Canary Islands Authorities Clash Over Uncoordinated Transfer of Vulnerable Family
A dispute has erupted between Canary Islands local governments after the Valverde City Council transferred a vulnerable family to Tenerife without providing adequate support or coordination, prompting an official investigation into potential failures in child protection.
The handling of a vulnerable family in the Canary Islands has triggered a dispute between local governments after an Italian-Cuban family—two adults and four children—was moved from El Hierro to the port of Los Cristianos in Tenerife without any support in place.
According to the newspaper El Día, the operation, managed by the Valverde City Council, has caused a rift between local authorities over a lack of coordination in protecting the children involved.
The conflict centers on who is responsible for the family’s welfare. The El Hierro council claims the transfer was necessary so the family could visit the Italian consulate to regularize their status after living in poor conditions on the island for months. However, the Arona City Council in Tenerife has called the move unacceptable. Ruth Martín, Arona’s Councilor for Social Services, criticized the lack of notice, noting that the children arrived at the port without housing, forcing local services to scramble for emergency shelter.
Legally, the case raises concerns about the Organic Law on the Legal Protection of Minors, which mandates that the "best interests of the child" must guide all administrative decisions. Regulations require authorities to ensure that moving families in need does not leave them helpless. The Island Council of El Hierro is now investigating the matter and has announced it will file a formal complaint against the Valverde City Council.
Valverde’s mayor, Carlos Brito, maintains that his council had run out of resources and that the family agreed to the move to help with their legal status. However, the family claims they were pressured to leave without a clear plan, contradicting the official account.
This incident highlights significant gaps in how islands coordinate the transfer of vulnerable people. Experts in social rights argue that without better planning, these administrative failures will continue to put the most vulnerable families at risk.