Raúl Acosta queries “what is occurring” to cause the BIC declaration file to be stalled for seven years.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 14th Nov (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation, and Culture, Migdalia Machín, has stated on Thursday that there are no “political motives” influencing the delay in recognising the Herreño whistle as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), following comments from AHI spokesperson Raúl Acosta suggesting a “black hand” is obstructing the progress of the administrative file.
“Many claim there is a black hand,” the minister mentioned at the end of her address in response to a question posed by the parliamentary committee.
Machín pointed out that the file was initiated in October 2022, and efforts have been made to gather various reports from universities and organisations, which has resulted in an “extension” of the process until 20th December, clarifying that “it is not inactive.”
She also acknowledged her lack of “the criteria or the necessary expertise to determine whether this file is progressing or not,” emphasising that the process is entirely based on “scientific grounds” and the eventual decision made by the panel of experts.
“I appreciate the interest; I recognise the cultural significance it holds for El Hierro and its community, and we must also safeguard our heritage. However, there are matters that cannot be influenced by political considerations. Thus, when you mentioned a black hand, I hope it was merely a turn of phrase, as I stand by my civil servants and the technicians who strictly follow scientific criteria,” she affirmed.
Consequently, she has confined her “sole role” in this process to ensuring compliance with the legal framework and that all procedures are “transparent,” setting aside her “personal views” and even those of the commission members.
Acosta remarked that the Herreño whistle “is an undeniable aspect of the island’s identity,” handed down “from generation to generation,” which is also supported by numerous historical references such as the writings of Herodotus, the French chronicle ‘Le Canarien,’ and the French anthropologist Joseph Lajard.
He also mentioned Professor Maximiano Trapero in a 1991 article entitled ‘The whistled language of the Island of El Hierro’ as well as the work by José Gavilán López, the president of the Herreño Silbo Association.
In this context, he noted that these cultural expressions “should not be viewed as a disadvantage” for those who have been the “guardians” of this heritage, the Gomeros, from whom we should “learn,” though he has expressed reservations regarding whether “the correct manner” to preserve La Gomera’s heritage “is by disregarding another.
MORE THAN “A MERE COMMUNICATION CODE”
Acosta clarified that the Herreño whistle “is far more than just a communication code,” as it serves as a “tool to transcend the geographical obstacles posed by the island’s terrain; it stands as a living testament to humanity’s capacity to adapt to their surroundings and to an ancient connection that binds the people of El Hierro to their history and land.
In this regard, he underscored that the island’s pastoral tradition cannot be fully understood without the Herreño whistle, which at present is in a state of “vulnerability” due to advancements in communication technology and the depopulation of rural areas, resulting in a decline in the number of individuals who practice it.
He mentioned that “a considerable amount of time has passed” since he initiated the first file (2017) and he questioned “what is happening” when the technical justification and required reports are already available to the autonomous community.
“I find it hard to believe that an official or politician would allow a file that meets all necessary criteria to lapse,” he elaborated, stressing that the Herreño whistle will eventually receive BIC status as it represents an “unsettled obligation” to the island’s culture.
“If this file is permitted to expire again, the neglect of responsibility by those who initiated this file will eventually lead to repercussions at the political, administrative, and possibly other levels—something I sincerely hope does not occur,” he concluded.
