There is a stark contrast between the forecasts and announcements made by public administrations and the harsh reality that citizens in the south of Tenerife face due to the lack of commitment from politicians and technicians when it comes to setting deadlines for the opening of vital socio-health and educational infrastructures. The issue of meeting deadlines is not just a regional problem, with only a few exceptions, but has become a widespread trend, with some cases witnessing delays exceeding five years.
One glaring example is the nursing home in Guía de Isora, which tops the list for the gap between promises and actions. The project commenced in May 2010 with the demolition of the old schools in the town centre, which were also serving as a health centre at the time. Despite an initial halt of three years due to economic constraints imposed by the State in the midst of the financial crisis, work resumed in May 2018 with the goal of completion by early 2019. The plan was to equip the Institute of Social and Health Care within the following 12 months, aiming for operational readiness by the first quarter of 2020.
However, intentions have diverged from reality, with the pace of construction and bureaucratic hurdles creating roadblocks. As of the present day, the Guía de Isora senior centre, designed to accommodate 75 residential places and an additional 20 daytime places for the southwest region, remains closed. The latest projected completion date, following a meeting held late last year between the Cabildo President, Rosa Dávila, and the Mayor of Isorana, Ana Dorta, suggests that the facility will be fully constructed and furnished this year, with an opening scheduled for the “first half of 2025″– more than five years behind the initial deadline.
Another enduring project is situated in Adeje. Construction of the Integrated Vocational Training Centre, the sole facility of its kind in the area, has also faced setbacks after the contract was awarded to Proyecon Galicia in May 2018, with a stipulated completion timeframe of 22 months. Commencement of construction took place in July of the same year, implying a target completion date of May 2020, a target that failed to materialise.
The Minister of Education, Poli Suárez, mentioned in the Canary Islands Parliament last December that the goal is for the Centre, with a capacity for 500 students, to be operational by the next academic year, “primarily offering courses related to tourism, administration, or computing.” Suárez disclosed that up to seven deadline extensions have been granted, with the approval of a second revised project under his tenure leading to a cost adjustment.
The Minister justified the extensions citing conditions arising from the pandemic, delays in material deliveries, transportation issues, raw material shortages, increased energy costs, and the Ukrainian conflict. At best, the delay in commissioning this cutting-edge training centre will approach nearly four and a half years.
