DEBT-STRICKEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTRES REOPENED

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Thursday February 11 2010

TENERIFE'S Cabildo government announced the reopening of the island's domestic violence centres on Thursday.

by JAMES TWEEDIE

The Cabildo, through the Instituto de Atención Social y Sociosanitaria (IASS), said it had reactivated all of the Integrated Specialised Intervention Services for Women Victims of Domestic Violence.

The network was forced to close in January after funding body the Canarian Foundation for Social Development (Fundescan) revealed that it had amassed debts of over €8 million since 2005.

The Candelaria, La Laguna and La Orotava offices reopened on Monday, followed by Adeje on Wednesday. Those in Los Silos, San Miguel and Santa Ursula opened on Thursday.

IASS president and Cabildo social welfare minister Cristina Valido said that Tenerife's Insular Corporation had been working to find a solution since it was informed of the problem on January 12.

Opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) Canarian parliamentary delegate Eulalia Guerra de Paz (pictured) was critical of regional social welfare minister Inés Rojas' handling of the situation.

Ms Guerra de Paz said that the lack of coordination between the Canarian and Tenerife governments was "a serious example of irresponsibility, but above all, a lack of respect for these women."

She added that by owning up to her ignorance of the dire situation at Fundescan prior to its collapse, Ms Rojas had “admitted her useless management without showing the slightest feeling of shame.”

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