Nauzet Fariña, the representative of Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC), raised alarm on Wednesday regarding the “social turmoil” unfolding in the municipality of Arona, located in the south of Tenerife. An urgent solution has not yet been sought for the 210 individuals who were forcibly removed on Tuesday from an incomplete building in Costa del Silencio, leading them to be left homeless.
Fariña emphasized that NC-BC had previously highlighted this situation on multiple occasions and criticised the lack of proactive measures taken by the municipal government, which has a budget of over one million Euros allocated for emergency assistance.
“They were aware of this situation for months and possess the financial means to implement extraordinary measures,” Fariña questioned.
The focus was on upholding the “dignity” of those affected and preserving the reputation of Arona. Fariña remarked, “There is no sense in showcasing the municipality at international tourism expos if visitors witness individuals being abandoned on the streets.”
NC-BC suggested that the Mayor, Fátima Lemes, along with her municipal government, is detached from the reality of the situation.
“The lack of involvement, spontaneity, and dedication to an unsustainable development model has become the norm,” rejected Fariña.
According to him, “If the same effort put into advancing the El Mojón urban project, which overlooks public housing entirely among the planned 9,000 new accommodations, had been devoted to resolving this crisis, we wouldn’t be in this current state.” NC was, in fact, the lone dissenting voice against the plan.
Fariña stressed the necessity of both the Mayor and her government pressing the Tenerife Island Council for a “genuine” contribution to finding solutions for the municipality and the broader southern region of the island, where the housing shortage remains a pressing issue without a definitive solution in sight.
Nueva Canarias-BC reiterates its commitment to “constantly extend a helping hand” from the opposition to ensure that Arona’s issues progress, always prioritising the defence of people’s interests through consensus, respect, and dialogue.
