The governance of Icod de los Vinos is once again in the hands of PSOE,” announced socialist councilor Gerardo Rizo this morning. He will now be overseeing the Tourism department and the public company Icodtesa, responsible for managing the Parque del Drago and the municipal swimming pool.
This new role comes as a result of the agreement between his party and Alternativa Icodense (AI), which currently leads as a minority after the recent municipal elections. The aim is to provide “stability” to the City of Drago and regain its prominence in the region. The other PSOE councilor, Soledad Palenzuela, will be in charge of the Seniors, Equality, and LGTBIQ+ department.
The details of the pact were announced during the morning by both councilors, the mayor of Icodense, Javier Sierra, the general secretary of the PSOE in Tenerife, Pedro Martín, and the Secretary of AI Organization, Mónica González.
Sierra emphasized the support of the socialists in his investiture and highlighted the positive relationship and ongoing dialogue between the two parties from the very beginning. “Despite the issues during the primary process in 2018, no one is unaware of my origins,” he stated.
Although he downplayed the issue, it was widely speculated at the time that the formation of his new party was a result of Sierra narrowly missing out on becoming the general secretary of the local PSOE and subsequently, the lead candidate in the municipal elections.
“This marks the beginning of many beneficial policies for Icod de los Vinos after years of stagnation,” he affirmed.
To this end, both political factions have outlined common strategies to revitalize the municipality during this term.
These include a “long-standing commitment,” such as the renovation of San Marcos beach, which requires funding. To this end, the mayor recently met with the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, to advance the project.
Another focus is on developing road infrastructure, given the high youth unemployment rate in Icod de los Vinos, which, as Rizo emphasized, necessitates support from higher authorities to implement these policies.
The third focus is on the completion of the municipal administration’s human resources and personnel structure, as it is crucial for undertaking major projects.
Tourism promotion is also a key aspect. Both AI and the PSOE believe that the Cueva del Viento, under the management of the Cabildo of Tenerife, “is not being utilized effectively to generate wealth and employment for the municipality.” Thus, they have pledged to “work towards promoting a well-maintained visitor center and enhancing the tourist attraction” offered by the volcanic tube.
Another project that was mentioned is a neighborhood plan to improve all the infrastructure of the City of Drago, including public lighting and the water network, as these directly impact the residents’ quality of life.
“We have established common strategies. We are not seeking stability for AI at the helm of the City Council but rather a strong and steady government that facilitates the implementation of necessary projects for the municipality,” Javier Sierra and Gerardo Rizo emphasized.
