Volunteer crisis hits Manilva

Flickr, Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias

THIS August people in Manilva were surprised and worried to notice that sporting events and the annual fair did not have their usual teams of Civil Protection volunteers on hand.

After former co-ordinator Ruben Luque resigned for personal reasons, the 30 local volunteers decided to stop turning up when their presence was required to cover events.

While the council has blamed the problem on the fact that there are no funds to pay another co-ordinator, the volunteers claim money has nothing to do with it.

“The only thing we did wrong was to tell them the truth and admit that there was no money to pay a co-ordinator this year. We have called them to stand by at events and they haven’t turned up. They’re volunteers and we can’t force them to come,” Mayor Diego Jimenez said.

Meanwhile, the volunteers claim their reasons include the lack of a post for a Civil Protection and Emergencies Technician and civil responsibility insurance.

“After the change in council team we hoped we would at least be insured and a technician provided, but realising nothing was going to change we decided we had to stop,” former volunteers complained.

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