Marbella’s Socialist Spokesperson Calls for Changes to Drought Decree
Isabel Pérez, the Socialist spokesperson in Marbella, has informed this Wednesday about a motion they have presented to the next ordinary plenary session. The motion calls for the Corporation to urge the Junta to modify the Drought Decree to ensure a “more equitable and responsible” distribution of water resources.
Request for Aid to Mitigate Economic and Job Losses
In addition to the modification of the decree, they are also requesting that the regional administration implement a package of aid to alleviate the effects of economic losses and job cuts due to the measures that have been put in place to combat the drought.
Water as a Universal Right
The proposal argues that water is a natural resource that all citizens should have equal rights to. They claim that due to scarcity, the Junta has promoted “discriminatory limitations” that unevenly affect the citizenry.
Impact on Small Businesses and Self-Employed
One of the examples they provide is the irrigation and filling of pools in communities and private homes, which directly harms small businesses and self-employed individuals in sectors such as garden maintenance, nurseries, lifeguarding, or tourist apartments, among others.
Challenges Faced by Gardening Sector
The councilwoman recalls that the gardening sector has been unable to water since October, leading to a complicated situation, while this is still possible in hotel areas. Pool maintenance and supply companies are experiencing a 70% reduction in their turnover and are expected to suffer significant economic losses and job cuts.
Plant Sales and Lifeguarding Sector Affected
This is also the case for companies dedicated to plant sales, which have already seen their sales reduced by 30%. As the high season begins, they have no assurance of being able to recover sales or reach previous years’ levels. The lifeguarding sector has no forecasts to start the season in communities, and tourist apartments are experiencing booking cancellations.
Job Cuts and Business Closures
All of this is resulting in a decrease in jobs, with companies being forced to lay off employees and suspend normal hiring ahead of the summer season. If the drastic measures are not modified, they will have to close and assume the losses and debts due to lack of economic income.
Call for More Equitable Measures
Therefore, from the Municipal Socialist Group, they ask to urge the Junta de Andalucía to modify the measures, necessary to combat the drought, but which should be “more equitable” and, in cases where they cause harm to companies, aid should be enabled to alleviate the losses.
