There were several points made in last week’s article which in C.L.A.R.O.’s opinion require correction.
The assertion that C.L.A.R.O. is a turn coat party and has become “an additional member” of the Popular Party is a complete misrepresentation. I resigned from the three-party Socialist, Green and Clr government after 8 months as Councillor for the Coast, but in name only. With the connivance of the Mayor, Pedro Mancebo was appointed as “controlling councillor” for the coast and with the support of the Socialist and Green parties he removed personnel from the Playa Flamenca office of the Town Hall and took over €500,000 from the budget of the coast on the pretence that it was being “borrowed” temporarily to pay the electricity bill. The money was in fact used for projects in Orihuela city and surrounding villages and when I tried to get it back in the context of the 2012 budget I had no support.
After resigning, the choice was either to remain a single, isolated voice in the council or, with C.L.A.R.O’s decisive vote, seek to change the majority and get a better deal from a Popular Party-Claro government. Details of the better deal are contained in the published PP-Claro agreement of summer, 2012 with proposals to improve services, strengthen and improve the running of the Playa Flamenca office of the Town Hall and a series of investment priorities. Included in this agreement was the statement that C.L.A.R.O. would contest the next 2015 municipal election independently with no allegiances with any other party. No recent, discreet step as your article suggests. Rather, proof of a consistent policy to use C.L.A.R.O’s one vote in the council to get the best possible deal for Orihuela Costa. Unfortunately, the PP-Claro majority has not been able to come to power democratically because of a legal manipulation by Clr which limits my voting rights as a councillor as well as those of another councillor expelled unjustly, like me, from the original CLR-Claro group.
The importance of the use of the funds from the sale of land in Orihuela Costa is not the amount needed to finish off an already built centre in La Aparecida, which all the Orihuela parties approve, but the vote of the PP-Claro majority in the council plenary that 40% of the over €4 million resulting from the sale of land should be reserved for investment projects in Orihuela Costa. With over €1.5 million, Orihuela Costa now has an opportunity to get a proper Civic Centre with theatre, cinema, library and meeting rooms for associations as well as an initiative for senior citizens so they get services equal to those enjoyed in Orihuela city. The two-party minority government (after they expelled Pedro Mancebo), have earmarked 75% of the over €4 million for Orihuela and surrounding villages but without a majority they cannot implement their proposals.
Finally, I think your article gives disproportionate space to criticism of C.L.A.R.O’s internal democracy by a group of local Clr supporters none of whom enjoy elected office in the Clr party because of its internal “democracy” and because it is an Orihuela city party first and foremost. C.L.AR.O.’s 8th Annual General Meeting on 29 November was the occasion for democratic debate on policies and strategy and a vote for its Executive Committee all approved by overwhelming majority and not dictated by its President or anyone else. Unlike your article, we believe that as the only broad-based party with a specific Orihuela Costa focus and no particular political leaning, C.L.A.R.O. can play a decisive role after the next election in bringing about much needed improvements for Orihuela Costa.
Bob Houliston
C.L.A.R.O President
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/41931/
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