“We moved a sincere gratitude to the neighbors and the parish priest of Piera for the reception they have given these children”. General Directorate of Care for Children and Adolescents (DGAIA) of the Generalitat de Catalunya on the conflict that has broken out in this town in the region of Anoia for the reception of helpless minors, advanced by this newspaper. The Government not only positions itself in favor of the parish priest, who faces two fines of 3,000 euros for sheltering 20 migrant children, but also charges ink against the post-convergent mayor of the town, Josep Llopart (Together).
Thus, the DGAIA asks the mayor to allow the children to remain in the town, denies that it has not been in contact with the city council and publishes a report that shows that the consistory has been delaying the works to regularize the minors’ home for five months welcomed.
The Ministry of Social Rights, with Carles Campuzano at the helm, is positioned in favor of the Piera priest who has welcomed 20 helpless migrant adolescents in the parish since last March. He thanks you for the welcome and the effort so that the minors have “decent housing”“an affable environment” and “an atmosphere of esteem and tranquility”. This positioning, which is not trivial, given that the Generalitat is ultimately responsible for minors and has guardianship.
The conflict goes back a long way, but it broke out in February of this year. municipal technicians they closed the old rectory of Piera, which had been converted into a foster home for these minors. A hydrant was missing, according to a 2021 Fire Department report, and that was the mayor’s argument to expel the minors and seal the premises. Given that the work cost more than 100,000 euros, the SUARA cooperative, manager of the center that also faces two fines of 3,000 euros, made an alternative proposal to build a water tank.
Waiting for municipal permission
The project was approved by the firefighters on June 27 of this year, in a document that the Department of Social Rights has made public, given the commotion that the case has generated in the town. It is signed by Anna Martín, inspector of the fire brigade. “To start the works, it would only be necessary to receive the Municipal permits. Despite favorable technical reports, the city council has denied it“, they reproach from Drets Socials. The project is still pending municipal approval. This November 27 will be five months since it could have been processed.
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In this document that the ‘conselleria’ has made public, there is no mention of any alternative place where the children could be transferred. “The goal has always been that they can stay in townwhere over the years they have forged links with the neighbours, participate in local projects and carry out training activities”, they settle.
Contacted by this newspaper, the mayor of Piera He assured that the Generalitat had not contacted him nor with his consistory. The Generalitat accuses him of to lie. “We have been in contact with the Piera town hall to resolve any technical and bureaucratic issue as quickly as possible,” say Drets Socials sources.