The mayor of Tías, José Juan Cruz, has described as "opportunistic" the criticisms from the opposition because tourist complexes in Puerto del Carmen are being used to house immigrants arriving in pateras. He has stated that this situation is not new, but has been the case "since the beginning of the pandemic", also pointing out that tourists and homeless people who test positive for Covid are also staying in them. He has also stated that the City Council has not received "any complaints" about the use of these tourist complexes and has pointed out that the City Council has no jurisdiction in this regard.
Cruz has been especially critical of the PP councillors in the municipality, whom he has invited to "ask" their party colleagues in the government in the Cabildo about this matter. "Because, as far as I know, they govern in the Cabildo and also the Security and Emergency Consortium is directly managed by them, which has been responsible for taking, transferring and all the arrangements that have been made since the beginning of the pandemic," he said.
"The Tías City Council is unaware of the organisation that a company can make with another body", added the mayor. According to him, the hotel complexes themselves have "negotiated with the Red Cross, the State and the Government of the Canary Islands" for these to be used to house Covid-positive cases. In this regard, he explained that during the pandemic there were six tourist establishments for this purpose, but that now "only two remain". "And that cost is paid by the Ministry of the Interior, I believe, and the Ministry of Health, because the reality is what it is, that today in Lanzarote there are no reception centres," he said with regard to the situation of immigrants arriving in pateras to the island.
"And who is responsible for Lanzarote not having a reception centre? It will not be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Tías City Council. Or are the rest of the administrations going to look the other way now? Let each one assume the responsibility, administrations and parties that have sat in Parliament and in Congress and that raise or lower their hands as it suits them," added Cruz, who believes that this is the result of the "negligence" that has existed for "many years".
Private security "24 hours a day"
According to Cruz, the only immigrants being housed in the tourist complexes are those who test positive for Covid after their arrival and those who are considered close contacts. He stated that the rest are being referred "immediately" to reception centres on other islands.
"That's how it is and they know it," he said, addressing the opposition, from whom he has questioned the "why don't they say" that these tourist complexes also provide accommodation for tourists and homeless people infected. In addition, he assured that these establishments have "private security 24 hours a day".
"We cannot put a policeman at the door of a tourist establishment either," said the mayor of Tías, pointing out that the only thing the City Council can do is "demand" that there be more security. However, he insisted that it should be "the Ministry, Health or whoever is responsible" who takes care of it.
"And if the PP has any doubts, let them ask the Cabildo, which has the powers in tourism matters, because it is not the City Council and they know it perfectly well. What happens is that the easiest thing to do is to make noise with the Tías City Council but, look, where have they been from 15 March 2020 to date that they have not been heard," said José Juan Cruz, accusing the PP councillors of resorting to "populism" and "lying permanently".
The mayor of Tías has also assured that the City Council "has not received any complaints" about the use of tourist complexes to house immigrants. "I am aware that they have skipped quarantine from the beginning in private parties, in private homes, in premises and that the City Council sanctions. Is the PP not aware of that? How curious and what a coincidence," he said, after being questioned about whether he was aware that immigrants staying in these complexes are skipping quarantine as denounced by the opposition.
