SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 4 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Security of the Canary Islands Government, Lady Barreto, acknowledged on Friday that there are “issues” in ensuring payments to the NGOs that operate the centres for migrant minors on the islands during the final quarter of the year, to the extent that some are facing potential closure.
In answer to a query from the Socialist Group in the parliamentary committee, she accused the central government of “neglect”, having contributed “not a single euro” towards the reception when the expenses have already reached 165 million euros.
Barreto also condemned the Government’s demand for the parties in Congress to vote ahead of time to validate a decree law, remarking that “it has not done this for any other.”
“It would not matter if votes are lost or if they have to be submitted; however, modifying the immigration law and treating minors with respect is paramount,” she asserted.
The minister emphasised that there exists a “significant disparity” between the “support” from the PSOE and that of the central government, explaining that after the announcement of an allocation of 50 million euros for the Canary Islands, the only action taken has been the approval of 30 million, which is now being “distributed” amongst all the autonomous communities.
Addressing the PSOE’s allegations regarding the sluggishness of forensic assessments to ascertain the age of migrants, she stated that the Canary Islands Government merely acts as an “instrumental body” at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office.
“They request us to conduct the tests, whether for Health or for ourselves, and they are performed, with the forensic report being issued,” she stressed, reiterating that it is the responsibility of the Government of Spain to determine “who is or is not a minor”; it is not the duty of the Canary Islands Government.
“This is evident as last year, during a collapse at the year’s end, it was the Prosecutor’s Office – because it is their responsibility – that sought support from the Spanish Government to assist in unblocking the identification of evidence,” she noted.
“THEY HAVE NOT LIFTED A FINGER”
Rosa Bella Cabrera (PSOE) has questioned the “political, media and institutional propaganda campaign” initiated by the Canary Government concerning the amendment of the immigration law, the approval of its protocols for the reception of minors, and the signing of a migration pact with the PP.
In this vein, she enquired if as a result of the newly established protocol – currently suspended by the TSJC – it would have been feasible to conduct age identification tests in an “efficient and effective” manner.
She pointed out that they have not devised a specific protocol to expedite these identifications nor have they outsourced the tests, despite lacking adequate equipment; “and they have not lifted a finger to facilitate the tests being conducted on the island of arrival,” she remarked.
However, in the previous legislature, she emphasised that x-rays were performed at the El Hierro Hospital and the orthopantomograms were outsourced to a centre on the same island, thereby streamlining the forensic reports and the resolutions of the Prosecutor’s Office.
“Are we going to have to continue hearing about boys and girls remaining in police stations or in an adult centre waiting for a forensic test?” she asked, while insisting that the regional Executive should assume its responsibilities until there is a change in the law and implement extraordinary measures “to expedite forensic evidence and reports in reality, not merely as a matter of form.”
