He requests that the State provides the children individually and identified to the CCAA rather than in “batches” to an NGO, as has been the case until now.
This week, the Canary Islands released a protocol to address the “disorder” surrounding the reception of minors.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 14 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The leader of the Popular Party of the Canary Islands and vice president of the regional administration, Manuel Domínguez, has refuted claims that the archipelago will abandon unaccompanied migrant minors arriving irregularly by small boats or cayucos after the publication of a new protocol aimed at resolving the “disorder” in receiving these children.
He made these remarks on Saturday during a media briefing when questioned regarding a statement from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which indicated that it would investigate potential abandonment crimes if the Canary Islands Government fails to accommodate migrant minors.
“The Canary Islands Government has made its position clear. At no point are we abandoning the minors; we believe that when they land in the Canary Islands, they are not abandoned, but rather temporarily under the custody of the State,” he asserted.
Domínguez noted that these young individuals are initially rescued by the Maritime Rescue Service at sea, and once on land, they are placed in the care of the National Police.
The officers then transfer the minors to an NGO, with some children “who were not identified and were delivered in specific batches as noted on delivery notes.”
“We insist that when handing over a minor, this should be done to the CCAA and not to an NGO since the formalization of that handover should involve a public official; they should not be passed along on a delivery note, but rather individually with a photograph, fingerprint, name, identification, and a clear understanding of their destination. This is the protocol we are advocating for. Previously, a batch was transferred, but now the minor is handed over to an identified individual with notarisation from a CCAA official,” explained Domínguez.
“LET THE LAW BE UPHELD”
“Therefore,” he continued, “what we seek is adherence to the law. We have never refused to welcome, protect, or care for unaccompanied minors; quite the opposite, we are the autonomous community currently hosting the highest number of children, exceeding 5,500.”
The popular figure further reminded that when CC and PP took power in the Canary Islands, there were only 30 centres catering to these youths, whereas today there are a total of 81. “We have opened 51 centres in just one year,” he emphasised.
“There is no ambiguity regarding the intention of the Canary Islands Government,” he clarified, “which is to comply with the law stipulating a protocol for action concerning custody and guardianship, which is not being followed, and that the CCAA must have a specific protocol, which we have now approved.”
Now, he added, the regional Executive “demands” adherence to this protocol and seeks to put an end to the previous methods of operation.
“Henceforth, the Prosecutor’s Office will be able to guide us on where to take these unaccompanied minors, and we are fully committed to continue caring for these children. What we will never do is abandon them,” he explained.
