The President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, together with the Vice President and Councilor of Public Works, Jacobo Medina, announced this Monday at a press conference the possible loss of 11 million euros that come from the funds of the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN) and the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), from the year 2021.
Specifically, as both leaders explained to the media, there is a risk of losing 7.5 million euros from the FDCAN of the year 2021, and in relation to the ERDF, the amount amounts to 3.5 million.
"We wanted to inform the whole society about the situation we found when we arrived at the Cabildo and the result of a new audit that shows a picture of the Works area that is not desirable," lamented Betancort. "And it is that, despite the great efforts made by the workers of the areas involved, it was completely impossible to undertake all the projects due to the deficient foresight and diligence of the political leaders," said the president of the Cabildo.
The Vice President and Councilor of Public Works, as well as head of the Planning and Projects area, Jacobo Medina, warned of the "lack of interest" of the previous government group. "In May of this year they requested an extension that set a deadline until October 31, 2023 to execute the projects, even knowing that it was a utopia to be able to meet the deadlines," explained Medina.
However, the Cabildo of Lanzarote will request a third extraordinary extension from the Government of the Canary Islands to be able to undertake the projects framed in the FDCAN 2021. "We are going to do everything in our power not to lose those funds that would allow us to undertake several improvement works on the island," added Medina.
Four highlighted actions of the FDCAN 2021
The Vice President, Jacobo Medina, detailed some of the projects that are at risk due to the possible loss of the FDCAN amount. One of them is a subsidy that was granted to the Water Consortium of Lanzarote, of 11 million euros, and of which there is currently a total of 3,571,197.16 euros pending justification by the autonomous body.
"This subsidy was granted for the execution of the Renewable Energy Installation Program - Lanzarote Strategy 2016-2025, specifically for the San Bartolomé Wind Farm and its complementary infrastructures," explained the councilor.
Another of the projects at risk is the purchase of the Post Office building, for a value of 2,536,147.80 euros from the FDCAN of 2021, as well as the supply and maintenance of the ATM accounting management program.
Finally, another of the major projects that could be affected by this return of money is the Site Museum of the archaeological zone of Zonzamas. "A total of 2.6 million euros from the FDCAN 2021 were committed to this project, and currently no amount has been justified," Medina asserted.
Three and a half million euros from the ERDF
The president and vice president also warned of the situation of the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) of that same year, of which a total of 3.5 million euros could be lost.
It was planned that important projects for the island of Lanzarote would be financed with that amount, such as investments in roads, safe school routes or the eco-dining rooms of San Bartolomé and Teguise.
"We would also lose funding for projects such as the recovery of the Charco de San Ginés and its historical waterfall," explained Medina, who also pointed out the possibility that the 'Molina a Molina' project, for the beautification of the historical center of San Bartolomé, could be affected.
