SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister for Social Welfare of the Canary Islands Government, Candelaria Delgado, stated this Friday that it is possible for the Polvorín de Tabares to be transformed into a first reception centre for unaccompanied migrant minors, although a technical assessment must still be conducted to examine the condition of the facilities.
In response to an inquiry from ASG, she noted that it is “an abandoned site” that has been in a “dismal state” for over 30 years, but it has been offered by the Ministry of Defence, adjacent to the El Cristo barracks, which are finally set to be acquired by the Cabildo of Tenerife for social and health purposes. This would allow them to be converted into reception centres for migrant minors.
The counsellor highlighted that the centre could be established with the €14 million from the action plan announced by the EU for the Canary Islands, contingent upon the central government requesting these funds, which has already been urged from the Minister of Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz.
Nonetheless, she emphasised that this is a measure “that does not address the current situation” but is rather “for the future” as immigrants “will continue to arrive” at the islands being Europe’s southern frontier.
In this context, she expressed disappointment that the Ministry is unwilling to relinquish other military facilities located in Lanzarote, El Hierro, and La Palma, arguing that these barracks fulfil vital “tactical and logistical requirements” for the Armed Forces, serving as “strategic command and control” during natural disasters or other emergencies.
Consequently, it was decided to set up tents at the ports of the islands for minors—one has already been established in Lanzarote and another is being planned for El Hierro—and given the “overwhelming” number of adult migrant arrivals, adjustments have had to be made for adults in the case of Arrecife.
Delgado indicated that the forecasts “have been realised,” with this year seeing a “record number” of arrivals exceeding 40,000 individuals, and some centres for minors “are at capacity,” thus she hopes that immigration reform “is approved once and for all.”
Jesús Ramos (ASG) pointed out that the Polvorín “is in a state of disrepair and unusable,” while the Cristo barracks are close to being purchased by the Cabildo to establish a socio-health centre.
He remarked that it is an “unacceptable administrative impasse” that the regional government has not yet received permission from the State for technicians to visit and inspect the land, lamenting that Defence has refused to relinquish the other three facilities requested by the regional Executive.
He highlighted that the island’s child care system “is at breaking point,” and the support from the central government is “insufficient,” since, for instance, merely €50 million has been received this year to cover the care for minors, in contrast to an annual cost of €190 million.