He Tenerife Council proposes Roberto Torres Rodríguez (Fine Arts and Interpretation), Basilio Valladares Hernández (Research and Innovation) and Juan Francisco Navarro Mederos (Historical Heritage) as Awards Canary Islands 2024. The government group rejected the initiative of the PSOE to add to the list those he defended, the sculptor Pepe Abad and two women by alleging that there is “a deficit of women” in this and other aspects of the island government: the astrophysicist Antonia Varela and the historian Maisa Navarro.
CC and PP raised the need to have a unitary relationship to qualify for the award before the next day 31 when the submission deadline is met, without detracting from the merits of the other proposals. They also alleged that, for example, in Fine Arts and Performance, someone from the world of dance has never been nominated.
The insular Corporation proposes choreographer Roberto Torres for his long career in promoting and artistic direction of performing arts festivals, projects and shows in the Canary Islands. Currently, Torres combines teaching with the creation of shows and his training as an actor and dancer with the direction of the Theater Victoria and the artistic direction of numerous festivals.
For his part, Basilio Valladares opts for the award for his scientific and teaching career. Valladares is professor emeritus of the Laguna University and obtained the extraordinary Prize for Doctorate in Pharmacy in 1981. Professor of Parasitology at the ULL since 2008, he founded and directed the University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands until his retirement.
In Historical Heritage, Juan Francisco Navarro Mederos is proposed as an eminent representative of critical thinking in the field of Canarian Cultural Heritage. This distinction is granted to people or entities whose continued work in the fields of Prehistory, History, Art History, Archeology and Monumental Heritage represents an important instrument for delving into the historical roots and hallmarks of the Canarian people. .
The “alternative” list of the PSOE is made up of José Abad, Antonia Varela and Maisa Navarro. The socialists clarify that their proposal was “an addition” and “not a substitution” to the proposed names.
The socialist group warns through a statement that it “votes in favor of the proposal made by the government group” but at the same time “regrets” that its proposal to “elevate the Government of the Canary Islands an equitable list.
In this way, the Cabildo of Tenerife There could have been six names submitted for the regional award, of which two would be women and four would be men.