The mayor of Teguise, Olivia Duque, has made an assessment at the midpoint of the legislature, highlighting that "her government team has focused all efforts on responding with facts to the most heartfelt needs of the residents, through close, efficient and responsible management, thus allowing to respond to the real priorities of the municipality."
In the words of the mayor herself, “the commitment to our residents has been the focus of every decision made. In these two years we have demonstrated that with dialogue, active listening and institutional cooperation, great projects can be promoted.”
Among the most relevant measures, Duque has highlighted "the promotion of the improvement of essential public infrastructures such as educational centers, playgrounds, socio-cultural centers and sports spaces, as well as important works in sanitation, paving and lighting in all the towns of the municipality." In total, the City Council has already executed 70% of its budget, exceeding 26 million euros invested between 2023 and 2025.
In addition, she has insisted on the reactivation of the Green Line, a direct communication channel to collect incidents, proposals and suggestions from citizens regarding public spaces, cleaning and maintenance.
Costa Teguise and La Graciosa, in the focus of the actions
The mayor has emphasized two priority areas for the government group, Costa Teguise and La Graciosa. “We have responded firmly to the historical demands of these areas, reinforcing the cleaning and daily maintenance of the areas. In Costa Teguise we have carried out actions in playgrounds, and a specific budget of 100,000 euros has been allocated for the purchase of new games and children's furniture. Work has also been done to improve access and lighting,” Duque explained.
Likewise, renovation and improvement works have been carried out on the sports courts in Panamá and La Laguna streets, with an investment amounting to 500,000 euros, as well as improvements in lighting and street furniture worth 160,000 euros on Cocederos Avenue.
One of the major actions is the Preferential Bus Stop in Costa Teguise, already underway, which will have shaded areas, a playground, a cafeteria, a taxi rank and electric charging points. This project contemplates a total investment of 2 million euros and responds to a historical demand from residents of the area.
Regarding the modernization of the coastline and coastal services, the government group has allocated nearly 800,000 euros to improve access to beaches, install new railings, renovate public bathrooms, enable shaded areas and acquire lifeguard equipment in enclaves such as Las Cucharas, El Ancla, Playa Bastián, El Jablillo, Caleta de Famara and Caleta Caballo. In addition, actions have been initiated for the general maintenance of the coastline, improvements to trails and conservation of natural spaces for public use.
In the case of La Graciosa, the water sanitation and supply project, declared of regional interest thanks to collaboration with the Government of the Canary Islands, has been reactivated after four years of paralysis. The drafting of the project has already been completed and the works could begin in the coming months.
In addition to these actions, there is the rehabilitation of the public bathrooms of the CEIP La Graciosa and the recent contract for emptying wells, for an amount of 200,000 euros, a priority intervention to guarantee the health and proper functioning of the island's sanitation systems. In addition, sociocultural programs and citizen participation have been reinforced, with activities in community centers such as theater, sewing or empleita.
Citizen participation, education and employment
“We have implemented participatory budgets, which allow prioritizing investments based on neighborhood proposals and promoted projects in socio-cultural centers and schools that integrate young and old people into the life of the municipality,” he indicated.
The mayor highlighted "the government group's commitment to active citizen participation, highlighting the projects that are developed in schools and socio-cultural centers so that society, from childhood to old age, has a voice in the construction of the municipality."
Similarly, education has been another focus of the mandate, with investments such as the renovation of toilets at the CEIP Costa Teguise and La Graciosa. Improvements have also been made to schools in Teguise and the replacement of windows, with a total investment of more than 292,000 euros, in collaboration with the educational community, the Government of the Canary Islands and the AMPAS.
In employment, Teguise "has reached its best figures with a decrease in unemployment of 10.3% and a notable growth in youth and female hiring. This has been possible thanks to active employment policies such as municipal plans, the incorporation of 151 new workers and the planned stabilization of 132 places between 2024 and 2025."
Public investment with "visible results"
Olivia Duque also valued the economic health of the City Council, with "balanced accounts, without bank debt and with punctual payments to suppliers." “It is a management based on transparency, rigor and public service, which facilitates investment and guarantees stability to continue executing,” she added.
During these two years, more than 4.5 million euros have been allocated to projects and works in the different towns of the municipality. These include the roof of the Teguise football field, the adaptation of the Guatiza Socio-cultural Center, the improvement of José Betancort street, the paving plan in Teguise, Tahiche, Guatiza, and Costa Teguise, and the improvement of energy efficiency in public lighting.
Actions are also underway such as the renovation of the Guatiza playground, improvements in several socio-cultural centers, the construction of niches in cemeteries, new municipal offices and the water collector and pumping stations project on Islas Canarias Avenue, with a global investment of 2.2 million euros. Sports services have been reinforced, with the incorporation of monitors, the purchase of material worth 120,000 euros and improvements in municipal facilities.
"Looking to the future with determination"
Municipal security is another highlight, so its "improvement through the expansion of the mobile park" of the Local Police and the incorporation of 11 new agents to the staff, was fundamental in these first two years. New surveillance cameras have also been installed and work is being done to improve traffic and pedestrian crossings.
Duque was clear in stating that “we have a lot to do, but we have laid a solid foundation. We are going to continue improving access to housing, strengthening public services, betting on sustainability and building a fairer, more modern and more habitable Teguise for everyone”.
The mayor wanted to thank the effort of the entire government team, municipal workers and citizens. “This project would not be possible without the involvement of everyone. Teguise advances because we do it together,” she concluded.
