Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Miracle of Christmas in Tenerife
We all know the original miracle story, but the modern miracle is that it is otherwise difficult to imagine how people in the Canary Islands manage to spend an average of 858 euros (£578 / $1,143) at Christmas, given the average income on this islands.
In Tenerife's poorest area, Daute - which includes the areas of San Juan de la Rambla, Guia de Isora, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte, El Tanque and Santiago del Teide - the average available monthly income per person is just 468.94 euros (£316 / $622).
The area is the second poorest in the Canary Islands: the dubious accolade of having the lowest average income going instead to the north west of La Palma, whose inhabitants have a mere 423.79 euros each, on which to subsist each month.
Even in Tenerife's richest area, Abona in the south east of the island, average monthly income only reaches 594.36 euros. Those with most money overall in the Canary Islands are in the south of Fuerteventura with 746.06 euros (£504 / $992).
There are three possible explanations that could account for this "miracle of accounting", apart from superb money management, stretching the cost of Christmas throughout the year, or borrowing heavily to cover the seasonal excesses.
One is "black money" that doesn't show up in official income figures and, this undoubtedly exists to some extent. Some of those in work may, legitimately, get 13 or 14 salary payments a year, one of the extras coming at Christmas. The other fact, common with the rest of the world is that the richest 2% own 'half the wealth'.
But, whichever way you cut it, making end meet with these general levels of income, at any time, but especially at Christmas, has to be a true miracle.
In other news, Buenavista town hall is opening a satellite office at the Teno Rural Park offices in El Palmar for residents in the higher areas of the district who have difficulty reaching the town center. It is only a couple of miles, so it would seem impossible that anyone could have this difficulty in the 21st Century, but mountain roads, lack of public transport and the severe lack of resources begins to explain why.
Labels: Christmas
