They have been intense, especially to attend to the media. At City Hall, talking to the departments I’m going to run and getting up to date on some things.
Have you already restructured the municipal government?
We’re on that. I will have to assume almost everything that Damián (his predecessor) had, so I have already met with the Local Police and the Technical Office. To that we must add Heritage and Youth. When Damián’s substitute is incorporated, we will complete the remodeling.
What are the first challenges you face?
Yes or yes, the rehabilitation of the Las Eras beach breakwater and the old Fasnia cinema. That, the main thing, but there are other relevant works such as the Farmer’s Market and the municipal shelter in La Zarza, highways, agricultural roads with completed projects… Many challenges.
What is the status of the Las Eras breakwater?
Costas’ authorization came just the day the Plenary became aware of Damián Pérez’s resignation. We are now in the phase of preparing the specifications for the bidding for this fundamental work. We hope that it will take place this year and that it will not affect the summer, because it is very deteriorated and there is a risk that the beach will suffer significant damage.
The old cinema is a relevant resource for the municipality…
It is awaiting the Cabildo’s approval, although it is included in its budget for Culture this year. It is assumed that the work will be awarded before the end of the financial year. Start it, I see it more complicated. But what is going to come out is the rehabilitation of the ruins of the old church. We are awaiting the approval of supervision.
Almost 20 years ago there was talk of building a straight road, almost, between the highway, at the height of Los Chasneros, and the town of Fasnia. You know something?
There is this idea of fast track. Idea, because there is no project, it is only reflected in the General Management Plan. Since the beginning of the mandate, we have asked the island councilor for Roads, Enrique Arriaga, a preliminary project, at least, because nothing has been done and it is a fairly complex work. An analysis of the layout is required to determine its feasibility. There has been a lack of information and distortion on this issue. What is budgeted by the Cabildo is the resurfacing and repair of gutters on the TF-620 highway, which connects the town center and Los Roques. It is about the road improving its conditions until the fast track can be built, something that will not be in the short term because, I insist, there is no project.
Do the train depots mortgage a very important part of Fasnia’s land?
That land is classified as industrial only for the depots of the southern train to be built. If they are not carried out, it will cease to be industrial. All the territory that we are mortgaged near the coast is relevant to us. But if they separate this land from the garages and keep it as industrial, we almost prefer that the train not be built. But we still do not have a defined position on the South train.
“Being far from the highway, we have to make double effort to appear on the map”
At his inauguration he spoke of a new health center…
Following the approach of the Health Management, since there are European funds that make it possible and that expanding the existing one does not meet expectations, in the environment of the current health center, in front of the sports center, we will buy two plots adjoining two other municipal ones that we will cede to the Government of the Canary Islands to build the health center we need. We are in the final administrative process of purchase and signature before a notary. The intention is for Fasnia to become a basic health area in the future. It will include emergencies.
Las Eras Nursery School is a pending issue. For when its commissioning?
When Damián became Mayor, in 2011, a change in regulations made it unfeasible for the City Council to put it into service. After years of management, the powers are transferred to us, but the property is deteriorated after 10 years closed and after suffering acts of vandalism. Education subsidizes us 40,000 euros to rehabilitate the School and the work will begin in a few days. The bureaucracy and the administration have their rhythm, so I don’t want to fool myself, or fool myself, by announcing a deadline to proceed with its opening.
Mobility is a great handicap in a small but scattered population…
Public transport needs to be improved and the Tuwawa project is one way. We are in talks with the Cabildo, which is working to dispose of it this year. It is important.
Fasnia is that great unknown among the municipalities. Much remains to be done in that framework.
Little by little we are appearing on the map, as with the Viewers’ Festival. Our tourist slogan, Fasnia, discover it, is very graphic because yes, in the end we are the great unknown of the Canary Islands, I would say. My colleague Silvia Tejera is working on a campaign that will promote the municipality and invite you to discover it from the point of view of the senses, through trails and walks, for example.
The territory between the Güímar tunnel and San Isidro seems invisible, but it is there and it is very important due to its potential. What happens that in the supramunicipal they do not find out what happens and there is in this Southeast?
It is true. It seems the most depressed area, the one that receives the most hits and the least benefits, the most forgotten. I don’t know what’s up. In the end, the Metropolitan area and the tourist south eat us up. Being far from the highway we have to make double effort to appear on the map. We have a lot of work to do, as municipalities and as a region.
It is clear that they expected the departure of Damián Pérez. Have you rehearsed what it is to act as mayor?
During the last year, especially, Damián delegated more to the councilors and gave us an intensive master’s degree, but things change when he sees you here without him. He acted as the father of all and always resolved our doubts.
How many times have you talked to him these days?
Daily and up to three times. I hope to see you next week to finish catching up.
On Thursday he presided over his first ordinary plenary…
The sensation is very strange, because of Damián’s absence, because I sat in his chair… The sensation is very strange.
How did the opposition behave, which here is only CC?
I was a little disappointed, especially with Pedro Hernández. There is no consistency between the words of dialogue and cordiality that he expressed in the plenary session of the inauguration with the conflictive attitude that he showed in this plenary session. He did not even vote in favor of authorizing the construction of the Las Eras jetty. I did not expect it, but I will try to redirect the situation.
At only 35 years old, he reaches the Mayor’s Office of his town. A plus of responsibility, since he is also municipal general secretary of his party, which supported him in his inauguration.
There were 17 public positions and the next day I conveyed my gratitude to Pedro Martín for this and for having the Fasnia militants in Congress. We are in a moment of growth of militants and with a consolidated group, with Omar López as regional deputy and Priscila de León as island councilor.
The PSOE breaks schemes by betting on a very young person with a cosmopolitan profile in an agrarian municipality. Did he do it, because at some point it had to be done, and with a serene transition?
I believe that the PSOE has been intelligent, that the steps have been taken well and that we have set an example with a model renovation. From 2011 until now there has been a progressive and gradual change of people and profiles, which culminates with the departure of Damián and my arrival at the Mayor’s Office.
When it’s your turn to emulate Damián Pérez and say goodbye, how would you like to be remembered?
As a hard-working mayor, I have done my best to improve the township in every way.
