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FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY TO THURSDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2016
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SAFETY FIRST AS CARNIVAL REACHES FEVER PITCH
EALTH chiefs have stressed there is no presence in the Canary Islands of the mosquito which transmits the Zika virus.
All doctors working in the archipelago have been given full advice and guidance about the situation so they can respond to any concerns raised by worried patients. If they should suspect a case, they are being advised to report it immediately to the Directorate General of Public Health through its Service of Epidemiology. The Canary health department says it has been working for many years on the prevention and detection of disease-carrying mosquitoes and is part of an international network. “In the Canary Islands, there is no presence of the mosquito capable of
transmitting Zika,” said a spokesman. “Therefore, there is no risk of its introduction or transmission, although the existence of some imported case who acquired the disease in any of the countries affected by the outbreak is possible.” As regards mainland Spain, health chiefs have classified the risk of introduction or transmission as moderate to low. It’s estimated Spain could see 250 cases. The virus imported from tropical countries, which is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, usually has a picture of mild symptoms. The only risk, which is still under study, is for pregnant women.
Furious Mayor accuses Canary Government of “robbery” over jobs’ plan FINANCIAL IMBALANCE
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HE Mayor of Los Realejos, Manuel Domínguez has issued a hard-hitting rebuke to the Canary Government for not doing its financial share to help create jobs.
He says the financing of the archipelago’s employment plan is unfair and unbalanced because municipalities like Los Realejos and many others on Tenerife are paying more than they should be towards the cost. He says the ratio is out of proportion and he criticised the Canary Government for not paying 100 per cent of the costs when job creation is so vital. Instead, municipalities were having to finance it by 50 per cent or more.
He has asked for an official report on the situation from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. “I consider it a robbery of the Canary Islands not only Los Realejos but the 88 municipalities of the Canary Islands,” he said. “It puts us between a rock or wall with a ‘take it or or leave it ‘ scenario which does not give us room for manouevre.” He said Los Realejos had contributed in the period 2012-2015 a total of 508,066 euros towards the Canary employment plan while the government had given finance of 803,766 euros. For 2016, they were once again being asked to finance 50 per cent which was equivalent to 141,000 euros, money which would not be spent on municipal projects which had been planned. The Mayor said: “This attitude of the Canary Islands, specifically the Minister of Employment, is unfair, is unsupportive and tightens the municipalities”. He stressed that the employment plan was absolutely vital and gave unemployed people six months of work but it should not be the councils which financed it.
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Ceclilia Navarro Arteaga is the 2016 Santa Cruz Carnival Queen
Canaries “very aware and alert” to Zika virus
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AJOR safety and crowd control plans have swung into action across Tenerife as carnival celebrations reach fever pitch.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock in to Santa Cruz but carnivals are taking place in many other municipalities as well. Safety is paramount and revellers are being urged to take care of themselves, particularly in relation to alcohol consumption, drugs and sexual health. The Canary government intends to hand out 100,000 condoms free of charge as it uses the social network sites to get its “Be careful” message to young Carnival-goers. Santa Cruz has already held its first big Carnival Sunday and this being repeated on Sunday, February 14th. The main Coso, the biggest day of the Carnival, was on Tuesday February 9th but there are events still to come, including the Burial of the Sardine on February 10th, the festival of musical
groups on February 11th, the Children’s Carnival on February 12th and the Family Carnival on the 13th all culminating in the grand finale on the 14th. To help with lost children, the organisers in Santa Cruz are giving away 3,000 wrist bands which youngsters can wear. They will have their parents’ name and emergency telephone number on them. The Canary 1-1-2 service will also be sending out reguar tweets regarding carnival alerts and safety advice (see inside) but has stressed, ring 112 if you are in trouble, don’t tweet! Emergency hospitals are being set up and more trams and buses being laid on.