Isla Baja Consortium Stalled Two Years Amid Cabildo-Mayor Rift

The four mayors of Isla Baja in Tenerife believe their region is a starting point, not an endpoint, for the island. However, they feel the Cabildo de Tenerife (the island's governing body) doesn't share this vision. This disagreement has left the Isla Baja Consortium, a joint entity for the region, without new projects for two years. Its future is now uncertain, with the music school being its only consistent activity.

The Consortium was originally created to boost the overall development of Isla Baja, one of Tenerife's less prosperous areas, and to make decisions by agreement. But these core goals are no longer being met.

After completing key projects for individual towns – like Buenavista del Norte's golf course and hotel, Garachico's marina, El Tanque's Ecomuseum, and Los Silos' improved coast and bypass road – the Consortium shifted its focus to region-wide initiatives. These included standardizing road signs, promoting culture through "Los Caprichos Musicales," and jointly managing water services to cut costs. However, these three regional projects have also been on hold for the past two years.

Last week, this year's budget was approved, but the mayors described the process as "hasty and imposed." The mayors of Buenavista, El Tanque, and Los Silos – Eva García, Esther Morales, and Carmen Luz Baso – voted against it, while Garachico's mayor, José Heriberto González, abstained. The budget passed only with the votes of the Cabildo's representatives, a situation that has occurred before.

Their main complaint is that they were only told on a Friday about a meeting the following Monday to approve the 2026 budget – a timeframe they found "insufficient" to review the document. El Tanque's mayor, Esther Morales, couldn't even attend because her town was celebrating the Most Holy Christ of Calvary festivities. She lamented, "They didn't even ask if that day suited us."

Morales also pointed out that "the amount each town council has to pay is increased without discussing it with us first." She added that even when the Music School faced closure, "the decision was made by the Cabildo."

Eva García, mayor of Buenavista, also criticized the Cabildo's handling of the Consortium, calling it a "command-and-control approach." She said this was new, as there had always been strong collaboration, regardless of political parties. She recalled how former president Lorenzo Dorta would regularly meet with each mayor to understand their town's needs and proposals. "That's why I don't understand the current attitude," she stated.

García explained that the situation has changed significantly in the last two and a half years. They have only met with Sonia Hernández, the Councillor for Cooperation and Housing who leads the Consortium, for official plenary sessions – the last of which was online. García believes the Cabildo was primarily interested in getting the Consortium's accounts approved to facilitate their own budget, rather than engaging with the mayors to understand their needs and demands.

Carmen Luz Baso, mayor of Los Silos, echoed these concerns. "We have endured two years of imposition," she said, highlighting that the Consortium was always meant to be a body based on consensus, collaboration, and support for the region. She argued that the town councils, which contribute 50% of the budget, should have a say in how that money, from all local residents, is spent. "The town councils provide half, but the Cabildo decides where the funds go, and often against our vote," she stated.

Baso added that the budget mostly covers day-to-day operations and staff costs, which have risen this year due to a stabilization process. She noted that the 15,000-euro allocation for "Los Caprichos Musicales" is "insufficient," and as a result, this cultural event hasn't happened for two years.

José Heriberto González, mayor of Garachico, explained his abstention by saying he disagreed with the amount each municipality has to pay for the Music School, and he had asked for it to be adjusted. He stressed that "Garachico contributes the most, more than double all the others combined." While he accepted the payment to ensure the school's continuation, he still doesn't believe it's "fair."

All four leaders have repeatedly called for more influence within the Consortium. They want the body to be led by someone with a technical background who can focus specifically on the needs of the four municipalities. They argue that the Consortium "cannot be directed solely by the Cabildo" or by a councillor who likely has "a multitude of other issues" to manage.

Eva García recalled that the island president, Rosa Dávila, promised over a year ago to meet with them to discuss the Consortium's future, but that visit to the region has not yet happened.

This newspaper tried to get a response from the island administration, but was told the matter was handled by Councillor Sonia Hernández, whom they were unable to reach for comment.

"We believe in the Isla Baja Consortium to promote joint projects and propose European funding," insisted the mayor of Buenavista. "But that's not happening because it's paralyzed."

González agreed, stating, "The Consortium is a very useful tool because it brings together the four town councils and the Cabildo in a single entity and facilitates joint actions." He added that for nearly a decade, he has argued it should shift its focus to joint service initiatives, now that its initial objectives have been met.

He believes this shift would be a great help for small town councils, which face many administrative challenges. It would assist in resolving daily issues, dealing with growing demands and regulations, and also help reduce costs.

To achieve this, González stressed the need for dialogue. He urged the Cabildo "to hold the necessary meetings to define this once and for all because we cannot continue in this impasse. The sooner, the better." In his view, "the next year should not begin without a clear understanding of the direction the Consortium should take and what its functions will be."

Carmen Luz Baso also highlighted the lack of dialogue. "There is no dialogue despite us always having requested it," she said. "It is a constant imposition; they think we are the opposition, but we are a part of it – that's the difference. I believe they don't understand what the Consortium means."

She pointed out that years ago, the four town councils collaborated on projects that benefited the entire region, regardless of where they were located. She cited the Hospitality Training School in El Tanque and the new health center in Los Silos as examples, both supported by the Consortium.

Despite the challenging outlook, all four mayors continue to support the Consortium's existence. They believe it must reinvent itself but stay true to its original philosophy: to combine efforts and address the needs and demands of Isla Baja.