María Jesús de la Cruz proposes building new National and Local Police stations in Puerto del Rosario

The island director of the General State Administration in Fuerteventura, María Jesús de la Cruz, is urging the signing of an inter‑administrative agreement to construct new headquarters for both the National Police and the Local Police of Puerto del Rosario. The proposal aims to optimise resources, improve working conditions for both forces and provide a structural response to a long‑standing demand for security.

In an interview on the radio programme La Voz de Fuerteventura, de la Cruz criticised the municipal council of Puerto del Rosario for publicly announcing the hand‑over of land for a new National Police station without proper coordination. The parcel in question measures roughly 3,000 m².

“I think we do a disservice to citizens by issuing a press release and a photo that don’t reflect reality, showing the mayor and the commissioner together when that meeting never took place. That’s not serious.”

She acknowledged the need for new police facilities but stressed that the communication was premature.

“Before making such announcements, we must verify whether the land complies with regulations, whether the size is appropriate and whether the location meets the service requirements.”

A joint agreement and two stations in one complex

De la Cruz suggested a concrete plan: a collaborative agreement between the Puerto del Rosario City Council and the Ministry of the Interior to house the National Police station and the Local Police facilities within the same complex.

“We could pursue this line of cooperation, and it would be an excellent model to follow.”

She argued that a shared infrastructure would optimise public spending and facilitate daily police work.

“It is the responsibility of the various administrations to seek real solutions, not merely to issue news releases, but to reach a final, workable outcome.”

Citizen security and a new specialised corps

According to de la Cruz, 2026 will be a pivotal year for security on the island. Among the advances planned for the Civil Guard is the creation of USECIC, a specialised unit for citizen security that will operate from north to south across Fuerteventura.

The establishment of a Civil Guard command post on the island is also pending, with the vacancy still unfilled. De la Cruz highlighted the difficulty of staffing the post, pointing to a shortage of housing for personnel. Although the housing catalogue has been expanded by 20 %, it is not yet fully covered.

The temporary migrant reception centre (CATE) in El Matorral nearing completion

The CATE (Centro de Atención Temporal para Extranjeros) in El Matorral is being transformed by rehabilitating two existing buildings to serve as dormitories and a dining hall for the first reception of migrants.

“It is a rehabilitation of two warehouses that will be equipped as sleeping quarters and a mess hall for the initial reception.”

The centre will accommodate roughly 300 people for very short stays—48 hours or less. Construction is expected to finish in 2026, after which the facilities currently used on a provisional basis will be returned to the Cabildo.

Management review and outlook to 2026

De la Cruz presented a summary of initiatives launched by the Island Directorate to bring the General State Administration closer to citizens. Highlights include:

• The “Administration Near You” programme, which brings public‑service tools such as digital certificates and electronic signatures to schools.
• Social‑cultural exhibitions organised with the altruistic support of local collectives and artists. The latest showcase features eight women from the “majoreras” community, who contributed poems and texts voluntarily. The participants are Ana Yara, Fuensanta de la Cruz, Laura Martorell, Inma González, Loli Felipe, Pilar Morcillo, and Salvadora Martel.
• The travelling exhibition is currently displayed at the Morro Jable health centre and will later visit other health and educational facilities across the island.

“Without a budget and without personal resources, we have managed to launch many initiatives thanks to a small but highly committed team.”

She concluded by thanking the staff and the associations that have collaborated selflessly.