Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (EFE).- The Ben Magec-Ecologists in Action Canarian Ecological Federation has applauded the determination of the central government to declare the expiration of the concession granted to Riu for the Hotel Tres Islas, in the Dunes of Corralejo (Fuerteventura ) and criticizes the one from the Canary Islands for not supporting it.
In a statement released this Saturday, the environmental organization reproaches the Government of the Canary Islands for not supporting the expiration file and the demolition of the hotel to restore the public domain and the Corralejo natural park.
Ben Magec considers that the Canarian Executive cannot go against the general interest and the protection of the public domain, whose preservation at all costs is essential for the environmental and social development of the Canary Islands.
“This is an opportunity for the Government of the Canary Islands to demonstrate that the transfer of powers to the Autonomous Community is not synonymous with permissiveness with the occupation of the coast and meets the desire of citizens to perceive an administration that is valid for cultural interests, environmental and patrimonial aspects of this territory”, adds the environmental organization in its note.
Likewise, it highlights that “the public domain and natural space cannot be allowed to be put at risk by private economic interests.”
The Ben Magec-Ecologistas en Acción Federation has denounced the campaign of “manipulation and intoxication” carried out by the multinational company RIU “misrepresenting data, defrauding its staff and deceiving citizens to impose their economic interests”, according to what it says in the notice.
It must be remembered that this multinational also manages the Oliva Beach, which has also occupied the Dunes of Corralejo and the terrestrial maritime public domain in a “privileged” manner.
The Federation believes it is unfortunate that the Canarian Government, instead of supporting the demolition, intends to “look for solutions jointly with Riu”, responsible, according to Ben Magec, for “multiple irregularities and which has been degrading the natural space of the Dunas de Corralejo and taking advantage of a series of concessions that should never have been granted”.
It is a multinational company that in 2018 had 95 hotels (84% owned) in 19 countries, including three more large hotels in Fuerteventura alone, 45,648 rooms, 29,985 employees and revenue of 2,114 million euros, exposes the environmental group in its note.
In addition, it criticizes the “false dilemma created maliciously”, which confronts the maintenance of employment with the defense of the common good, the public and free use of the public domain, as well as the conservation of the environment.
The state and regional administration must ensure compliance with the law and the general interest, he added.
It recalls that the Ombudsman rejected the appeal filed by the La Oliva City Council and confirmed that the expiration records of the concession to occupy the maritime-terrestrial public domain granted to Riu Hoteles SA in the Corralejo Dunes, complied with the law and should continue until its final consequences with the demolition of the hotels and the environmental restoration of the area.
“These hotels have been an example of how to carry out an unsustainable policy of tourist activity, occupying precisely the environmental good that serves as an attraction and putting at risk the right of all citizens to use the public domain”, concludes Ben Magec, who understands that these are environmental goods to be preserved and, with it, the rest of the tourist activity in Fuerteventura. EFE