El Fraile, situated in the municipality of Arona, was gripped by tension last Tuesday following the cancellation of the popular Santa Isabel de Portugal festivities. Originally planned to take place from the 27th of July to the 4th of August, the events were supposed to commence today, but they have been called off by the city council due to an alleged embezzlement carried out by a resident who, despite not being an official member of the party commission, was paid as the event organizer.
The merchants who reportedly paid a sum of around 60,000 euros to set up their stalls have already taken legal action, and the council, in collaboration with the Local Police and the Civil Guard, is investigating the matter.
According to information obtained by this publication, the individual in question purportedly collected money from vendors and other participants through the placement of stalls, advertising, donations, and other services. However, he did not hold any significant position within the festival commission. As the start of the festivities drew near and the commission failed to produce the required documentation to obtain necessary permits, concerns arose among authorities and locals. The situation escalated when a group of affected individuals gathered at the festival site on Tuesday afternoon to voice their grievances, leading to the revelation of the scam.
The alleged perpetrator even appeared at the protest location, where he was confronted by merchants demanding explanations and the return of their funds. Tensions heightened, resulting in verbal abuse and physical altercations. The Police had to intervene to prevent further conflicts, removing the individual from the scene. Upon the discovery of the alleged fraud, the Aronero City Council had no choice but to cancel the festivities due to the “organizational chaos.”
“I held no official role in the Festivities Commission”
The Festival Councilor of the Arona City Council, Alexis Gómez, informed DIARIO DE AVISOS yesterday that the commission primarily comprised of two key positions, the secretary and treasurer, responsible for organizing the festivities. “Upon formalizing a commission, we establish a framework of protection with almost daily meetings and discussions,” he stated.
The individual accused of misappropriating the funds, as per Gómez, “was not part of the commission.” However, he clarified that, with the organization’s consent, he undertook “an intermediary role between the commission and the fairground.” “He negotiated with vendors, collected donations and fees from fairground operators and other establishments. Additionally, he signed some payment receipts, a surprising act given his lack of authority to do so,” he explained.
In addition, the councilor mentioned that the city council will demand the commission to provide payment documentation for essential resources needed by the Aronero Town Council to carry out the festivities, such as ambulances, portable toilets, civil liability insurance, among others. He emphasized that the city council offers subsidies to cover such expenses.
“The commission hadn’t received any financial assistance as they had yet to submit several documents required. Just days before the festivities were set to begin, these documents were still outstanding,” highlighted the Festivities official.
“This year, no festivities will take place”
Alexis Gómez described the situation as “an organizational catastrophe,” but stated that the response from the Arona City Council has been comprehensive. While he refrained from disclosing the exact sum collected by the “fraudulent collector,” he estimated it to be around 60,000 euros pending official confirmation.
“We deeply regret the incident and are fully committed to accountability,” he expressed. Furthermore, the councilor confirmed the suspension of the festivities for this year. However, religious events may still be held, albeit with a disclaimer that “the safety of attendees cannot be guaranteed by the city council.”
