The Canarian president expresses “perplexity” over the absence of responses from the central government regarding efforts to “alleviate the strain” faced by the archipelago.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 7th Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, has requested an “urgent” meeting this Tuesday by telephone with the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, to discuss the decree law proposed by the Canarian Government concerning an exceptional distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors.
In remarks made to reporters, he stated he would be in Madrid this Wednesday and is optimistic that the meeting could occur tomorrow or Thursday, should the schedules of both parties align.
The Canarian leader views with “perplexity” the unresponsiveness of the central government, especially since he has possessed a legal document for over 20 days that could “alleviate the strain” currently present in the archipelago, where minors are unable to receive care “as they rightfully should.”
“I believe that the emergency situation necessitates a bit more focus from the Spanish Government and, above all, an agreement between both governments regarding the text we desire so that we can subsequently seek political backing in the Congress of Deputies,” he remarked.
He emphasised that his Government “has not ceased” its efforts over Christmas to initiate a political dialogue on the validation of the decree and cannot comprehend why the central Executive is hesitant to “accept” 600 Malian children, classified as political refugees, and thus within their “competence.” “He states there is no space, we are lacking space in the Canary Islands as well,” he added.
The Canarian president has further stated that the solution “cannot be delayed” for a judicial verdict, yet he is “certain” that comprehensive efforts are not being implemented to tackle the migration crisis impacting the archipelago.
“CANARIES FEEL ISOLATED”
“There is no legislation that prevents the Spanish Government from intervening and participating in this humanitarian crisis in the Canary Islands. Ultimately, we are caught in a political struggle in Madrid, some agreeing, others not, you tell me one thing, and others tell me another, but in the end, the Canary Islands feel isolated. We’ve been advocating for this, and we will continue to work; I always assert that those who concede lose, and we are not prepared to concede; the Canary Islands will never relent, and we shall persist in our efforts, which is why we are proposing alternatives,” he stated.
In this regard, he has advocated for an agreement among all involved parties to facilitate an extraordinary distribution of minors from the Canary Islands and Ceuta, thus enabling them “to receive care with far more dignity.”
“That is achievable,” he emphasised; what is needed now is for the State’s legal services to review the Canary Islands’ proposal and ascertain how the text can be refined, but it is unacceptable to be “waiting for 20 days.”
He noted that the Canary Islands are in the midst of forming alliances in Congress and mentioned that he has garnered support from the PNV and the Basque Government, as well as Ceuta and Junts, who have requested to understand “the definitive text.”
Nevertheless, he clarified that immigration “is a matter for Europe and Spain,” which is why he would prefer “that leadership to be undertaken by the Spanish Government,” but given its “absence,” the Canary Islands have opted to take the lead. “What we cannot do is sit idly by,” he asserted.
