Arona Mayor Fátima Lemes Defends Infrastructure and Stability Amid Political Challenges
Arona Mayor Fátima Lemes is prioritizing infrastructure development, security enhancements, and migration management while defending her administration against political challenges and calls for a motion of no confidence.
Fátima Lemes’ leadership of the Arona City Council is currently under the spotlight as she works to address urgent infrastructure needs and maintain political stability. In a recent interview with Diario de Avisos, the mayor defended her strategy for tackling the municipality's structural challenges, which are heavily influenced by migration pressures and island-wide traffic issues.
Regarding infrastructure, Lemes emphasized the need to finish the Island Ring Road and the third lane between Oroteanda and Las Américas—projects she says have been historically delayed regardless of which party was in power. She also announced that urban development licenses for El Mojón are in their final stages and should be issued in the coming months. Addressing concerns about housing, the mayor pointed to eight million euros in available funding and active projects in La Rosa and La Camella. To improve local security, she highlighted the addition of 31 new police officers, with plans to install surveillance cameras in high-traffic areas like Las Verónicas by 2027.
Migration and port management are also top priorities. Lemes is calling for a broader approach to the maritime crisis, urging officials to find solutions that relieve pressure on the port of Los Cristianos, particularly regarding freight traffic. She maintains that she is in constant dialogue with the State Ports authority, despite opposition claims that she has not been firm enough in protecting local interests. Meanwhile, plans for the new transport hub and the undergrounding of Chayofita Avenue are expected to be completed by the end of her term, with the highway access roundabout currently taking priority.
Finally, political stability remains a challenge. Lemes dismissed attempts to form alternative majorities through motions of no confidence as a strategic mistake, arguing that the proposed alliances between ideologically opposed parties lack coherence. On the issue of irregular settlements, she called for better cooperation between government agencies, noting the difficulty of managing private land while maintaining social sensitivity. Above all, she reaffirmed that her main priority is the well-being of Arona’s residents, ensuring that her government remains unified through institutional respect.