The initiative, which will be discussed in the next municipal plenary session, seeks to give the neighborhood a «less generic» name that is more representative of its identity. The proposed name, Agüinaga, is a fusion of the toponyms Agüimes and Arinaga, although it is emphasized that the final decision must have the support of the residents.
The proponent of the motion argues that the current name, Cruce de Arinaga, causes confusion by not clearly identifying the place and refers to a geographical feature (the intersection of roads GC-191 and GC-100) rather than a proper identity. Furthermore, it is believed to project a dependence on Arinaga, even though the core administratively belongs to Agüimes.
With approximately 12,000 inhabitants, the neighborhood is the most populated area in the municipality, which, according to the councilor, justifies opening a participatory process to choose a new name.
“"The historical name is Llanos Prieto, which appears in all previous documentation. If a change is ever considered, the logical step would be to recover that name."
However, the official chronicler of Agüimes has questioned the lack of historical basis for the proposal, noting that the name Cruce de Arinaga became popular between the 1950s and 1960s, and was officially adopted by the City Council on July 5, 1969. Previously, the traditional place name was Llanos Prieto.
The chronicler also stresses the importance of a citizen consultation process, especially among older residents, for any modification. The proposal is expected to generate extensive debate both politically and among the public.
