The insular secretary of the PSOE, Blas Acosta, criticises Beatriz Calzada, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, for the increase of up to 78% in the cost of transporting goods for businesses and families in Fuerteventura.
The insular secretary of the PSOE in Fuerteventura, Blas Acosta, has harshly attacked Beatriz Calzada, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, whom he accuses of "management incapacity" and causing an increase of up to 78% in the cost of transporting goods for the residents of Fuerteventura. Acosta believes the problem lies in Calzada, appointed at the proposal of the Canary Islands government led by Fernando Clavijo, being unable to tender for the reform of the Border Inspection Post (PIF) or the Schengen facilities at the port of Puerto del Rosario, which hampers the local economy.
In statements made this Wednesday, Acosta pointed out that the proposal to segregate the ports of Puerto del Rosario and Arrecife from the Port Authority of Las Palmas to create a new state port body is "an operational absurdity". Spain already has 28 port authorities managing 46 ports of general interest, and creating a 29th makes no sense, according to the socialist. "The logical trend is the merger of the port authorities of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but we know this is a political position without a future," he added.
Acosta reminded that the presidency of the Port Authority of Las Palmas is directly proposed by the Canary Islands government, which "decided to use the largest industrial engine of the province as a political springboard for a mayoral candidate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria who hasn't even managed to be a candidate". The consequences of this decision, he insisted, "are suffered by the businesses and families of Fuerteventura, who are paying up to 78% more for the costs of transporting goods".
The socialist leader emphasised that Calzada's "management incapacity" translates into the lack of tendering for key infrastructure for the island, such as the PIF and the Schengen facilities at the port of Puerto del Rosario. "Among the many management incapabilities of the current president, it particularly affects Fuerteventura that she has been unable to tender for the reform," he stated. Acosta stressed that this problem was created by Clavijo's autonomous government, which is "the only one" that can propose to the Ministry of Transport the replacement of Calzada according to the Ports Law.
In an ironic tone, Acosta suggested that, "if they are going to invent instead of solve", the Canary Islands government could consider handing over the management of the ports of Morro Jable (Pájara) and Corralejo (La Oliva), currently dependent on Canarian Ports, to State Ports. This way, the two main maritime connections of Fuerteventura with Gran Canaria and Lanzarote would receive the investment "they deserve, need, and generate, instead of distributing that benefit from Fuerteventura to the ports of the other province".
On the other hand, the main advocate for creating a separate Port Authority for Lanzarote and Fuerteventura is the insular secretary of the Canary Coalition, Mario Cabrera. Cabrera argues that both islands meet the conditions for a differentiated management of their ports and demands that strategic decisions be made from the islands themselves. "Fuerteventura has been relegated to decisions made kilometres away from here," he stated, accusing the Port Authority of having "historically prioritised investments in the port of La Luz".
The controversy comes at a time when the cost of maritime transport of goods is a sensitive issue for the economy of Fuerteventura, which largely depends on connections with other islands and the mainland. The 78% increase in costs, as denounced by Acosta, directly affects the families and businesses of Fuerteventura, who see their products becoming more expensive without a short-term solution in sight. The insular PSOE demands that the Canary Islands government take measures to reverse this situation and that, if it is unable to do so, "stop inventing and resolve".
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