Over 7,000 Islanders Face Limitations That Restrict Their Independence

Cabildo Calls for Adequate Funding to Back the Universal Accessibility Law

The Fuerteventura Cabildo has voiced its support for the proposed Universal Accessibility Law, which was debated today in the island councils commission.
Lola García, president of the island corporation, expressed the Cabildo’s backing, saying that the new law is “necessary to approve an updated regulation that could mark a turning point for the archipelago, ensuring the rights of thousands of people.”

García noted that the law arrives at a critical moment: “Since the Cabildo has developed the Island Accessibility Plan, which is underway with about forty concrete actions across all municipalities, this law will support those initiatives and the effective implementation of the plan, focused on improving accessibility in Fuerteventura.”

Carmen Alonso Highlights the Scale of the Challenge

Carmen Alonso, the Accessibility Minister, spoke at the commission to discuss the law’s proposal. She emphasized that more than 7,000 residents on the island live with limitations that constrain their autonomy and daily life.

“The barriers are not only physical; they exist in communication, paperwork, transportation, and access to information. For these people, accessibility is the difference between participating in society or being left on the sidelines,” she said.

Alonso urged the Cabildo to provide the necessary information for local institutions:

“We need to know the deadlines for institutions to participate, the specific competencies of each administration, other technical requirements, and, importantly, the financing that will accompany this law.”

She added that the approved Island Accessibility Plan cannot transform the lives of the more than 7,000 people who still face barriers without commitment and resources.

“Without resources, there is no equality. In territories like Fuerteventura—where distances are long, rural areas are dispersed, and growth is rapid—compliance with the law will require an extraordinary effort,” she warned.

Alonso concluded, urging the law to become a practical tool:

“Let’s seize this opportunity and make the law a useful and real instrument. It should not remain good intentions on paper but should transform reality toward a fully accessible Fuerteventura and Canary Islands.”