Many families in the town of Playa Honda, in San Bartolomé, are having difficulties making ends meet. The demand for help has been increasing in the last two weeks according to the councilor of Social Services, Conchi Álvarez. "We have noticed the economic crisis in all institutions", commented Álvarez, who explained that at this time, the greatest concern of those responsible for the area throughout the island is that "this demand for subsidies gets out of control and we cannot cope with it."
"The biggest problem also comes from the idiosyncrasy of our neighbors, especially in Playa Honda", explained Álvarez, where the majority of the population comes from outside the island and works in the hospitality or construction sector, "the sectors that have been most affected by the economic crisis". They are couples with two or more children, without family roots, who have a mortgage and do not have any type of resources, according to the councilor, who has verified that "they are having a hard time staying on the island and do not even have money to return to their countries or regions of origin", she related.
Likewise, Álvarez has acknowledged that since the month of September many Galicians are leaving both Fuerteventura and Lanzarote "because the golden age they came looking for has ended here", summarized the councilor, who emphasized that the problem is occurring especially in the municipality of San Bartolomé".
Waiting for the Playa Honda nursery
In addition to the economic problems that translate into an increase in the demands for subsidies to the Department of Social Services, the residents of Playa Honda also demand nurseries for the little ones. Although according to Álvarez, since the end of last year the building of the new nursery "was practically finished", the councilor has explained that from the City Council "we cannot guarantee the population that that nursery will be operating when the school year begins in September"
The work has not yet been officially received by the City Council, that is, it has not yet been completed and delivered by the construction company, but according to Álvarez once this occurs "it will only be necessary to process the modifications to the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, which is the one that has to approve it in the last instance".
New earthworks, foundations, false ceilings or the adaptation of electrical installations have been some of the reasons for the delay in the work of the new nursery building, which according to Álvarez, "had many projects that were incomplete and we have had to take charge now with a budget overrun of about 73,000 euros".
Given the concern that the new nursery will not be finished for the start of the next school year, the councilor has added that work is being done to speed up administrative procedures, "advancing a lot in furniture budgets and so on". In that sense, she has noted that she has had "a great harmony on the part of the Minister of Social Affairs, Inés Rojas, and especially by the general director of Minors".
