The Popular Party (PP) faction put forward a proposal during yesterday’s plenary session, urging the La Orotava City Council to formulate a plan for deratization, disinfection, and disinfestation to combat the “spread” of rats and mice in various areas of the municipality. The spokesperson, Ildefonso González Suárez, stated that the initiative was prompted by complaints from residents in different neighbourhoods regarding the “rise” in these pests, which have been captured in videos and discussed frequently on social media by members of the public,” the conservative spokesperson revealed.
The mayor highlighted that the presence of these rodents poses a “grave threat to public health when they multiply unchecked”, as they “harbour diseases that can be transmitted to humans in turn.”
As per the spokesperson, there are contributing factors to the overpopulation of rats and mice, such as filth and unhygienic conditions (like insufficient waste disposal management or the deterioration of sanitation systems); vegetation; dilapidated infrastructures, and climatic conditions. Regarding this, he argued that the town lacks an effective pest prevention and control strategy and therefore believes that “strengthening this service is imperative.”
While the remaining opposition groups, the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Assembly for La Orotava, stood in favour of the proposal due to the “alarming” situation, the government faction (CC) did not share the same sentiment. Their spokesperson, Felipe David Benítez, deemed the proposal tardy as “the council not only possesses a plan but rather something superior, which is an ongoing service 365 days a year and is leading amongst neighbouring municipalities.”
To substantiate his position, he cited a passage from the contract stating that the company, in addition to surveying the area and identifying the infestation, will supervise the populations, implement necessary controls, and assess the efficacy of the measures and their subsequent monitoring.
“This has been the norm for many years,” he asserted. “Another aspect – he continued – is that the previous service provider encountered a series of challenges and deficiencies in service delivery, prompting the city council to terminate the contract. A new contract has been granted and will come into effect on July 1 for a sum of 47,000 euros.
