Los Cristianos was filled with color and protest this Sunday with a massive citizen demonstration. Around 3,000 residents, families, and political representatives from all parties within the Arona City Council united under the slogan 'Beach yes, port no' to voice their opposition to the future expansion of the port infrastructure.
The mobilization, called by the Platform for the Defense of Los Cristianos, was characterized by emotion and a sense of belonging to a threatened territory. Entire families, from grandparents to children, shared the route and chants, making it clear that it was not a march against anyone, but a defense of their identity against port pressure.
Javier Bello, president of the platform, emphasized the town's unity: 'We are not a few crazy people; it is an entire town demanding real, feasible, and immediate solutions, without additional financial outlay.' Bello recalled that the demand stems from years of traffic jams, noise, and heavy vehicle traffic affecting the locality.
He pointed out that alternatives exist, such as the proposal to move goods to the port of Granadilla, an option that, according to Bello, has the support of figures like Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo, and Pedro Anatael Meneses, former president of the Port Authority. Bello criticized that current solutions, like tunneling, are mere ideas that would take 15 years to materialize.
The manifesto read by Desiré Valentín Herrera, the platform's secretary, stressed that the problem affects the entire south of Tenerife. It called for respect, listening, and sustainable solutions for maritime connections, as well as greater citizen participation.
The text explicitly rejected the port expansion, the construction of a jetty, and the redevelopment that would involve a large parking structure over 15 meters high. It appealed to the identity of Los Cristianos, a town that 'does not want to remain marginalized' and seeks to be heard.
The platform has initiated contacts with the Port Authority and the councils of Tenerife and La Gomera, and plans to extend its proposals to all municipalities in southern Tenerife, given the regional impact of the project.
