In local politics, some decisions seem minor until they stop being so, and the story of a palm tree in Puerto de la Duquesa is one of them. The recent removal of the base of a palm tree in Puerto de la Duquesa has reopened an episode that left a significant mark on Manilva’s municipal politics between 2018 and 2019. What began as work in a public square in Puerto de la Duquesa ended up leading to public complaints, debates in council meetings and, ultimately, the trigger for the break-up of a governing pact.
December 2018: the felling and the controversy
In December 2018 a large palm tree standing in the middle of a square in Puerto de la Duquesa was felled. At the time, the ASM municipal group publicly denounced the action, questioning its legality and requesting explanations about the procedures followed, as well as the costs it was causing the public purse.
The then councillor responsible for the Environment department, Dean Tyler, defended the decision, arguing that a favourable technical report had been issued by the Town Hall itself.
The work involved removing the palm tree and the planter that held it, and the subsequent paving of the space.
January 2019: rebuilding and calls for explanations
Following the controversy, orders were given to build the planter again and to reconstruct the original base where the palm tree had stood (rebuilt much smaller than the original), but nothing was ever planted in it, and it was filled with white gravel. The opposition requested detailed information on the financial cost of the work carried out and on establishing any administrative responsibilities. The costs arising from that work, and whether the reinstatement was due to public pressure or to a complaint that forced it, have not come to light at this newspaper.
The replanting of the tree was then announced, although it was never actually carried out.
February 2019: break-up of the governing pact
The conflict went beyond the urban planning sphere and developed into a political crisis.
Izquierda Unida Manilva announced the end of its pact with Compromiso Manilva, citing internal disagreements over the handling of the case and calling for the dismissal of the councillor involved in the felling of this palm tree. The Public Works department, headed by Barragán, denied that the palm tree was damaging the ground and ordered a new planter to be installed. The head of Public Works at the time, Antonio Barragán, accused his colleague of «putting his foot in it; he cannot take decisions without consulting the other departments involved, because the felling was not justified and, if the paving was being damaged, it could have been repaired». He also urged Dean Tyler, the councillor who gave the authorisation, to «stop passing the buck and accept that he has made a mistake. I am not going to take the blame for him, or for anyone», Barragán argued.
The mayor at the time, Mario Jiménez, said he wished to maintain the stability of the municipal government, but the councillor identified as responsible for the felling became an unaffiliated member and the term of office continued under a new political scenario.
2026: «definitive» removal of the base and back to square one
This week, with Compromiso Manilva back in the mayor’s office, the base rebuilt in 2019 has been removed «again».
The work was carried out without any specific official announcement about a current project for the area or about the replanting of the tree initially announced years ago, which appears to have been forgotten. The order was given to rebuild the planter and now to remove it again.
The whole sequence, spread over several years, makes clear how a localised decision can have far-reaching political consequences at municipal level. It also appears that, with the passing of the years, Manilva continues to remove and install planters for no reason, wasting all residents’ money and removing trees, orange trees, palm trees and planters from every corner of the municipality.
Over the years the planter has been reduced in size, removed, reinstalled and, this week, removed once again.
