SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, May 13. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The initiation of work by the five groups established by the Conference of Presidents of Island Councils to define a sustainable development model for the Canary Islands is set to commence next week. The President of the Government, Fernando Clavijo, has convened its 45 members for an inaugural meeting on 24th May at the Presidency of the Government. This gathering will kickstart discussions among the autonomous community, councils, and town councils concerning the necessary measures to tackle the demographic challenge and enhance the quality of life for all residents of the Canary Islands. The deadline for the groups to present their initial proposals is early October.
On May 24, at 10:00 a.m., the president of the Canary Islands will greet the members of the different working groups at the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Subsequently, they will proceed to separate rooms within the same building to initiate their deliberations and establish a timeline to adhere to the government’s roadmap in pursuit of a sustainable development model for the Canary Islands.
Vice-counselor of the Presidency and government spokesperson, Alfonso Cabello, underscored that each working group’s mandate is to propose specific measures within their assigned realms, adapting actions to suit the unique circumstances of each island and municipality. “The demographic challenge varies across the Canary Islands,” he noted, emphasizing that solutions regarding housing, taxation, land pressure, or tourism must be tailored to each locale.
Each of the five working groups comprises nine members: one from the regional government, one from each island corporation, and one appointed by the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam). The teams, comprising representatives from the autonomous Executive, councils, and city councils, are expected to deliver their initial findings at the start of October, as per the schedule established during the first Conference of Presidents on April 30 at the Canary Islands Parliament.
The goal is for these proposals to potentially be incorporated into the Budget project that the regional Government is required to present to the Regional Chamber before October 31, as clarified by Alfonso Cabello. Additionally, the conclusions reached by the working groups will be reviewed at a subsequent Conference of Presidents, scheduled to take place before the year’s end, as per the spokesperson’s reminder.
HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT
Emphasizing the Administration’s commitment, the Government spokesperson highlighted the “elevated” political stature accorded to the representatives of each administration within the groups, appointing individuals occupying senior positions in relevant fields. For instance, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda, will represent the Government of the Canary Islands on the ‘Transparency in the protection and development of the territory’ panel.
Leading positions in this committee include Jesús Pérez, Minister of the Environment of El Hierro; Nereida Calero, Island Area Councilor of the Presidency of Fuerteventura; Inés Miranda, Minister of Territorial Policy of Gran Canaria; Adasat Reyes, councillor of the Internal Regime Area of La Gomera; Jesús Alexander Machín, Minister of Territorial Policy of Lanzarote; Darwin Rodríguez, Minister of Public Works of La Palma; and Isabel Ramos, insular director of Territorial Planning of Tenerife. Representing Fecam is Mari Brito, the president of the organization uniting the archipelago’s 88 municipalities.
In the realm of the ‘Access to housing’ workgroup, the Government of the Canary Islands will be represented by the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez. Serving alongside him will be members from the seven island corporations, such as Amado Carballo, Minister of Social Rights of El Hierro; Víctor Alonso, Island Area Councilor for Social Action of Fuerteventura; Augusto Hidalgo, Minister of Public Works of Gran Canaria; Gregorio Medina, general director of Coordination of La Gomera; Miguel Ángel Jiménez, councillor of the Lanzarote Housing Area; María Mónica Gómez, insular director of Highways of La Palma; and Sonia Hernández, councillor of the Tenerife Municipal Cooperation Area. Representing the local corporations is Isidro Pérez, president of the Fecam Public Works Commission.
The third working team, focusing on ‘Taxation and employment in the tourism sector’, will have the Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jessica de León, representing the Government of the Canary Islands. Joining her are Davinia Suárez, insular director of Tourism of El Hierro; Nuria Cabrera, councillor of the Fuerteventura Treasury Area; Carlos Álamo, Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria; Gregorio Medina, general director of Coordination of La Gomera; Oswaldo Betancort, president of the island corporation of Lanzarote; Fernando González, Employment Minister of La Palma; and Lope Afonso, insular counselor of the Tenerife Tourism Area. Fecam’s representative for this group is Óscar Hernández, president of its Economy and Finance Commission.
ECOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES
Concerning measures related to ‘Environmental protection, access to protected natural spaces, circular economy, development of renewable energy and water’, the Government of the Canary Islands has designated the Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Zapata, as a member of the Conference of Presidents’ fourth working group. The representatives from the island corporations include Jesús Pérez, Minister of the Environment of El Hierro; Marlene Figueroa, councillor of the Fuerteventura Island Tourism Area; Raúl García, Minister of the Environment of Gran Canaria; Gregorio Medina, insular director of Coordination of La Gomera; Samuel Martín, Environment Minister of Lanzarote; Jesús María Armas, councillor of the Natural Environment of La Palma; and Blanca Pérez, councillor of the Natural Environment Area of Tenerife. Ignacio Rodríguez, president of the Fecam Territorial Policy Commission, represents the town councils.
The fifth working group, centred on the ‘Demographic Challenge’, will see the Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Alfonso Cabello, representing the regional Executive. The council members include Amado Carballo, councillor of Social Rights of La Gomera; Blas Acosta, Minister of Infrastructure of Fuerteventura; Marino Alduán, director of the Cabinet of the President of Gran Canaria; Casimiro Curbelo, president of the island corporation of La Gomera; María Jesús Tovar, Minister of the Treasury of Lanzarote; Jordi Pérez, director of the La Palma Presidency Area; and José Miguel Ruano, councillor of the Tenerife Presidency Area. Vicente Rodríguez, president of Fecam’s Rural Development Commission, will represent the organisation.
Moreover, the work teams will possess the autonomy to invite relevant experts to their meetings and request essential studies and reports for the preparation of their final suggestions and conclusions.
Additionally, Alfonso Cabello reminded that a meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, May 16, with the 47 Canarian town councils with populations under 10,000 inhabitants. The aim is to establish a collaborative network that facilitates consensus on regulatory, legislative, and executive decisions made by the Government of the Canary Islands.
