The CEOE and Fepeco employers on the Island warn that the precautionary suspension of the construction of the Cuna del Alma tourist project, in El Puertito de Adeje, will have serious consequences for the economy and the job in Tenerife. such a decision scares away investors from Tenerife and Canary Islandssince the legal insecurity that the administrations implement in the Archipelago is verified, and the risk of having to pay a large compensation to the promoter is created.
Both Pedro Alfonso, provincial president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), and his counterpart from the Provincial Federation of Construction Entities (Fepeco), Óscar Izquierdo, agree in attributing to “an ideological and partisan interest” the paralysis of the work, «an indefensible situation».
The Ministry of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning of the Canary Islands Government made public the day before yesterday that paralyzes, in a precautionary way, the works of the tourist project Cuna del Alma. The measure is based on the fact that the works pose an “imminent threat of environmental damage to protected wild flora” and is adopted after verifying the presence of the cataloged sad viborina plant (Echium triste). Likewise, the area managed by José Antonio Valbuena warns that it cannot be transplanted and that the company must apply the measures derived from the studies that will be carried out to preserve the threatened flora. In addition, Ecological Transition announces that it is now assessing whether this project required an environmental impact study at the beginning.
«The image is projected that the bureaucracy goes against any business interest»
scare off investment
Taking into account that the execution of this work has all the required authorizations, as reported by the Adeje City Council and the promoter since the conflict arose, the decision of the Canarian Government “demonstrates the legal insecurity in which we live”. This statement by Óscar Izquierdo refers to the fact that the consequences have two aspects: “It scares investors from Tenerife and the Canary Islands” and, at the same time, forces compensation. From the legality attributed to the project, “the City Council of Adeje and the company will request the appropriate responsibilities.”
In the case of the promoter Segunda Casa Adeje SL, it has already announced that it will present allegations to the resolution of the regional Executive and that “it will study the possible legal actions to be taken in defense of the rights acquired during these years, by disposing of all the urban and environmental licenses necessary by all the competent administrations.
The president of Fepeco understands that “the courts will make a decision. There each one with the responsibilities that it assumes paralyzing works with all the legal approvals for its execution, according to the City Council ».
“Decisions like this impoverish Tenerife and make it impossible to attract investment”
Óscar Izquierdo emphasizes that “we are not facing a media anecdote”, because “decisions like this impoverish Tenerife, make it impossible to attract investment to create social wealth and employment on the Island”.
Pedro Alfonso calls for “sanity” since, “beyond the tax benefits offered by the Island”, with the stoppage of the construction of the Cuna del Alma tourist complex, “Tenerife projects the image that the administration does not work here, that bureaucracy goes against any business interest and that environmental management goes against sustainable development».
discomfort in the PSOE
The Adeje City Council and the Cabildo de Tenerife participated in the process that authorized this project, whose construction was paralyzed half a year after the start of the work and without any opposition during the process for its approval, after on September 26, 2014, the plenary session began the process to modify the planning of the moment. The purpose was to carry out the Development Plan for El Puertito de Adeje. After seven and a half years, on May 5, the first stone of an investment of 350 million euros was laid to create a unique complex of 420 accommodation units. And the problems began.
On May 30, the Cabildo paralyzed, in a precautionary manner (firmly on June 28), 2% of the works. On July 22, a camp begins to stop the work and, on the 28th of the same month, several chained themselves to the bulldozers. On August 31, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the regional government opens a sanction file because the works carried out affected engravings and destroyed archaeological remains. It proposes 600,000 euros of sanction.
