The El Pescador Association received the most community support in the Anaga district of the 2026-2027 Participatory Budgets of Santa Cruz. The figure will be installed at the entrance roundabout of the village as a tribute to the women who sustained the local fishing economy.
The village of San Andrés, in the Anaga district of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, will feature a sculpture dedicated to the female fishers and fish sellers. The initiative, promoted by the El Pescador Association, was the most voted proposal by residents within the 2026-2027 Participatory Budgets of the Santa Cruz City Council, a process that will allocate 2.4 million euros to 108 projects chosen directly by the citizens.
The figure will be installed at the entrance roundabout of the village, becoming the new calling card of San Andrés. The initiative aims to immortalise the image of the women who, for generations, sold the fish caught by their families and contributed to the development of the coastal community. It is no coincidence that it was the most voted project in Anaga: residents have chosen to reclaim their identity and recognise those who are part of the collective memory of the village.
108 projects for the neighbourhoods
The sculpture is part of the 23 projects that will be carried out in the Anaga district. Alongside it, other initiatives were also selected, such as the installation of a bench on the Taganana road, the removal of cat's tail in San José street, and other interventions to improve heritage, landscape, and quality of life in the areas of the massif.
In total, the 2026-2027 Participatory Budgets will distribute 400,000 euros for each of the five districts (Anaga, Ofra-Costa Sur, Salud-La Salle, Centro-Ifara, and Suroeste) and another 400,000 euros for the City Line, aimed at municipal projects. The overall budget has increased by 50% compared to the previous call, as highlighted by the Councillor for Citizen Participation, Javier Caraballero.
"Residents know their neighbourhoods better than anyone and should decide which actions improve their lives"
José Manuel Bermúdez, Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Consolidated participatory democracy
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, recalled that numerous actions carried out in recent years, such as the Valleseco parking or various improvements in El Sobradillo, originated precisely from citizen proposals. "Those who best understand the needs of each neighbourhood are its own residents," he stated.
For his part, Caraballero defended the budget increase and emphasised that the goal is to continue enhancing the decision-making capacity of citizens in future calls. The process, now in its sixth edition, has established itself as a tool of participatory democracy that allows neighbourhoods to set the municipality's investment priorities.
For the residents of San Andrés, the sculpture will not only beautify the entrance to the village but will also serve as a daily reminder of the role of women in local history. The installation is scheduled for the coming months, once the technical and artistic details of the figure are finalised.
You may also like
