Today, May 28th, marks two years since the last local elections, a date on which the people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa placed their trust in me to assume the
presidency of the Cabildo, by a narrow margin of only 69 votes over the socialist candidacy headed by Dolores Corujo. A tight result that, far from discouraging me, became an incentive to dedicate myself even more forcefully, as I always did during my twelve years as mayor of Teguise: with enthusiasm and tireless dedication, to respond to and live up to the trust received.
From the first moment, I understood the clear and forceful message from the people of Lanzarote and La Graciosa: it was necessary to drive a real change, a radical shift after four years of neglect and an absolute institutional standstill.
This new stage has brought stability, tireless dedication, and progress, which would not be possible without the team that accompanies me. The pact between Coalición Canaria and the Partido
Popular has proven to be a solid and beneficial agreement for the island, based on permanent dialogue and a shared priority: Lanzarote and La Graciosa above
all else. I deeply thank my nationalist colleagues for all the tireless work they are doing, and the Partido Popular for their vision and the joint effort that allows us to continue moving forward every day. Because Lanzarote cannot wait.
In these two years of intense work, we have achieved much, and it would be impossible to detail everything in this article (so I will focus on the main axes). But I am aware that there is still much more to do. What I can affirm is that from the first day we got to work putting all the machinery in place to reactivate the island's first institution. At the midpoint of this mandate, we speak with tangible results, and not with empty words, of a management that we have undertaken focused on the fundamental challenges of the present and future of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
If I had to choose just one achievement, I would choose the one that moves me the most personally: when we took over the reins of the island government, social policies were completely strained. After an intense dialogue with those who dedicate themselves to attending to and caring for the most vulnerable sectors of our society, we restored social peace and achieved a historic milestone: the awarding of more than 35.5 million euros for the next seven years, destined for Social Agreements with AFA, El Cribo, and Adislan.
In addition, we recovered the nearly 6 million euros that were lost for the Tahíche Senior Residence: a project demanded for many years whose works will begin shortly.
Another fundamental axis has been to update and strengthen a model of sustainable development, balanced and respectful of our environment. Faced with decades of systematic blocking
by the PSOE of all land planning instruments, in just two years we have initiated all the planning (the Special Plan of La Geria, the PRUG
of the Chinijo Archipelago, PORN and PRUG of the Natural Park of Los Volcanes...) and, especially, the Island Land Management Plan (PIOT), which is the essential tool to control tourist growth, determine the carrying capacity of our island and order our territory. This preliminary document, which is already in the public consultation phase, foresees the protection of 60% of our island territory, triples the land for the primary sector and eliminates more than 100,000 m² of tourist land, reclassifying them as a protected natural space.
On this path of facts, we have removed nearly 2,000 tourist beds with expired licenses and we are the first Cabildo in the Canary Islands to have initiated inspections of
vacation homes. So far, we have detected more than 120 irregular tourist homes that will not be able to continue operating, and we continue to review those of recent years, which will surely allow us to remove several hundred more from the market.
In terms of water, everyone knows that we had to declare the island's water emergency and finally initiate the contract resolution file with Canal Gestión. Without
forgetting that the most important thing is to manage this essential asset for the island with planning, in the medium and long term, today the Lanzarote Water Consortium is already working on the new supply network and a separate network for agricultural irrigation.
We have signed an agreement with SEIASA to invest 24.4 million in the modernization of irrigation in the area of Tinajo and Teguise, recovering the 14.4 million lost in the previous legislature. In addition, we have approved an investment of more than 6 million to improve the drinking water distribution network between San Bartolomé and Tinajo, within the framework of the project called “Línea Centro”. And we can already say that, at this moment, the projects in hydraulic investments started or to be started in 2025 amount to more than 21 million euros.
This government has also been aware from the first moment of the importance of our primary sector. There have been many advances in this matter, but I would like
to highlight the reopening of the Island Slaughterhouse, which opened its doors in October of last year completely adapted to European health regulations, after 14 years of non-compliance. This has been a relief for the island's ranchers who have finally stopped having to transport animals to Fuerteventura. And if there is something I am especially proud of, it is all the work done by the Cabildo that has allowed Lanzarote to be distinguished by the FAO as an Important System
of World Agricultural Heritage (SIPAM), the first European island to obtain the highest international recognition granted by the United Nations, considered the Goya of agriculture.
On the other hand, raising the rates of the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers was not an easy decision, but it was necessary to return to our crown jewels, conceived
by our universal Lanzarote native César Manrique, the prestige they deserve. We want those who visit us to appreciate that Lanzarote is not just another island, but an extraordinary place, with unique centers in the world that reflect our identity and our commitment to harmony between art, nature and territory. The increase obtained has
also allowed that, for the first time, part of the benefits of the CACT, through corporate social responsibility, directly revert to the Lanzarote society
being allocated to cultural, social and sports projects.
We know that access to decent housing is a basic right and, as in the rest of the Canary Islands and the State, it is one of the main concerns of many Lanzarote families. However, faced with the negative effects of a state housing law —which has removed more than 120,000 properties from the market and has caused an increase of more than 26% in rental prices—, from this government group we have decided to act responsibly within the scope of competence that corresponds to the Cabildo. In just two years, we have acquired several plots in Arrecife and Uga for future promotions, and we have bought 42 homes in Playa Blanca that, thanks to the collaboration with the Canarian Housing Institute, will be used for affordable rent.
The discursive rhetoric on sustainability has given way in this legislature to real facts that speak for themselves. From this government group, we have deployed Biosphere Reserve informants in our natural spaces, to avoid the indiscriminate influx to our most sensitive environments and raise awareness among residents and
visitors of the fragility of our island ecosystem; we have implemented a pilot experience of shuttle buses in areas of high influx such as the Natural Park of Los Volcanes, and we are advancing in the implementation of fees in protected enclaves, as is already being done at the municipal level in Los Ajaches.
In addition, we are firmly committed to the Biocrit project, which will allow us to mitigate visual impacts and harmonize the island's aesthetics, and we have promoted a new
composting plant in the Zonzamas Environmental Complex, with an investment of nearly 7 million euros to improve the management of organic waste in the
island, among other measures in this area.
In terms of renewable energy, at this time, not only are all the island's wind farms operating at full capacity, but the new San Bartolomé Wind Farm is already in operation, with a power of 9.2 MW, which will allow energy to be supplied to some 5,000 homes. Lanzarote already has an Environmental Assessment Body (éramos la única isla que no lo tenía) and with an ordinance for the implementation of wind and photovoltaic energy.
Likewise, from minute one we developed the Island Plan for Sustainable Transport and Mobility 2024-2031, presented in 2023. Months later, we already had the Feasibility Study of the new regular public transport contract on public display. We have committed 256 million euros, which could reach more than 300 million
in the next 15 years, to improve sustainable mobility and promote public transport. Without counting that we have made improvements in the lines and services, and
implemented the taxi-bus in localities of the municipalities of Yaiza and Haría, which until now did not have access to interurban public transport.
Also for the first time in the history of the Cabildo, we have created a Department of Seniors, specifically aimed at those who, after a life of dedication, deserve all
our attention and recognition. And in addition to having implemented active listening to our young people, launching the initiatives that they themselves demand of us,
we are focusing special attention, from our government action, on promoting the mental and emotional health of our youth.
As I said at the beginning, there are many advances that we have carried out since mid-2023, not all reflected in these lines. But I assumed a decalogue of commitments with all of you, and I want to remember those already fulfilled: the Social Agreements; the draft of the PIOT; the awarding of the Tahíche Senior Residence; the Hospital parking lot with almost 100 spaces; the impulse to the new transport contract; the increase of 500,000 euros in aid to our students; or the constitution of the first Animal Welfare Table.
My commitment remains firm: to fully comply with the ten points of the contract that I signed with you. This is the commitment of a government that listens, that acts and
that responds with facts.
Again, I want to take advantage of these lines to launch a sincere invitation to a great island pact, leaving behind the myopia of partisan and sectoral interests, with a single common objective: Lanzarote and La Graciosa. For what has been traveled so far drives us, but does not stop us: there is still much to do. For our part, we will continue working tirelessly to preserve the unique and singular model of Lanzarote, to protect our unique environment, to promote economic and social development in a sustainable way, and ultimately, to build a happier society and improve the quality of life of the people of Lanzarote and Graciosa.