Brito Rejects "Tenerife Day" on Virgin of Candelaria Feast

Mari Brito, who is the mayor of Candelaria and head of the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), has spoken out against the island's government (Cabildo) naming February 2 as "Tenerife Day." She told DIARIO DE AVISOS that she believes this decision is ill-timed and could cause confusion. The mayor argues that February 2 is already a very important date on the island, celebrated as the religious feast day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. She feels this day should keep its unique meaning and not be overshadowed, as this could lessen its cultural and religious significance.

Brito stressed that this new "Tenerife Day" could lead to confusion about the island's true patron saint, who is the Virgin of Los Remedios. She also underlined the importance of honoring the Virgin of Candelaria as a significant cultural and historical symbol for everyone in the Canary Islands. The mayor reminded everyone that the Cabildo itself, when Carlos Alonso was president in 2018, even named the Virgin an honorary and lifelong president of the institution. Brito believes this makes the current decision even more contradictory. To show her objection, she did not attend the official event at the Adán Martín Auditorium, choosing instead to be present at her municipality's own celebrations.

Supporting the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands is a core part of Mayor Brito's work. Since 2015, she has actively promoted the Virgin's image across the Canary Islands, organizing traveling displays of the August festivities. These efforts aim to strengthen the connection between Canarians and the "Morenita" (a local nickname for the Virgin). The next presentation is planned for La Frontera, in El Hierro.

Beyond Candelaria's local matters, Mari Brito, in her role as president of Fecam, has also spoken about wider regional issues. Concerning the housing crisis in the Canary Islands, the mayor highlighted the urgent need to build more public housing. She also stressed the importance of the regional government continuing to fund housing renovations, particularly in smaller towns. Brito believes that governments, businesses, and citizens must all work together to find agreed-upon solutions.

Regarding the new law on holiday housing, which the Canary Islands Parliament approved in November, the Fecam president has again called for clear and specific rules. These rules are needed to manage different types of holiday rentals and to clarify what powers local councils have in this area. Fecam has already sent its proposals to the Government of the Canary Islands and is waiting for a meeting to discuss them.

Finally, the mayor provided an update on Candelaria's main infrastructure projects. Work on the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias is moving forward, though there have been some delays due to unforeseen issues, pushing the expected completion to December 2027. The Auditorium, being built next to the Punta Larga shopping center, has started its foundations and should be ready by mid-2025. The municipal swimming pool, a project residents have wanted for a long time, needs a new bidding process because the previous one was cancelled. This new process will include updated prices and will wait for extra funds from the treasury. Lastly, the Barranco Hondo socio-health center, which will offer 42 residential places and 20 day places, is progressing well. However, it will probably need an adjustment to increase the funding from the Tenerife Institute of Social and Socio-health Care (IASS).