Samuel Martín: "We are going to incorporate a new position for the environment post"

The head of the Environment Department of the Cabildo de Lanzarote exonerates the company from Puerto del Carmen for holding a party in La Geria and points only to a Catalan jewelry store

May 8 2024 (11:31 WEST)
Updated in May 8 2024 (11:31 WEST)
Samuel Martin, CC Councilor

The Environment Councilor of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Samuel Martín, announced this Wednesday during his intervention in the morning show Buenos días, Lanzarote on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero the incorporation of "a new position" for the post of environmental agent on the island.

"We have an inspector position that we are going to convert into an environmental agent position, so that there is an authority figure that can monitor our protected spaces," he said during his speech.

In this line, Martín highlighted "the great concern that is being generated, both from the Cabildo and from the population of Lanzarote" and they have decided to "intensify the agents dedicated to monitoring protected spaces."

Thus, he highlighted that it is not the only measure they plan to implement from the Environment Area of the Cabildo. Among them, a collection service for exotic fauna will be implemented and the positions of inspectors and district chiefs will be structured. "It has to be put in place to better organize all the agents," said the head of the Environment Department.

From the Island Council they also want to implement an environmental education section for tourists visiting the island, an initiative they are working on in collaboration with Aena. The activity is based on launching awareness campaigns aimed at the number of tourists who come to Lanzarote every year.

The case of the La Geria party

The celebration last Saturday of an illegal party in a protected area in La Geria has led the Cabildo de Lanzarote to sanction the organizing company, a jewelry store located in Barcelona for "not having the license" to hold the event, which was attended by a group of influencers.

"They have acknowledged that they did not have authorization to hold the event," Martín stressed, while announcing that the Cabildo has informed them that "a sanctioning file has already been opened."

In this line, he pointed to the Catalan company as the sole responsible and excludes the other company involved, based in Puerto del Carmen. "The organizer of the party was not the company from Lanzarote, they only went to offer a service," Martín pointed out, who argued that "the permits were in order."

In addition, they have indicated that "they have been collaborative" and that it is "one more hand that is necessary" to identify those responsible. The environmental agents of the Cabildo "acted that same Saturday and managed to ensure that the event did not happen again," Martín reiterated to the listeners.

At this point, the investigation through social networks was "crucial" to act as quickly as possible. "The good thing would have been to avoid it from the first moment, but we can't be everywhere," Martín defended.

From the Cabildo de Lanzarote they are certain that the company "would not have been able to get the license 100%", because of the area where the party was being held, specifically, within a protected natural area and Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA).

Meanwhile, they have stressed that it has been added that "different authorizations could have been given." Right now, after the relevant investigation, "the possibility of the sanction is already being assessed", based on the regulations contained in Law 4/2017, of July 13, on Land and Protected Natural Spaces of the Canary Islands.

"It remains to be seen the seriousness of the activity." Given the circumstances, Samuel Martín has urged to reach an "understanding" when carrying out activities such as different shootings in protected areas of the island.

"It's not about prohibiting, it's about regulating," he added. "The important thing is to know and comply with the regulations and of course, to be coherent and know in the places where we are," said Martín.

With regard to the recent event, the company should know that among the rules "there had to be qualified personnel in flora and fauna", and be aware of the "times in which the activity is to be done", he stressed. It is essential to know that "everything depends on the month of the year", he pointed out.

From the Island Corporation warn that there are "many" requests that come to them for different activities, but they always try to ensure that "two of them do not coincide at the same time", revealed Martín.

The party held in the protected area of La Geria
Environment sanctions two companies for organizing an illegal party in La Geria
The party held in the protected area of La Geria
Influencers caught at a party inside a protected area of La Geria
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