The former owner of Construcciones Torres, José Luis Betancort, has sold the company, which will now have a different management. La Voz contacted the businessman last week, but Betancort declined to confirm or deny the news, stating that he "still" could not say anything. However, this sale has been confirmed to La Voz by several public institutions on the island, who do not hide their concern, as they had projects contracted with this company.
One of those institutions is the Cabildo itself. Its vice president and Minister of Transport, Joaquín Caraballo, confirmed the news this Tuesday and also assured that the bike lane works, which were in charge of this company, are "paralyzed", despite being practically finished and the completion deadline was April 4.
The new management has not yet contacted the Cabildo, according to Joaquín Caraballo, who pointed out that the project management is making efforts to find out "whether or not this company will complete the works." If they do not complete them, the first institution "will demand responsibilities," as it will have to re-tender what remains of the project. "About 200 meters of pavement are missing, and then there's the issue of painting and signage. It's a shame because the works were progressing well," he said.
The "concern" about this news has already reached the various Works departments of public institutions. In addition to the Cabildo, town councils such as Teguise, Arrecife, and San Bartolomé have projects contracted with this company.
In Teguise, for example, Construcciones Torres was awarded the contract for the Soo corrals and the speed reducers that were being installed in the municipality. Neither of the two projects is finished, and the Town Council also expresses its concern about the sale of this company before the completion of both projects.
Public lighting in San Bartolomé
San Bartolomé is also "concerned" because this company had to fix "some deficiencies" in some works it carried out in the municipality. This was explained by the Councilor for Works of this Town Council, Andrés Stinga, who pointed out that more than a month ago, a request was sent to Construcciones Torres to resolve these "deficiencies."
The company was awarded the contract for the public lighting works in San Bartolomé in 2009. It finished the works in 2010, but "there are problems with the equipment that turns on the lights." "Now we don't know how the deficiencies will be resolved," said Andrés Stinga, worried, who pointed out that he "doesn't know" if the new management of the company has already contacted the San Bartolomé Town Council.
In Arrecife, Construcciones Torres, in addition to the bike lane, was also awarded the contract for the works on the road on Calle León y Castillo, near the municipal swimming pool. This project, included in Plan E, is practically finished, but there were still "some finishing touches" to be done, according to municipal sources.