SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 27th of May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The overall coordinator of the Popular Party in the Canary Islands, Jacob Qadri, has emphasised that despite the persistent stagnation of the Sánchez Government, the representatives of the Popular Group in Congress, which includes the six deputies from the Canary Islands of his party, “continue their endeavours to meet the commitments made to the citizens and persist in presenting initiatives in the Lower House that cater to the needs of the Canary Islands.”
Qadri made these remarks today in Tenerife’s capital during a media appearance to discuss the different measures related to the Archipelago proposed by the popular deputies, where he was joined by Bella Verano, the deputy spokesperson for the PP in Congress, along with the deputies for the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Juan Antonio Rojas and Laura Lima.
The PP’s general coordinator in the Islands highlighted that they are “going through a very challenging and concerning moment, confronted with a Spanish Government incapable of implementing any form of initiative, as it is constrained by its allies.” “Nevertheless, our deputies and senators are carrying out oversight work and conveying the voice and sentiments of the Canary Islands to the Cortes Generales,” he added.
Qadri also expressed regret that due to Sánchez’s “mistakes” in leading the country, “there is no option but to persist in working responsibly, advocating for the rights of all the Canary Islands and voicing our concerns over the non-compliance with our Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF), the so-called Canarian Agenda, or in light of the crisis posed by migration impacting the Islands, which we are facing in complete isolation, abandoned by the Central Government,” he pointed out.
“The Canary Islands have never been as distant from the rest of Spain as they are presently. The mistreatment and disregard shown towards the Islands by the Government is highly concerning,” Qadri stated, lamenting that financial allocations for the Archipelago “have been redirected to other autonomous communities” favoured by Sánchez in exchange for his political position.
On her part, Bella Verano, the deputy spokesperson for the Popular Party in the Lower House, criticised “Sanchez’s intent to shut down Congress, thus hindering debates that bring transparency to the cases of alleged corruption affecting the Socialists,” mentioning cases such as Koldo and Mascarillas, or to mollify the pressure from the Government’s pro-independence allies. Ultimately, she underscored, “we are facing a Government incapable of governance, of enacting crucial laws such as the Land Law, while actively supporting other laws that inflict substantial harm, such as the Amnesty Law,” she affirmed.
PP’s Proposals
Juan Antonio Rojas, the PP deputy for the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, stated that “in light of the Government’s inaction, we cannot remain idle, which is why we have championed various initiatives that impact our Archipelago.” Among them, he highlighted two with the backing of the 137 Popular Party deputies in Congress.
“These initiatives aim to promote the economic diversification of the Archipelago through the Blue Economy and to demand that Pedro Sánchez adheres to the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands, a responsibility he has neglected since assuming the Presidency of Spain, diminishing and disregarding the rights of all Canarians,” he explained.
According to Rojas, maritime transport is “the cornerstone” of the Blue Economy, and “therefore, to serve as a tool for genuinely stimulating the economy, we proposed a Non-Legislative Motion related to bolstering the competitiveness of the Special Registry of Vessels and Shipping Companies of the Canary Islands (REBECA).” “This would provide the Islands with a crucial push in generating wealth, as well as an exceptional platform for international promotion, which could act as a catalyst for the economic diversification of the Archipelago and contribute to leveraging the vast potential of the Blue Economy,” he highlighted.
Furthermore, the Popular Party has also lodged another Non-Legislative Motion urging the Government to ensure full compliance with the Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands in air and maritime transport with the Islands, by updating the amounts of the bonus for the transportation of goods.
The REF “clearly” mandates updating the amounts of the bonus for transporting goods in the Canary Islands, with costs allocated in the General State Budgets annually, to compensate 100% of the actual maritime transport costs and inter-island air freight transport between the Canary Islands and the Peninsula or other European Union countries, although this is another measure hampered by the absence of General Budgets.
Presently, the assistance received for transport barely covers 65% of the freight rate, leaving companies to bear the burden of the remaining 35%. This scenario is especially concerning for medium and small enterprises, which lack the capacity to negotiate more favourable rates due to their lower transportation volumes, as per Rojas.
LITTLE BRAVE
Laura Lima, the PP representative for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, disclosed the submission in Congress of a Non-Legislative Proposition that seeks to address the demands of the Canarian association Pequeno Valiente, whose primary objective is to enhance the quality of life of all children with cancer and their families.
Lima highlighted that this initiative aims to ensure that, from the initial diagnosis, a disability of at least 33% from ages 0 to 18 is recognised, thereby enabling families to access assistance and services such as financial aid, rehabilitative therapies, home adaptations, educational support, transportation subsidies, or preferential parking. “Presently, with the prevailing regulations, the interpretation applied in each region leads to unequal treatment for the child depending on their place of residence,” the PP deputy concluded.
