What Depends on Other Administrations
In a recent address, Cabrera highlighted a series of agreements that he deemed closed, signaling a proactive approach to local governance. Among these agreements, he specifically mentioned the signing of a deal with the Cabildo to utilize a waste compactor that had been handed over months prior yet remained non-operational due to “political decisions”. This compactor is aimed at alleviating the volume of cardboard waste in Caleta de Fuste, emphasizing sustainable waste management initiatives.
Additionally, Cabrera referenced a direct accord with Aguas de Antigua aimed at enhancing sanitation services—including manholes, pipes, and networks—within both Caleta de Fuste and Nuevo Horizonte. Following a meeting with the company’s delegate, he expressed optimism about these improvements becoming a reality. Furthermore, he announced the initiation of bus stops, attributing this to an authorization that merely required his signature, the first of which will be located in the Antigua shopping center, with future stations planned for Salina del Carmen and Triquivijate.
These commitments are the most verifiable in the short term, largely because the mayor presented them as established facts. However, it is advisable to cross-check the date and content of each agreement against official publications. Several were announced as being signed “on Monday” or “yesterday” without further details, warranting a closer look for clarity.
Security: The Most Striking Announcement and the Least Finalized
The second batch of announcements is complicated by processes or decisions beyond the direct control of the City Council. This includes the transfer of land to the Cabildo for a recycling center in both Caleta de Fuste and Nuevo Horizonte; the land transfer to the Government of the Canary Islands for a health center in the coastal region—a file that Cabrera attributed to stagnation under the previous mayor, expressing confidence to resolve it “before the end of the legislative term”; and the plan involving nearly four hundred lighting fixtures, which is partially dependent on budget availability. While these initiatives are feasible and desirable, their timelines are contingent on administrative procedures and the responsiveness of external institutions, signifying that their announcement doesn’t equate to immediate implementation.
The aspect that generates the most anticipation among coastal residents—security—was also the most nebulous in Cabrera’s press release. He mixed details from three different departments with varying degrees of specificity.
Regarding the Autonomous Police, Cabrera revealed that he had traveled to Tenerife the day before to “seek an urgent solution” and had a scheduled meeting that same Friday at noon—just one hour after the press conference—with the police commissioner. He expressed a positive outlook, stating “I left very happy” and suggested that Antigua would likely benefit from the presence of an Autonomous Police unit. However, he candidly acknowledged that the specifics were still not finalized: “I don’t know how many days, whether it’s 2, 3, or 4 days that they will be here.” This admission highlighted that, at the time of the announcement, there were no signed agreements or concrete plans for the unit’s deployment within the municipality, merely an ongoing negotiation and a crucial meeting yet to occur.
