A Year of Effort and €5 Million for Puerto del Rosario’s New Cleaning Service
“We have been working on this proposal for over a year, a proposal that is now nearing €5 million.” These words from Puerto del Rosario’s mayor, David de Vera, encapsulate the ongoing efforts to improve the municipal cleaning service during an interview on La Voz de Fuerteventura, aired on Radio Insular. This significant investment marks a substantial step forward in transforming the cleanliness and waste management processes within the town.
The mayor emphasized that this service is crucial, as the new contract will usher in a historical leap in resources, staffing, and financial backing. The advancements made through this contract are expected to dramatically enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of street cleaning and waste collection in the municipality.
The development of this proposal is currently at an advanced stage, with a well-defined timeline. “We are talking about not being able to move toward final approval until early next year, likely within the first quarter… if all goes well,” the mayor noted, highlighting that the existing service is stretched thin with only 15 workers responsible for the entire municipality, including rural areas.
With the new contract, this number will nearly quadruple. “We are talking about around 56 workers, two high-pressure cleaners, two sweepers, and a full replacement of all waste containers, alongside two logistics trucks…,” De Vera elaborated. He acknowledged that the current situation is inadequate, as the previous contract, which expired a year ago, failed to meet the municipality’s needs.
De Vera pointed out that the financial scale of the contract requires it to go through a European tender process. After technical and economic studies, an initial proposal will be presented for publication in Europe, followed by public exposure periods. “We want to move to initial approval this year, then publish in Europe… the next step would be to finalize the proposal and start the tender process,” he elaborated, noting that if everything proceeds smoothly, the service could be officially contracted in the first quarter of 2026.
From “Inherited Precariousness” to Structured Planning
During the interview, the mayor reflected on how he inherited a disorganized administrative setup at the start of his term, lacking vital structural services. “Everything was based on short-term contracts,” he underscored. Many services had either expired or were operating under precarious conditions. However, significant progress has been made to regularize several essential services. “Parks and Gardens were overdue by more than two years…now it is contracted for four years. Wastewater treatment is also unified under one contract. We had over 102 people on the waiting list for home assistance… now we have zero waiting for assistance,” he asserted, establishing that cleaning services are the last major essential service pending licensing.
New Canopies and a Public Consultation for Puerto del Rosario
In the same interview, Mayor De Vera announced the approval of a new 30×40 meter polygonal canopy, designed to enhance municipal infrastructure for hosting large events. “We currently have a 30×10 meter canopy… the new one will accommodate the larger gatherings,” he explained. Although it won’t be ready for the patron festivities in September, it is expected to be usable for the upcoming carnival.
Another significant topic addressed was the discussion about possibly reinstating the historical name of Puerto Cabras. De Vera confirmed that the City Council is prepared to facilitate a public consultation on this matter as soon as a formal request is made by the heritage association El Efequén, which advocates for the change. “As soon as we receive their request, we will take all necessary steps to conduct the public consultation; this is an obligation of this City Council,” he noted.
The mayor emphasized that the initiative needs to be well-founded to determine whether it will cover the entire municipality, exclusively the capital, or only focus on the historical area of Puerto Cabras.
