Cine Chimisay Renovation Halted After Tribunal Annuls Bidding Process

The renovation project for the Cine Chimisay in Puerto de la Cruz has hit a major roadblock after the Canary Islands Administrative Tribunal of Public Contracts annulled the bidding process.

On October 13, the tribunal issued a resolution invalidating the contract, which was valued at over 5.3 million euros and covered both the design and construction of the site. The decision followed an appeal by the Official Association of Architects of Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro, which argued that the project’s budget lacked sufficient technical and economic justification.

The local Socialist Party (PSOE) claims this ruling will delay the project by at least four months. They have also criticized the current government—a coalition of the PP, ACP, and CC—for failing to disclose the tribunal’s decision to the public. PSOE spokesperson Marco González called the lack of transparency "serious," noting that Mayor Leopoldo Afonso did not mention the ruling even during public appearances after it was received.

In response, the Popular Party (PP) denied trying to hide the information, describing the issue as a minor technicality. They pointed out that the tribunal actually supported their decision to combine the design and construction into a single contract, rejecting the architects' request to separate them. The City Council has since addressed the tribunal’s concerns and published a new tender on October 20.

This dispute highlights the challenges of managing complex public contracts, which require precise planning to avoid legal scrutiny. While the opposition warns that the delay reflects poor planning, the government maintains that the project remains on track and expects construction to begin before the end of the year.