The Regional Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds of the Canary Islands was yesterday against the request for dismissal of the general director of Fisheries, Carmelo Dorta, after the provincial federations of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife have claimed it in writing to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands. His representative David Pavón insisted that “there are no reasons” to demand Dorta’s resignation and showed his support for the work he has developed in the last three years. “You can always do better, but I think it has turned to the sector,” he stressed. In addition, he points out that 11 of the 13 brotherhoods that make up the regional association, and that are also present in the provincial ones, were unaware that the resignation had been requested and were also against it. “We are surprised and outraged because these brotherhoods have not been consulted,” he stresses.
The two provincial federations have accused Dorta of paralyzing vital projects for the fishermen of the Canary Islands and of dividing the group by showing favorable treatment towards the regional Federation. Something that Pavón also rejects and assures that his objective has always been to integrate all the brotherhoods, although they may continue to be part of the provincial groups, to unify and make the sector in the Archipelago stronger. “And we continue with our hands outstretched although we have seen that it is difficult to work as a team,” he lamented.
From his point of view, what is hidden behind this conflict is “a brutal campaign” to end the Regional Federation of Brotherhoods. Created in 2015 with the aim of uniting the sector, since its birth it has been crossed by several disputes that have ended up causing a good part of the brotherhoods to abandon it. “It’s a game of thrones and they saw our appearance as a threat,” explains Pavón, who believes that they are seeking to dissolve the entity he represents in order to distribute the grant he receives.
