The Councilor for Economy and Finance of the Cabildo, Luis Celestino Arráez, confirmed this Tuesday that the details of the Socioeconomic Revitalization Plan are being finalized, which will be presented as an initial draft on the 28th and whose main objective is to get the regional government to correct at least part of the historical debt contracted with the Island. If the forecasts made by the Executive chaired by Adán Martín are met, there will be more than 300 million euros to address part of the package of proposals submitted.
The virtual deadline that had been established for everyone to submit the projects ended this Tuesday, which was completed practically without any negative incidents. All the institutions involved have complied with the objective set with the Councilor for Economy and Finance of the regional government, José Carlos Mauricio, during the long meeting they held this summer to address this issue. Arráez specified that only Tinajo - whose representatives have been given a logical extension considering that they have had to face the enormous preparations for Los Dolores - and Teguise were missing to present their initiatives, as well as some areas of the First Island Corporation that were working on the issue first thing in the morning. "The idea is to have an advance of the initiatives or plans by September 28th, so that we can present it to the mayors and councilors perfectly written and completed, trying to have everything closed by the first week of October," explained the head of the Cabildo's accounts.
The Councilor for Economy and Finance was very satisfied with the way this issue has been worked on. For once, and hoping that it will set a precedent, everyone has managed to work in a coordinated manner, understanding the importance for the Island of being included once and for all in the major investments of the Autonomous Community.
On the other hand, Arráez announced that this Friday he will hold a meeting in Gran Canaria with the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the regional government, Javier González Ortiz, to try, among other things, "to clarify the social aspects to alleviate the effects of immigration and issues related to the liquidation of the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) which is favorable to Lanzarote in three fiscal years, as well as the negotiation we must carry out to have the money that belongs to us advanced," money that could exceed 3 million euros. "Being in September and with the debt recognized, the money would be very useful," he said.
The main projects
It should be remembered that the proposal that the Councilor for Economy and Finance conveyed to the Cabildo and the mayors of the Island was clear: to draft a Socioeconomic Revitalization Plan for Lanzarote with public and private investments that is agreed between the local administrations and the Government of the Canary Islands. As this newspaper has already reported, this Plan must be completed in October in order to incorporate it into the 2006 budget, with the idea of exceeding the 300 million euros that La Palma has already budgeted.
There are many projects and works that will be demanded and that will be announced in the draft that will be presented next week. Arrecife will include many infrastructure works that have to do with cultural, sports and leisure equipment, trying to promote the works of the port of Arrecife and that the Government of the Canary Islands understands the need to have an administrative headquarters, in the capital of Lanzarote, of all the facilities of the Executive as a multi-purpose building. In addition, the capital will demand financial aid for the start-up of the sports hall and the swimming pool, collaboration for the operation of the nursery and an urban integration plan in the neighborhoods of Argana Alta, Maneje, Los Alonso and the Tenorio neighborhood, among other social demands.
For his part, the mayor of Yaiza, José Francisco Reyes, presented two priority investments: the expansion of the port of Playa Blanca and the construction of the Yaiza Health Center. The southern City Council especially demands that the works be put out to tender because in recent years these and other important projects have been allocated in the budgets, but without being executed. In addition, Reyes, in his capacity as mayor and vice president of the Commonwealth of the South, which groups the municipalities of Yaiza and Tías, will request that the Canarian Government provide a new budget item to develop another Tourism Quality Plan with influence in the south of the Island.
San Bartolomé will request the inclusion of the Playa Honda Health Center, an underwater dike in that same town, a school in San Bartolomé and the rainwater network.
Jesús Machín, mayor of Tinajo, also has his list. The fishing shelter in La Santa worth 6 million euros remains an urgent investment for the municipality, apart from a paving plan and sidewalk improvements.
The mayor of Teguise, Juan Pedro Hernández, keeps, like the rest of the heads of the town councils, a rosary with many requests. The La Graciosa Health Center has already become a plea. In educational matters, the City Council will request the expansion of the Guatiza school and, on the other hand, the adaptation of the entire coastline of Costa Teguise.
José Juan Cruz Saavedra, mayor of Tías, believes that above all it is necessary to demand compliance with the Sectoral Infrastructure Plan of the Island because the items are put in the budgets of the Autonomous Community and are not executed. Tías will also request investments for its municipality such as the Mácher school, La Asomada, expansion of the Puerto del Carmen clinic and the La Tiñosa dock.