From Unidos por Lanzarote they consider that the latest events that have occurred in the Canary Islands and the enormous social concern generated around hantavirus, as well as other problems that affect our territory "put on the table again an uncomfortable reality, the Canary Islands continue to be treated from Madrid as a peripheral, secondary and forgotten region".
"Our archipelago cannot continue to be used as a sacrifice territory, nor as the political, economic, and social dumping ground where the State diverts problems that it would never accept in other peninsular territories. The Canary Islands need to open a serious, mature, and democratic debate about its political future. A debate that includes the real development of our Statute of Autonomy, the need to strengthen our powers, and the possibility of advancing towards greater levels of political and economic sovereignty that allow us to truly defend the interests of our land," states Laureano Álvarez, president of Unidos por Lanzarote.
Canary Islands possess a unique and strategic geographical situation in the mid-Atlantic, being a natural bridge between Europe, Africa, and America. Our territory has extraordinary geopolitical value, with fundamental ports for international maritime traffic, a key position for telecommunications, oceanic research, and international trade.
Added to this is one of the best climates on the planet, recognized worldwide, capable of sustaining a leading tourist industry in Europe throughout the year. The Canary Islands receive millions of visitors annually and constitute one of the most important economic engines of the Spanish State. However, "despite the wealth we generate, we continue to suffer from low wages, housing access difficulties, infrastructure saturation, migratory pressure without sufficient resources, health deficiencies, external economic dependence, and a lack of strategic investments commensurate with our contribution".
"It is not acceptable that a territory with such potential continues to depend on decisions made more than 1,800 kilometers away by leaders who are unaware of the island reality or, simply, impose their political doctrine solely for interests far removed from the Canary Islands citizenry," Álvarez points out.
"From United for Lanzarote we defend a strong, respected, and decisive Canary Islands. An autonomous community with real capacity for influence in the State's decisions and with its own voice in matters that directly affect the archipelago," he points out.
"We firmly believe in the need to build a modern, united, and useful Canarian nationalism for the citizenry. A nationalism that does not pit islands against each other, but rather unites them through mutual respect and recognition of the singularities of each territory," he indicates.
"In the same way, we bet on a strong and coordinated insularism, where each island has the capacity to defend its interests without losing sight of a common Canarian project. Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa must walk together to demand institutional respect, fair investments and a sustainable economic model that prioritizes the quality of life of Canarians above external interests," he defends.
"Canary Islands cannot continue to be solely a tourist destination or a revenue-generating tool. We are a people with our own identity, with history, culture, and sufficient capacity to decide our future," he/she points out.
From Unidos por Lanzarote "we call on civil society, social groups, political forces and citizens to open a deep and brave debate about the future of the Canary Islands in the 21st century. It is time to defend our land, our identity and our right to build a dignified future for future generations".
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