The Commissioner for Transparency and Access to Public Information of the Canary Islands has mandated the Icod de los Vinos Town Council to provide all information related to the closure, management, and reopening of the local street market within a maximum of 15 working days. This decision responds to a request made by the Association of Street Vendors of Tenerife (Avamte).
The claim, submitted last February by Avamte’s interim president, Antonio Tejeda Encinas, was based on the council’s administrative silence, which clearly violated the legal deadline of 30 working days to respond to the request formally registered on 6th December 2024, according to a statement from the association.
The Transparency Commissioner has not only fully upheld the claim but also highlighted in its resolution (file R225/2025) the “complete lack of cooperation” from the Icod council during the processing of the file. Furthermore, the document reminds that such conduct “may lead to punitive actions in accordance with the Canary Islands Law 12/2014 on Transparency and Access to Public Information (severe penalties as provided by LTAIP).”
The information requested by the Association of Street Vendors of Tenerife includes “key documents” regarding the closure of the street market in July 2023, the criteria for its “selective reopening without public concurrence,” and the council’s “relationship” with an association allegedly benefiting from non-transparent privileges, as stated by the group in a press release.
“Silence cannot be the municipal power’s strategy against organised citizenry,” Avamte asserts. The organisation also demands “transparency and guarantees for all vendors, not back-room deals,” as communicated to the public by Antonio Tejeda, who is also noted to be a legal expert in public law.
The Association of Street Vendors of Tenerife now urges the administration to comply with the Commissioner’s resolution “without further delays or evasions.” It warns that if non-compliance persists, they will formally request the initiation of the appropriate sanctioning procedure, as well as refer the matter to the contentious-administrative jurisdiction.
Moreover, depending on the content of the requested documents, Avamte announces that it “will assess whether there are indications of serious administrative irregularities with potential criminal relevance, which, if confirmed, could lead to actions before competent judicial authorities.” In a statement released yesterday, the association concluded: “Nothing would harm the image of the municipality more than turning a transparency issue into an avoidable institutional scandal with the spotlight on our cherished town.”
