Oswaldo Betancort, president of the Lanzarote and La Graciosa Cabildo and a member of the Canary Nationalist Group, has urged the Spanish Government to reinstate the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE) in Guinate, Haría.
His call follows the government’s closure of the case concerning this vital coastal surveillance infrastructure. “We are talking about an essential, urgent project that is of public interest, yet the government now considers it complete,” he stated.
Betancort emphasised the necessity of enhancing technological resources for maritime control, given Lanzarote’s strategic position along the Canary Route and the evolving tactics of criminal organisations. He noted that the Guinate station had previously reached the execution phase, but following vandalism to the facilities, the Government initially expressed its intention to complete the project.
He highlighted that responses from Senator Pedro San Ginés confirmed that the Secretary of State for Security concluded the emergency case in May 2025, and there is currently no project to install the sensor station in Guinate.
The Cabildo president linked the recovery of the SIVE to both irregular immigration surveillance and combating drug trafficking, stating, “We’re no longer just talking about small boats; we’re seeing increasingly capable narco vessels. Lanzarote needs surveillance, technology, and a response capability due to its geographical location.”
Betancort also asked Senator San Ginés to advocate for this issue in the Senate, reiterating that the state should reconsider its decision and revive the Guinate project to strengthen coastal surveillance on Lanzarote.
