Los Verdes of Orihuela rebuttal of C.L.A.R.O. letter.

Following the very busy surgery on Wednesday 28th January, we held a press conference to repudiate the criticism of Los Verdes contained in the letter by Bob Houliston, president of the C.L.A.R.O. party, that was published in the CoastRider newspaper on the 27th January 2009. As a result of the conference the following article has appeared in the CoastRider 3rd February edition.

Los Verdes respond to C.L.A.R.O. budget letter
A letter penned by C.L.A.R.O. president, Bob Houliston, was printed in last week’s CoastRider, and its contents so angered the Orihuela opposition party, Los Verdes, their councillor and coastal representatives held a press conference to set the record straight.
In his letter about the Orihuela budget meeting, Mr Houliston wrote: “I have seen or heard no reports that either the Socialist or Green Parties stood up in this vital council meeting to criticise the budget for these incredible deficiencies as far as the coast is concerned”.
Los Verdes Councillor Monserrate Guillén said: “Mr Houliston forgot to mention that Los Verdes tabled 74 amendments to the proposed budgets prior to the special council meeting, including 17 specific amendments for the coast. Five of the 14 amendments which were accepted relate directly to the coast. Los Verdes councillors do not wave our arms around in the Pleno, we get on with the business of trying our best to get our proposals agreed.
Prior to the meeting, we discussed the budget with all parties, the ruling PP, the PSOE, and CLR. Our proposals were put together as a direct result of our campaign to encourage citizens to participate by telling us the issues which are most important to them. Had we not put forward these 74 proposals, there would have been nothing at all for the coast.”
The Councillor and Los Verdes representatives asked why C.L.A.R.O. had not put together their own set of proposals or spoken to opposition councillors to ensure their concerns were heard before the budget meeting. The Los Verdes group also added: “C.L.A.R.O. has targeted the opposition councillors when it is the ruling PP which makes the decisions, and C.L.A.R.O. must bear some responsibility for splitting the vote at the last municipal election, which damaged the opposition and kept the PP in power.”
Rebecca Griffin

The full published letter referred to is reproduced below in order to ensure fairness of expression of views.

Dear Editor,
The Socialist Workers Party (P.S.O.E.) captured your front page on 20 January by revealing that Orihuela Costa would probably get nothing out of the investment budget for 2009 and very little for anything else.
This turned out to be correct and C.L.A.R.O. has described the 2009 budget as an INSULT and DISGRACE from Orihuela Costa’s point of view.
But armed with this information BEFORE the budget debate on 19 January, what did the Socialist Party say in defence of the interests of Orihuela Costa? I have seen or heard no reports that either the Socialist or Green Parties stood up in this vital council meeting to criticise the budget for these incredible deficiencies as far as the coast is concerned.
We agree with the Socialist Party arguments in your front page article last week that the proposed outdoor sports centre for Orihuela Costa should not have been considered for Madrid emergency funding since it is not a brand new project, was promised in the Popular Party election manifesto in 2007, and first finance was already provided in the 2008 budget. Orihuela Costa should have got its full share of the Madrid funds for NEW investment projects AND the Popular Party should have included finance for the sports centre in the 2009 budget (with the addition of a heated indoor swimming pool to match that of the neighbouring municipality of Pilar de la Horadada with a smaller population).
This is what C.L.A.R.O. would have said if we had elected representatives in the Orihuela Council. But, the Socialist Party said no such thing in the budget debate in the Council on 19 January. Neither, apparently, did the Socialist Party in Orihuela say anything to the Socialist government in Madrid to the effect that the proposed sports centre was not eligible for emergency funding from the Madrid government.
The traditional opposition parties in Orihuela argue that voters in Orihuela Costa should support them rather than a new, purely local, independent party, as they can defend the interests of the coast locally, as well as regionally and nationally where they are already represented. But they are doing nothing of the sort. Why? Are they concerned that their voters in Orihuela might take fright if they support a bigger share of the cake for the coast? Are they prepared to say openly that more for the coast would mean less for their voters in the rest of the municipality?
Yours,
Bob Houliston,
President of C.L.A.R.O.

From the comments made in the last paragraph Bob Houliston would appear to either be totally unaware of, or chooses to overlook, the well publicised work of the Los Verdes party, through the Orihuela Costa Working Group, on the coast.

He chooses to ignore the work of the many residents who have contributed to the 'Clean up the Costa' and 'Dignity for the Disabled' campaigns being coordinated by Los Verdes.

Are we concerned that the voters in Orihuela might take fright if we support a bigger share of the cake for the coast?

No, because Los Verdes of Orihuela work for the benefit of the whole of the Orihuela Municipality which includes Orihuela Town, Orihuela Costa, and the Pedanias. That is the responsibity of Los Verdes as a elected opposition party within the Town Council.

Are we prepared to say openly that more for the coast could mean less for the voters in the rest of the municipality?

Yes, because the expenditure for each area should be based on the essential needs of the area, subject to the limitations of the total budget for the whole of the Municipality.

What a pity that Bob Houliston, as President of C.L.A.R.O., did not act, by liaising with one of the official elected opposition parties to express his party members' suggestions and concerns, before the Budget was passed by the PP ruling party, rather than criticising those that did, after the event, or is that the easier course to take.

It's your Money - Participate

The final Budgets for 2009 for the Municipality of Orihuela are due to be presented, by the government team of the PP, to the December meeting of the full Town Council for approval.

Los Verdes believe that it is essential that there is the facility for citizens to participate in the preparation of the municipal budgets, so as to include the needs and concerns of it's inhabitants. We advocate the system for a Participatory Budget similar to those prepared in other Spanish towns, where it is regulated that the residents can contribute in the preparations of the financial budgets.

The citizens pay the taxes so they should have a say how the money collected is spent.

Los Verdes want the inhabitants to be consulted and given the opportunity to contribute ideas for spending their money, on issues that really need it, and not as now where the PP ruling Councillors systematically ignore the views of the tax payers in favour of expenditure to maintain their (PP) political image.

Los Verdes of Orihuela have launched a campaign entitled
“It's your Money – Participate”
to collect suggestions from all the citizens of the Orihuela Municipality for the preparation of the council Budget for 2009.

During the month of November, and up to the final meeting of the Information Committee, prior to the presentation of the Budgets to the Town Council, Los Verdes will provide facilities to the citizens to enable them to participate in the development of the Budgets by forwarding their ideas. The suggestions received will be collated and, where possible, will be put forward as amendments to the draft budgets of the government team of the PP, prior to the December council meeting.

This is the opportunity for the residents of Orihuela Costa to express their views on those items that they feel are needed on the coast, and that should be included within the Budgets for 2009. These can be matters relating to cultural, social, health, transport, environment, and civic facilities that have an effect on the quality of peoples lives.

To help and encourage the residents living in Orihuela Costa to participate, Los Verdes are providing local methods of contact for putting forward their suggestions. They can be sent by email to losverdesorihuela@yahoo.es or elliotsampford@gmail.com , or given by telephone to 965319660 (English) and 965328190 (Multilingual), or by visiting the surgeries held in Orihuela Costa by Monserrate Guillén, Los Verdes Councillor for the Coast during November (details of the next surgery Los Verdes Surgery - 29th October), or by using the comments facility on this Blog.