Cabildo must return €660,000 that it failed to spend!
Lanzarote’s Cabildo (Island Government) is set to return €660,000 of a 1.2 million euro subsidy that it received from the Canarian Government towards infrastructure investment in 2013. The money was designated for the improvement of tourist infrastructure and public spaces, however the Island Government only managed to spend €533,860 during the allotted time-frame.
Mayor of Yaiza Resigns
Gladys Acuña has resigned as Mayoress of Yaiza following her conviction for perverting the course of justice and another regional planning offence in the Bodega Stratvs case. The now ex-Mayoress of Yaiza was barred from public service for 14 years, though she maintains her innocence and has stated that she will appeal the verdict. The now ex-Mayoress also sits in the regional parliament.
Patera Deaths
Seven North African Immigrants died while attempting to reach Lanzarote by small boat. It is thought that the immigrants were lost at sea for several days without provisions, resulting in the deaths of five of the occupants before they reached Playa Bastián in Costa Teguise on the 15th of the month. A further two drowned while trying to reach the shore. In total the boat had 27 occupants, four of the whom were hospitalised – three suffering from hyperthermia and a fourth suffering from a blow to the head. The patera arrived at around midday, with local life guards being the first to assist the beleaguered immigrants who had jumped into the sea as they neared the shore. Guardia Civil detained the suspected owner of the boat, who was in possession of 9000 Moroccan dirham upon arrival, and have charged him with involuntary manslaughter and another charge against the rights of foreign citizens.
Cocaine Seizure
Two Spanish Nationals were detained at Lanzarote Airport on the 12th of January shortly after arriving on a flight from Madrid. The detained were a 59 year-old man and a 20 year-old woman who raised the suspicions of Guardia Civil Agents who were performing fiscal checks at the time. The two were found to be hiding large packets of cocaine between their legs and were detained on charges of crimes against public health.
Winter Weather
The exceptionally cold weather that Lanzarote has experienced this winter has continued, with many locals taking to social media with photos of Lanzarote’s normally sun-baked landscape covered in hailstones. Temperatures have been exceptionally low at night, with 7.8°C recorded at Lanzarote Airport on the 30th of January.
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