The president of the Northwest Irrigators Consortium Gran Canaria ‘Water Initiative’, José Reyeshe chains himself to a post on Castillo Street, in the center of Santa Cruz and next to Parliament of the Canary Islandsto claim the Government of the Canary Islands aid to finance small desalination plants for the countryside. He defends that the 400 farmers he represents have suffered losses of four million euros and a gap of two million to “save production” with vats, due to supply cuts from the Island Council.
José Reyes maintains separate conflicts with the Island Water Council, which cut off the supply to some of its members due to an alleged debt of 500,000 euros that the Consortium maintains with the insular institution; and with the City Council of Guideamong other reasons, for stopping supplying the residents of Montaña Alta and other areas of the upper area with their wells.
“Justice for water for agriculture.” With a small sign and a long chain that surrounds his waist with padlocks, José Reyestry to draw attention to Tenerife since the beginning of this week to his personal situation and to the rest of the community members of the Northern region of Gran Canaria.
«We are here because we have had water problems, illegal cuts and broken pipes for a year and a half. The Insular Water Council -of Gran Canaria- which is the institution that manages basins and ravines On the Island it is the body that must protect us; That is, as if we were minors and they were the parents, and, instead of helping us, it tries to destroy us. The 400 farmers have lost nearly four million euros in products, and that is why we have an economic gap of two million to save production, such as the use of vats, which makes our costs 1,000 times more expensive. José Reyes stated during his street protest that the Council supplies them with 60%, covering the rest with its own wells. “But, by having them running with energy so expensive and using peak hours that triple the cost, we find ourselves in a precarious situation.”
The president of the irrigators defends that he has taken this measure to ask the Government of Canary Islands your help. This does clarify that they must leave aside the judicial processes in which they are involved to “remedy what -the Government- has inherited”, despite the fact that they believe that “there are many things that they have done to us in a year and a half.” here.”
Reyes, who was even accused of exercising “cacique” attitudes in a press conference in the Council, demands aid to finance small desalination plants for the sector. The agricultural representative warns that this situation affects all the Islands.
“I have been there since Monday and I will continue until I have a believing response.” At the moment, he points out that the Government has approached us to find out about their situation, “and they are looking to see how they solve our problem, which will later be that of others.”
