SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Nov. 24 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The CC-PNC group of the Cabildo de Tenerife has denounced this Thursday a “boycott” by the PSOE for not implementing free transport on the island from January 1.
The candidate for the presidency of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, and the nationalist spokesman, Carlos Alonso, appeared this Thursday to demand compliance with the measure achieved by the Canary Islands Coalition to include an item in the General State Budget and that transportation be free in 2023.
Rosa Dávila explained that the Socialists “are trying to boycott an agreement that is extraordinary for all people.”
In his opinion, “the PSOE is making excuses and hits for not complying with the agreement” and the Government of the Canary Islands points out that 40 trips would be needed to make it free “while in the Peninsula there are 16”.
“Let’s hope it’s not true and that there is equal treatment. And in Tenerife, we find Pedro Martín and Arriaga saying that there are not enough buses, that there are a lack of drivers, that it is difficult to comply with the agreement. What we say is that they look for a solution “That’s what they are paid for. And that there has been an obvious lack of planning because the measure was approved in plenary session of the Cabildo since August. What happens is that the PSOE voted against it and it seems that it does not want to comply with it,” he highlighted in a training note.
Dávila asked that with the money that the Cabildo is going to save – the contribution of 81 million euros is provided by the central government – “the taxi sector be compensated, more buses are bought and drivers are hired in Titsa and Metropolitan”.
Along these lines, he pointed out that “the Canarian Coalition has done its job, which is to ensure that transport is free in the Canary Islands and in Tenerife and Pedro Martín has the obligation to comply with it.”
The candidate expressed her concern at the “lack of foresight” of the current government group and said that “Pedro Martín cannot hide behind the Titsa drivers, who are the ones who have to face the users and who are already suffering a situation of tension due to the increase in demand”.
For the regional deputy, the Cabildo “has to work intensely so that public transport is free, efficient and of quality in Tenerife from January 1, 2023”.
He also affected his surprise at Pedro Martín’s attitude regarding the implementation of free transport: “In no territory have there been any complaints because it is a good measure for all people, except in Tenerife. Here we see that the PSOE is making trouble to comply with it and It seems that they are annoyed that the Canarian Coalition has managed to make the buses and the tram free”.
KNOCKED OUT IN MOBILITY
Carlos Alonso denounced Pedro Martín’s lack of foresight and indicated that between 2014 and 2019 the fleet of buses was renewed, with 300 new ones and since 2019 they have not reached a hundred. “It’s three times less. That speaks of a lack of planning and improvisation,” he added.
In this regard, he indicated that Pedro Martín “is knocked out” in terms of mobility because one day he announces that he is going to study the reversible lane of the TF-5 and the next day Arriaga says that it is unfeasible. “Martín does not know what to do. He is one more example of the lack of leadership that Tenerife suffers,” he said.
Alonso also explained that “they have to look for solutions and not boycott the measure making excuses” and announced the request for an Extraordinary Plenary to enforce the agreement.
In addition, the nationalist spokesman recalled that in March of this year they already proposed a reduction in public transport fares due to the increase in inflation and an extraordinary plenary session, “which was delayed until August”, in which it was approved that the buses and the tram were free.
“Pedro Martín voted against, but now he has to comply with the agreement and we are going to demand it,” he said.
