The decision has been "very thoughtful and painful", expressed this Friday the until now president of the Red Cross on the island, Arturo Ramírez. According to him, the business he runs abroad makes it impossible for him to face the economic difficulties that the entity is going through, which in recent months has been having problems to face the payment of salaries to workers.
The debts that some municipalities have with the Red Cross, especially those of Tías and Yaiza, has led the organization to a delicate moment and, according to Ramírez, it may be necessary to make decisions "that I did not want to take and I have fought not to do so, because I understand that they are detrimental to the welfare of my island".
Among these resolutions to mitigate the economic problems, Ramírez pointed out the possibility of employment regulations and the closure of the emergency coordination center that provides ambulance and rescue services in Lanzarote. However, Arturo Ramírez still hopes that the provincial president, Juan Campos, who is currently in charge of the NGO in Lanzarote, "will be able to communicate the seriousness of the situation to the president of the Cabildo, Manuela Armas", so that the services provided to date can be maintained.
In addition, to explain the reasons for his withdrawal, Arturo Ramírez also alleges that his figure "was already burned at the institutional level", because he has had to deal on numerous occasions with certain mayors to demand the payment of services in a timely manner. And, as he explained, the difficult situation of the Red Cross in Lanzarote has been saved in recent times thanks to the economic support of the provincial office in Las Palmas and the central office in Madrid, "but there comes a time when they tell us that there is no money and we have to make resolutions".
After his resignation, the reins of the Red Cross on the island are taken by the provincial delegation of Las Palmas and its president, Juan Campos, will be in charge of the management on a provisional basis. According to Arturo Ramírez, "he was the chief officer of the Local Police of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and is now retired, and he feels capable enough to come a couple of times a week and take care of the affairs in Lanzarote".
