María Dolores Corujo has denounced Oswaldo Betancort's “contempt and deception” towards the people of Lanzarote in the investments for Lanzarote in the regional budgets. The insular secretary of the PSOE in Lanzarote and deputy in Congress, has lashed out at the "crude and clumsy manipulation" of the investment figures for the island in the budgets of the Autonomous Community.
Corujo has pointed out that Lanzarote is not only the sixth island in terms of investments, but that, despite “what they are trying to sell from Coalición Canaria and the Partido Popular, the real figure is much lower due to the inclusion of items that will not be executed or that correspond to regional funds.”
Corujo has indicated that the total figure announced of 131 million euros for Lanzarote includes items of a regional nature, such as the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (MRR), which, for the most part, are not specific to the island. Corujo denounced that "this manipulation of the figures seeks to mask the scarce real investment destined for Lanzarote."
La Gomera, 800% more than Lanzarote
In her speech during the press conference held yesterday by the socialists at their island headquarters, Corujo made it clear that "the volume of investments for Lanzarote is below other islands, such as Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, Gran Canaria and Tenerife."
According to the data, Lanzarote will receive 60.5 million euros of real investment, a figure that represents a decrease of 5 million euros compared to the 2024 budget. In terms of investment per inhabitant, Lanzarote is at the bottom, with only 358 euros per inhabitant if the items that will not be executed are excluded. This represents 67% less than Fuerteventura, which will receive 597 euros per inhabitant.
In addition, El Hierro, with 1,239 euros or the difference with islands such as La Gomera, which will receive 3,218 euros per inhabitant, that is, 800% more. “This highlights the contempt with which the Government of the Canary Islands treats Lanzarote and the negligence of Oswaldo Betancort, incapable of defending the interests of the people of Lanzarote,” he adds.
Lanzarote, "despised" in investment per inhabitant
Likewise, Corujo has denounced that “the disparity in investment per inhabitant between Lanzarote and other islands of the archipelago reveals a mockery, discrimination and abuse committed against the people of Lanzarote.” And it is that, while Fuerteventura receives 919 euros per inhabitant, Lanzarote barely reaches 804 euros, which is 14.33% less.
However, if the "trap" items are excluded, the difference is aggravated: Fuerteventura receives 597 euros per inhabitant and Lanzarote only 358 euros, 67% less. Furthermore, when compared with the so-called "green islands", the disparity is even more notable, with La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera receiving investments that far exceed those of Lanzarote.
Corujo has denounced that “this type of maneuver is a mockery of the citizens of Lanzarote and demonstrates the submission of Oswaldo Betancort, president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and parliamentarian for the island, to the Government of Fernando Clavijo.” “The figures show that this budget is an intolerable mockery", he concluded. “Oswaldo Betancort must remember that his responsibilities as president of the Cabildo and parliamentarian are to defend the interests of the island and not to act as Clavijo's lackey.”
