SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 17 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, has offered a “favourable and rewarding” evaluation of the initial year of the term, stating that they have managed to establish “the groundwork for solutions” to the fundamental issues that the region had been facing, which “will start to take shape in the forthcoming years” to enhance the Canary Islands. Furthermore, he reassured that the alliance with the Conservative Party “is not just going well, it’s thriving”, thanks to a governmental team “that collaborates effectively.”
Fernando Clavijo, accompanied by Vice President Manuel Domínguez, emphasised that they are not succumbing “to self-satisfaction” and understand that “not everything is accomplished”. However, he highlighted that they have been capable of strategising and declaring emergencies that are facilitating the resolution of long-standing structural issues, and more importantly, formulating “the vision we aspire for the islands’ future”, with the assistance of Fecam, Fecai, and societal representatives.
The Canarian president acknowledged that in this inaugural year of governance, they have made “decisions that at times have stirred some sensitivities or criticisms”, yet stressed that “it is impossible to please everyone”, and reiterated that this Government “knows its objectives and believes in its actions.”
Clavijo affirmed that the principal aim since the term commenced has been to “place the citizen at the core of public administration”, after inheriting from the Pacto de las Flores Government, headed by the socialist Ángel Víctor Torres, “a stagnant Canary Islands, where the principal structural issues hadn’t even been proposed for resolution.”
He also clarified that the Canary Islands Government “has arrived not to perpetuate the status quo, but to endeavour to effect changes through consensus, dialogue, and comprehension”, which has facilitated “addressing and announcing various emergencies and enhancing public services for citizens.”
Fernando Clavijo additionally indicated that the Canary Islands are an ultra-peripheral region, though at times the State Administration “makes us feel like an outpost.” According to the Canarian president, this is evident when the Spanish Government “denies us the educational infrastructure plan, the agreement concerning hydraulic projects, or control over our coastline, attempting to encroach on the powers of the autonomous community.” “On such occasions, we sense that we are being treated as an outpost,” he emphasised.
On the other hand, the Vice President of the Canary Islands Government, Manuel Domínguez, underscored the “solidarity” displayed by the regional Executive during its inaugural year in office, despite an “accelerated start” defined by crises such as the fire in La Palma, the electricity shortage in La Gomera, and another extensive fire in Tenerife, which meant that “we didn’t even have a hundred days of respite to report on the activities we were conducting,” he added.
Manuel Domínguez also expressed gratitude to President Clavijo because this is “not a regime of separate fiefdoms, where each individual, depending on their political affiliations, takes decisions that harm others, but a cross-party government”, thereby ensuring that “ultimately, in light of the stagnation and limitations we have encountered, the Canary Islands have been evolving and we have a government that lives up to what the Canarians warrant.”
APPRECIATION FOR THE COUNCILLORS.
The President of the Canary Islands also wished to highlight the contributions of each councillor comprising the Government Council. Therefore, the University, Science, Innovation, and Culture Councillor, Migdalia Machín, commended the efforts directed towards public universities, which currently receive “the highest funding in their history”; the Social Rights Councillor, Candelaria Delgado, lauded the dedication and dedication to effect a transformation in social services and cater to the numerous migrant minors hosted on the islands, notwithstanding the “lack of comprehension” from certain political factions and the “emotional strain” this entails.
The Tourism and Employment Minister, Jéssica de León, was recognised for her “boldness” in relation to the Holiday Rentals Law, despite the potential controversies it could provoke; the Education Minister, Poli Suárez, for managing the commencement of the academic year with over a thousand toddlers enrolled in the 0 to 3 age group without classrooms being ready and having to “endure criticism from the opposition”. Pablo Rodríguez, the Public Works Minister, for successfully promoting the housing decree, and the Ecological Transition and Energy Minister, Mariano H. Zapata, for initiating a specific contest to combat the energy deficit.
“Each one of us, throughout this year, encountered trying moments and gave our utmost, translating into an administration whose sole intent is to prioritise the citizen in all our political endeavours,” reiterated Clavijo.
