The Vice President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Jacobo Medina, explained this Wednesday in a press conference the method used by the Planning and Project Coordination Unit for the distribution of the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN) to the municipalities "equitably and without political preferences."
“We have opened a can of worms that we had no intention of opening, but we were forced to do so given the lack of rigor and veracity of the statements made by the mayor of San Bartolomé,” said the vice president at the beginning of his speech, who from the first moment clarified that he “continues to extend a hand to the San Bartolomé City Council to finance projects that improve the quality of life of the residents.”
Jacobo Medina recalled the background of the “Molina a Molina” project, which is currently being executed and is being financed by FDCAN funds. “The inability of the PSOE Government meant that the Cabildo had to return 3.5 million euros destined for the FEDER fund strategy, which included the “Molina a Molina” project, since the deadline expired on December 31, 2023,” said the vice president, who also detailed that the area included said project of 500,661.82 euros in the 2024 FDCAN funds, so that it could be executed.
“Not only did we manage to save the execution of the project despite the inaction of Dolores Corujo, but we also requested another one of more than 100,000 euros so that they would receive the more than 600,000 euros that correspond to them. To this day, I am still waiting for said project,” added Medina.
Therefore, Jacobo Medina assured that the Cabildo of Lanzarote “has not abandoned the residents of San Bartolomé, but completely the opposite.” “We are executing the largest investment in San Bartolomé, a municipality that is constantly transforming, and to which we have extended a hand at all times to speed up said transformation,” he added.
In fact, he cited the number of works that are being executed in the municipality, which in addition to the aforementioned “Molina a Molina”, the transformation of Princesa Ico and San Borondón streets (1.4 million euros) is being carried out; the San Bartolomé Gymnasium; the Playa Honda Urban Park or the transformed Mástil street.
From a political distribution to an equitable one
The vice president continued the press conference citing the method used by the PSOE when it held the Planning and Project Coordination Unit. “In 2022, the municipalities of Arrecife, Yaiza, Teguise and Tinajo received 0 euros from the FDCAN, while San Bartolomé and Tías received almost 5 million euros between them, where the PSOE happened to govern,” Medina said.
“Who would have more reason to go to court, when the previous president completely marginalized the municipalities in which her political color did not govern?” asked the councilor, who also pointed out that San Bartolomé received “practically the same money as Arrecife in the first five years of the FDCAN strategy, with a population almost three times smaller compared to the capital.”
On the other hand, Jacobo Medina showed the media how the FDCAN funds were distributed to the municipalities in this year 2024. “When I came to the Government I said that we would govern for everyone, political colors aside, and I can say with pride that we are fulfilling it,” he said.
In fact, the distribution has been made based on the population, so Arrecife has received 1,835,716.76 euros; Teguise 732,423.18 euros; Tías 688,832.58 euros; Yaiza 625,575.14 euros; San Bartolomé 611,975 euros; Tinajo 402,796.96 euros and Haría 239,969.22 euros.
“There are no political games here or any trickery with hints of one party or another. There is management and solidarity with the municipalities,” concluded the vice president.
