Parents criticize that “the hand-picking of services” to a private club excluded more than 25 minors with disabilities from swimming classes
Marichal reproaches that PSOE and NC have also eliminated discounts for residents or large families from a service offered in public swimming pools
Alejandro Marichal demands the reactivation of this service as well as giving free access to the facilities and activities to families in vulnerable situations.
“The mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Conchi Narváez, and the councilor for Sports, Samuel Henríquez, are ignoring the needs of children with disabilities. There isn't a single physical activity in the municipality for our children that could serve as rehabilitation or occupational therapy .” This is the complaint of the parents who have been left without a place at the municipal swimming pools in Maspalomas, El Tablero, and El Castillo del Romeral since a private club took over the classes in June 2020. “Our sons and daughters have been left without a place.”
The parents have tried to meet with both the mayor (PSOE) and the councilor for Sports (NC), “but they don’t want to listen to us .” For this reason, they are asking Alejandro Marichal, the Coalición Canaria candidate for mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, to intervene so that a schedule can be made available to these users that “allows their children to participate in an activity that is essential for their full development.”
The problem, according to the affected parents, is that when the swimming pool activities were "handpicked and awarded to this Swimming Club ," the town council failed to ensure the service was maintained, negatively impacting more than 25 children. "They should have been required to have a trained swimming team to provide this service. Since this wasn't required, the Swimming Club is disclaiming responsibility because, as a private club, it's not obligated to offer this activity ." Furthermore, subsidies and discounts for residents or large families have also disappeared. "The pool is public, and as such, it must offer a service to the community, regardless of whether other activities are run by a private company. All children and residents of San Bartolomé de Tirajana have the right to a place in the pool, whether they have a disability or not ," one of the affected mothers asserts.
The mayoral candidate for San Bartolomé de Tirajana will formally request, through a letter to the city council, the inclusion of this service in all sports facilities, especially municipal swimming pools, to provide free access to facilities and activities for vulnerable families, "primarily children and teenagers ." He will also propose creating a sports scholarship program, mainly for children whose families cannot afford membership in a sports club, and prioritizing individuals from special groups who wish to participate in physical activities, such as senior citizens, people with disabilities, etc., thereby mitigating health risk factors.
