SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Socialist Group within the Tenerife Island Council will inquire during the upcoming plenary session of the Corporation about the measures and steps being taken by the island government under the leadership of Rosa Dávila concerning those accountable for the condition of the Tenerife Auditorium. This action comes after the recent granting of a twelve-month extension to architect Santiago Calatrava, which was approved when the 19-month deadline set by the Island Council during the administration of socialist Pedro Martín back in May 2022 was close to expiration.
According to the President of the Socialist Group, Pedro Martín, the group believes that it is inappropriate to provide special treatment to the architect, such as this deadline extension. They also question whether other privileges, like the option to subcontract the project or bypass certain required tasks, have been granted.
In May 2022, the Governing Council of the Cabildo de Tenerife had requested Santiago Calatrava LLC to develop, at its own cost, the project for the necessary works at the Auditorium due to its condition. A 19-month timeframe was stipulated, with the original deadline set to expire in January 2024 (notified in June 2022). A specific schedule with deadlines was also established.
However, as the due date approached in November 2023, the Cabildo government, during a Governing Council meeting, approved a twelve-month extension for the project development, further delaying the resolution of issues surrounding an iconic structure for the Island. The final cost escalated to 74 million Euros, significantly surpassing the initial budget of 26.7 million Euros, as noted by the PSOE.
The Socialist Party highlights that upon assuming the island government, they found the Auditorium in a state of disrepair, necessitating a series of actions. Initially, efforts were made to mediate between the technical management and the construction companies involved in order to commence rehabilitation. Subsequently, surveillance and control services were contracted to oversee the façade materials to prevent harm to the public. An agreement was also reached to prompt the architect to outline a new project with defined deadlines and a schedule, a process that the current administration is prolonging.
Last week, the Socialist Group tabled this issue for discussion in the Culture committee, but the island government faction “cited various procedural justifications to avoid its inclusion in the agenda and subsequent discussion.” Therefore, the question has been officially submitted for the upcoming plenary session scheduled for Friday, where it will be addressed by the President directly.
