The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo (CC), has warned that «the goodwill of the people of El Hierro must not be taken advantage of», after nearly 3,000 migrants landed on the island this month, and has rejected the «conformist attitude» in the face of the pressure the island is under.
On Wednesday, Clavijo visited the quay at La Restinga, the town where survivors of the migration route from West Africa arrive, to convey the support of the Canary Islands Government to the Maritime Rescue Service staff, healthcare workers and Red Cross volunteers who are assisting the migrants.
Speaking to the media, the president criticised the central government for continuing to fail to respond to his administration’s requests and called for the fulfilment of outstanding commitments to ensure that care for those arriving in small boats is reconciled with the day-to-day activities of La Restinga.
El Hierro: The government must ensure medical care at the reception centre
«We still haven’t received a response, which we find hard to understand,» said Clavijo, who argued that the continuation of this situation requires resources and safeguards for both the people of El Hierro and the migrants.
Among the measures being called for is for the State to set up a unit at the Temporary Reception Centre for Foreign Nationals (CATE) on El Hierro, staffed by doctors and nurses, so that routine treatment following triage does not require healthcare professionals to be brought in from the Insular Hospital.
As he explained, these transfers take up capacity that could otherwise be used to care for residents, whilst serious cases must continue to be treated in hospital.
Clavijo disagrees with the Island Council over pressure on the health service
When asked about the view expressed by the president of the Island Council, Alpidio Armas (PSOE), that the island is not under excessive pressure on healthcare services and can handle the current situation, Clavijo replied: «I do not agree with that.»
He stated that nurses and trade union representatives had expressed their concerns, the difficulties and the pressure they face in their day-to-day work, and pointed out that the needs of local residents, the diving centres in La Restinga and the services involved in assisting new arrivals must also be taken into account.
«We cannot adopt that complacent attitude, not least because we’ve been at this for years,» he said.
La Restinga: Clavijo calls for quay expansion and Frontex support
Clavijo has also called for space to be cleared on the quay so that it can be tarmacked and refurbished, and for the Island Council to set aside a plot of land to facilitate this move, as, he pointed out, its president had promised to do.
The President of the Canary Islands has emphasised that he has avoided confrontation and controversy because they do not help to resolve the situation, but he has insisted that he needs a response from the State and a commitment to certain minimum standards. «These are, I believe, matters of common sense,» he stated.
Regarding the potential assistance that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) could provide, he has expressed the hope that it will be able to operate in the Canary Islands to save lives and provide information that will enable the authorities to anticipate arrivals and prepare reception facilities.
He pointed out that some small boats arrive carrying large numbers of people in very poor health, and that providing care for them is particularly difficult on an island the size of El Hierro (11,000 inhabitants).
Senator warns of paralysis at the island hospital
The President of the Canary Islands was accompanied by the senator for El Hierro and candidate for re-election, Javier Armas (Agrupación Herreña Independiente), who warned that the arrival of even a single cayuco carrying people in a poor condition could overwhelm the health services and the Insular Hospital.
Armas has stated that the hospital admission of 10, 15 or 20 migrants has a «tremendous» impact on services intended for the general public.
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