Venezuelan citizens residing in Lanzarote, a population of 694 people as marked in 2022 with data collected at the Data Center, have denounced "not having had the opportunity to vote" in their country's elections on the island.
From the Association of United Venezuelans hand in hand in Lanzarote, based in Arrecife, they commented to La Voz that they "made the relevant requests" to be able to vote on the island, "they spoke with the Venezuelan consul in the Canary Islands, but no attention was paid," added its president, Indira García. "The consulate in Tenerife ignored our requests," García added.
Given the impossibility of having a polling station in Lanzarote, citizens had the possibility of traveling to Tenerife to make the votes effective. "In Lanzarote, none of those of us in the association have moved to the other island to vote," said the president.
"The consulate in Tenerife ignored our requests"
García pointed out that in order to vote they had to meet specific requirements. "We had to travel to Tenerife to make a prior consular registration," she pointed out. The reason why they have not been able to vote has been the cost of the ticket to the neighboring island and their work commitments. "Some newly arrived people did not have the long-term residence documentation and the ticket was more expensive," she said.
Although they have not been able to vote, Venezuelans joined a demonstration last Friday in the Ramirez Cerdá Park, to encourage and support those who "could vote", with the aim of making it known that "Venezuelans know that we are present in our hearts", she said. The group of citizens will continue to meet to be present with the Venezuelan people. "We are going to continue demonstrating," said the person in charge.
Regarding the situation that is being experienced in Venezuela these days, in relation to the irregularities in the votes that make Nicolás Maduro the winner, with 51.20%, García has been clear. "Everything has been a fraud, with deceptions and theft of ballot boxes, in addition to some in which the votes have not been counted."
"This is a dictatorship, it is nothing else," she revealed about the political context of the country. Venezuelans define the feelings they experience from Lanzarote. "We have anger, disappointment, sadness and some mixed feelings, there was a desire for this to change and for something to be done."
"This is a dictatorship"
Indira García has asked for the collaboration of other countries to stop the crisis that Venezuela is experiencing. "We cannot solve them alone, we need help from other countries, the 20 countries that have signed against it, also from the European Union," she said. In addition, she showed with a small glimmer of hope. "We are tied hand and foot, we can only wait for the power of God to resolve the situation."
Witnessing the funerals of their relatives by video call
The president has narrated some of the stories that Venezuelans, belonging to the association, have experienced upon arriving in Lanzarote. "Some families have had to see the burial of their relatives by video call and others come with diseases due to lack of medicine," she said.
The adaptation to the Canary Islands and the abandonment of their homes is a "difficult process", she stressed, although citizens have been able to find a better life in Lanzarote. "They have started working and regaining hope." García wanted to thank the Canarian people for welcoming her compatriots with "open arms".
