The parliamentarian of Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC) Carmen Hernández denounced this Wednesday, in the first reading debate of the science law project in the plenary session, the exclusion of the public universities of the Canary Islands in the drafting of this new regulation submitted by the Government of CC and the PP to the Chamber.
Hernández announced the presentation of a package of improvement amendments, developed based on proposals from the Universities of La Laguna and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Canarista spokesperson called on the government groups to ensure that the final legislative proposal "comes from dialogue and consensus, recognizing the central role of the two aforementioned higher academic entities and providing decent guarantees for research staff".
Carmen Hernández reproached the Ministry of Universities, Science and Innovation and Culture led by Migdalia Machín for the lack of participation of the two public universities in the drafting of the Canary Islands Science Bill (PL). They intend to legislate "with their backs to the scientific community," she questioned.
But "if that error is concerning, I am even more worried that they deny it. How can they deny that they have not counted on the universities? Are you insinuating that the rectors are lying?" questioned the NC-BC deputy.
For this reason, she quoted verbatim part of the content of a letter sent by the rectors (Francisco García of La Laguna and Lluis Serra of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) to the parliamentary groups in which they express their "deep institutional discomfort regarding the process followed in the drafting of the Canary Islands science bill, particularly, we regret not having been invited to participate or consulted during the drafting of the bill despite the fact that practically all scientific research is concentrated in our institutions".
Carmen Hernández considered that this new regulation, which will replace the one in force since 2001, is an important opportunity to invest in science and knowledge, although the PL has arrived at the Legislature "full of gaps and concerning omissions... We do not know if due to oversight, which is concerning, or because there is an intention behind it".
Among the detailed absences, the lack of a specific title regarding the role of the two public higher academic entities, the exclusion of the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (Acissi), the absence of clear mechanisms to ensure a stable research career, a section dedicated to knowledge transfer, and the insufficient provision of funding for the R&D+i system.
"Shortcomings detailed by the universities," said Hernández, "that NC-BC will take into account to draft the improvement amendments to the government text." She also lamented "the precariousness of many young researchers in the islands, which causes them to be expelled" from the Canary Islands. For Hernández, "it is urgent to adopt measures to recover, attract, and retain the talent trained in the islands".
During her speech, the NC-BC parliamentarian reproached the lack of dialogue from the groups supporting the Executive (CC, PP, ASH, and AHI) and their subordination to the Government to reject almost all amendments from the opposition during the processing of any legislative initiative. "We hope there will be an open attitude of dialogue, consensus, and responsibility" to place science "at the service of the social majority, far from mercantilist visions," advocated the spokesperson on the matter for NC-BC.