Do you remember the famous Matrix movie? In one of the most recognized scenes, the character of Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, was forced to choose between two pills: one was the blue one, which allowed him to forget everything and live happily without knowing the reality of things, and the other was the red one, which would reveal the reality of the world to him, however painful it may be.
This simile came to my mind the other day while I was reflecting on what has been happening in the Canary Islands during the last year and a half, and, specifically, in regards to our Ministry of Social Rights. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have the feeling that it seems that a part of the political elites of this land have discovered certain problems in the social policies of our land since Podemos governs. When I talk about political elites, I mean both those who run for elections and those who do not.
It is surprising that, suddenly, hours and hours of radio talk shows are dedicated to the problem of dependency in the Canary Islands, as if it were something new. That they worry, now, about the families that receive the PCI. That they discover, as if by magic, the existing waiting list to receive Non-Contributory Pensions. That there are those who realize, now, that in the Canary Islands there were no resources to deal with a humanitarian emergency situation like the one we are experiencing due to the immigration that arrives on our coasts. It seemed that a year and a half ago these problems did not exist. What's more, they were even openly denied. Coalición Canaria denied, in the words of its former president, Mr. Clavijo, that poverty existed in the Canary Islands. I also remember when he told us that the Citizen's Income (today recognized in our Statute) was not something necessary.
I also remember when the Popular Party reached an agreement with the nationalists to support them in power and their main request, which was attended to, was the reduction of the IGIC. Never a social request. That, then, did not interest them. It is also curious that the Social Services Law, postponed until infinity, is now of so much concern. When we have waited an eternity for it to come to address things as elementary as social agreements. We could give infinite examples of issues historically forgotten and that, suddenly, are of enormous concern to these elites.
It would seem that the fact that Podemos came to the Government of the Canary Islands had the effect of the “red pill” from the Matrix. We have served to reveal a reality that, until now, remained hidden. Curious, I insist, but useful and effective if it serves to seek and find solutions to real problems.
For too many years, the problems that flooded us in the media were fictitious problems: the so-called “smoke screens”. Do you remember that famous Canarian agenda and the continuous conflict with Madrid? It would seem that these problems, largely invented, were used to anesthetize public opinion and ignore the real and deep-seated problems. It is curious how now, with less conflict with the Government of the State, more things are achieved than ever before.
Once the blessed road agreement is unblocked, in social matters we are going to ensure that for the first time the 30 million to fight poverty arrive together, and in one go. That's not to mention the 1,000 million that will arrive for companies that have been directly affected by the pandemic. Or the Minimum Basic Income, which in our Islands already protects more people today than the PCI achieved in its 14 years of existence. Or the financing for dependency, which the governments of the Popular Party cut to the point that it was the Autonomous Community that assumed the cost alone. Fortunately, the still Minister Pablo Iglesias has signed this week the arrival of funds that will help us in the arduous task of unblocking dependency. Today, the Government of the State, of progressive coalition, responds to the Canary Islands better than ever in the democratic history of our land since the regime of '78.
These new perceivers of reality, those who have taken the red pill, are very annoyed that we talk about the past. I understand them. I would also be annoyed if a disastrous legacy like the one we have received in social policies was remembered by those who have governed this land for 26 years. They ask us to fix it in a year and a half. And they are right to demand it of us. But we are clear that their expectations will never be greater than ours. We owe it to the Canarian people, who voted for change and want change. A people who always saw, and suffered, the reality that others denied. We respond to them.
In just over a year, the Preliminary Draft of the Citizen's Income Law has already been approved in the Governing Council, which will soon begin its parliamentary process. We are in the development of the Social Services Law, which will allow us to turn what are rights into facts. In the midst of the pandemic, we launched the Canary Emergency Income: two payments for people without income that has not been done anywhere else in the State. Last December, we paid an extraordinary aid of 250 euros that, for the first time in history, complemented the Non-Contributory Benefits and to which we added the families that receive the Canary Insertion Benefit. Regarding this last benefit, in addition, we have streamlined its processing so that it reaches more families and so that it reaches with more money those who have dependent children. Regarding the dependency system, we have incorporated the largest number of workers in history, which, together with improvements in management, is already offering some positive data. The City Councils today receive more money than ever from the Concerted Plan that we signed from our Ministry.
Much remains to be done. We know it. But we are on our way. Welcome to this boat to all those who now know the social reality of the Canary Islands, that which they previously ignored. Now we would appreciate it if they add, support and contribute proposals. That, and nothing else, is what the citizens demand of their political representatives. High-mindedness and joint work. The challenge we have ahead, in the face of the greatest crisis we have experienced since the dictatorship, requires it.
Like Triniti and Morpheus, some of us were aware a long time ago of the existence of the Matrix, and aware of the harsh reality, we fought and fight to change it. To those who no longer have machines to feed them and keep them lethargic: welcome to reality.
Noemí Santana Perera,
Minister of Social Rights, Equality, Diversity and Youth of the Government of the Canary Islands
