President Clavijo Meets Health Minister This Afternoon
The Health Minister, Mónica García, and the Territorial Policy Minister, Ángel Víctor Torres, will meet this Thursday at 12:00 p.m. with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo. The meeting follows Clavijo’s criticism of a lack of information and what he called institutional disloyalty regarding the transfer of a cruise ship carrying confirmed hantavirus cases. The vessel, which departed from Cabo Verde waters, is expected to arrive in three days at the secondary port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife.
The Thursday session, confirmed by the Ministry of Health, comes after Clavijo complained that he had not been informed about the decision taken by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Spanish Government to send the ship MV Hondius to the Canary Islands. He has also requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to guarantee the safety of Canary residents.
“If repatriation of some passengers is desired, it would be more practical to do it directly from Cabo Verde International Airport, rather than subjecting them to a three‑day ‘Via Crucis’ across the Atlantic to reach the Canary Islands,” Clavijo said.
CANARY ISLANDS DEMAND TECHNICAL REPORTS
Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the Canary Islands Government, said the regional executive remains “very concerned” after a technical meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Directorate General for Civil Protection and Emergencies, and other authorities to coordinate the ship’s arrival in Tenerife.
In a statement, Cabello noted that the meeting revealed a “unilateral decision” by the central government, adding that while the discussion was underway, “the ship set sail and is already heading toward Tenerife.”
He reiterated the Canary Islands’ disagreement with the decision and said requests for the technical reports and criteria justifying the ship’s diversion to Tenerife have so far been denied:
“We are told those reports do not exist in writing, and we have asked to receive them as soon as possible.”
GARCÍA SAYS CLAVIJO WAS INFORMED
Health Minister Mónica García emphasized that she has kept President Clavijo fully informed about the management of the hantavirus‑affected cruise and stressed that “it is not appropriate to enter a political controversy” after the regional leader opposed the ship’s arrival.
“We have maintained constant communication at all levels to share information, assess risks, and coordinate the response,” García said, adding that the teams have been “in close contact” and will continue to be.
García also announced that the Canary Islands Government will be invited to upcoming meetings with European countries that have nationals aboard the vessel, where repatriation protocols will be coordinated. She assured that, while the ship approaches the Canary coast, “all necessary meetings and contacts will take place.”
Clavijo had requested that the ship skip a stop in the Canary Islands and that repatriations be carried out from Cabo Verde, where the vessel is currently anchored. However, both García and Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska, who appeared alongside her yesterday at noon, defended the decision, citing a request made the previous day by the WHO.
According to the international body, the ship must head to the Canary Islands because they are the closest location where safety conditions can be guaranteed and public health can be protected against the infection.