we all had for Tenerife society, ”referring to the current social and political debate on the Isorano port, says Sebastián Franquis. The counselor admits the existence of discrepancies within the regional government and makes explicit that the Fonsalía project is not part of the Pact of the flowers. “It is a solid agreement that coincides with what is considered between the different political forces,” he adds.
The problem is Los Cristianos
Franquis predicts that in a year «we will see each other to find the most effective answer to the problems that the Port of Los Cristianos, which is the problem that exists today. The Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing announces the commitment to transfer to the representative sectors of Tenerife society the scope of the agreement with the Council of Tenerife.
In his public appearance, the president of the Insular Corporation attributed to the previous governments of the Canary Coalition (CC) the commission of projects that he allowed to expire in their processing, something that “is not reasonable or adequate” because “a lot of money has been spent” in the process followed with the Port of Fonsalía, for example. The environmental impact statement was approved on December 22, 2014 by the regional government, chaired by CC, and expired on the same day in 2018, also with the Presidency of the nationalists.
Fepeco praises the reasonableness of the proposal and the management
Óscar Izquierdo, president of the construction association in the province, Fepeco, praises “the seriousness of the approach, its historical opportunity and the political courage” of Sebastián Franquis and Pedro Martín. In his opinion, “rationality and sanity are beginning to be seen” in the debate on the construction of the Port of Fonsalía. He agrees with the regional councilor for Public Works and the president of the Cabildo that infrastructures require an analysis that goes beyond the impact on the environment – “that’s called fundamentalism” -. For Izquierdo, both politicians “have raised very well” the need for the “macro-study” to take into account “the advantages and economic, financial, social, territorial and island structuring conditions – with the corresponding studies – that clarify its true repercussions” . For the president of Fepeco, “this is called a political management marked by plurality, harmony, agreement and consensus.” Óscar Izquierdo draws attention to “the haste with which this macro-study is being carried out.” From his perspective, “it is a demonstration that there is an interest in seeking solutions acceptable to all parties and not getting bogged down in sterile debates, that the only thing they serve is to tighten the social, economic and political environment, in addition to indefinitely delaying the works to be carried out. execute that, of that, unfortunately, we have many examples in Tenerife ». The Presidency of the Provincial Federation of Construction Entities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife emphasizes that by proposing alternatives and concrete proposals at the same time, “progress is being made with respect to what has historically been done on our Island: delaying everything for its expiration and non-execution ». In conclusion, Izquierdo highlights that the agreement between the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo “puts on the table the need to know how to listen, dialogue, give in, agree and propose the best for each island and for the Canary Islands.” Today, the national executive of Nueva Canarias will ask to reorganize maritime and land traffic, improve shipping company hours and accessibility by road to the Port of Los Cristianos and use that of Granadilla as a complement.
