The eviction of a hundred people in Playa Blanca, which took effect last Tuesday, has unleashed outrage in Lanzarote. All the affected families, made up of 75 adults and 24 minors, have been left in a vulnerable situation and without a home in which to settle again.
Due to this mass eviction, the lawyer from the Fuenmayor Abogados firm, who represents 19 of the families who have been living in the urbanization for years, Ayose Hernández, has spoken with La Voz to explain the situation facing those affected.
Despite the fact that the case remains open and the date for the oral trial has not yet been set, the eviction took effect two days ago. The Court of Instruction that is handling the case in Arrecife gave the green light to the launch and rejected the writings presented by the different defenses to paralyze the eviction for the fourth time.
"The suspension writ has not been resolved," indicated lawyer Ayose Hernández, who understands that, since these are "vulnerable families, of a peaceful occupation and without violence," the decree that prohibited their eviction until December 31 of this year should have been applied.
Likewise, he also wanted to highlight, as La Voz previously reported, that the people who occupied the homes made a proposal to the developer to be able to stay paying rent. However, they received a negative response from the company. "They gave no reasons to justify the refusal, not even for reasons related to the collapse, they made it clear that there was no negotiation," Hernández indicated. Meanwhile, the lawyer explained that "they were offered between 50 and 100 euros" per family to leave the place "and thus avoid the problem."
Once the eviction was carried out, some families are still on the street and others are temporarily relocated to the homes of relatives. In some cases, those affected are even considering leaving the island and moving to others where they can access affordable housing.
On the other hand, the lawyer has clarified why the families rejected being relocated to the Aula de la Naturaleza de Máguez, as announced by the Minister of Social Welfare of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Marci Acuña. In this sense, the lawyer has indicated that "they did not reject the proposal", but they were offered a bus that would take them to the place, but "without a possibility of return".
"They preferred not to go and stay in case they were called to work and thus be able to earn money to take to their family," says Ayose Hernández.
Likewise, the defender of 19 of the evicted families points out that the solutions came late and in an improvised manner. "There have been many months to do it, it should have been tried before, now it is too late," declared the lawyer.
500,000 euros for getting the eviction
During the eviction, collecting their belongings was a complicated task for the families. The lawyer mediated to ensure that they could collect their personal belongings. "They intended that once they left they could no longer enter," he confessed. He did everything possible to achieve it. "I asked the lieutenant that at least they could take their belongings and not throw them away like animals," he added.
The complaint that concluded with the eviction of these 99 people in Playa Blanca was filed by the developer Ignacio Díaz de Aguilar in January 2023. "No one had been interested until now," the lawyer highlighted, who argues that "the eviction has occurred due to a series of clear and manifest economic interests."
In this sense, the lawyer has pointed out that "in the purchase agreement itself there is a promise that the person who is able to evict the families will receive a compensation of 500,000 euros."
There are no reports certifying the risk of collapse, as the Yaiza City Council already denied in a statement. Thus, the lawyer has revealed that "there is only one that, evidently, will manifest what the complainant is interested in, including the developer." In his way of understanding it, the review has not been done in the properly correct way. "The Court should have judicially assigned an expert or a surveyor to go and certify the state of the homes," added Hernández.
Other occupations in Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca
Regarding the various occupations that are being carried out in Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca, very close to Calle Malvasía, the place where the eviction has taken place, the lawyer is forceful. "In the end, the same thing will end up happening. If it falls again in the same Court, I understand that the procedure will be the same," the lawyer warned.
