Caracas (EFE) 6,500 Spaniards in Venezuela, of which 3,400 are of Canarian origin.
“The Government of the Canary Islands makes a contribution that we have been increasing in recent years,” the Canarian president remarked to journalists after touring the FES headquarters in Caracas.
The work of this institution “is essential because medicines here are much more expensive than those we have in Spain and (there are) greater difficulties and, therefore, this work, where there is a large part of altruism, helps people to have fair health care,” he said.
He pointed out that the investment of the Government of the Canary Islands in this institution, which offers free health services to Spaniards over 65 years of age, went from 600,000 euros in 2019 to 1.1 million euros today.
In his opinion, these results are a “magnificent example” of collaborative work between different administrations, including the Canary Islands, in favor of Spanish emigrants, who benefit from health care, emergency care, provision of medicines and support in surgeries.
After the tour of the FES, Torres visited the headquarters of the Canary Islands Government Delegation in Venezuela, where he met, behind closed doors, with the Council of Spanish Residents (CRE), a group that advises the head of the consular office and works so that Spaniards in the country are aware of the benefits to which they are entitled.
In addition, the regional president will meet today with the leaders of the country’s Canary Islands entities and, later, he will meet with part of the insular community in Venezuela, where 55,000 Canarians live.
The head of the Canarian Executive celebrates his second day of activities in the Caribbean country this Thursday, where he has been on an official visit since Wednesday, when he met with state and regional authorities, as well as dozens of Canarians living in the coastal state of La Guaira. EFE
