The Cabildo supports the defense of the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) and its adaptation to the needs of Canary Islands. The island president Peter Martin, expresses, during a meeting with the promoters of the Manifesto on this document, his support for it «to continue promoting our social and economic development from the institutions and organisations». He also proposes an “information boost to make the REF known to Canarian society.”
Martín, the second vice president and island councilor for the Presidency, Finance and Modernization, Berta Pérez, and the island director of Coordination and Support for the President, Aarón Afonso, held a rMeeting with the promoters of the Manifesto.
The initiative, supported by dozens of institutions, both public and private, proposes to “legally shield the REF as an economic and fiscal tool.” The objective of this measure is that “the Canary Islands can compete in equal conditions with the rest of the territory national”.
The insular government expressed its support for this defense of the REF and its adaptation to the economic and social needs of the Archipelago. Martín underlines: “The pandemic has affected vital sectors of our economy, which require greater flexibility to be able to recover and require a prompt response.” The president adds that “we must work hand in hand, and leave partisan issues aside.”
Pedro Martín announces that «I will personally contact the president of the Canary Islands Government, Ángel Víctor Torres, to express our support for him to lead the negotiations with the State”. It also anticipates that will be transferred to the Canary Islands Federation (FECAI) the manifesto for your consideration and support.
At the meeting, the president also addressed the advisability of “the Economic and Fiscal Regime, which is our jurisdiction, is known more among the Canarian societyin general, and that it be disseminated especially among our young people through academic and educational centers».
Martín stressed the need for citizens to know all the implications that the REF has on matters of relevance for the whole of society.
The meeting was attended by Oscar Izquierdo, president of Fepeco, the construction employers’ association; Samuel Cruz, dean of the Official College of Mercantile and Business Graduates of Santa Cruz de Tenerife; Juan Luis Alayón, president of the Association of Fiscal Advisers of the Canary Islands; José Luis Casajuana, dean of the Colegio Economistas, and Víctor Paz, treasurer-controller of Fepeco and economist. They all moved the need to make aspects of the REF more flexible to face the exceptional difficulties that the Canarian economic and social fabric is going through.
Samuel Cruz took stock: «We value positively the response of the councilthat of the president and his team, since we need to give voice to the unity and defense of our REF».
For Cruz, “the adaptation of this instrument to events such as the pandemic or the La Palma volcano eruption they are absolutely necessary for the future welfare of the Canaries. We do not ask for more, only legal certainty.
