The Las Palmas Ports Foundation has responded to the audit by Puertos del Estado, rejecting the proposed liquidation and denying the existence of irregularities in its hiring processes and the appointment of its manager. In a report of accounts rendered, the entity argues that the audit failed to consider the submitted documentation, the corrective measures already initiated, and the context of "abandonment and paralysis" that, they claim, the new management inherited in March 2025. They point out that the foundation was far from its founding objectives, lacking activity in training, research, or maritime-port promotion, and suffering from obsolete procedures, pending debts, and labor, accounting, and administrative deficiencies.
In response to this situation, the foundation asserts it has launched a recovery plan including debt settlement, revenue recovery, the presentation of an Action Plan, fiscal and labor regularization, and the technical restoration of the building. Regarding the hiring of manager Betsabé Morales, they defend that it complied with the statutes, with the agreement of the Board of Directors and ratification by the Board of Trustees. They also deny substantial irregularities in minor contracts, indemnities, and sponsorships, attributing them to unforeseen needs or issues that have already been corrected.
The president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, acknowledged a "certain unease" within the foundation, as they believe the justifications and allegations presented were not adequately reflected in the audit report, requesting a further review of certain aspects. Calzada indicated that a coordination meeting with Puertos del Estado is pending to analyze the audit's observations and determine necessary corrective actions, assuring the willingness of both entities to adopt the recommended measures.
Calzada also defended the Foundation's recent management, highlighting its reactivation and reiterating the need to modify its legal status to exit the public sector. "This must serve as an opportunity to firmly resume that path," she concluded. For her part, Betsabé Morales downplayed the significance of the detected issues, such as contracts awarded for one cent less than the maximum for minor contracts, defending the transparency of the management. "There is nothing serious," she stated, explaining that audits are precisely for identifying areas for improvement and that an action plan is already in place to regularize any necessary matters. Morales expressed feeling "frustrated" and believes the foundation has become a "political weapon," with the controversy arising precisely when the entity "is demonstrating its importance to the port community."
