Wars in Ukraine and Palestine, instability in the Red Sea, insecurity and violence in nearby Africa, inflation, European elections with the real threat of the extreme right as one of the main forces, elections in Galicia, the Basque Country and Catalonia that will have readings in a state key, a Government of Spain with fragile parliamentary support... The political scenario of 2024 is turbulent and with a large number of uncertainties. And we know that the Canary Islands, due to their geostrategic position and their dependence on the outside world, are directly affected by the international situation.
More than three decades ago, sociologists Ullrich Beck and Anthony Giddens theorized about risk society, a new scenario in which some certainties of modernity were broken (stable and lasting work, broad welfare state, etc.) and introduced new risks inherent to an increasingly globalized and interconnected world. COVID is probably the greatest exponent of this new scenario.
In this context, it is necessary to reflect on the structural problems of Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands as a whole, to have information and data that help us promote public policies aimed at reducing the risks to which the archipelago is subjected and offering a horizon of certainty to its population.
Tourism is breaking historical records for visitors and turnover, public investment as a result of the reactivation programs after the pandemic is at figures that have not been seen for decades and there are new sectors (renewable, audiovisual, digital) that are increasingly more presence in the Canarian economy. But even so, the unemployment rate is 15,2% and the youth unemployment rate is more than 31%, which although they are the lowest figures in history, are unaffordable and also represent a differential of more than 3,5, XNUMX points compared to the Spanish average.
What are the structural causes of unemployment in the Canary Islands? How is it possible that even in one of the moments of greatest public and private economic activity we are not able to reduce unemployment below 10%? Because this is also largely the cause of the poverty and social exclusion figures, since without a stable job it is practically impossible to leave poverty behind.
We have to continue implementing measures that have been proven effective, such as employment plans for groups that are difficult to insert, hiring incentives, etc. But at the same time, go further and innovate, going to the neighborhoods with the worst employment figures and promoting new policies based on community intervention and empowerment from the neighborhoods themselves. In this sense, there are successful experiences in which the unemployed themselves, with public support, create cooperatives to provide certain services that are needed in their immediate environment.
An issue that is connected to the above is the decline in GDP per capita in the Canary Islands in the last 20 years. In a recent article I explained that it is fundamentally due to population increase since, while the evolution of the Canary Islands GDP has been similar to that of other territories, the growth of people residing on the islands is unparalleled. I believe that no one now has any doubts that we must urgently confront the debate on the demographic challenge.
And the population issue affects all fronts: consumption of resources and environmental impact, scarcity and increase in housing prices, saturation of public services (transport, health, etc.), social inequality (new inhabitants tend to concentrate in certain areas , further accelerating the population differences between the coastal urban centers and the midlands and peaks) etc. Furthermore, most of the new residents are peninsular and EU citizens, so the legal and political means to stop this unsustainable increase are not clear and must be the subject of analysis and study.
Although in recent years new sectors such as renewables, the audiovisual sector or port services are experiencing an increase, the truth is that the growth of the tourism sector has meant that the tourist dependence of the Canary Islands is at its historical maximum, representing 35,5 .XNUMX% of GDP. We see therefore that the long-awaited objective of economic diversification continues to be a pending issue.
Advocating the diversification of the model does not imply going against tourism, quite the opposite. With a more sustainable and balanced economic development model, with various innovative and sustainable sectors that add value to the economy, the Canary Islands would be revalued as a tourist objective and we could increase the value of the destination and the services provided.
To develop good public policies from institutions, we need data and good diagnoses of our problems, which allow us to evaluate whether we are moving in the right direction. Especially in a context in which problems are increasingly complex (their causes are multiple and an increasing number of factors are involved) and their resolution often exceeds the powers and capacities of public institutions.
We are at a transcendental moment in which Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands have to make an effort to adapt to socioeconomic changes, reduce their dependence and gain security, while ending the endemic problem of unemployment and poverty. In many aspects, as I stated previously, we are advancing (renewables, digitalization, promotion of new sectors) but we have to be able to take a long view and generate ample resources that allow us to build the future of our island.
The year 2024 presents positive indicators for Gran Canaria. The role of the Cabildo is key to this. We have budgets to face the year in which social policies and economic proposals take up 63% of the resources. To the 210 million euros allocated in these accounts for investments, we will add almost 150 million more remainders in the coming days.
2024 will be the year of seeing the water from Salto de Chira enter the dams, to begin filling them and producing water and renewables, and also the year of the inauguration of several socio-health centers, the Artenara Heliport, the Virtual Set for the audiovisual sector , the Cuarterías del Cuyás, the Degollada de Becerra Interpretation Center and the headquarters of the Institute for the Integrated Management of World Heritage and the Biosphere Reserve. It will be the year of winning the 2030 World Cup venue and the start of construction on the new Gran Canaria Stadium. Likewise, 2024 will bring us the start of work on the Gran Canaria Sustainable Mobility Centre, the comprehensive modernization of the Insular Sports Centre, the Tamadaba Hostel, numerous infrastructures in different municipalities, the rehabilitation of the Fátima Centre, the new multipurpose building for Infecar, the old Psychiatric Hospital as a large socio-health center, the Bocabarranco outfall and the Temisas radio telescope. This year that begins now will occupy a prominent place in the promotion of offshore wind, the Museum of Fine Arts (MUBEA) or the Guguy National Park.
This year will ultimately be the year of the completion of many projects and the continuation or beginning of others that will further place Gran Canaria at the forefront of sustainable development, the fight against poverty and marginalization and consolidation of our island as a cultural, sporting and defense reference for our heritage.
