Puerto del Rosario Approves New Honors and Distinctions for Residents and Groups

The Municipal Council of Honors, Distinctions and Twinning of the Puerto del Rosario City Hall has decided to launch a series of procedures to recognize the work of various personalities, entities, and collectives linked to the municipality’s cultural, social, and sporting life. The session, held on Wednesday, May 13, also appointed instructors for the dossiers and began the steps toward an international twinning agreement.

Honors, Distinctions and Twinning

• Adoptive Son – awarded to Antonio Alonso Patallo for his long teaching career and his promotion of the Puerto del Rosario sculpture symposium.
• Adoptive Son (posthumous) – to be granted to writer Alexis Ravelo in tribute to his lifelong connection with the town.
• Street Naming – a new street will bear the name of Lorenza Machín, writer and social activist for women’s and LGTBI rights.
• Cultural Honors – the entity “Ópera Fuerteventura” will be distinguished for its opera promotion, and artist José Concepción for his artistic trajectory.
• Social Contribution – the Modern Christian Mission will receive recognition for its community work, alongside honors for Silvia María Caso Pedreguera and, posthumously, Leo García Enguita for their cultural and artistic merit.
• Sporting Honors – the Los Pozos Stadium is proposed to be renamed “Antonio Mederos.” Residents of Los Molinos will also be acknowledged for their lifesaving efforts.
• International Twinning – the municipality will start formal procedures to twin with San Antonio and Sauces in the Canelones department of Uruguay, commemorating the third centenary of Montevideo’s foundation and the historic contribution of “familias majoreras” in those Uruguayan towns.

“It is essential to recognize those who enrich the identity of our municipality and project its name through their talent and dedication,” said Mayor David de Vera.

“These homages are an act of justice and gratitude toward those who have left an indelible mark on our community,” added Councilor for Culture Juan Manuel Verdugo.

The city council has set a three‑month deadline for the preparation of the dossiers and the issuance of suitability reports. Once completed, the files will be forwarded to the competent authority for final approval in accordance with current regulations.

Opposition Criticizes Reactivation of Recognitions

The opposition party Fuerteventura Avanza issued a statement questioning the council’s announcement, describing it as “striking and hardly credible” that the governing coalition would revive the Honors, Distinctions and Twinning Council after roughly three years of limited activity.

Key points from the critique:

• Several of the announced proposals were already promoted during the previous legislative term or unanimously approved by the plenary but never processed as formal dossiers (e.g., the recognition of Silvia María Caso Pedreguera approved in October 2024, and the March 2023 proposals concerning the Modern Christian Mission and the residents of Los Molinos).
• While the party agrees on the need to publicly acknowledge individuals and entities that have contributed to the municipality’s social, cultural, and sporting development, it sees “a clear pre‑electoral component” in reactivating the procedure just a year before municipal elections.
• Fuerteventura Avanza calls for the appointed instructors to handle the dossiers “in a real and effective manner,” without further delays, and urges that the Council of Honors and Distinctions operate continuously with objective criteria throughout the entire term.