The president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, is "fully convinced that with the perspective that distance gives", the acquisition of the building on Fajardo Street, in Arrecife, "will be considered one of the best decisions from the investment point of view that the Cabildo has made". "There are decisions I have made about which I have doubts. In some, I may have been wrong. But I have no doubt about this one", he defended on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, despite the latest criticisms he has received for the purchase of this house for 1.6 million euros to turn it into a Museum of Archeology.
San Ginés did not want to talk about the "surprising call" that the mayor of Haría, José Torres Stinga, claims to have received regarding this building and this purchase, and has limited himself to saying that "many things are being confused". What he has delved into is the latest statements from the PP about this acquisition. The popular party assured that the Cabildo ran the risk of losing the money invested so far and even the ownership of the house, in case it could not meet the payments committed to the owners.
"Of course it is true that if we don't pay, we will be left without money and without a house. The usual thing is to ask for a loan and pay interest, but we have done it with a more advantageous formula. We have achieved a deferred payment over many years, because it will be finished paying at the end of the next legislature and without interest. It is much more advantageous", he defended. San Ginés has also assured that it is "false" that the Cabildo has paid the capital gains, since they were paid "by the owners of the house".
The president of the Cabildo wanted to clarify that the credits "can only be used for investments", so this loan could not be used to pay for social policies or "the Montaña Roja ruling". "It is very easy to manipulate with these things. These things cannot be dealt with with a credit, because they are only for investments", he insisted.
"Open for works"
The president has also announced that the Cabildo is studying opening the house while the works are being carried out so that citizens can get to know the historic building acquired by the first Island Corporation. According to San Ginés, this idea was raised by the Minister of Heritage, Juan Antonio de la Hoz, and he thought it was "good" and, in addition, it has the "approval of the management".
This project would be known as "open for works", as it would give the citizens of Lanzarote the possibility of getting to know this building before it becomes the future Archeology Museum of the island.