The plenary session of the Cabildo of Tenerife approved this Friday a resolution to “coordinate and reach consensus” with the Government of the Canary Islands the execution of the major pending works on the island’s roadsroad infrastructures that are included in the Agreement Canary Islands-Status 2018-2027. The CC and PP government amended the PSOE motion that, despite repeated attempts to achieve a unanimous agreement, voted against it, considering the final text “decaffeinated”, since its proposal proposed prioritizing the TF-5 Variant from Guamasa, in La Laguna, and the Fañabé tunnel “to put an end to the queues.”
The agreement includes urging the Government of the Canary Islands to “agree” on the solution to the project of the La Laguna Ring Road, the TF-5 Variant, on the Northern Highway, with the Cabildo and begin the works after the appropriate legal processing. The text also agrees to request the Canary Islands Executive to coordinate with the Island Corporation the start of the works on the false Fañabé-Playa de tunnel. The Americas on the Southern Highway (TF-1), with identical compliance with the legal precepts.
Furthermore, the agreement requests the same for the works project on the TF-5 from San Juan de la Rambla to Icod de los Vinoscontinue with the processing of the third lanes on the North and South highways (San Isidro-Playa Las Américas), as well as process the Gorgorana Tunnel and TF1-TF2 connection projects on the Santa Maria del Mar.
The socialist group’s Highway spokesman, Manuel Martínez, stressed that each work requires “not 90 days, but 900” in its prior processing, and insisted that “we cannot return to point zero of studying all the projects.” He warned that Tenerife “can lose more than 500 million in road projects that are already planned, with technical and environmental reports, if there is no determination from the island and regional governments.”
“Fundamentals.” Martínez stated that there are “fundamental” works to end traffic collapses, such as the TF-5 variant and the Fañabé tunnel, which in the previous legislature “were agreed upon and advanced so much policy as technically, to the point that the Government of the Canary Islands would be in a position to put them out to tender now. The socialist advisor defends that these works are a priority for three reasons: they do not consume territory and, therefore, there is no need to carry out expropriations; second, they have a low environmental impact, because they are mostly underground; and, third, they are works that do not affect traffic.
The spokesperson stressed that “these two actions, together with the works currently being carried out on the Island Ring and the Chafiras-Oroteanda link, will be decisive in changing vehicle mobility on the Island.”
There was agreement “in substance, but not in form.” Manuel Fernandez (PP) and, to a lesser extent, “with a small mouth” the Minister of Highways, Dámaso Arteaga (CC), tried to correct those “nuances” and agree on a text, but the PSOE rejected it. Arteaga, in the middle of the Canary Islands retreat, mentioned on a couple of occasions that the Socialist Group was mediated by “a thin thread”, in obvious reference to José Luis Delgado, general director of Road Infrastructures in the Government of the Canary Islands in the previous legislature. In the end, 20 votes (CC, PP and Vox) in favor of the amendment and 11 against (PSOE).
Waste rate. The Cabildo, at the request of the Socialist Group and with unanimous support, agreed to freeze the waste rate for the 31 municipalities of the Island until April 10, 2025. The moratorium will remain until the date on which it will enter into force on a mandatory basis. the new state law.
The Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, explained, after the presentation of the speaker, Javier Rodríguez Medina, that the new state law requires municipalities to update the rates from January 1, 2024, although The Cabildo has decided not to apply the planned increase “so that they can carry out the necessary actions such as the preparation of municipal ordinances with updated rates and the processing of new waste collection contracts.” All with the objective of “being able to adapt to the new management model of the Island of Tenerife and comply with the law.”
Likewise, the counselor valued the meetings at Fecai and Fecam “to move forward, together with the Government of the Canary Islands, “towards the circular economy and the sustainability of the Island and the Archipelago.”
Solidarity entities. The plenary session agreed to “value the work of third sector associations to address social emergency situations.” The “almost unanimous” agreement included “the Council’s recognition of the uniqueness of the entities that distribute food and basic necessities.”
Juan José Martínez (CC), Nauzet Gugliotta (PSOE), and Águeda Fumero (PP) defended common bases. Ana Salazar (Vox) justified the abstention of the Mixed Group (that is, Vox) in what she understands by “ideologization” when classifying gender violence. The attempt to convince the two green councilors was unsuccessful. In this framework we must include the dialectical scuffle between Gugliotta and Salazar, who accepted the former’s apology “for the vehemence in my speech.” Salazar also criticized Marián Franquet for laughing at one point and the president, Rosa Davila, called her to order. Salazar apologized.
The final resolution (29 in favor and two abstentions) includes gratitude for the work of these entities in caring for the most vulnerable people, especially during the pandemic and with reference to the elderly, migrants in vulnerable administrative situations, single women with family responsibilities, victims of gender violence and their families, those experiencing homelessness or residential exclusion and, in general, the most vulnerable. Support will be “priority” to social entities that distribute essential products with a guarantee on the continuity of subsidy lines, and an increase, in accordance with the cost of living, of financial contributions. There was also a “guarantee” of support for ALS patients and their families, who have received a subsidy of 275,000 euros this year.
It was a tense moment – there were few – the one starring Marián Franquet and Efraín Medina about the childcare vouchers. For the socialist, a measure resulting from “improvisation and taking a photo.” The nationalist urged the bases to wait and reiterated his “outstretched hand” to consensus. The end of the session was marked by ideology. Naim Yánez (Vox) asked about “the excessive arrival of emigrants” and “measures to be taken.” Águeda Fumero focused the response on the “lack of skills” and “solidarity.”
“What are you here for?”
Juan Acosta (CC), doctor, mayor of Santa Úrsula and counselor with delegation in Education for prevention. What his powers are and to what extent they clash with those of Social Action and the IASS was the reason for his appearance (short, and to be appreciated) at the request of the Socialist Group. It they attacked Marián Franquet and Nauzet Gugliotta, who focused their speech on a delegation created ad hoc, but also Vox, because “CC puts its claws (sic) in the PP areas.” He was “defended” by José Miguel Ruano, nationalist spokesperson, who insisted on the value of the Joint Commission to be created, and the person in charge of the social area, Águeda Fumero. Acosta extended his hand to consensus and dialogue from a department “under construction.” The 2024 budgets will mark resources and personnel with challenges such as mental health. | JDM
