The Canarian Socialist Party (PSC) of San Bartolomé has demanded in the ordinary plenary session held yesterday in the municipality the immediate closure of the bar - cafeteria located in the Casa Ajei facilities. According to the socialists, it is an illegally transferred establishment, responding "to the political interests of Juan Antonio de la Hoz", councilor of the Municipal Board Ajei, an institution that promotes cultural activities and manages the Casa Ajei.
It is an establishment dependent on the Board and whose transfer, as stipulated by law, can only be carried out through two procedures. The first corresponds to a transfer by indirect management and includes the holding of a public tender to which all the residents of the municipality could compete. Another alternative would be to transfer the management of the bar to employees or officials of the Board, which would be called transfer by direct management. As the socialist councilor demonstrated during the debate, neither of the two procedures has been applied in the case of the bar. In fact, this is confirmed in at least five official certifications, including that of the Corporation's own secretary, accompanied by another formed by the treasurer of San Bartolomé. Both certify that they have no knowledge of any management or procedure for the transfer of the establishment.
The main person involved in the controversy, the councilor of the Ajei Board, Juan Antonio de la Hoz, responded without hesitation to the accusations of the opposition, assuring that he will immediately proceed to study the alleged illegality of the transfer. In addition, De la Hoz acknowledged that the Board is preparing an auction of the transfer, in order to get the highest return for the municipal coffers from the economic activity of the bar.
The socialists responded to the words of the nationalist councilor by recalling that De la Hoz does not need to request the relevant reports on the legality of the transfer, since "they have existed for some time".
Land for social housing
One of the most important motions on the agenda referred to the destination of 65,000 square meters of municipal land acquired by the City Council back in 1993. The formation represented by José Antonio González urged the Government group to transfer that land to the Canarian Housing Institute for the construction of official protection flats. The AC councilor recalled that since 1993 three housing plans have been carried out in the Community and in none of them has land ceded by the City Council of San Bartolomé been contemplated.
The mayor, Miguel Martín, responded that part of that land in El Quintero will be used for the construction of a school and a center for the elderly. In addition, Martín wanted to reassure the opposition, assuring that the rest can be used for social housing, but for this the entire Corporation will have to meet in order to decide on the convenience of doing so.
González was harsh in his assessment of the Government's attitude and stated that the municipality "has 65,000 square meters of land kidnapped and with it promotes real estate speculation and the increase in free housing prices".
