The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, has expressed his concern over the increase in immigrant arrivals in recent weeks and has urged the Government of Spain to take preventive measures. The island demands the activation of the SIVE radar.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, expressed his concern on Monday about the migratory surge the island is experiencing and has demanded that the Government of Spain immediately activate the SIVE surveillance system. This request comes after two boats arrived in the early hours of the morning with 150 people, one of which had 122 occupants, the inflatable boat with the most immigrants to reach the Canary Islands to date.
Island Resources Under Pressure
In a statement, the island corporation defended that Lanzarote demonstrates "more than enough its humanitarian commitment," but warned that the arrival of boats cannot be normalised "without the appropriate preventive tools from the State." According to Betancort, the island's resources "are under constant pressure."
The councillor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, has highlighted the repeated demands to the central Government. "We have demanded the definitive and immediate activation of the SIVE radar on the island countless times," he stated. For Acuña, it is "unacceptable" that Lanzarote still lacks this equipment at full capacity, as it is "a vital tool for early detection of these crossings and successfully coordinating rescue efforts."
Criticism of State Passivity
The Cabildo has criticised the "passivity" it attributes to the central Government, which it has called for "a firm coordination strategy, equipped with material, economic, and surveillance resources." The island institution insists that the archipelago cannot "shoulder the weight of this crisis in the Atlantic alone."
For the residents of Lanzarote, the situation translates into a growing pressure on the island's social and health services, which must cater to the newly arrived immigrants. Betancort emphasised that the priority must be "the safeguarding of human lives and fundamental rights," but reminded that the Cabildo lacks competencies in border control and maritime surveillance.
The mass arrival of immigrants to the Canary Islands is not a new phenomenon, but the surge in recent weeks has reopened the debate on the need to strengthen control measures. So far this year, more than 2,000 people have arrived on the Canary coasts, according to data from the Government Delegation. Lanzarote is one of the most affected islands, along with Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
So far, the Government of Spain has not commented on the Cabildo's request. The activation of the SIVE, a coastal radar system that allows for the detection of vessels from a great distance, has been demanded by the Canary authorities for years. Its installation in Lanzarote has been pending since 2018.
Meanwhile, the island's emergency services continue to respond to arrivals. The latest, with 150 people, concluded without serious incidents, although the Cabildo fears that the lack of early detection means could lead to tragedies at sea. "We cannot wait for a tragedy to occur before acting," concluded Betancort.
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