To mark the 112th anniversary of the constitution of the first Cabildo of Lanzarote, the Farmer's Monument hosted this Sunday a fruitful and emotional Commemorative Meeting of former presidents and former councilors of the first Island Corporation. The event was led by the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, who was accompanied by the vice president, María Jesús Tovar, and the current councilors of the Institution.
During his speech, Betancort paid tribute to all those people who have dedicated their efforts to the construction and development of Lanzarote and La Graciosa since the creation of the Cabildo, on March 16, 1913. In this sense, he recalled the words collected in the founding acts of the Institution: "In the city of Arrecife, on March 16, 1913, the nineteen councilors who make up the aforementioned Cabildo met in the Chapter Hall of this City Council (...), and proceeded to its constitution." Since then, the Institution has been led by nearly 40 presidents.
Oswaldo Betancort made a brief review of the history of the Institution, highlighting some special mentions such as that of Chana Perera Brito, the first woman to occupy the presidency of the Cabildo; and expressed his gratitude to all the former leaders present at the event. "Today we meet again with many of those who have had the honor of leading the Cabildo and representing the people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa in recent decades. To all of you, thank you for coming and being with us today," he said.
Likewise, Betancort wanted to remember all those who are no longer here, but whose work has been inscribed in the history of the island government. "More than a century has passed since that first Cabildo was constituted, and the islands have undergone an extraordinary transformation. However, if something must remain unchanged, it is the vocation of public service and the commitment to our land," he declared.
Concern about the current political climate
The president of the Cabildo stressed the need to govern "with a sense of State and high-mindedness (...). Regardless of our ideas or political affiliation, all of us who have had the privilege of representing the general interests of the people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa must be guided by a single objective: Lanzarote and La Graciosa above all else," he insisted.
In this sense, Betancort has shown his concern about the current political climate and has assured that "it is time to focus on what unites us and not on what separates us. In this first quarter of the 21st century, Lanzarote and La Graciosa face complex challenges and unprecedented challenges. But none of them can be successfully addressed if tension and stress are the protagonists of the political scene."
Finally, the island president has assured that the current government team is committed to efficient management and the well-being of citizens. "We must be guided by a deep sense of duty and public service, because our only mission must be the constant improvement of our islands. Lanzarote cannot wait. We are the ones who must restore the confidence of citizens in the political class, with our management and our actions. A discredited political class is a danger to democracy. Let us remember that we are public servants."
The event concluded with a fruitful meeting between those present, who shared their experiences and agreed on the suitability of creating consensus around the progress of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
