Posted Week Commencing: Monday 25th October 2004
Increased funds for marine project.
The Canarian Society for the Study of Cetaceans has been given nearly a million euros for a project involving the marine life off La Gomera.
Conservation of a dolphin and a turtle are at the heart of the programme included in the LIFE-Natura initiative and the only marine fauna investigation awarded to a Spanish team this year.
Funding has been provided by the European Commission and the Canarian Government’s Environmental Department.
A study will be carried out until 2007, focusing on the waters between Valle Gran Rey and Playa de Santiago which are rich in marine life. Of the 26 species of cetaceans registered in the Canaries, all but five can be found there.
New government office in the south.
The Cámara de Comercios of Santa Cruz de Tenerife opened the first office out of the capital at the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre last week.
The new office will serve 17,000 businesses between Santiago del Teide and Granadilla de Abona.
President Ignacio Gonzalez Martín explained that the starting up of the new branch showed the commitment of the Camara de Comercios to support businesses in the south of the Tenerife where 27% of island businesses are based.
The branch will offer legal help, a job search facility and advice on new technologies. It will collaborate with business associations in the area and help in the training of workers and students.
The opening hours are 8am till 3pm Monday to Friday and 4.30pm till 7.30pm on Mondays only.
Martianez pools set to reopen in summer 2005.
The Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz announced last week that the Martianez Complex of swimming pools would re-open to the public in the summer of 2005.
He also added that the Casino Taoro would also be moving to the complex.
A budget of 18 million euros has been allocated for the work on the popular Lagos de Martianez complex, which was originally designed by Cesar Manrique.
The Mayor expressed his contentment at the progress of the work so far not only on the interior of the complex but also on the structure which protects the complex from the sea.
When the work has been completed, the intention of the local town hall is to convert the location into a leisure and culture centre which will be open to the public during the day and also at night.
Economy slump in the south
The president of the Arona Association of Businessmen and Shopkeepers, Jorge Bello, has expressed his concern at the present economic situation of sector as a fall of 20% in sales was registered this summer with July being worse than August.
The fall was felt in all commercial sectors but the most affected were bars and restaurants.
Sr Bello explained that to alleviate the situation, a meeting had been held several weeks ago with the government team from Arona Town Hall, during which the problems of the sector were explained.
Several ideas and strategies were suggested and he explained that a project to boost Christmas sales would be distributed to businesses the following week. The local businesses will concentrate on encouraging the loyalty of their customers to hopefully increase sales.
1 in 10 allergic to...
The Canarian Health Advisory boar.d recently announced that 11% of the Canarian population has some kind of allergy.
Children tend to have asthma, sinus problems or dermatitis whereas adults tend to have sinus problems and allergies to medicines.
Allergy is defined as the condition of certain people which makes them more sensitive to substances which are inoffensive to others. Allergens are the substances responsible for causing allergic reactions. These include house dust mites, mould, pollen, insects, medicines and certain foods.
House dust mites are the most frequent cause of allergy in the Canary Islands as the humid warm conditions of the islands favour their development and they tend to be found in large numbers in Canarian homes. Living with pets also affects the population.
Symptoms of allergy are conjunctivitis, redness, swelling and itching of the eyes. In the case of asthma a cough and noisy breathing are symptoms whereas sinus problems have sneezing, itching and blocked noses for symptoms.
Wear your poppy with pride.
Once again, the Tenerife Branch of the Royal British Legion are organising the Annual Poppy Appeal here in the south of Tenerife.
The main target for the year is 24 million pounds sterling, approximately 34,000,000 euros, but the aim is just to do better than last year’s marvellous total of 10,000 euros.
Poppies will be available in various venues in Golf del Sur, Amarilla Golf, Los Abrigos, Las Chafiras, Costa del Silencio, Las Galletas, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Playa Paraiso, Callao Salvaje, Playa de la Arena, Puerto Santiago and Los Gigantes.
New drains for TF-1.
It never rains but it pours and torrents usually bring floods and traffic chaos to a section of the TF-1 motorway at Costa Adeje.
But a problem that has existed for several years should become a thing of the past as Tenerife Cabildo intend to sign an agreement with the southern municipality’s Town Hall to install a new drainage system along the stretch.
The cost will be 6.4 million euros to be shared equally between the two island authorities and the Canarian Government’s Council of Infrastructures.
Cabildo Vice-President Lorenzo Dorta, who is also Councillor of Roads and Transport, described the existing situation as very negative and damaging to the image of a predominantly tourist zone.
Traffic build-ups have occurred between San Eugenio and Fañabé during previous downpours.
Power sharing agreement in place to prevent blackouts.
While Tenerife Cabildo President Ricardo Melchior remained confident of a winter free from electricity blackouts, Adeje and Guía de Isora came up with a power-sharing agreement in a bid to safeguard the South’s supply against a seasonal surge in demand.
The southern municipalities’ solution was to divide up the two turbines and 40 generators required to avoid cuts when the end of British Summer Time puts pressure on the grid.
The plan was worked out in collaboration with energy giant UNELCO-ENDESA, but the idea was apparently greeted with scepticism by residents of Chío in Guía.
Melchior dismissed the possibility of the South’s network collapsing under the strain, saying there was a scheme for big companies to be disconnected in the unlikely event of an overload.
Maintaining supply was basic for homes, tourism and economic activity.
New North terminal to open in January.
Tenerife Cabildo hopes that the new terminal in Los Rodeos airport, Tenerife North, exclusively for flights within the Canary Islands, will be up and running in January 2005.
The new terminal will have 10 check-in desks and 6 gates each of which will have direct access to the runway. 400 passengers an hour will be able to gain direct access to the aircraft without having to go up and down stairs.
On a general note Angel Llanos, institutional relations advisor, explained that Los Rodeos airport is growing due to the new lines operating between Tenerife North and Great Britain, Tenerife North and Venezuela , the increase in the number of Binter flights and the inclusion of Islas Airways.
Work starts on new gardens in San Miguel.
Work on the future Botanic Garden in the centre of San Miguel has begun.
It is being built in the Los Carneros area by the side of the road which goes down towards Los Abrigos and covers an area of 7,500 square metres.
The project forms part of the island programme Green Tenerife promoted by the Tenerife Cabildo.
The first phase will be constructed over a 4 month period and will be a combination of gardens and vegetable gardens.
Mayor Arturo Gonzalez explained that the new gardens will provide a “beautiful entrance to the town” and will change considerably the aspect of the chosen area which has been uncultivated for a number of years.
Over 11,500 square metres of the garden will be dedicated to an amphitheatre, a small oasis and a recreation zone for visitors and for health centre users. The current health centre will eventually be transferred to the north side of the gardens
The gardens will be the home for 35 different sections of 15 species unique to the Canary Islands, some of which are endangered and there will also be a fountain with a small waterfall.
Read on...
On Wednesday, October 20th, the Tenerife Cabildo began promoting an initiative called “Next Stop Keep Reading.”
The campaign, designed within the area of Island Programme for Reading and Study Technique (PIALTE), was outlined by councillor for Youth, Josefa Garcia. She explained that the aim of the project is to encourage reading on public and school transport and has the collaboration of TITSA buses and the Education, Culture and Sports Advisory Board of Tenerife.
The buses will be used as a means of promoting reading among the users. Extracts of books written by selected authors and printed on adhesive paper will be strategically placed around the interior of the vehicles.
Bookmarks with the slogan of the campaign will be distributed among children who use school transport and the message of the campaign will appear on the bus tickets of TITSA service users.
Points system for drivers to be introduced.
Penalty points are to be handed out in a bid to cut Spain’s road accident toll when a new driving licence is introduced next year.
Drivers will start with 12 points on their licence – 8 in the case of those with less than 3 years’ experience – and the number deducted will depend on the seriousness of the offence committed.
A motorist could lose half the points at one stroke for driving under the influence of drink/drugs or being found guilty of excessive speeding.
Fines will range from 90 to 1,500 euros. Holders of a B permit were told they could now ride motorcycles up to 125cc without having to change their licence.
Tenerife is no 1 winter destination.
Madrid will invest 1.7 million euros in a special winter tourism promotion for the Canary Islands.
Pedro Mejía, Secretary of State for Tourism and Commerce, said that the UK, Germany, France and Denmark would be the markets exploited in a sun and beach campaign to give a specific boost to what was regarded as high season in the archipelago.
The initial announcement was made in the Spanish capital before Mejía flew to the Canaries to finalise promotional details with Autonomous Executive officials. He confirmed that Sun and beach represented 80% of all Spanish tourism and the percentage was higher in the islands so State resources were being channelled into overseas promotion.
Canarian Tourism Councillor José Juan Herrera said in Parliament that he was optimistic about the sector’s winter prospects, stressing that the archipelago was still a competitive destination and well positioned in the marketplace.
Trawling stopped to protect reefs.
The European Union has temporarily banned deep sea trawling in The Canary Islands, The Azores and Madeira, with the aim of protecting the coral reefs.
According to information received from community sources, the ban took effect from Monday, 11th October.
The objective of the restriction is to avoid the further destruction of marine wildlife and will be in force until the EU find a more permanent way of protecting the reefs.
The Permanent Representative Committee (COREPER), made up of ambassadors for each member country, will formulate an agreement and the ministers of the EU will give the plan the go ahead.
During the technical debates about the ban, Spain together with other country members requested that the regulations be explained clearly to avoid problems and misunderstandings with Moroccan authorities.
Abandoned cars to be moved by police.
At the beginning of November, the second phase of the clean up of abandoned cars begins on the Granadilla de Abona municipality.
The authorities are hoping to clear away at least 250 vehicles - 300 were collected during the first phase earlier in the year.
The councillor for traffic and police from Granadilla town hall, Rufino Acosta Álvarez, has announced that the clean up will last for one month and will start in the coastal areas of El Medano and Los Abrigos and will carry on to include San Isidro, Charco del Pino, Granadilla town and Chimiche.
The collection team consists of a number of local policemen who will have 2 gruas available to them to tow the cars away.

Posted Week Commencing: Monday 18th October 2004
1,000's of false goods seized.
After receiving several complaints from official distributors of brand names in Tenerife, the MIP-2 special police group of the National Police began an investigation.
“Operation Fendi” came to a climax on Thursday, October 7 with the dismantling of a network which distributed and sold falsified famous brand name articles in the south of Tenerife. 16 foreigners were arrested and 1,500,000 euros of false goods were confiscated.
The arrested men, who included 13 Moroccans, 2 Senegalese, 1 Chinese man and 1 Spaniard, worked in the distribution and sale of Burberry, Louis Vouiton, and Christian Dior goods mainly on the markets in Las Americas and shops in Los Cristianos.
A total of 2,274 falsified caps, sunglasses, wallets and bags were confiscated. The distributors and the confiscated goods are under the supervision of Arona Courts.
Stock breeders fayre in Guimar.
Economic activity in Guimar was for a long time closely linked to agriculture and stock-breeding and this tradition still continues for a group of the local population known as the Farmers and Stock-breeders Association which was formed a few months ago.
Since the foundation of the group, they have shown great determination in reviving what was the primary economic sector of the borough and transmitting the importance of agricultural activity to the inhabitants of Guimar and surrounding area maintaining in this way the traditional characteristics of the borough.
Together with Guimar Town Hall’s Agricultural Board, the president of the group, organised the first Products of the Earth Fayre. The fayre took place on the local beach and the patio of the Town Hall where traditional farming tools were on display and local produce was enjoyed
Tacoronte wins wine award.
The Bodega “Viña Norte” in Tacoronte–Acentejo won the highest number of medals in the Official Competition of Canarian Wines after having won the gold medal for its barrel matured red wine.
The winning wine is stored in 225 litre barrels made from American and French oak for a period of 6 months. It has an attractive cherry red colour with violet tinges.
According to the experts the wine stands out because of its clarity and shine and for its strong fruity aroma due to the quality of the wood.
Viña Norte has won medals in previous years for it’s other wines including a prize for the Brezal wine which together with the latest medal demonstrates the quality wines produced in the bodega.
Navy help to protect wildlife.
Spanish Navy ships taking part in manoeuvres to the west of the Canary Islands were under clear instructions to safeguard marine life and not to use sonar. That was confirmed by one of the captains before the vessels took part in the first exercises since a NATO operation was blamed for causing the deaths of zifios found beached on archipelago coasts. Tenerife capital Santa Cruz’ port played host to the Navy’s aircraft carrier, Príncipe de Asturias, frigates Asturias, Numancia and Victoria, and submarines Marsopa and Tramontana which welcomed the public aboard. The Prince of Asturias himself was due aboard the carrier bearing his name to observe the Sinkex-04 manoeuvres involving 1,000 sailors.
Extreme sports under inspection.
At a recent Canarian Government meeting, a period of six months was set for a new law to be drawn up to regulate the companies who operate action and adventure holidays in the Canary Islands.
Businesses who organise recreational sporting and adventure activities for tourists must meet certain requirements including having the correct insurance. The companies also must have a specific number of technicians and trained personnel to act as advisors so that the groups of tourists wanting to do these activities can be properly supervised and assessed at all times.
Also included in the regulations will be safety measures to limit the possibility of accidents and restrictive measures to avoid any undesired impact on the environment caused by certain activities.
Local police hotline set up in Arona.
Arona’s Mayor, José Alberto Gonzalez Reveron, and security advisor, Arturo Reveron, have announced that a local government group are studying the possibility of setting up a special phone line for residents and visitors to Arona to contact the local police. They affirmed that security in the borough is of prime importance and explained that they are trying to make improvements in the services offered. Local Police are currently receiving tuition to enable them to access National Police data base El Escorial and will be trained to use Perpol, BSDN and Schengen Information Systems which contain information about wanted persons to help facilitate police work in the borough.
Wind and solar power plans launched.
There was a breath of fresh air blowing through the corridors of power as the Canarian Government announced plans to relaunch the use of renewable energies.
A new plan being worked on will include the promotion of wind and solar power as one of the formulas to reduce the vulnerability of the archipelago’s current energy system and provide a measure of protection for the environment.
After the failed Canaries energy scheme of 2002, this is seen to fall in with the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol.
Tenerife already has wind parks at Granadilla de Abona, Finca Mogán, Arico, and Punta de Teno, Buenavista.
In the first quarter of this year, the latter produced 40% of the energy consumed by the northern municipality and the future incorporation of six wind turbines could see the demand of the Isla Baja covered.
Keep Granadilla clean.
A dozen unemployed people have been recruited to spend 8 months on a clean-up of the public places in the main population areas and coastal zones of Granadilla de Abona at a cost of 96,500 euros. Since 1991, the local Town Hall has carried out an extensive campaign of environmental improvements and this year’s project is a collaboration between the Local Employment and Development Agency and the Council of Services as part of an agreement with the Canarian Employment Service.
Camping restrictions in La Tejita.
Camping at La Tejita in South Tenerife will be restricted as part of the plan to protect the special natural reserve of Montaña Roja.
Places will be limited to 300 with 75 plots set aside for tents and another 25 for caravans as approved by COTMAC (Canaries Commission for the Classification of Territory and the Environment).
Covering about 1.66 million m2, the plan extends along 3 kilometers of Granadilla de Abona coastline to the west of El Médano. The objective is to protect the reserve’s habitat, fauna and flora, and the cone.
Works to be carried out include the removal of a bunker and the control tower of the old Llano de Roja aerodrome plus the restoration of the Caseta del Cable de San Luis del Senegal, a small pond and an abandoned well.
Red Cross return to Canadas Park.
The Red Cross is to return to its post in the National Cañadas Park later this month after a 2 year absence.
However the medical service will only operate one day a week - Sundays. Many consider this agreement as disgraceful since the original Red Cross Service had been present for 20 years, operating 365 days a year before its suspension at the beginning of 2003 due to economic problems.
Since then, there has been no emergency service available at the foot of Teide to serve the visitors should help be required. Even the ever present ambulance from the Canarian Emergency Services (SUC) abandoned its post as the ‘favour’ they were offering had come to an end.
TV's to be installed in taxis.
The Secretary of The Arona Association of Taxi Drivers, Angel Luis Gonzalez explained that measures are being put in place that will benefit taxi users on the island.
An agreement has been reached with a company to install DVDs in the headrests of the taxis so that passengers can have easy access to detailed information about the borough and about the leisure facilities on offer in the area. Furthermore passengers will receive the information in their own language.
At the moment, he explained, only one vehicle is equipped with the DVD but in a short space of time all the taxis will be fitted with the screens.
Mr Gonzalez emphasised that all the taxi drivers in the southern region are joining forces including Granadilla de Abona, Santiago del Teide, San Miguel de Abona, Guia de Isora, Arona and Adeje - approximately 600 taxis in total.
Unelco keeping us in the dark.
South Tenerife could be left in the dark if the end of British Summer Time signals a surge in power cuts.
Warnings were issued that energy giant UNELCO-ENDESA’s two turbines at Oroteanda in Arona won’t be able to cope with the traditional increase in demand for electricity when the clocks go back.
BST ends at 2am on Sunday, October 31, which is also Halloween, and previous years’ experience have prompted expectations of a 7-15% rise in consumption, especially with 5,000 new users in Arona, Adeje, San Miguel de Abona, Santiago del Teide, Guía de Isora and Vilaflor.
With the installation of two turbines planned for Guía halted and indecision delaying a power line between Granadilla de Abona plant and Los Olivos sub-station in Adeje, pressure on the grid suggested a breakdown was almost inevitable.
Socialist Antonio Martinón gave notice of a Cabildo motion proposing that the Canarian Government urgently study the possibility of an agreement between UNELCO and big consumers to use generators at peak hours.
SPET meets with tourist offices.
The Network of Tourist Information Centres recently held their first conference organised by SPET.
More than 80 representatives from 31 offices across the island attended the event held at the parque etnográfico Pirámides de Güímar
Vice president and tourism and planning advisor, Jose Manuel Bermúdez, inaugurated the event and hailed the day a great success.
The conference was held to discuss the outcome of recent studies regarding tourism needs for Tenerife and the proposed new network of Information Centres as well as giving the attendees the opportunity to discuss ideas for the future.

Posted Week Commencing: Monday 11th October 2004
Tighter control on camp sites.
Visitors who prefer to spend their holidays under canvas can carry on camping on Tenerife, but the island Cabildo wants to tighten its control of sites.
A plan of tourist camps will be drawn up and the project has gone out to tender with a budget of 60,000 euros.
The sites will be mapped out in collaboration with the Area of Urban Environment, Countryside and Civil Defence.
Cabildo Vice-President José Manuel Bermúdez, who is also Tourism and Planning Councillor, explained that the idea was to classify the development of such tourist infrastructures and take the necessary steps to provide camping packages under the authority’s wing.
Sites would be destined for rural land with the exception of protected natural areas and preferably located on the coastal strip.
Canarians wait longest for ops.
Canary Islands patients are at the end of the queue when it comes to seeing a specialist. Their average wait of 160 days from requesting an appointment to first consultation is the longest in Spain, comparing unfavourably with the 65 days for the rest of the country. People with allergies are worst off – they can expect to be kept waiting for 217 days or around 7 months – while women in need of a gynaecologist have only 99 days to count down, according to a study by the OCU (Consumers and Users Organisation). Rodrigo Martín, President of Santa Cruz de Tenerife College of Doctors, described a 5 month wait as Third World and held the Regional Government responsible for burying their heads in the sand.
More water for Tenerife.
The Island Waters Council has given the go-ahead for a 14.4 million euros scheme which will eventually guarantee a supply to a significant part of Tenerife. Pipes will be run more than 23kms from Barranco de El Rio, Arico, to Valle de San Lorenzo in Arona to carry water from the future desalination plant at Granadilla de Abona which will be put out to tender by the Central Government this year. Valle de San Lorenzo is one of the island population centres where the growing number of residents has brought an urgant need for increased supply.
Housing grants offered.
San Miguel Town Hall together with the Canarian Government have distributed the sum of 36,700 euros between more than 40 owners of rural housing in the area who meet certain conditions.
Local Mayor Arturo Gonzalez explained that the grants were intended to be used in the improvement of the houses, repairing the roofing, outside paintwork and exterior woodwork, as well as any structural reinforcements that may be necessary.
Gonzalez added that the system of grants will be continued for the next few years as the improvements not only benefit the family of the owner, who are people of low income, but will also contribute to a better image for the borough. He explained that future grants would be given to improve exterior plasterwork and general external improvements to the houses.
New logo for Candelaria.
The borough of Candelaria now has a new tourist logo which was chosen by members of the citizens group Agenda Local 21.
The chosen logo was considered to represent the three main aspects of Candelaria with silhouettes of the town’s cathedral, the surrounding mountains and the sea.
The local town hall’s tourism department had organised a competition to design the new logo and had received over 50 different ideas.
Councillor Cirilo Perez explained that the other ideas would be taken into account to enhance the winning design making it more eyecatching.
Road blackspots to be eliminated.
Socialists at Arona Town Hall called on Tenerife Cabildo to make an immediate start on eliminating road black spots in the southern municipality. One of the routes underlined for urgent attention was the Guaza link with Las Chafiras in San Miguel de Abona where improvements should have begun 18 months ago. Other danger spots named were the crossroads in the same area and at La Camella.
New Secondary Education Institute to open in Los Cristianos.
Work on a new Secondary Education Institute (IES) for Los Cristianos is due to begin before the end of the year. Cabo Blanco will have an IES for the next school year with work on that project scheduled to be completed in February. Arona Education Council will unveil the plan to build a school at Parque de la Reina shortly, while the Town Hall will he handing over sites for future institutes and schools in the inner city, Guargacho, Valle de San Lorenzo and Buzanada.
Market rules established.
A general meeting in the Town Hall of Santiago del Teide laid down the regulations to be observed in the setting up and running of the area’s Farmer’s Market.
The market is being created firstly, to provide a centre for the purchase of fruit and vegetables, meats, handcrafts, fish, cakes and biscuits, flowers and ornamental products and secondly, to solve the problem that local farmers and craftsmen have in promoting and selling their produce.
One of the conditions outlined in the new regulations is that only farmers, livestock farmers, craftsmen and baker’s etc. who are members of the Farmer’s Market Association are allowed to sell their own produce and they will not be permitted to sell it elsewhere.
Farmers must either have crops or their workshops in the area between Fasnia and El Tanque.
The Town Hall will supervise the running of the market ensuring that it serves its original purpose and will monitor the quality of the produce on sale and to control the prices to allow all the farmers an equal opportunity.
Penalty points for British drivers.
British drivers who commit motoring offences in Spain may face having penalty points added to their licence.
Under new regulations, European courts will be able to issue fines or penalty points to UK motorists.
Currently, they may be given an on-the-spot fine if stopped by police, but authorities rarely chase up speeding or minor offences.
That will change because the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) will make its database available to European courts to track down British drivers. If motorists ignore the fines, they will be dealt with by UK courts.
Driving bans will also be extended throughout the European Union; until now, drivers barred in one country have been able to take to the road in others.
The UK and Spain are in agreement and France, Germany and Austria are expected to come on board.
New fast ferry from Fred Olsen.
The world’s most modern fast ferry, which is destined for the Canary Islands, was recently launched to begin sea trials.
Trimaran Benchijigua Express, due to be operated by Fred Olsen Lines, is expected to revolutionise maritime transport in the archipelago.
Built at Austal Ships yard in Australia at a cost of more than 50 million euros, the she is 126.70m in length, can travel at more than 40 knots and will carry up to 1,350 passengers and 400 cars.
New water source open in El Rosario.
A few days ago El Rosario became the only borough of Tenerife to have two water sources for public use when the source known as El Guanchito was officially opened.
Technicians from the local Town Hall made the use of this source possible as it is considered of great importance as the drinking water it will supply will cover the needs of one of the more highly populated areas of the zone.
The other source of water Pozo de Agua de la Cañada began to supply the higher areas of El Rosario in August 1998 and studies carried out on the new source Pozo El Guanchito which is in the lower part of the borough have had positive results stating that it is a good source with a constant, abundant flow.
The new source means that coastal areas like Radazul, Tabaiba and Costanera will have a plentiful water supply.
Together, the two water sources will guarantee supplies for the whole area for the future.
Angel of Adeje unveiled.
A sculpture of the Guardian Angel of Adeje, one of the patrons of The National Police Force was uncovered on Saturday, October 2 on the roundabout opposite the southern police station.
The uncovering took place during festivities to celebrate “Police Day”, on a provincial level, held for the first time in Costa Adeje.
Mayor José Miguel Rodriguez Fraga, accompanied by southern police commissioner Juan Antonio Gil, explained at the press conference for the event that the sculpture, which is four metres tall, is the work of Antonio Oyeiza. He explained that as the sculpture is on the borderline between Adeje and Arona it would serve not only to ‘protect’ the borough but also to welcome visitors.
The work which cost 24,000 euros was financed by the Gomasper Company owner Pedro Suarez.
Road improvements in San Miguel.
Works to improve the road around the area of the Cooperativa Agrícola in San Miguel have been given the go ahead.
A budget of 90,000 euros has been set aside for the project which will include resurfacing the road that carries approximately 4,500 vehicles per day.
The drainage system will also be improved along a 1.3km stretch of road to help prevent flooding during periods of heavy rain and sidewalks will be put in place for the security of pedestrians.
According to the local mayor, Arturo González, the work desperately needed to be done due to the volume of traffic that use the area and the rapid deterioration of the surface. He added that the area is an important commercial zone for the area which accounts for the increase in road activity over the last year.
Tourist promotion is priority for 2005.
Increased tourist promotion abroad is one of Tenerife Cabildo’s main priorities for 2005. A bigger budget will be provided to give the sector a boost in other countries with the British and German markets earmarked as special cases, said Tourism Councillor José Manuel Bermúdez. To this end, Tenerife would have its own stand within the Canary Islands pavilion at the important World Travel Market fair in London during November.
New speed limit on TF-1.
Drivers heading north on the TF-1 motorway have been warned of a 50kph speed limit due to road widening works as they approach Tenerife capital Santa Cruz. That restriction is likely to be in place until the end of October on the section between Güímar industrial estate and the TF-5 link.
Overweight children at risk.
Overweight children are between three and five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or a stroke before they are 65, warned the Canarian Government. According to the Autonomous Executive, 18% of archipelago youngsters are obese and at risk when they reach adulthood.

Posted Week Commencing: Monday 4th October 2004
New hospital for Arona.
By November, Tenerife Cabildo should have all the land available for the South hospital complex to be built at El Mojón in Arona. The local council handed over 23,000 m2 to the island authority after reaching agreement with the landowner. That brought the total in hand to more than 77,000 m2 with another 41,000 m2 in private ownership to be obtained through compulsory purchase.
Tenerife culture a huge success.
The project ‘Tenerife Culture’ attracted more than 25,000 spectators to its performances during the first six months of 2004.
Nearly 600 artists are involved in the project and more than 120 performances have been contracted by town councils across Tenerife.
The aim of the Project is to add diversity to the current cultural activities that are available to residents of local towns and villages.
The performances available include traditional folk music and dance, popular music, rock, jazz and blues and orchestral groups. There are also exhibitions as well as activities specifically for children.
Smoking is killing marine life.
Smoking can kill and this human habit is also taking its toll on the Canary Islands marine population.
Cigarette ends are among the deadly flotsam discovered in the stomachs of creatures that have undergone tests after being found floating or washed on shore.
Dolphins, whales and turtles are dying because their habitat, the sea, is being used as a rubbish dump.
The waters off South Tenerife, home to large populations of marine life, are particularly vulnerable.
Non-governmental organisation Tenerife Conservation, whose responsibilities include the study and preservation of the sea, has carried out several rubbish collection campaigns to pinpoint the type of waste drifting off the island’s coasts.
Tenerife Conservation wants to raise awareness of the dangers to marine life in its natural environment.
Smokers on beaches can make a significant contribution just by not stubbing out their cigarettes in the sand so the butts won’t be carried out to sea.
Adeje has highest standards of living.
Residents of southern Adeje and El Rosario should be enjoying the best living standards on Tenerife.
They were the municipalities singled out as having the highest family income per inhabitant on the island in an economic review by La Caixa showing the growth experienced by the Canary Islands between 1997 and 2002 as 40-45%.
There had also been a population boom in the same period with both Adeje and neighbouring Arona more than doubling the number of residents, but that increase had been accompanied by a notable fall in unemployment levels.
Climb every mountain...
Two sportsmen from Granadilla have set out on an expedition to climb a mountain in the same range as Mount Everest.
Miguel Rodriguez Toledo and Javier Marrero Gonzalez started their adventure by travelling to the Khumbu valley to start their ascent to the Everest base camp at 5,300 metres high.
Before they set off, they were invited to Granadilla town hall to meet with the councillor for sport, Rufino Javier Acosta Álvarez, who offered the climbers 1,200 towards the cost of the expedition.
The two men will be gone for approximately one month during which time they hope to learn about the local culture, customs and religion of the habitants of the area.
They have chosen to scale the mountain of Kala Pattar which is 5,545 metres high and can be found in the Gokyo valley.
New play park in San Eugenio.
The council for tourism from Adeje town hall, led by Miguel Angel Santos, have inaugurated a new children’s play park in San Eugenio Alto.
The area is popular with families but lacked adequate play facilities. The park covers an area of 800 metres squared, half of which is a children’s play area with equipment and the other half comprises a multi-use court for different sporting activities such as football and basketball
Trees are key to the past.
A study of the wood of ancient trees is being carried out to recreate the Canary Islands climate of centuries ago.
Radio-active isotope analysis is the method used by Tenerife Museum of Natural Sciences to shed light on the meteorological conditions, explained Lázaro Sánchez-Pinto, curator of botany.
Without damaging the trees, experts will be able to discover whether there were heavy rains, prolonged drought, volcanic eruptions or other important natural phenomena.
Earlier special drillings of pines in South Tenerife showed the trees to be up to 700 years old, while Vilaflor may have even more ancient examples.
Drago trees cannot be tested because the wood is spongy and lacks growth rings.
Sanitation on target.
Up to 90% of the 22 projects included in the first two years of Tenerife’s 2003-2006 sanitation plan are in the process of being drawn up and seven are already under way. With a budget of 42 million euros, the bulk of the programme, set in motion by the island Cabildo in collaboration with town halls, involves the building or improvement of municipality systems to correct deficiencies in installations handling the outflow of sewage in residential zones. The second two-year phase will mean spending 20 million euros in 15 municipalities.
Adeje launches new theatre schoo
The town hall of Adeje are launching a new campaign in schools aimed at integrating traditional theatre, dance, music and folklore in the curriculum.
The councillor for promotion of culture, education and sport, Gonzalo Delgado Diaz, announced that the campaign would begin from the beginning of October and over 4,000 leaflets and posters have been distributed to promote the campaign.
New pilgrimage site in Guimar.
Tenerife could have its own Lourdes with the restoration of historic Chinguaro at Güímar.
Reconstruction work costing almost 16.8 million euros is being carried out at the former residence of the menceyes of the municipality and the place where the early inhabitants were said to have taken the image of the Virgin, the Canary Islands’ patron saint, after she appeared to them at Chimisay, now El Socorro.
Lady Mayor Vicenta Díaz, island Cabildo President Ricardo Melchior and the Bishop of Tenerife, laid the first stone to get the project under way with the building of a hermitage on a site of 15,000 m2 where the ruins of the previous one stand.
That will account for nearly 1.3 million euros as the first of five phases that will see Chinguaro emerge as a place of pilgrimage.
More police for Valle San Lorenzo.
Valle de San Lorenzo residents want Arona’s new district police patrols extended to an inland beat.
Las Galletas, El Fraile and Costa del Silence are the coastal resorts benefiting from what Mayor José Alberto González calls a pilot scheme with eight officers on motorbikes divided into early and late shifts.
Residents called on the local authority to introduce the patrols in Valle de San Lorenzo and other population areas to improve security.
The Mayor said the municipality’s southern tip was chosen for being multi-cultural and having 25,000 residents, but it was intended to recruit more officers to serve other parts of the region next year.
National Police lacks numbers.
Despite Central Government promises, Playa de las Américas National Police force remains more than a third below strength.
There are 145 officers to cover the South Tenerife tourist area when the complement should be 225, said Andrés Montiel, Partido Popular (PP) spokesman at Adeje Town Hall. Reina Sofía Airport security is also lacking with 62 officers instead of the 84 planned.
Christmas comes early in Arona.
Shop tills will be jingling in Arona tourist zones if a festive campaign brings the anticipated Christmas cheer.
Mayor José Alberto González and governing party members met with local business people to finalise details of the seasonal promotion for Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos and Las Galletas.
Eye-catching lighting has been proposed for the main streets of the towns with different illuminations to decorate palm trees in other commercial centres.
The Mayor is also concerned about improving street cleaning and providing more parking spaces in coastal and tourist areas.
Canary Islands has highest birth rates.
National Statistics Institute data showed that the Canary Islands headed the country in the number of births by unmarried mothers.
Of each 100 children born in the archipelago in 2002, 38.41 were out of wedlock compared to a national average of 21.78.
Figures revealed that the number had been rising steadily since 1975 when only 2.03 Canarian children were born to unmarried mothers and the national average was 2.78. Marriage was also going out of fashion with just 3.73 weddings per 1,000 archipelago inhabitants last year against a 5.02 national average.
Rain stops play.
Pupils were sent home as coastal schools suspended classes and up to 64 litres of rain fell on the Anaga region in 90 minutes when a torrential downpour hit Tenerife’s metropolitan area, reminding residents of the storm horrors of March 31, 2002.
Traffic chaos was reported with roads awash and the meeting of Avenida de Anaga with Rambla General Franco in Santa Cruz was described as resembling a swimming pool. La Alegría, Vallesco, María Jiménez and San Andrés were the districts most affected.
President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero promised more State investment in the Canary Islands for 2005 and hoped Coalición Canaria would support the Central Government budget proposals.
Jorge Rodríguez, parliamentary spokesman for the Canarian Partido Popular, accused Zapatero of not taking serious stock of the islands’ real needs.
The archipelago ended 2003 with an autonomous budget deficit of 22 million euros.
A Madrid work group is being set up to evaluate the effects of population increases on financing autonomous communities and the search for a solution to covering the Canaries’ health deficit has been postponed until January.
Autonomous Executive President Adán Martín was optimistic about the progress of negotiations in the Spanish capital, saying it was essential that the State was supportive of the islands’ health problems.