ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS FRIDAY

Justice delays the eviction of two homes in Argana that were sold by the Church

Luis Manuel had to leave the house this Friday, but he has been granted a one-month extension. Another eviction has also been delayed, that of a 90 and 87-year-old couple. The PAH has held a protest at the company that requested the eviction...

March 7 2014 (14:53 WET)
The Justice system delays the eviction of two homes in Argana that were sold by the Church
The Justice system delays the eviction of two homes in Argana that were sold by the Church

A Court in Arrecife has delayed the eviction of two homes in Argana, which were donated by a private individual to the Church for families with limited resources and, subsequently, the Canary Islands Diocese sold them to a company "with the neighbors inside", according to the former president of the Argana neighborhood association, Andrés Medina. This very Friday, Luis Manuel Guillén, 56, had to leave this house, but the Justice has granted him a one-month extension. Guillén has nowhere to go, he has been unemployed for "three or four years", receives 426 euros and is ill.

In addition, the Justice has also granted an extension to another of the affected homes, in which the couple formed by Sinforiano Lemes, 90, and Pilar Callero, 87, live. The couple had to leave the house on March 21, but they have been granted an extension until May 23. "They have been living in this house since 1959. They came with six children and had three more here," explained Andrés Medina.

The houses are located in Argana, on Palacio Valdés street. Recently, one of the neighbors, Dolores Guillén, was allowed by the Provincial Court to continue living in this house. Two families were already evicted in 2013 and their houses "were demolished".

"A speculation from the beginning"


Andrés Medina has assured that in this matter "there has been speculation from the beginning". Thus, he explained that the Cursillistas of Christianity, a religious group, began in 1959 to create a series of homes, six in particular, with the help of parishioners, neighbors and companies that donated blocks and cement. The land, of 10,500 square meters, was a donation from Leopoldo Díaz Suárez.

The Cursillistas handed over these houses to the Church but the six families "could keep them until they had the means to leave". "The Church never claimed anything until 2006, when the parish priest of San Ginés, Antonio Perera, appeared, saying that they had to leave the houses, because there was a sale made with a company," said Medina, who explained that a part of the plot was sold first for 258,000 euros and then another for 360,000 euros.

The company is Iveco, where this Friday, members of the Platform of People Affected by Mortgages (PAH) have held a protest against these evictions. The National Police has come to the area and the agents have informed the members of the platform of Iveco's intention to file a complaint against them for shouting slogans such as "And who is to blame for this eviction? Iveco!".

For his part, Andrés Medina also wanted to remember that these families have carried out works on the houses such as "putting in new doors and fixing the floors". "The Church has speculated, it has sold some houses that it said were in ruins and it is a lie. It has benefited from money. According to the parish priest, he reached an agreement with the company so that they would compensate the neighbors or find them accommodation, but that has not happened and, in addition, there is nothing written," he denounced, while assuring that the intention of the company is to "demolish the houses".

"They don't have a bit of heart and humanity"


"What we don't understand is what kind of people exist in the world who don't have a bit of heart and humanity and respect people who have been there for more than 50 years. Nobody doubts that the property belongs to them, because they bought it from the Church, but at least a little humanity," demanded Andrés Medina, who has even sent two letters to Pope Francis, but has not yet received a response.

In addition, he complains about the treatment of the Arrecife City Council and the Cabildo in this matter, as well as the Church itself. "Neither the responsible councilor, nor the councilor have visited the families and neither has the company. Neither the parish priest of San Ginés, nor that of Santa Coloma, responsible for the church of Argana, have deigned to come here," he lamented.

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