Fuerteventura’s Transparency Evaluation: A Mixed Bag of Results
The recent assessment by the Commissioner for Transparency of the Canary Islands has shed light on the transparency levels within Fuerteventura’s local public sector. The results, revealed during an event in Puerto del Rosario, paint a nuanced picture: while the Cabildo of Fuerteventura scored an impressive 9.28, the island’s municipalities lagged behind, with an average score slightly above 6, marking them as the lowest in Canary Islands.
Municipal Performances
Among the island’s municipalities, Puerto del Rosario emerged as a standout, achieving a notable high score of 8.51. This commendable result underscores the good practices adopted by its local administration. On the flip side, Betancuria, with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, was highlighted as the only municipality in the Canary Islands that failed to participate in the evaluation due to a lack of resources. Antigua followed closely with a dismal score of 3.45, reflecting significant gaps in transparency and accountability.
The remaining municipalities, Pájara (6.33), Tuineje (6.06), and La Oliva (5.77), exhibited mediocre performances. These scores suggest considerable room for improvement across the board, emphasizing the need for a more robust commitment to transparency.
Commissioner’s Insights
In her statements to Fuerteventura Digital, Commissioner Noelia García expressed concern regarding the low scores in local municipalities, stating that, with the exception of the island and capital administrations, the results are “manifestly improvable.” She stressed that providing public information to citizens is a legal obligation, which underscores the importance of local governments being accountable and reactive to public inquiries.
Access to Information Challenges
The right to access public information remains a pressing issue in Fuerteventura. In 2025 alone, there were 35 claims registered regarding access to information, out of which 29 were related to administrative silence—indicating a lack of timely responses from administrations. The data highlight administrative delay as a key weakness in effective public engagement and accountability.
Puerto del Rosario, in particular, registered 10 of these claims, while Betancuria accounted for 6. Meanwhile, La Oliva and Tuineje reported 5 claims each. This pattern reflects the ongoing challenges faced by citizens in their quest to access vital information from local authorities.
Private Entities Under Scrutiny
The scope of the Commissioner’s evaluation extends beyond public entities, including a review of 41 private organizations that receive public funds. The result was a mixed bag: while 15 entities failed to meet transparency obligations, two managed to achieve the highest score of 10, and three others were marked as non-compliant.
Training Initiatives
The Commissioner for Transparency of the Canary Islands held a series of training sessions aimed at bolstering knowledge of transparency obligations within local administrations. Titled “The Obligation of Transparency from the Perspective of Local Entities in the Canary Islands,” the sessions targeted public officials and technical personnel. However, there was noticeable absenteeism from elected officials, indicating a potential gap in engagement and commitment to transparency training.
Noelia García, along with Miguel Ángel Herrero and Teresa Casanova, led discussions on the key challenges facing transparency compliance in Fuerteventura. The overarching goal of the training was to enhance knowledge, promote best practices, and improve the public’s right to access information.
Given the mixed results of the transparency evaluation and the apparent challenges in accessing information, it is clear that Fuerteventura’s local administrations hold the responsibility of not only improving their scores but also fostering an environment of open communication with their citizens.
Visual Insights
The accompanying visuals from the transparency training sessions and evaluations serve to highlight the commitment of both public and private entities towards improving transparency, even amidst the current challenges.
The backdrop of this evaluation highlights the critical importance of transparency in governance and the continuing efforts needed to bridge the gaps exposed by the assessment.
