The Canarian president expresses his “confusion” over the Government’s stance and criticises the archipelago as being “the new Lesbos”.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 16 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, remarked on Monday that he is bewildered by the actions of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming it is “damaging” the Canary Islands following the approval of a new protocol for the reception of unaccompanied migrant minors, stating that the current developments are merely an execution of the 2014 state protocol.
Consequently, he has declared that he will be travelling to Madrid this afternoon to address the Interministerial Commission on Immigration led by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, although he is not listed on the agenda.
“I understand that the circumstances warrant that, even if it is not on the agenda, they hold the meeting and allow me to speak to all the ministers. However, for now, the answer is no; they do not wish to engage,” he stated in an interview with ‘Canarias Radio’, as reported by Europa Press.
Clavijo has condemned the Government’s “threat” to refer the protocol to the Constitutional Court without presenting “any proposal, solution, or collaboration” in the interim, especially considering a migration agreement was previously established with the PP, which is what they had requested.
“For nearly a week, we have been imploring them to sit down with us, yet they remain unresponsive, only to swiftly respond with threats regarding the Constitutional Court and the Prosecutor’s Office. Therefore, I find it incomprehensible, and I fail to observe any willingness to resolve this issue,” he expressed.
He reiterated his “bewilderment” regarding the central government’s approach, noting they did not engage in negotiations with either the PP or Junts concerning the immigration law reform bill, and only met once, on their own initiative, on 12 August under the condition of secrecy.
In addition, he lamented that the Government has not allocated “a single euro” to reimburse the Canary Islands for the costs of accommodating migrant minors, nor have they coordinated efforts with the regional Government.
“THEY REJECT WHAT OCCURS HERE”
“It is evident that they are utterly detached from the Canary Islands and are indifferent to what happens here,” he remarked.
The Canarian president reasserted that the central government has a “responsibility” towards these minors, as “the State fails to fulfil its duty to monitor the borders and to regulate the migratory flow, since these are exclusive competencies of the State that are manifestly unfulfilled.”
Thus, he queried, “they neither safeguard our borders, nor do they take responsibility for the migrants when they arrive, and certainly do not fulfil their legal obligations regarding immigration.”
In this context of disregard, the Canarian Government perceives that the State’s response is to initiate pre-trial proceedings if the Canary Islands do not comply or adhere, involving “all the children, irrespective of the quantity, whether it is one million, six thousand, or thirty thousand; it is irrelevant” and also “to cover all costs”.
He noted that this migration crisis is wreaking “havoc” within the civil service, with many “resigning” or “splitting” their jobs due to its “unsustainability.”
LET THE EU “RECOGNISE”
Concerning the upcoming visit of the Vice President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, scheduled for Wednesday, he expressed gratitude that the EU “is more attuned to the issues affecting the Canary Islands” compared to the Spanish Government itself, deeming it “wonderful news” to discuss in person and witness the realities of the archipelago.
Clavijo also condemned the Spanish government’s choice not to solicit EU assistance for the Canary Islands, particularly regarding the deployment of Frontex for border control.
He hopes the EU will “recognise” the plight of the Canary Islands and explore possible avenues for assistance “without needing to go through the Member State, which is Spain, seemingly unwilling to request European aid or to aid the Canary Islands.”
On the potential visit of Pope Francis, he suggested it would place the Canary Islands on the “international map,” noting that “regrettably it is becoming the new Lesbos,” with the distinction that the Government of Spain “rather than offering support and collaboration, is focused on attacking the Canary Islands, even while they strive to address the issue, which ought to be the State’s responsibility.”
In this regard, he believes that the Pope’s visit “would provide invaluable moral and public backing” as he possesses the “moral authority” to assert “that the Canarian people must not be abandoned.”
