NC-BC perceives the vice president as “the next Soria” for his “disdain” towards the islands and calls for the permits in Fuerteventura to be put on hold.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5th April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The vice president of the Government of the Canary Islands and Minister of Economy, Manuel Domínguez, defended on Friday the legality of the permits granted to the company Tenáridos, part of the Canarian group Satocan, for the exploration of rare earths in Fuerteventura and insisted that they should be processed.
“I am not here to act according to my whims. I am here to abide by the law, to show respect to this Parliament, a Parliament that has spoken, and based on that, to make decisions. And if Parliament, the legislative body, makes changes, I am present,” he stated in a parliamentary committee in response to a question from NC-BC.
Domínguez has assured that no extraction will occur that does not respect the environment, and after outlining the consensus of all groups in the Chamber, he has left the responsibility of amending the legislation in their hands.
“If we all voice a rejection, let’s decide it here, and then we can join the people on the streets,” he remarked, referring to the protest scheduled for this Sunday in the town of Ajuy.
The vice president criticized the “complete demagoguery” of the Canarian representative Natalia Santana and questioned how she would feel if she had a plot of land and the City Council denied her permission to construct a house “just because they didn’t feel like it.”
He noted that all political parties have called for an evaluation of the potential of rare earths in the Canary Islands, but he also highlighted that “opportunities, when they present negative aspects, turn into inconveniences and lose their appeal.”
Nonetheless, he affirmed that he is not a “demagogue” and will adhere to the law.
“I will abide by the law. And do you know what the law dictates? That above all, respect for the environment is paramount, and if environmental impact assessments are not met, extraction will not be permitted,” he emphasised.
Santana (NC-BC) indicated that the matter is “quite opaque” and characterised by “a certain obscurity,” as the society of Fuerteventura “knows little or nothing” about the developments and the consequences of these excavations.
He stated that his party aligns with “the sentiments and thoughts” of the citizens of Fuerteventura along with various municipal bodies and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, who view the drilling as a menace with potentially “devastating” repercussions.
Santana expressed surprise that the Canarian Coalition in the Government of the Canary Islands “has permitted this,” while in Fuerteventura there is opposition because it transitioned from “discussions” and “research promotion” by Canarian public universities to the government “approving a corporation to arrive with tanks, drills, and equipment onto the island without considering the ramifications.”
In this regard, he denounced the absence of information to citizens and raised concerns about whether Fuerteventura is poised to become a “free-for-all” for companies to exploit, cause harm, and commit destruction at all levels.
NATALIA SANTANA STATES THE NEED FOR STUDIES
For instance, the second application, currently pending, impacts 14 families in Ajuy and La Solapa, and any ground drilling, “regardless of scale,” can have radiation repercussions and pose a “real risk.”
“The potential health implications of such activities for the people of Fuerteventura have not been evaluated, nor the impact on their vegetation, wildlife, or primary sector,” he pointed out.
He warned that Domínguez could be dubbed “the next Soria” due to his “level of disregard” for the people of the Canary Islands, as witnessed during the oil exploration debate, and demanded the suspension of authorizations until the necessary studies are conducted.
“Mr. Domínguez, Fuerteventura should not and will not serve as a testing ground or a dumping ground for toxic waste from Spain or Europe. Reject the extraction of rare earths, reject endangering our island and our land,” he reproached the vice president.
