The mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and regional deputy, José Manuel Bermúdez, is set to make a stand during the upcoming session of the Canary Islands Parliament on April 9 and 10. He will present a Non-Law Proposition (PNL) urging the Government of the Canary Islands to “protect, preserve, and ensure the continuity of the emblematic elements of the Festivals of International Tourist Interest, particularly those related to the traditional celebration venues. The proposal also advocates for the implementation of appropriate regulations on noise and environmental preservation, specifying the standards that must be followed by these festivals.”
Among the Canary Islands’ festivities designated as of International Tourist Interest are the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (since 1980) and the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (since 2023). Hence, the focus of this initiative is to safeguard both celebrations in their historic locations. Bermúdez will call upon the regional government to “introduce a legal amendment to ensure their continuity, as although there is no ongoing opposition from local residents, preemptive measures should be taken to safeguard these festivals that are emblematic of our identity,” stated the mayor.
This PNL stems from a judgement by the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) last year, which prohibited the Day Carnival festivities in the streets of the old town of Vegueta due to disturbances caused by excessive noise. Consequently, the court mandated the City Council to relocate the event to another area, reasoning that despite its titles as Festivals of Tourist Interest in the Canary Islands and National Tourist Interest, “they are incompatible with being held in a location where adequate measures cannot be implemented to protect the rights of all residents,” according to the court.
In light of this, Bermúdez shared with DIARIO DE AVISOS that “given this legal precedent and the possibility of a similar situation arising in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is our duty to call on the Government to act in safeguarding the Festivals of International Tourist Interest, where the venue plays a crucial role.”
He illustrated by saying, “If, for instance, the Corpus Christi of La Orotava were no longer celebrated in the historical centre or the processions of the Virgen of Las Nieves in La Palma, or that of the Virgen of Los Reyes in El Hierro were forced to deviate from their traditional routes, their essence would be lost. This is what I am striving to protect with this proposal. Any alteration to the Carnival, which in Santa Cruz has its specific ring area designated every year based on a decree by the Autonomous Festival Body, would inevitably lead to the demise of the festival.”
Proposed Actions
Bermúdez emphasised that the PNL aims “to secure the longevity of these festivities and avoid legal disputes. The Canarian Government must introduce measures to prevent the risk of losing these cultural celebrations, which form a part of our intangible heritage and contribute significantly to our economy, supporting thousands of jobs. Their disappearance or any alterations to their celebration, relocation, or format would endanger these jobs.”
For this reason, given the intrinsic connection between the traditional venues of these festivals and their identity, the proposal suggests that “the Government of the Canary Islands establish protective measures for the festivals, particularly safeguarding their unique elements.”
The mayor pointed out that in the case of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, “a mutual agreement has been reached over the years with the residents to limit the event’s size and duration for better coexistence, maintaining its original venue in the city centre where it has been held for decades.”
“The Santa Cruz City Council has implemented various compensatory measures for affected residents during this time, including the deployment of the largest security plan in the Canary Islands, involving all law enforcement agencies and Civil Protection. Health-related initiatives such as increased street urinals, enhanced cleaning and recycling efforts have been undertaken. Moreover, noise levels have been monitored and music is now ceased by 6 am on the louder days to reduce noise disturbances,” explained Bermúdez.
Extension to Other Events
When asked if the PNL could extend beyond Carnival festivities to other events, the mayor affirmed that “while the measure could theoretically apply to other significant regional or national celebrations, the focus remains on those designated as of tourist interest.” .
“Many other festivals have relocated over time to different spaces, such as the Santa Cruz Magician’s Ball, but for Carnival, the ring area is crucial, and its removal could be catastrophic. Therefore, I aim to preserve this traditional site as a fundamental element,” reiterated the mayor.
Bermúdez called upon other political parties to support this parliamentary initiative in the upcoming session, urging the Canary Islands Government universally to champion a legislative change concerning noise and environment regulations tailored to the requirements of these festivals,” reiterated the mayor, also serving as a regional deputy.
It is pertinent to recall that the TSJC ruling, affirming the Contentious-Administrative Court 5 decision, upheld the suspension of the Vegueta Day Carnival in its traditional venue due to the City Council’s failure to enforce measures justifying compliance with permitted noise levels.
