Canarian slowness in administration is something both locals and expats often experience. It’s a phenomenon where bureaucratic processes tend (!) to move at a slower pace than one might expect elsewhere.
This pace is sometimes jokingly referred to as the mañana effect, reflecting a carefree attitude towards time. This is a distinctive quirk for many aspects of the administration on Tenerife and the other islands of the Canary archipelago.
In practical terms, this often means longer waiting times for handling documentation, permits, and other official procedures. The local population has a more relaxed approach to time and priorities, resulting in a work culture that is less hurried and where matters are often dealt with at their natural rhythm. This can sometimes clash with the expectations of newcomers and expats, who are accustomed to a more efficiently functioning administration.
Arico
This approach is deeply rooted in the Canarian way of life, which places great value on personal interactions and maintaining social relationships, sometimes at the expense of greater efficiency. Patience and adaptability are therefore essential for those dealing with the administrative machinery of the Canary Islands.
In the small town of Villa de Arico, located in the southeast of Tenerife, a long-awaited construction project is about to become a reality. After a standstill of more than four years, the central square of Arico is finally nearing completion. This square, once the beating heart of the town, was plagued by delays and bureaucratic obstacles that have held the central location in the municipality hostage for years.
Politics
This is a typical example that is not an isolated case on Tenerife. The works started in 2016 – today 8 years ago – and were supposed to transform the town square. In 2019, the works stalled, and in 2024, a step is finally taken to restart the works that had been idle for four years. Four years without moving a single piece of paper, four years of neglect, four years of standstill that the residents of La Villa de Arico have watched with dismay. This reflects the political behavior of municipal politicians from various coalitions who have hung their heads during different governing periods.
From Scratch
The infrastructure was neglected and left unused for years, much to the residents’ annoyance until the new municipal government woke up and worked tirelessly to remove the obstructive elements from the procedure. The drive and motivation worked wonders to resolve this situation and, once and for all, return the finished town square to our residents.
Once the contract termination procedure is complete, the next steps are the tendering of the new construction project and then, once approved, the work can be tendered. Is this the absolute end? Nothing is certain, especially when it is seen that the procedure is being started all over again from the beginning to finalize this project. Here too, we fear for Canarian slowness.
Guy Devos © Fotografía
Canarian slowness ©
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