SAT El Jable said in April 2019: César, how right you were when in 1985 you declared emphatically: The time has come to stop.
César, they deceived us or, what is worse, we let ourselves be deceived by accepting as absolute truth that a gradual increase in tourist beds would bring prosperity to the islands. But, the reality over the years shows the opposite, since we have waiting lists in social security among the highest in the country, very high youth unemployment, high levels of social inequality and school dropout, as well as an intolerable rate of poverty.
As you can see, we are far, very far from the high standard of living-culture that you predicted this land could have if we were capable of undertaking a rational development of tourism; and from what can be seen,
we are not achieving it. If you knew that the Canary legislator, not content with the excesses committed on urban land, has recently provided local administrations with a law that allows the construction of tourist beds on rustic land, which will surely bring with it new episodes of urban speculation.
You would be alarmed and shout with that indomitable vehemence of yours: "You have gone crazy", if we told you that we went from fourteen million tourists a year. Not to mention the
gestures and insults that would come out of your mouth if you heard a tourism official declare that we have not yet reached our ceiling, that we can continue building more hotels, apartment complexes and shopping centers. César, it's true: In the past we did not pay attention to your accelerated speech issuing wise advice, because you knew the urgency required to make decisions regarding the protection of the territory.
And, how right you were when you foreshadowed, as ahead of your time, the gloomy future that awaited the islands in attention to the excesses that were being committed on their
coastlines. Those of us who subscribe to this document announce that we effectively have to stop this runaway urbanism... (This text was published on April 24, 2019 with
the occasion of the centenary of César Manrique). César, as you already know, another great demonstration of the Canarian people is coming, fighting, once again and following your dictates, for the future of all the islands.
You will have realized how your approaches, no matter how many years pass, are still present in our collective memory. For all this, we will never renounce the condition of you, inherited from eternal activist and claiming at all times the best for this land and its people.
Signed. SAT El Jable
