AM-CC denounces the State’s “mistreatment” of Fuerteventura’s coastline over new action at Cueva de la Negra

Asamblea Majorera–Coalición Canaria Fuerteventura has addressed what it calls the mistreatment of Fuerteventura’s coastline by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Spanish Government’s Directorate-General for the Coast at a meeting of its Assembly and Local Political Council, focusing in particular on the recent case of the house at Cueva de la Negra.

“The State continues to exercise an authoritarian, boss-like authority, without taking account of Fuerteventura’s and the Canary Islands’ particular circumstances in relation to their coastline,” the nationalist party said.

AM-CC also criticised what it called the “submission” of PSOE representatives in the Canary Islands and Fuerteventura. “They have been unable to speak out against their own party to put an end to these actions,” it said.

The party singled out Minister Ángel Víctor Torres and Paloma Hernández, the Socialist representative for Fuerteventura in the Senate, as well as Pájara Mayor Alejandro Jorge and the Island Council’s vice-president, Blas Acosta. It reproached them for “not demanding that their colleagues in the Spanish Government change their approach to our coastline”.

The party also recalled that it was the Fuerteventura Island Council that adopted the precautionary measures which halted the first attempt to demolish the house while its possible heritage value is assessed.

A recent announcement of a further State intervention at the house, planned for 21 September and intended to prevent uses prohibited under the Coastal Law, has caused considerable concern. Although the Island Council has no authority to decide on occupation of the maritime-terrestrial public domain, it continues to work towards a solution within its remit and to prevent any action from causing irreparable loss.

The party praised the involvement of the Island Council’s Presidency and its Heritage department, which have introduced measures to try to protect the building. It criticised the State for maintaining a “policy of hostility” towards Fuerteventura’s heritage and families.

The nationalists said the Ministry continues to disregard the position of the island’s institutions and those of the Canary Islands, acting unilaterally, without any coordination or communication.

“We cannot understand the haste with which the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Spanish Government’s Directorate-General for the Coast are acting. We do not believe that the Cueva de la Negra house is currently the State’s main problem, or that there is any urgency to justify these actions,” they insisted.

AM-CC calls for coastal powers to be transferred to the Canary Islands institutions

Asamblea Majorera–Coalición Canaria Fuerteventura says the situation highlights the limitations of the current division of powers over coastal affairs and the need for the Canary Islands to exercise fully the powers recognised in its 2018 Statute of Autonomy.

The Canary Islands and the State currently disagree over the extent of their respective powers in managing the maritime-terrestrial public domain.

For this reason, the Parliament of the Canary Islands has continued to call, through various initiatives, for the Archipelago to exercise fully the powers it holds over its coastline.

According to the nationalists, “it makes no sense for decisions affecting our coastline to continue to be made miles away, without knowledge of the territory or the particular circumstances of the Canary Islands”.

“The Cueva de la Negra case has once again drawn attention to this situation. We are concerned because several homes and traditional settlements, including Los Molinos, Isla de Lobos, Jacomar and other coastal communities that are part of Fuerteventura’s history, face similar circumstances,” they said.

Further disputes with the State’s Coastal Authority in Pájara

The demolition or vacation of the Cueva de la Negra house is not the only dispute in Pájara municipality. AM-CC says several projects are being affected by what it describes as the Spanish Government’s “abusive policy” towards Fuerteventura’s coastline.

These include a demand to remove the car park at Cofete cemetery, as well as the car parks at Risco del Paso and El Salmo beach; the latter has already been closed.

The party also says the State has made it difficult to improve beach access along much of the municipality’s coastline and to upgrade the promenade at La Lajita. In the latter case, AM-CC says it addressed and resolved the requirements set by the State, but that it has “blocked the project again”.

The party concluded: “These circumstances will continue as long as the Canary Islands Government cannot fully exercise the powers it holds over the management of the Archipelago’s coastline”.