The Rural Nationalist Bloc-First Canary Islands (BNR-1ºCAN) has demanded an urgent solution at the Gáldar town council meeting for the public service provided by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) office. The situation has significantly worsened, with currently "only one civil servant available for in-person citizen assistance," despite the office having five allocated positions. The BNR deems this situation "unsustainable" for an essential service catering to thousands of residents from La Aldea de San Nicolás to Moya.
This marks the third motion presented by the City Council to the State demanding a resolution to this issue, without any response received. The lack of personnel, coupled with the increased responsibilities of the Social Security in recent years, such as managing the Minimum Vital Income, has led to a "collapse." This forces many citizens to wait "weeks or even months" to complete essential procedures, disproportionately affecting the elderly and those "suffering from the digital divide," according to the party.
“"We cannot look the other way when only one person has to handle the work corresponding to five positions."
Teodoro Sosa, president of the BNR's National Executive and mayor of Gáldar, has conveyed the "deep discontent" the City Council receives daily from residents regarding a service he considers "unbefitting a public administration." Sosa clarified that the demand is not a reproach to the current staff but a criticism of the State's "failure to respond" in filling existing vacancies. He called for the "immediate" occupation of the five planned positions for the Gáldar office.
The mayor warned that if no response is received from the Ministry and the Government Delegation within one month, the BNR will move from motions to "citizen mobilization." "This is the third time we have brought this matter to the plenary. There will not be a fourth motion; there will be public actions. If necessary, we will take to the streets with our neighbors," he insisted.
The motion was defended by the president of the BNR's local executive in Gáldar and government group spokesperson, Julio Mateo, who denounced the "neglect" by the General State Administration. He explained that although the office has five positions, only two are currently filled, and one of those is on leave, leaving just one civil servant to handle in-person services for the entire northern population of the island.
The BNR spokesperson also alerted that difficulties in obtaining prior appointments are redirecting users to other offices, further hindering access to this basic public service.
The motion, unanimously approved in the Plenary, urges the National Institute of Social Security to "immediately" reinforce in-person services at the Gáldar office. It requests the support of the Mancomunidad del Norte and FECAM for this joint demand and agrees to forward the petition to the Government Delegation in the Canary Islands, the Sub-delegation of the Government in Las Palmas, and the Provincial Directorate of the INSS.
