The General Confederation of Labor (CGT) in Lanzarote has denounced in a strong statement the privatization of Inalsa and has assured that this decision is "contrary to the interests of the citizens of Lanzarote." The union's criticism does not stop here, but it has also considered that the privatization is "like a scam, perpetrated by the government of the Cabildo, presided over by Pedro San Ginés, to strip the residents of their legitimate control over such an essential public service."
Given these events of "utmost seriousness", the union has recalled all the "attempts to privatize" the company. Thus, it has pointed out that in 2001 the entry of private capital into Inalsa was promoted "with the intention of privatizing the Janubio plant." This action was promoted by the PSOE and the PIL, "parties that managed the company" at that time.
"On that occasion, the method used consisted of a private company building a plant of 10,000 cubic meters and operating it for 15 years. Inalsa would pay for the plant with the purchase of all the production, would pay for the electricity and also the personnel." The union recalls that "the grotesque attempt to privatize water was stopped by the resistance exerted by all kinds of citizen struggles."
Subsequently, in 2008, the union insists that the political managers, PSOE and PIL, "tried again to privatize Inalsa." "The method to be used would be the introduction of private capital, with an investment of 48 million euros. In this case, the "Unión" Operation and the insolvency intervention frustrated the privatizing dreams of these corrupt and incompetent politicians," the General Confederation of Labor has stated, through a statement.
Now, they lament that the privatization "has returned to Lanzarote." On November 2, the Official Gazette of Las Palmas published the tender for the contract for the management of the public service, through the concession of water supply, sanitation and reuse services on the island of Lanzarote. "Now the method to be used is the total privatization of the island's hydraulic heritage."
"They are playing a few commissions"
The union has pointed out that "this time they really want to do it, not only because they are playing a few commissions, as was the case in 2001, but they are risking the embargo of the assets of the 19 cronies who managed the company in the last two Boards of Directors."
"The deception of citizens and workers by the political parties CC and PSOE regarding the situation of the public water company has been manifest, by defending the non-privatization of Inalsa, while their movements have always been in the opposite direction. Even, in the electoral campaign, the president of the Cabildo himself dared to say that 'he would defend Inalsa under the public sphere' or that 'Inalsa in 2012 was going to give huge profits'," the Confederation has pointed out. [This same letter has been shown this Friday by the PIL in a press conference. ->73827]
"Electoral fraud by people who are not trustworthy"
For the Confederation, this type of attitude "constitutes an electoral fraud carried out by people who are definitely not trustworthy." In addition, the union has assured that the privatization seriously harms "the workers, who sooner rather than later will see the loss of jobs" and the "citizens, by forcing them to pay off a millionaire debt that they have not acquired, nor have they authorized."
In addition, it also considers that there will be "future exorbitant rate increases to pay for the corruption, looting and nonsense to which they have subjected the public company these years."
For this reason, the General Confederation of Labor in Lanzarote has proposed that the control of the integral water cycle return to the hands of the Insular Water Consortium, "including its staff." In addition, it asks the Consortium to reach an agreement with the creditors for the payment of "the real debt" with a reduction "of 25 percent in 25 years."
"Let them return the money"
In this sense, it also requests that the Consortium invest 15 million euros to reduce losses in the network and energy consumption in a period of two years. Likewise, it asks it to denounce before the courts "for fraud the politicians who, due to their mismanagement and irresponsibility, led Inalsa to bankruptcy." The union wants these politicians "to pay with their assets for the damage caused to the island and return all the money they received for attending the Boards of Directors."
Finally, it asks that a consultation be made to the citizens about the privatization of Inalsa and that this has a "binding character." "Neither PSOE, nor CC, who have unilaterally taken this undemocratic and so disastrous decision for the general interest, reflected in their electoral programs the privatization of the integral water cycle. They are, therefore, the citizens, its true owners, who have to decide on the privatization or not of the integral water cycle of Lanzarote," the union has insisted.
