The economic crisis facing the Yaiza City Council has brought a new cut. The government group has decided to suspend this year's Carnival arena in Playa Blanca, as confirmed by the mayor, Gladys Acuña. "It has been a very difficult decision, but it is an expense that we cannot afford right now," she said.
According to Acuña, holding the traditional parade of floats would cost about 30,000 euros. And with the difficulties the City Council is having in meeting the payment of payrolls and the debt they inherited from the Social Security of the previous government group, she maintains that they cannot make that disbursement.
The mayor assures that they have tried to seek the support of the businessmen in the area so as not to have to adopt this measure, but their efforts have not been fruitful. And, according to the mayor, with the current crisis it is difficult to find economic support.
Gladys Acuña assures that the suspension of the arena in Playa Blanca will only affect this year, and that in 2010 they hope to recover all the Carnival events. She even pointed out that for this year, they are still trying to save this event, "even if it is by doing a parade instead of a parade of floats." But "as of today, the decision is to suspend it."
Jesús Machín asks them to rectify
For his part, the president of the Canarian Coalition in Lanzarote, Jesús Machín, assures that he has already addressed his councilors in the Yaiza government group (formed by the PIL-CC pact), to reverse this decision and maintain the arena. "I am willing to lend them any help they need," says Machín.
And he points out that in addition to the enjoyment of the residents of the town, the economic movement that is generated in bars and restaurants by the parade, and also the tourist image, is at stake. "We cannot deceive tourists," says Machín, referring to the specific promotion that is made of the island with the Carnival. "They can't arrive and then not find events," he says.
