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SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 6 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Defence has presented the Government of the Canary Islands with the military sites of the Cristo barracks and the Polvorín de Tabares, located in the municipality of La Laguna, to enhance the network for the reception of unaccompanied migrant minors.
The request for military facilities had been made months prior by the Canarian Executive, in light of the rising number of small boats and cayucos arriving on the islands. This was formalised on Thursday afternoon through a proposal from Minister Margarita Robles to regional president Fernando Clavijo.
In response, Unidas se Puede, the opposition party within the La Laguna City Council, has insisted on “transparency and information”, as the derelict military premises do not provide the “suitable conditions” necessary for the care of individuals, given the climate and their inadequate upkeep.
Councillor Rubens Ascanio remarked, “It appears that La Laguna must once again face a challenge that is considerably larger than that of other municipalities, rendering us the location with the most substantial reception facilities in the archipelago.”
His colleague, Idaira Afonso, is advocating for an informational meeting that includes local political groups, community associations, the Ministry, and the Council – which is engaged in the process of acquiring the Cristo – and for community work initiatives to be renewed and strengthened in order to foster “appropriate coexistence”.
“As we have previously stated concerning the accommodation of minors at the CATE of Las Raíces, derelict military sites do not provide the conditions necessary to adequately care for a particularly vulnerable demographic that necessitates much closer and more specialised support,” he stated.