The Congressman for Nueva Canaras, Pedro Quevedo, visited the island of La Graciosa last Friday. The party points out that the purpose of the meeting was "to learn first-hand about the needs and demands that the eighth island currently has" and, to the extent possible, "raise them to the Spanish Parliament."
The visit was organized by the Local Committees of NC in Haría and Teguise, and the national deputy was accompanied by the spokespersons of both municipalities, Marcos Lemes and Yoné Caraballo. "Quevedo was able to verify the prevailing mood in Graciosa society," the formation points out.
"I am leaving with mixed feelings, since we fought hard in the reform of the Statute of Autonomy to recognize La Graciosa's status as the eighth island, but I see that it has not materialized effectively, in decision-making capacity," says Quevedo, who pledged to "try to bring the Canarian political forces in Congress into agreement," in order to "put pressure on the recent modification of the Law of Bases of Local Regime to include the possibility that La Graciosa can be articulated as a district."
For the Canarian nationalists, the island is in a kind of "institutional limbo", since it presents "blockages in basic issues such as sanitation, regulation of vehicles, waste management, facilities and leisure and meeting spaces, cemetery, security and emergencies, etc."
"The main demands that have been transmitted to us have been of a municipal nature, that is, the responsibility of the City Council of Teguise. I don't know what the mayor and the government group of CC are doing, but now the main task of the Consistory should be to build an island in conditions with legal certainty," says Yoné Caraballo.
Pedro Quevedo's visit took place through the main streets of Caleta de Sebo, visiting the establishments and listening to the neighbors. The Canarian nationalists point out that one of the stops was the island's medical office, where he chatted with the medical staff and was able to verify "the great work they do in attending to, caring for and responding to the health needs of residents and visitors", also thanking them for their work in the most difficult moments of the pandemic.
Nueva Canarias adds that, as it could not be otherwise, the obligatory stop fell on the house of Margarona Páez, favorite daughter of Teguise and winner of the Canarian Woman 2012 award. The party points out that Margarona and Quevedo, who already knew each other from long ago, "had a pleasant conversation", where the iconic local mayor conveyed her feelings regarding the change that La Graciosa has maintained in recent years, feeling "her concern for the immediate future".
All in all, NC appreciates the treatment given by the residents of the eighth island, who at all times conveyed "their sincerity regarding politicians and institutional visits." They also point out that the feeling of discontent and disaffection "is becoming apparent", and NC recognizes that it is a consequence "of the historical lack of commitment of all public institutions."
"We do not come to the island to sell that we will solve this or that; we come to listen and reflect that La Graciosa is also represented in the Cortes Generales. We will do everything possible to transfer their demands," says Caraballo.
Finally, the Local Committee of NC clarifies that all the associations of La Graciosa were invited, at least those that could get the phone number, and express their bewilderment "by the non-presence of the only representative of La Graciosa in the government group of the City Council of Teguise, who was directly invited to attend the visit together with the deputy, but refused" to participate.