The Vice President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Jacobo Medina, highlighted in the first day of the State of the Island Debate held this Tuesday the management of the Government Group during the year and a half of mandate.
“I want to congratulate the incessant work that this Government group is doing to improve the lives of the residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. For listening, understanding and trying to solve their problems. For putting the general welfare first at all times, often setting aside even the interests of each political party,” said the vice president at the beginning of his speech.
“We have left behind the alarmist policies and the 'it can't be done, it's not done' for the 'let's see how we can do it'. For all this, I extend my congratulations and my gratitude to each of the colleagues from both parties that make up this Government group for the work done,” Medina added.
The island's vice president made a small account of what the Government group found upon arriving in June 2023, what has been worked on and, above all, with a view to the future of this mandate.
“I said a lot that the drawers of the offices of the Cabildo of Lanzarote were full of projects and ideas that, deliberately, the previous Government group had let die. We analyzed everything and set to work to improve the quality of life of the residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa,” he added.
Likewise, the vice president highlighted “the predisposition of the island's town councils to generate synergies with the first Corporation- This Cabildo is the town council of the town councils, and we have not only extended a hand to the seven councils, but we will continue to do so for the rest of the mandate,” he asserted.
“César Manrique would be proud of the CACT”
The vice president recalled that in June 2023 “we received some Art, Culture and Tourism Centers in a crisis situation, dismantled and with losses of 138,000 euros in June 2023”. “However, thanks to efficient and transparent management by my colleague Ángel Vázquez, we managed to close the year with 2.9 million euros in profit and we maintain a positive result in the first half of 2024, with 8.7 million euros in operating profit,” Medina assured.
Medina also recalled that the access fees to the centers have also been updated, a necessary change to highlight their offer. “We have reached historic agreements with the Cabildo and the town councils for a new canon system, providing long-term financial stability, implementing online sales and the organization of visits, which has been initiated in the Cueva de los Verdes, and which improve both the visitor experience and the conservation of our spaces,” he added.
“Likewise, we are moving towards sustainability with the installation of solar panels and improvements in accessibility. In honor of César Manrique, we are tendering for the recovery of the original uniforms of our staff, and we have completed the restoration of the Monument to Fertility, preserving the cultural legacy of our island,” Medina pointed out.
The vice president reiterated his recognition “to the effort of Ángel Vázquez and his team, who have ensured that the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers have not only been recovered, but are projected with a vision of the future and sustainability that honors the essence of Lanzarote,” the vice president stressed.
20 million euros in public works
Jacobo Medina pointed out the work of the team in the areas of Public Works and the Planning and Project Coordination Unit “that have made possible the beginning of the transformation in Lanzarote and La Graciosa”.
“Since the beginning of this mandate in 2023, we have prioritized, in the area of Public Works that I have the honor of leading, the execution of strategic projects that positively impact the daily lives of citizens and that, at the same time, preserve the identity and uniqueness of our island,” Medina stressed.
The vice president recalled that one of the first projects that materialized was the elimination of the median on the adjacent road of the LZ-20, upon arrival in Arrecife from San Bartolomé. “This infrastructure, although seemingly simple, has meant a crucial improvement for road safety in the area. With this work, we have managed to reduce the risk of accidents, facilitating a safer and more fluid incorporation into traffic,” he explained.
“The improvement in the services of the Doctor José Molina Orosa General University Hospital has also been a priority. We know that one of the great difficulties for those who come to the hospital is the lack of parking. To respond to this need, we have opened the new Hospital parking lot, a modern infrastructure adapted to the growing demand for parking in the area,” he added.
Medina also recalled the intense work that is being carried out “in terms of maintenance and improvement of the island roads”. “We have carried out the resurfacing or initiated the procedure for important roads for island transit, such as Puerto Calero, El Mojón. “Another of the great achievements was the recovery of the Island Roadside Service, which for years was paralyzed and which seriously affected the maintenance of the roads”.
Finally, the vice president stressed the “equitable distribution by population” of the Municipal Cooperation Plans and the Canary Islands Development Fund, reaching record figures to improve the quality of life of the residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
An Island Sports Service
“We have taken a historic step in supporting athletes and clubs in Lanzarote, achieving that this year, for the first time, seven lines of competitive subsidies have been launched,” said the vice president in his speech, who greatly congratulated the councilor Juan Monzón “for doing an excellent job at the head of the area”.
Jacobo Medina placed special emphasis on the fact that access to quality sports facilities is essential for our athletes to train and improve. For this reason, the Sports area has also focused its efforts on improving our infrastructures, starting with the Lanzarote Sports City, a benchmark for sports on our island.
“We have reopened the Heraclio Niz wrestling ground, an emblematic space that represents our sporting heritage and the importance of our Canarian wrestling. In addition, the replacement of the grass on the CDL football field has begun, a necessary intervention to maintain optimal and safe conditions for our athletes,” said the vice president, who also highlighted “the coordination between the Sports and Public Works areas to be able to carry them out”.
“Juan Monzón's commitment goes far beyond supporting elite athletes; it is about making sport an accessible resource available to everyone, strengthening the values of teamwork, effort and respect in our community,” Medina added.
The budgets
Medina highlighted the “fundamental role” that María Jesús Tovar has played at the head of the Treasury and Contracting area, managing with "a strategic and committed vision the resources of the Cabildo".
“This year, under her direction, we have approved the most social and realistic budget in our history, which exceeds 190 million euros. This budget responds to the current needs of our community, prioritizing social welfare and inclusion,” he said.
“In addition, thanks to her management, we have managed to unblock projects of great importance for our citizens, such as the Tahíche Residence for the Elderly, an essential resource to care for our elderly with the dignity they deserve, and the Cruz Blanca project, which represents a crucial advance in the improvement of social and health services,” Medina asserted.
The vice president assured that the work of María Jesús Tovar in Treasury and Contracting “has been key to ensuring efficient and committed management with social welfare, responding to the needs of today and building a Cabildo that is fairer and closer to our people”.
Security in Lanzarote and La Graciosa
From the vice presidency of the Cabildo they have assured that "this year we have reinforced the commitment of the Cabildo of Lanzarote with the security of the citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, allocating a budget of more than eight million euros to guarantee an efficient and rapid response to any emergency".
“The Security and Emergency Consortium led by our colleague Kiko Aparicio, in the area of investments, we are advancing in key projects such as the adaptation of the heliport in La Graciosa and the construction of a new intervention post in Tías for Firefighters, Civil Protection and the Canary Emergency Service (SUC)”, argued the vice president, thanking “the enormous work carried out by Aparicio”.
In addition, the Consortium's fleet has been expanded with essential vehicles for emergencies, including a ladder truck, both urban and rescue fire trucks, electric vehicles and jet skis, ensuring that our teams have the necessary resources to act in any situation.
“The work of the Security and Emergency Consortium, under the direction of Kiko Aparicio, has been crucial to reinforce security and promote a preventive culture on our island. Lanzarote today has a better equipped, prepared and committed team with the security of its citizens,” the vice president pointed out.
