The spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ariagona González, has demanded that Oswaldo Betancort have a real commitment to La Graciosa, because the problems of the eighth island are solved with facts, not with statements full of occurrences and empty of content.
González made these statements when announcing the two initiatives related to the eighth island that the Socialist Group will take to the next plenary session of the first island institution, which will be held, precisely, in La Graciosa.
The "tourist taxis"
The councilor recalled that it was the socialist government, during the past term, that finally managed to develop and approve the Plan for the Management of Natural Resources of the Chinijo Archipelago, which allows the formulation of the Master Plan for Use and Management (PRUG) of the natural space, for which «we are at the opportune moment to adopt decisions that allow redirecting some activities that clash head-on with the preservation of the space and the quality of life of those who inhabit it».
In that sense, González has highlighted the "extraordinary and disproportionate growth of the so-called «tourist taxis», which have gone in a short time from only 15 units to more than fifty".
«Now, with the PRUG, we have the possibility of determining the maximum number of vehicles that can be dedicated to that activity and, equally important, establishing the conditions for the provision of those services, clearly regulating the tracks suitable for circulation and the intensity of use of the same», he explained.
González stressed that this possibility of regulating the activity from the PRUG "is of extraordinary importance, since it is the only way to make up for the irresponsibility of the Teguise City Council, which, having powers to intervene, has historically looked the other way".
«During the years in which Oswaldo Betancort was mayor of Teguise, he made no attempt to regularize the situation of tourist taxis in La Graciosa, and has kept them in a permanent illegality that has led us to a proliferation that harms, even, the sector itself», recalled the socialist spokesperson, highlighting that the initiative presented proposes that the PRUG pay special attention to the detailed regulation of this activity.
The La Graciosa pipeline
The councilor recalled that the previous government of Loli Corujo "managed to have the budgets of the Autonomous Community include an item of nine million euros destined, among other works and investments, to provide La Graciosa with a new pipeline of greater capacity, adapted to the increase in consumption that has been occurring over the last few years".
«Fifteen months have passed since Oswaldo committed to replacing the La Graciosa pipeline and, despite the fact that the socialist government left him the necessary financing, he has not taken a single step to carry out an essential work to guarantee the island's supply in adequate conditions, so our initiative raises the need to start with speed and without delay the execution of that supply line», González concluded.
