In an Island with Low Transparency, Betancuria Stands Out as the Only Municipality Failing in Transparency in the Canary Islands
The Transparency Commissioner of the Canary Islands, in collaboration with the FECAM, hosted a series of training sessions titled “The Obligations of Transparency from the Perspective of Local Entities in the Canary Islands” in Fuerteventura. These workshops focused on equipping local public officials and technical staff with the necessary skills to meet transparency requirements.
The engagement featured prominent figures, including the Transparency Commissioner of the Canary Islands, Noelia García, alongside key service heads: Miguel Ángel Herrero, responsible for Evaluation and Transparency Control, and Teresa Casanova, head of the Complaints and General Affairs Service.
The sessions monitored the major challenges related to compliance with transparency regulations, with a keen eye on Fuerteventura. Recent data highlights progress in certain areas but also significant opportunities for improvement.
Evaluation Results of Transparency in Fuerteventura
In the evaluation of private entities for 2024, 41 organizations were assessed across the island. Alarmingly, 15 of these entities were found to be failing in their transparency obligations, while only 2 achieved the top score of 10, establishing themselves as benchmarks in the sector. Meanwhile, 3 entities were marked as suspending in their evaluations.
When looking at the public sector, the Cabildo of Fuerteventura stands out with an impressive score of 9.28, establishing a significant benchmark for transparency. However, municipalities reveal substantial weaknesses that require urgent attention.
The municipal governments on the island have recorded the lowest average transparency scores in the Canary Islands, just surpassing 6. Betancuria shockingly remains the only municipality with a failing score across the entire region. Contrastingly, Puerto del Rosario is the sole municipality achieving a commendably high grade.
The Right to Access Information
Within 2025 alone, the island recorded a total of 35 complaints regarding transparency, with 29 attributed to administrative silence and 6 following explicit resolutions.
Breakdown by administration:
Puerto del Rosario: 10 complaints.
Betancuria: 6.
La Oliva and Tuineje: 5 each.
These statistics reveal that administrative silence continues to be one of the primary weaknesses in exercising the right to public access to information.
The training sessions aim to enhance the knowledge and awareness of local authorities regarding compliance with transparency regulations, thereby promoting best practices and ensuring citizens’ right to access public information.
The Commissioner reaffirms its commitment to supporting these entities, pledging ongoing assistance and guidance to improve transparency outcomes.
