The Jeep drivers who take tourists around the island of La Graciosa are "desperate and worried about the lack of control over their activity".
"Nothing has been regulated," one of the many workers tells us. They complain about the "great lack of control" that exists since "new people have arrived on the island" dedicated to "bringing in cars, taxis, etc.". "More than 50 cars" are operating on the island. An exorbitant figure considering that "many people only live off this" and there is beginning to "not be enough work for everyone", says one of the owners "very annoyed".
"They demand that we have 5 years of residency and we see people without it driving cars"
"Even having all the papers in order", the City Council "has not given us any license", he acknowledges. "Being a native of here", on occasions "I have had many problems getting a car in", he confesses. The requirement to be able to operate in La Graciosa is "to have a minimum of 5 years of residency", something that angers them when they see "people who are not residents driving the cars".
After several years of attempts to "find a solution" to this serious issue that "is not from now", the Lanzarote Council continues without giving them answers: "I entered in 2016 and soon after we met with the City Council", something that did not work since "we signed but nothing has been done", recalls this businessman.
We ask that "they give us a transport card" and "put an ordinance" so that "this does not get more out of hand".
"We started with only 15 vehicles and now there are more than 50"
The situation is "critical, we started with only 15 vehicles", says another worker. "They are ruining the island", "if it continues like this in a year there will be nowhere to take it", laments another.
They also criticize the passengers: "people drunk and under the influence of drugs", something that is "a bad image" for this natural landscape. A fact that "hurts him" because of his brotherhood with the island: "we have spent all our childhood playing here and they are ruining it", he comments indignantly.
They wish to "return to being like before" and launch "a cry for help" to the City Council, the Island Council and the Government of the Canary Islands. One of them acknowledges having spoken with Rita Hernández, candidate for mayor of Teguise, to find a remedy and "she has told me that she will call me", he confesses.
