The PSOE of Tenerife firmly rejects the creation of the so-called “forest cent”, a
new tax promoted by the president of the Cabildo,
Rosa Dávila (Canarian Coalition), with the support of the Popular Party, which aims to charge up to two cents per litre of fuel to non-professional drivers on the island. According to the Cabildo, the revenue generated will be dedicated to the protection of the island’s natural spaces, which is exactly what is intended with the so-called ecotax, a tax that would impose charges on hotel stays on the island and whose revenue would be allocated to environmental purposes. However, both CC, PP and Vox are against this ecotax but now defend this new fuel tax.
According to the socialists, the new tax “will fall directly on the families and workers of Tenerife” and criticises these parties’ double standards, which “have systematically vetoed the implementation of an ecotax that would only be paid by tourists”.
The General Secretary of the PSOE of Tenerife, Tamara Raya, has reminded that “we have repeatedly brought initiatives to the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Parliament of the Canaries to implement an ecotax, with the aim of having those who visit us contribute to financing the protection of our natural spaces and mitigating the effects of mass tourism on our land. However, CC, PP and Vox have always opposed this measure”.
“Now –Raya pointed out– we are astonished to see how those who repeatedly rejected the ecotax for tourists have no qualms about approving a new direct tax for those of us living in Tenerife, under the name of forest cent, which we will pay every time we fill our vehicle’s tank”.
The socialist leader emphasised that “Rosa Dávila even lied to the public when, the week before the demonstration against the current tourist model, she claimed she would support the ecotax for tourists, only to immediately afterwards reject it in the Cabildo plenary at the proposal of the Socialist Group.” “What interests does Rosa Dávila serve? It’s clear that it isn’t those of Tenerife families,” she highlighted.
The PSOE of Tenerife states that it advocates the implementation of a “real ecotax for those visiting our island, similar to those already in place in other tourist destinations, so that the protection of the environment, the restoration of degraded spaces, and forest monitoring do not solely fall on the shoulders of those of us living here”.
And she adds: “The Canarian Coalition and the Popular Party promised tax cuts during their campaign, even for IGIC, which never happened, but they do not hesitate to impose a new tax that directly impacts the households of Tenerife, while they refuse to allow those who visit us to contribute with an ecotax to sustain our territory and our social, economic and environmental model,” Tamara Raya has denounced.
“Protecting our territory and combating climate change is a priority for the PSOE of Tenerife, but the bill cannot just fall on those of us living in this paradise. If we truly want a sustainable model, it must be fair and balanced, and those who enjoy Tenerife for a few days must also contribute to its care,” she concluded.
