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Formentera Council President Jaume Ferrer's assessment of V Conferència de Presidents

arribada pequeWith regard to the Conferència de Presidents, held this Wednesday, 28 May 2014 on Formentera, Formentera Island Council president Jaume Ferrer made the following assessment:

Today has been an important day for Formentera; welcoming as we have for the first time in our history the Conferència de Presidents, an extremely relevant moment for political coordination and decision-making in the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands.

The Formentera Island Council wishes especially to thank the representatives of the Govern Balear and those of the Mallorca, Menorca and Eivissa island councils for the ease and cordiality with which they came to serve in Formentera.

As for the outcome of the conference, our island's council notably regrets the failed opportunity to demonstrate political unity and assure the people of Formentera that the Es Caló docks will not be used for the disembarkation of marine excursions.

This is a common-sense issue about which the entire island is rightfully concerned, especially those Formenterencs living in the immediate vicinity of Es Caló. Moreover, it is a question which – following verbal commitments to this effect by representatives of Coastal Demarcations – had been considered all but resolved. The issue was once again unearthed due to recent favourable technical reports emitted by that very office regarding port activity on the Es Caló quay.

The island of Formentera gains its livelihood thanks to a model of tourism that is based on unhindered landscapes and tranquility. A clear manifestation of solidarity by the president of the Balearic Autonomous Community, guaranteeing the continuity of this model, was thus the sincere hope of our local institution. Lamentably, such a manifestation did not occur.

From this point on our local council will use all of its power to prevent Es Caló's transformation into a destination for sea-based excursions and a site of floating dock installations. We wish to remind our island's residents that the Formentera Council has on two occasions rejected propositions for both such measures.

To the satisfaction of our own council, opposition to the debated petroleum exploration was voiced by all those present. Nevertheless, more actively-expressed joint action will be necessary in order to convey our political unity to Madrid, the seat of real decision-making power on the question of petroleum prospecting.

As for the remaining points on the day's agenda, there were unfortunately no relevant advances to report, this excepting the subject of debts owed the island councils. With respect to this point, the Govern stated that its outstanding debts would be absolved by the end of the current legislature.