Garachico Pool Closure Due to Staff Sickness Sparks Outrage
Garachico's municipal pool unexpectedly closed due to security guard sick leave, leaving residents frustrated by the lack of prior notice, though the mayor apologized and promised a reopening the following day.
The Garachico municipal pool was unexpectedly closed on Tuesday, October 21st, leaving locals disappointed. The closure was due to two security guards, who also work at other public locations, being on sick leave. The town council only has three employees for these security roles.
Around fifteen people arrived at the pool at its usual opening time of 9:00 a.m. to find it closed, with no prior warning. One resident posted a photo on social media showing the group waiting, with the caption: "Here we are all waiting and without warning." The group included elderly individuals, some using canes, and a young man on crutches.
While some residents said this was the first time this had happened, at least this summer, others recalled similar closures in 2024. Reyes Méndez Luis said the pool had also closed in September because an employee was on vacation.
Méndez Luis, who swims daily to ease her pain, said she was told by the cleaning person that "there is no one here to open" the pool. She criticized the lack of communication, stating that a physical sign should have been posted since "not everyone has social networks."
She added that most people who use the pool in the morning "do it out of necessity, not to sunbathe," and that they come from Garachico and nearby towns. Méndez Luis also accused the council of a lack of oversight regarding the pool staff, calling it "a lack of respect for those of us who pay for the pass."
The main complaint from residents was the lack of communication from the town council. The Mayor of Garachico, Heriberto González, apologized on social media for the lack of warning. He explained that the absence of the security guards made it impossible to cover the shifts and that hiring temporary staff wasn't feasible.
González assured residents that the security guard schedule would be back to normal on Wednesday, October 22nd, and that the pool would reopen. He took responsibility for the communication error that left residents waiting outside the pool.