The wishes of the institutions
Manuela Armas, president of the Cabildo
"This year, as always, I ask the Three Wise Men for health for all my loved ones, happiness, and much love. I extend this wish to all the inhabitants of Lanzarote, members of a society that demands calm and requires reflection from its political class. I especially ask for the ability to convey to the people of Lanzarote the importance of a change of course that makes us strong against the crisis of globalization that is coming. And may the Lanzarote Sostenible plan, the shield that will allow us to tackle it, be the reality of all and not the dream of a few."
Enrique Pérez Parrilla, mayor of Arrecife
"I wish prosperity and health for all citizens and a little patience with politicians so that they are not disappointed. I believe that political action is necessary and I would ask citizens to always be attentive and participating with the institutions, as in the upcoming elections on March 9. In addition, another of my wishes are the actions that are pending such as the General Plan or the French islet and the improvement that is being made to the neighborhoods of Arrecife will continue to materialize throughout the year. I would ask society not to lose the optimism that Arrecife can be a city as befits the island in which we live and that they feel that it is possible to change things."
Marcial Martín, mayor of San Bartolomé
"My wish is simple but difficult to achieve if we do not do our part: happiness and health. If the individual wishes of each of the citizens are achieved, I would also be happy because it would mean that the town hall is doing well. I would like to resolve the basic and fundamental infrastructures such as public lighting, sidewalks and sports facilities. I would like San Bartolomé to recover lost time. May the inequalities in terms of infrastructure and services existing on the Island disappear. My illusion from a political point of view is that everything remains as it is because we have a very cohesive government team.
Jesús Machín, mayor of Tinajo
"I wish health for all the residents, especially for those who are sick. As for the works for the municipality, the wish is that the medical office becomes a reality this year. In addition, I would like the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands to fulfill the commitments of projects in Tinajo. From the access road to the Ermita de Los Dolores, to the project for open commercial areas and the Socioeconomic Integration Plan project. I would also ask that the Cabildo comply with the Tourist Infrastructure Plan."
José Dimas Martín, mayor of Teguise
"I especially ask for health for everyone, because having health everything else comes easily. As mayor, my wish is that Teguise becomes the benchmark of this Island again. With a little divine help, I hope to carry it out for the benefit of all the residents of the municipality."
José Juan Cruz Saavedra, mayor of Tías
"The main wish for the Three Wise Men is health and that in economic terms the next year is fruitful for the municipality and for the Island in general. I wish work and that it is an economically prosperous year. In addition, I would ask for the renovation of Puerto del Carmen, one of the main concerns."
José Torres Stinga, mayor of Haría
"I ask 2008 for health and happiness for all. From the Haría Town Hall, I would ask that basic works for the municipality be completed, such as the Haría Institute, and the sanitation of the port of Órzola, two priority elements to complete the most necessary infrastructures. The three basic axes are already fulfilled, such as the educational, health and social health issues with the expansion of the Health Center that is in the budgets of the Community."
José Antonio García, commissioner of the National Police
"I wish that the situation stabilizes so that there are fewer crimes. In addition, we have fulfilled one of the ones from last year, because from the month of January in Lanzarote we will have the digital ID like in the rest of the national territory. In addition, I would ask for more staff for the implementation of the new catalog that will also include the airport. More troops to be as we are now. We also lack technical means of new technologies such as some other computer.
More resources and more involvement from the administration are some of the wishes of social associations
Antonio Juan López, president of Cáritas Lanzarote
"The rich must live more simply so that the poor can simply live." I would like that to become a reality in each of us. Specifically, I think that our island and especially Arrecife, I would ask the Three Wise Men for an island shelter. We see the need for a space on the island so that people who live on the street have a roof under which to sleep and can eat something warm. We ask that once and for all the institutions agree. I would like to ask that, instead of so many lights, fireworks and bonuses, the eyes of the elderly shine with their own light so that they can have more personalized and more comprehensive care, as well as children with educational and training programs. More development and cultural programs. I think we spend a lot of money that could be invested in more important things. I would like the Arrecife City Council instead of spending 9,000 euros on the Nativity Scene, to have invested it in hiring three or four more people who can do home help for so many people who are bedridden."
Arturo Ramírez, president of the Red Cross
"From the Red Cross, we wish that next year is a year of harmony and friendship, without human misfortunes and that we can live in harmony. We know that it is utopian but it is what we wish. We would like the emergency phones to not ring for anything other than insignificant things. In addition, we need public institutions to be aware of the need to promote and maintain organizations such as the Red Cross from a material and economic point of view, for the work it does not only in emergencies, but in prevention and in the social field with the most disadvantaged people in society. A silent job but not for that reason non-existent because there are many people with social needs on the island.
Particularly, we are satisfied with being paid on time the amounts of the different agreements with the different public institutions, since today we have a debt of 700,000 euros, only from the island institutions.
Manuel Ruiz, president of the Association of Relatives of Alzheimer's Patients and other Dementias
"From the Association of Relatives of Alzheimer's Patients and other dementias, we would ask that all the wishes expressed during the past year be fulfilled. One of them would be the expansion of the Day Center that has become small and we would like to offer more places, the creation of a specific Residence for Alzheimer's patients, because there is enough space in a perfect environment for 25 or 30 beds. We would also like the Home Help service to improve, and I hope that with the Dependency Law, which was approved a year ago and here on the Island we have not yet noticed any change, it will be expedited so that it is a reality in Lanzarote as in the rest of the communities. In addition, we would ask for more workshops and activities to train, inform and advise on the treatment and alternatives that relatives have to assist their sick loved ones with continuity. Another wish: some works for some rehabilitation pools in the water that have been left unfinished."
Carmen Arrocha, Association of Oncohematological Relatives of Lanzarote
"The wishes of the Association of Oncohematological Relatives of Lanzarote for this 2008 are to ask for the two oncology places on the Island, and that the oncology unit be effective, that all the requirements and training are met. And from the Association we ask for a lot of health, something fundamental for all patients. We would need something that helps patients to continue and maintain their quality of life, such as the stability of doctors within Social Security and that transfers are improved. Our main wish is to urgently have a Linear Accelerator, that is, Radiotherapy. We believe that the Health Area should request it as soon as possible so that it can be carried out here in less than a year. This would be very important for the oncological family. Transfers would be avoided and it would be much cheaper for the Government of the Canary Islands. If it were done here, the people of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura would not have to travel and the transfers of sick people would be avoided."
Guayente Espinar, president of the Association of Diabetics of Lanzarote (A.DI.LA.)
"Fundamentally, the Association of Diabetics of Lanzarote asks the Three Wise Men to solve the problems of lack of endocrinologist on the Island and to stabilize the service so that at least two endocrinologists regularly consult. We have been waiting for an endocrinologist for the whole year and we consider it something fundamental. We need the continued and stable service. In three years we have changed endocrinologists three or four times."
Nieves Rosa, president of Mararía
"From the Mararía Association, the wishes for next year would be related to greater awareness and more equality between men and women. A request that we launch to society in general, so that violence against women ceases, which this year has meant the death of 71 of them. We must build new social values that imply greater equality. In addition, we would ask for greater involvement on the part of the institutions that should articulate more projects for prevention and attention to citizens in social issues. I would ask the Three Wise Men for more volunteers, who are the true protagonists of the work we carry out in the association. We also need understanding from society to support us in the projects we develop, and infrastructures because a social entity always needs them to be able to work better."