The PSOE accuses Betancort of putting the profitability of the Centers at risk

The PSOE of Lanzarote has warned that the management of Oswaldo Betancort's government at the head of the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism is "seriously compromising" the economic results of the island's main public company.

The socialists denounce that, despite exceeding 50 million euros in income, the CACT have reduced their profit to just over one million euros, a figure that shows, in the PSOE's opinion, "a worrying deterioration of economic management and an increase in spending that does not correspond to the results obtained".

Socialist councilor Benjamín Perdomo points out that "the data dismantle the triumphalist narrative of Oswaldo Betancort's government. With more than 50 million euros in income, the fact that profits are reduced to just over one million shows that the problem lies in how public money is being managed".

One of the most worrying figures, according to the PSOE, is the situation of the restoration area, which accumulates losses of over 8 million euros. "We are talking about a strategic line within the CACT, directly linked to the tourist experience and the profitability of the centers, which has become an economic black hole under this government's management," warns Perdomo.

Added to this situation is the growing use of external advice in key areas of the public company. The PSOE recalls that Oswaldo Betancort's government has tendered 140,000 euros for external advice in the stores area, after the drop in sales recorded in this line of business.

Furthermore, the socialists denounce that another 500,000 euros are allocated to advice for restoration, precisely when this area is losing more than 8 million euros. "It is difficult to justify that, while a line of business accumulates millionaire losses, the recourse to external advice is increased without this translating into better results," criticizes the socialist councilor.

For the PSOE, these figures reflect "an evident contradiction" in the management model of the current CACT government. "It is not understood that, with a public company that exceeds 50 million euros in income, profits are reduced to just over one million while expenses and external advice contracts multiply," points out Perdomo.

The socialists consider it especially serious that this deterioration is occurring in a public company with an income capacity of over 50 million euros. “The CACT should be strengthening its profitability, improving its services, and generating more resources for Lanzarote. However, what we see is a public company that earns a lot, spends more and more, and drastically reduces its profit,” points out the councilor.

"The Centers are trembling"

“The Centers are trembling. The irresponsible management of Oswaldo Betancort and his government group will force difficult decisions to be made in the coming years if this course is not corrected as soon as possible,” warned the socialist councilor. “The question is very simple: what are so many positions, so many consultancies, and so many contracts for if the result is that the Centers earn much more and profit much less?” he questioned.

Likewise, the PSOE censured the 700,000 euros allocated to the company Cumbre8. “To date, they have demonstrated nothing, changed nothing, and improved nothing. The only thing we see is more spending, more external contracts, and worse results,” added Perdomo.

The socialist councilor insisted that the CACT “cannot become a money-spending machine using public funds at the service of the island government’s propaganda”. “We are talking about Lanzarote’s main public company, about heritage, employment, economy, and future. One cannot play with the Centers or put their stability at risk due to irresponsible management,” he stressed.