The vice president of Canary Islands Government, Román Rodríguez, opposes the construction of the Port of Fonsalía. He thus joins his partner in the Executive José Antonio Valbuena, counselor of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning, who has expired the Environmental Impact Declaration of this project. With this, in addition, he supports the “very clear” rejection of the political formation that he presides over, Nueva Canarias, in Tenerife. Likewise, it considers that the project should be subject to review, based on arguments of an environmental, economic and even opportune nature. Therefore, he understands that it will be “very complicated” to do so.
The also regional councilor for Finance, Budgets and European Affairs wanted to make it clear that the construction of the Port of Fonsalía “It is not in the pact” signed by the PSOE, Nueva Canarias (NC), Agrupación Socialista Gomera (ASG) and Podemos, which gave rise to the current Government of the Canary Islands. In this line, it considers that there is no obligation to promote its implementation, according to statements made yesterday to Canarias Radio La Autonómica.
Roman Rodriguez He argued that the central government “always” ruled “against” and was convinced that the new Environmental Impact Law prevents the mandatory report from being favorable, contrary to what happened on December 22, 2014. Then the Commission of Canary Islands Territory and Environment Planning (Cotmac) approved the Environmental Impact Statement, which is considered expired since December 2020.
The alternatives
In the opinion of the vice president of the Canary Islands Government, there is alternative solutions to inter-island maritime traffic in the Western province. On the grounds that it is urgent to resolve the traffic chaos that Los Cristianos registers due to its port movement, Rodríguez is in favor of the proposal of the mayor of Arona, José Julián Mena. It consists of building an underground highway from Chayofita Avenue to the vicinity of the South Highway. Another option that the president of Nueva Canarias values is the use of the Puerto de Granadilla for passenger traffic between Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma.
11 of September
All in all, Nueva Canarias will address this matter at the meeting of its national Executive scheduled for next day 11. In the same, the report that is in the preparation phase will be evaluated and that will support the formal pronouncement of NC on the future of the Port of Fonsalía. A project of which its president, Román Rodríguez, assures that “a role has not been moved” during the 26 years that have elapsed since the need for its construction was raised.
The incorporation of Román Rodríguez to the public debate on the Port of Fonsalía takes place a day after the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín (PSOE), claimed the regional councilor for Ecological Transition, José Antonio Valbuena (PSOE), that assume the agreements of the Governing Council to which it belongs and the Parliament of the Canary Islands (with the only vote against Yes We Can), who have given their yes to the project for the port of Guía de Isora.
The PP says that the port does not benefit Los Cristianos
The Popular Party (PP) of Arona demands that the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo and the Port Authority “lead this debate that has generated the fact that, apparently, the environmental impact study of the Port of Fonsalía project has expired ». Its spokesperson, Águeda Fumero, alludes to the incompatibility of the port of Los Cristianos with the city and assures that port activity “does not generate any economic activity that reverts to the benefit of Los Cristianos.”
In favor of burying Chayofita Avenue to respond to the development of the El Mojón partial plan, she considers it “a mistake” to propose it as a solution to the collapse of the port. “We must listen to the neighbors, the business fabric and the fishermen of Los Cristianos,” claims Fumero, who calls on the mayor to bring together the Transport and Sustainable Mobility Table approved in 2015.
