The fourteen 'murga' groups that make up the Federation of 'Murgas' have made a new protest to the Arrecife City Council this Wednesday morning and have not appeared at the draw to determine the order in the Carnival contest, which was held at 12 noon at the Town Hall. The draw was going to be held on Tuesday afternoon, but the 'murgas' left the City Council stranded, in protest for possible cuts in subsidies, so a new call was made.
However, only three 'murgas', which are those that are not part of the federation (Los Tabletuos, Las Inadaptadas and Las Trompeteras), have attended the draw. The remaining 14, who have decided again not to attend, are Las Revoltosas, Los Intoxicados, Las Intoxicadas, Los Atrevidos, Las Atrevidas, Los Arretrancos, Las Arretrancas, Los Titi-Roys, Los Simplones, Las Pijoletas, Las Lady's Golosinas, Los Desahuciados, Los Gorfines and Las Mery Ke.
In this way, the Federation of 'Murgas' remains adamant about not participating this year in the Carnival, if they do not at least receive a response from the City Council. "We are waiting for the councilor to communicate the issue of the subsidy, because the media give some figures, but they have not told us anything," explains its president, Manuel Hernández Noda.
From the 'murgas' they are aware that "it is logical" that there must be cuts and, even, at the time they accepted the different cuts in the Carnival that were proposed from the City Council, as long as the subsidy was not touched. Now, their participation is pending the City Council. "When they respond to us, and depending on what they tell us, we will see what we do," concludes Hernández Noda.
A 14 percent cut
The Councilor for Festivities of the Arrecife City Council, Víctor Sanginés, has confirmed that the subsidy per group will go from 4,090 euros to 3,500 euros, which is 14 percent less than what they were being paid.
According to the councilman, the crisis and the consequent reduction of economic items has affected all areas of management of the City Council, except Social Services and Education. "It is impossible for us to maintain the full subsidy. That is why we have asked the 'murgas' for a little understanding and an effort so that, despite everything, the contest is maintained," he said
He also clarified the impossibility of paying the aid before the celebration of the Carnival, "as long as the Budget for 2012 is not definitively approved, which must go to the next plenary session".
Regarding the Carnival 2011 awards, Sanginés announced that they will be effective in ten or twelve days, once the settlement of the Accounts of that year is completed.
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