This Monday, April 15, marks the centenary of the birth of José Ramírez Cerdá (Arrecife, 1919-1987). Considered "the administrative father of modern Lanzarote, the great insular political reference of the 20th century." He was mayor of the Arrecife City Council between 1955 and 1960, president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, from 1960 to 1974 and from 1982 to 1986 senator for the island. He has undoubtedly been one of the best sons that this island has given and as such he received in 1995 the title of Favorite Son of Lanzarote, together with César Manrique
La FCM has programmed a series of events around José Ramirez Cerdá, "unrepeatable" character for the institution together with César Manrique. It was precisely at the presentation of Manrique's centenary on March 21, where the entity also reproached the island's institutions for the inexcusable oversight.
Now the Cabildo has sent a note in which they point out that the Cabildo wanted to enhance the figure of the one who was president of the first Island Corporation between 1960 and 1974, and named Favorite Son of Lanzarote in 1995.
The president of the Institution, Pedro San Ginés, highlights "the vision of the future of who has undoubtedly been one of the best politicians and main promoters of the modern economic development of the island", as well as his "determined and risky commitment to the proposals of a genius like César Manrique, not always understood by the society of the time in a stage in which Lanzarote suffered from many needs" In addition, he clarifies that "the idea of the Cabildo was to carry out this Monday, April 15, an institutional commemorative act of the anniversary, which has finally been postponed at the request of the family of José Ramírez Cerdá".
Profile of José Ramírez Cerdá
Born in Arrecife (Lanzarote) on April 15, 1919, he held different positions of political relevance. He was mayor of the Arrecife City Council between 1955 and 1960, a responsibility he abandoned to take over the Presidency of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, a position he held until September 20, 1974. During his time as president of the Cabildo, he coincided with the explosion of well-being in Europe, which makes the tourist phenomenon take on an important dimension.
José Ramírez was a man born for work, tireless, tenacious, contaminating with ideas of progress those around him. It is not surprising that the binomial José Ramírez - César Manrique was a true miracle for the island and the best combination to guarantee the good work and the durability of the project: Lanzarote. He collected an island that did not even have water to drink and left the presidency of the Cabildo exercising a complete change of economic model based mainly on tourism that still lasts today.
His conciliatory personality, his great intuition, his honesty and his political vision led him to lead the modernization of the island from the highest island institution. This modernization project was not carried out in a disorderly manner, with more asphalt and more cement, but in a more orderly and quality manner. As an example, he laid the foundations for subsidiary rules for the urban planning of the island, the equivalent 30 years later to an Island Territorial Planning Plan (PIOT). This allowed, for example, that La Geria was not filled with asphalt and that Papagayo is one of the most virgin and beautiful corners of the island.
Under his mandate, the vast majority of the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of the Cabildo of Lanzarote emerged, first with Jesús Soto and later with César Manrique: La Cueva de los Verdes, Los Jameos del Agua, El Monumento al Campesino, El restaurante El Diablo de las Montañas del Fuego, La Ruta de los Volcanes, El Mirador del Río and El Museo Internacional de Arte contemporáneo (MIAC).
Extremely honest, skillful and intuitive, hardworking and a great administrator, he found in his great friend, César, the brilliant and artistic icing on his work at the head of the island government. But he did not rest everything on tourism and the necessary infrastructure for this development, as he always defended the need to support traditional economic activities.
Some of the important works under his mandate were: the reform of the Insular Hospital, the construction of the Nautical Fishing School, the "Avendaño Porrúa" Sports Center, which is today the Sports City of Lanzarote, the neighborhoods of Valterra and Titerroy, the first park in the city of Arrecife that today bears his name, under the artistic direction of Manrique, many schools on the island, the paving of the road network, etc.. One of his last achievements as president of the Cabildo was the achievement of the title of Timanfaya National Park in 1974.
Among the positions he held was also that of insular delegate of the Tax Administration of Lanzarote. He also sensed the need to preserve Manrique's work when he was gone, proposing the creation of the Friends of Lanzarote Foundation.
After leaving the presidency of the Cabildo, he moves away from active politics, returning to it in 1982. He is elected senator for Lanzarote until 1986. He refused other high-ranking political positions only because he believed that his mission was to enable the progress of the island.
He has undoubtedly been one of the best sons that this island has given and as such he received in 1995 the title of Favorite Son of Lanzarote, together with César Manrique. His work as president of the Cabildo was also recognized with other distinctions. In 1966 he received El Guanche de Oro and in 1967 the Medal of Tourist Merit.
