They have been demanding a decent home for months. Since September they have moved their claim to the Plaza de La Candelaria, where they remain camped, with all that it implies, first for themselves, due to the conditions in which they find themselves, and then for the environment, where businesses begin to notice, at least that is how they have verbalized, the effect of sales due to the presence of the booths in the middle of the square.
An impact that will be increased in the next full moon, scheduled for December 4 and 5, since, as confirmed to DIARIO DE AVISOS by the councilor delegate of the Development Society, Alfonso Cabello, the activities organized in the Plaza de La Candelaria will move to that of the Prince, given the impossibility of developing them with the presence of the camping in the place. “We have had to reorganize the activities of Plenilunio and rethink the type of revitalization that we can do in the square,” explained the mayor. In addition, advanced the councilor delegate of the Development Society “it is possible that we also have to rethink Christmas activities.”
From the commercial sector, the Federation of Urban Areas of the Canary Islands (Fauca), through its general secretary, Abbas Moujir, regret that the protest of those affected by homelessness is having an impact on the lives of merchants. “Beyond being right in their claim, the truth is that the problem they have with the different administrations has been transferred to the shops in the Plaza de la Candelaria, which are suffering from this situation,” he said.
“The problem at Christmas – he continued – is that there will be a greater influx of people, and the booths, as well as their anchors, can cause falls or any other type of safety problem,” added Moujir. What the merchants are demanding is that “the administrations fix this problem for which the businesses are not responsible, and which is affecting both the people camped and the businesses in the area,” added Moujir.
Camping
From the dignity camp, its spokesperson, Lolo Dorta, understands the complaints of the businesses and the problems that their presence may cause, “but we are not here partying, we are claiming a right, and nobody wants to listen to us. Of course we bother, but if we don’t do it like that, nobody pays attention to us ”.
“We put ourselves in everyone’s place, but no one puts ourselves in ours, and now that Christmas is coming they want us to leave. If that is what they want, put pressure on the administrations to find a solution. We have been waiting since June for a meeting with the Government of the Canary Islands and they still have not responded to us ”, added Dorta.
