The PSOE of Tenerife has requested on Tuesday that the Government Group of the Insular Cabildo provide public clarifications following the confirmation that the tender for the refurbishment of the submarine emissary at Punta Brava in Puerto de la Cruz has been left vacant due to an error in the classification criteria set for bidding firms, as reported by this newspaper on Monday.
This initiative was touted as the “definitive solution” to the discharge issues that have kept Playa Jardín closed for more than nine months (since July 2024).
The socialist spokesperson in the Cabildo, Aarón Afonso, has alleged that this oversight “highlights an unacceptable lack of diligence in an urgent and critical matter for the northern part of the island.” Afonso has also condemned that “the Cabildo concealed this information for several days, instilling uncertainty and mistrust among the local populace.”
Additionally, the spokesperson has expressed scepticism regarding the recent announcement from the island government team, claiming it will be tendered next week: “Is this a genuine announcement or merely a time-buying tactic? There is no apparent documentation or official timelines, just promises.”
The PSOE has further cautioned that the Cabildo has confirmed it will not reassess the costs of the project, established in 2022. According to Afonso, “this decision could jeopardise the success of the process if it fails to adapt to current market conditions. We cannot allow the same mistake to recur with such a sensitive project.”
The project was drafted in 2022 and received final approval in July 2023, but was not tendered until March 2025 under urgent circumstances, only to be rendered invalid due to an administrative oversight. “One cannot manage urgent situations with such a lack of diligence,” asserted Afonso.
The socialist spokesperson reiterated: “It took 20 months and 15 days to put the work to tender after the final project approval on July 10, 2023, and now the contest indicates the Cabildo as of March 28, where the councillor was meant to clarify the closure of Playa Jardín.”
Furthermore, the PSOE of Tenerife has claimed that the Cabildo has failed to provide updates on the status of files to tender the expansion works of the wastewater treatment facility in the La Orotava Valley—a vital infrastructure for resolving the region’s discharge issues. During the plenary session on March 28, the councillor stated that the tender would be released in the first week of April, a timeline that has once again been missed by the current Cabildo government, with 22 months having elapsed since the final approval of the extension plan on June 18, 2023.
Afonso reminded that the current government coalition, comprising the Canarian Coalition and the Popular Party, had promised a swift and effective response, even stating that the emissary would be repaired in 48 hours and that Playa Jardín would be reopened this summer. “As of today, there is no emissary, no beach, and no responses,” declared the socialist spokesman.
For all these reasons, the PSOE of Tenerife has called upon the Cabildo to publicly explain why the contest has been left vacant and to ensure that accountability is taken for these procedural errors, demanding that the tender be released immediately with the necessary technical, legal, and financial reassurances.
Furthermore, he urged for transparent communication regarding the status of the regional treatment plant, emphasising that public management necessitates transparency, professionalism, and respect for the citizens.
Aarón Afonso of PSOE Tenerife has reiterated the commitment of the socialist group to maintain a firm, responsible, and constructive opposition, dedicated to the broader interests of the island: “We will persist in demanding explanations, actions, and tangible solutions for the residents of Puerto de la Cruz.”
