Antonio Morales announces an efficient, modern, firm, dialogue-oriented island government focused on consolidating the eco-island model

 

" The Government of Gran Canaria guarantees continuity, but it is not merely a continuation of the status quo, because it has ambitious objectives; it promises efficiency, to complete and shorten deadlines; modernity, to face new challenges that guarantee the future; determination, to find financing for strategic projects; strength and firmness, to defend the rights of Gran Canaria, and dialogue, so that all of Gran Canaria society feels the actions of this Council as its own."

 

 

Antonio Morales described the new island Executive with these words today, in his speech at the Constituent Plenary Session of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, in which he was once again invested as president of the Corporation, for what will be his third consecutive term, with the support of the PSOE. At the event, attended by more than 300 people, including authorities, family and friends, the spokespersons of all the political groups that make up the island Chamber spoke.

 

Previously, the spokespersons for the different political groups intervened: Yeray Suárez (Vox), María Fernández (CC), Miguel Jorge (PP), Augusto Hidalgo (PSOE) and Teodoro Sosa (NC-BN). Speeches that were followed by more than three hundred people who filled the different spaces set up at the Cabildo headquarters.

 

Hidalgo Macario, who will serve as First Vice President and Minister of Public Works, announced that “the government resulting from this progress pact in Gran Canaria is the product of a clear will of the island's citizens for a government of continuity that continues to transform and shape the future of this island society under the parameters of sustainable development, growth in economic activity and quality employment, doing this in accordance with respect for the social, cultural and environmental environment that surrounds us. A government that has the firm will to support, within the framework of its powers, individual and collective freedoms and rights in accordance with our social and democratic state of law.

 

To this end, the spokesperson for the socialist group expressed “the firm will to provide maximum stability to this island government, with the aim of achieving these objectives. Thinking and working as one government. "True, a coalition government, with two sensitivities, with eight ministries each in this plenary hall, but they must work as one for the general interest of the citizens."

 

In his inauguration speech, Morales emphasized that the objective of the previous mandate was to consolidate an ecosocial model on the Island and improve infrastructure, services and public policies, strengthening universal rights. "We were able to ensure political, social and economic stability, in a context of pandemic and economic crisis, with positive results based on the solidity of our civil society led by the Cabildo," he testified. 

 

Thus, he maintained that the insular Corporation has a very clear path, depth in strategic sectors. "With these renewed energies, we are ready to advance in the completion of initiated and decisive tasks, to undertake other commitments that the Island needs and that are in our hands, and to move towards the Gran Canaria of progress that we dream and project, and that begins to be discovered to the satisfaction of everyone," he asserted. 

 

He explained that the Island has to continue integrating all citizens and reducing inequalities, with life opportunities for the people of Gran Canaria; so that no woman is a victim of gender violence; guaranteeing sustainability in the face of the challenges of climate change; energizing socioeconomic activity and protecting small and medium-sized businesses, which are the largest generators of employment, as well as making tourism more sustainable; consolidate the Island of art that turns Gran Canaria into an international reference, and establish all the elements of cultural identity that make Gran Canaria a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

 

And, as he stated, the Island is moving forward and is on a firm, safe path with a future projection, in which economic diversification presents its first fruits and ceases to be a slogan and becomes realities, such as the economy. blue and circular, the audiovisual industry, sustainable mobility, modernization and digitalization of tourism, adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change, biotechnology, knowledge and intelligent projection of the island, the triple energy and water transition and food, the promotion of local industry and commerce, care, equality and social inclusion, among others.

 

In this scenario, he announced that the Cabildo will undertake the culmination of the Salto de Chira work, already begun, which he considered "the essential piece for the decarbonization required by the fight against climate change and desertification, and to become a global vanguard, guaranteeing the water security of the Island and energy sovereignty, without dependence on fossil fuels."

 

Likewise, he highlighted that he will advance sustainable mobility, with the start of train works; in the execution of the most ambitious Social and Health Plan in the history of Gran Canaria, until reaching 2.000 places; in the inauguration of the Museum of Fine Arts, the achievement of the Guguy National Park, in the culmination of the works of the Gran Canaria Stadium and the Casa Palacio del Cabildo, in the blue development pole of Taliarte, in the Temisas radio telescope , in the first offshore wind farms in the State, in the expansion of Infecar, in the completion of the ongoing renovation works in the tourist south, in the modernization of the Administration, in the audiovisual sector, in the circular economy, in the housing, industry and commerce, and research and knowledge with the help of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands Ocean Platform or the Canary Islands Technological Institute.

 

The president referred to the international situation, marked by wars, pandemics, migrations or the drift towards autocracy of many democracies. "There is a state and global context that makes the objectives that I have presented difficult," he admitted, which is why he highlighted the relevance of consolidating not only economic strength but also the redistribution of wealth, the reduction of social tensions in times of rapid changes and confidence in democracy. "In the face of populist or neo-fascist solutions, I want to preside over a government that expands people's rights, equal opportunities and the self-government of our Islands," he stated. 

 

 

 

 

A leading Gran Canaria

 

Antonio Morales highlighted the current situation of Gran Canaria, as an Island that, at this time, leads the generation of employment, the introduction of clean energies, the activation of new companies, the creation of social and health care places, cultural creation, local production and consumption. 

 

"Today, Gran Canaria has a project, it has priorities, it has a model of development and coexistence and these elections have confirmed it, they have revalidated it," he stressed. "And, today, Gran Canaria has a Government to dedicate ourselves with loyalty to the citizens we represent, with diligence as our mothers and fathers taught us and with the honesty that must continue to be a sign of public management."

 

He testified that the Cabildo Government guarantees institutional loyalty to the regional and central executives, with whom it maintains a necessary and obligatory relationship, because there are supra-municipal projects that require negotiation and collaboration. And, at the same time, he demanded that everyone respect the will of Gran Canaria, which has confirmed a progressive political orientation. 

 

"We do not want to go back, nor return to speculative policies that contradict the rapid advance towards the progressive eco-development model demanded by the new times we live in, with decarbonization, sustainable economic diversification, equality, equity and social justice, solidarity , participation or cultural identity," he specified. "In times of prosperity and difficulty, the Cabildo knew how to lead at times and support at others the desire for freedom, self-government and well-being that island or state centralism made difficult or literally prevented. We will not deviate even one iota from this trajectory," he assured.

 

Renewed trust and shared effort

 

In his speech, President Morales thanked the people of Gran Canaria for the renewed trust, shared effort and complicity sustained over the last eight years with the Corporation. "We have been first from Gran Canaria than from our parties and the Island has noticed it and has rewarded it," he reflected. "I think that we have perceived a close institution, sensitive to the difficulties and committed to our people in the toughest moments. And the island citizens also confirmed that the Island was evolving, that it was moving towards an economic transformation parallel to an enhancement of care, inclusion and equality". 

 

In this context, he extended his gratitude to the team of counselors that has formed the island Government in the last eight years, as well as to the directors, advisors, workers of the Institution, and the 21 mayors, with whom The Cabildo has joined forces to serve citizens, companies and entities in these times of crisis, and to advance public investments. 

 

"I can only return so much affection and commitment, promising once again my incorruptible loyalty to the needs and rights of each of the Gran Canarian men and women who share the passion of living on the Island of our lives," he confirmed. "We will govern for everyone, and rest assured that all the political groups present in this institution, because this is what the citizens have decided, will exercise their responsibilities as an opposition with the resources and respect that is established in a State of Law. ".

 

Finally, Antonio Morales called for unity among the entire Gran Canaria society to achieve these objectives. "An exciting task awaits us: facilitating a better, more cohesive, prosperous, green, egalitarian and creative Gran Canaria as we look towards 2027," he concluded. "We are not starting from scratch. Gran Canaria today is better than in 2015. Let us move forward confidently, because society is mobilized and expects us to finish what we started, to complete what we projected, to materialize what we promised."