Lanzarote's history cannot be understood without water. Rather, without its terrible absence. The sad departure of Manuel Díaz Rijo reminded us of the importance of this precious commodity, essential for life to make its way. It was this visionary naval engineer and a conscientious mayor of Arrecife, Ginés de la Hoz, who changed the course of an island that was drowning from drought. They turned the miracle into reality: the taps of the suffering people of Lanzarote began to let the water run. It was the beginning of the development of our land.
The culture of water settled in our hearts. But even today it is suffered for. The countryside and those who care for it despair when it does not rain, but even more so when they have to pay the agricultural water bill. It is urgent and a priority to lower its price for all those whose livelihood is the primary sector.
We are going to do it. Thanks to the important commitment that the Cabildo of Lanzarote, led by Pedro San Ginés, is making to energy saving and that has already been launched: the wind turbines that will transform wind into electricity and reduce the water production bill are already on the island.
When next year they start operating and supplying clean energy to Canal Gestión, the public company will have to pay a wind fee to the Island Water Consortium in return. It is part of that money that I want to allocate to lowering the price of water for the primary sector.
I recently proposed this in the Consortium assembly and the response could not have been more gratifying: all its members supported it without any fissures. With this measure, we recognize the essential work that farmers, ranchers and fishermen have carried out throughout the history of Lanzarote. Men and women dedicated to their land, without whom it would be impossible to understand the island's sustainability. Coalición Canaria does not forget them: we will always protect the primary sector, essential for food subsistence and for the maintenance of our unique landscape.
I want to think that it is no coincidence that these windmills are going to be located in the Díaz Rijo Desalination Plant. It seems to me a great tribute to a man who was crucial for the development of Lanzarote and the finishing touch to the life cycle of an island inextricably linked to water.
By Marci Acuña, candidate for the Senate for Coalición Canaria Lanzarote