OPINION – BY PETER HOUGHTON
As we are over halfway through 2024, as in previous Years we will provide an analysis of how the year is going so far compared to the previous year. Normally it was summed up in one sentence, NOTHING HAS CHANGED, the same neglect, abandonment, biased funding etc, but 2024 is destined to go down as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the municipality of Orihuela.
Just like our previous Mayor Bascuñana, our town hall and our councillor for the coast, Manuel Mestre, are telling us that we live in a paradise, the sea, sun, weather, the climate, the great scenery etc; anything that is out of Orihuela’s control, safe from their incompetence. They cannot ruin what they don’t touch, unlike everything they do handle which turns into a disaster.
It is safe to say that in their first 15 Months in government, the coalition of PP and Vox have done more damage to the reputation and image of this great town of Orihuela Costa than any of their predecessors.
All the negative press that has been generated, not only in the media here in Spain, but also the national and regional media back in England, Ireland and many other countries, has had an adverse effect of the tourist sector. It seems that Orihuela politicians actually believe in their own dogma; “Repeat a lie often enough, and people will eventually accept it as truth.”
Our government is toxic from top to bottom. Between them they have broken virtually every key election promise, a budget for 2023, to greatly reduce the number of assessors, not only do we have the maximum allowed, but the first order of business was to vote for a pay rise, thereby making it the most expensive town hall in the city’s history.
The fact is we are the life blood, the organs that the rest of the municipality depend on for it’s survival. Without our revenue they would eventually morph into what Orihuela Costa is today; not a “PARADISE” but a living nightmare, a hell, thanks not only to the current administration but the regimes that have gone before, as far back as 2015, when PP and C’s formed their coalition.
Without a doubt, from the mayor, the deputy mayor and down through the ranks, the politicians do not understand the frustration of Orihuela Costa residents. We are a strong community, and we are now getting stronger, thanks to AVCRL. What was formerly a whisper is now a CRESCENDO, that will continue to grow.
The residents of Orihuela Costa are tired of the many years of indifference on the part of the main political parties. The reality is that we are alone, we have been abandoned by Orihuela, Valencia and Madrid. We are increasingly beginning to realise that our destiny is in our own hands.
