Oswaldo Betancort, president of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, and Lola García, head of the Fuerteventura Island Council, have insisted on the need for differentiated treatment for the archipelago's eastern islands. During the V Biosfera Media Forum, held at the Castillo de San José in Arrecife, both leaders advocated for the creation of a specific law to protect and promote these islands.
Betancort highlighted that the non-capital islands of the province of Las Palmas, such as Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, are key drivers for employment and the Canarian economy. He noted that these islands face 15% higher inflation than the archipelago's average and require specific measures to be as competitive as the rest. He proposed a legal framework, similar to that of the Green Islands, to enable their progress in various areas.
The president of Lanzarote detailed that this future regulation should extend beyond urban planning to encompass issues such as the integral water cycle, mobility, public transport, port and airport development, the fight against climate change, and support for the primary sector. "We don't want more than anyone else, but we want that equal Canary Islands to truly be evident," he stated.
For her part, Lola García agreed on the necessity of a law for the eastern axis, emphasizing that the unique characteristics of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as the population growth they are experiencing, require economic repercussions to meet increasing needs. She announced that the governments of both island councils will begin working on this initiative to present it to the Parliament of the Canary Islands starting in September.
The Fuerteventura leader stressed the urgency of implementing measures regarding transport, mobility, population overload, and especially to support the primary sector. "We have problems with water and we cannot continue like this; we need specific subsidies," she affirmed.
The forum also included contributions from Javier Puga, CEO of Dinosol Supermercados and director of Grupo HD; Beatriz Martínez, territorial director of Banco Santander in the Canary Islands; and Adolfo Utor Martínez, president of the shipping company Baleària, who shared their economic perspectives.
