In March this year Freya Finch became the first ever British citizen to serve as a councillor in Yaiza, and the third ever British councillor on Lanzarote. We met her in Yaiza last month to talk about local politics and the issues that affect British people on the island.
How did you end up on the council, Freya?
I’ve been on Lanzarote for 21 years. I first came over as part of a gap year and planned to go on to study at Manchester Met University, but I ended up working here and meeting my husband, who’s a Canarian, which meant I ended up speaking Spanish fluently.
I run a gym in Playa Blanca and am involved with the community there, and that became especially important during the pandemic when the Playa Blanca food bank was established and ended up giving rise to the El Ático charity. I’m also involved in guiding and scouting in Playa Blanca.
I met the sports councillor Ángel on one of the wine walks that I do, and it was suggested to me that I might be able to stand for the council and represent British residents in the municipality. I like what the Mayor, Óscar, is doing here so I agreed.
I was chosen to be number 11 on the list for the Unión Por Yaiza party, and the party won nine seats in the 2023 elections. But the resignations of Javier and Karina meant that I assumed a place on the council in March this year. I’ve been put in charge of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Special Events.
How did that feel?
It was a proud moment. A lot of people came to support me when I did the official swearing in – I was nervous and really grateful. But then it was straight into the council meeting, which was a bit of a shock.
What are the council meetings like?
No one can prepare you for a pleno. It can seem like four to five hours of people fighting amongst themselves. I speak Spanish, but I’ve got ADHD so my attention span is zero. You read the agenda beforehand and, as our party has a majority in any case, we know which motions we’re going to win.
Do you get recognised?
All the time. I’m currently trying to lose a bit of weight and started doing 5K walks along the promenade in Playa Blanca at eight in the morning. I had no idea that so many British would be out too, but I got stopped so often it took me three hours to finish! I don’t mind; it’s my job.
What do you get asked about?
Bins and taxis, mainly. There have been some problems with both in Yaiza. I’m not in charge of either area so I pass the queries on to colleagues who are. There are also calls for buses, especially ones that serve the Lidl supermarket.
What have you been doing in your departments?
I’m currently arranging the Playa Blanca Vibra festival for young people, with music, theatre, circus, yoga and other activities. We also plan to tackle the problem of businesses spilling onto pavements. It’s a problem that we need to address, especially if cruise passengers are arriving.
What are your views on the arrival of cruisers in November?
I think it’s a pro for Playa Blanca, it’ll only be one or two ships with 200 to 400 people a week.
Are you hoping to get expat support in the next elections?
I hope so. There are over 1,500 British residents in Yaiza and they could make a real difference if they turned out to vote. But the last time there was the problem that many had to register by January to vote in May, and many didn’t get round to it.
Do you think Brexit has had an effect on the British community?
Yes. I used to have clients that came for six months in the winter, but the 90-day-rule means that they don’t now. There was a big influx of retirees moving out here, and also younger working families who can afford the visas, but I don’t think there are as many 18–30-year-olds coming as there were.
People used to come, see what happened and maybe stay on, but that’s much more difficult now and will be even more so with the new EES electronic system.
I’m still annoyed that I was excluded from voting in 2016 because I’d been here for more than 15 years. The vote affects us all here in Playa Blanca.
Are there any surprises with the councillor’s position?
I didn’t realise there were so many requirements to turn up at events. That’s obviously due to social media, but I missed taking our usual family road trip this year because of all the summer fiestas. You have to go to the churches a lot, so early on I asked another councillor if being an atheist would be a problem, but I forgot the Spanish word and said “antichrist” instead, which was embarrassing.
Do you ever contact Brits in the rest of the island?
Sometimes, but one of the things that amuses and annoys me a little, especially when working with the Girl Guides, is the way that everyone in Puerto del Carmen and the rest of the island thinks that driving down to Playa Blanca is a long journey. It works both ways, of course – for many people down here Costa Teguise might as well be a faraway land. But no one’s really contacted me – the Consulate haven’t been in touch, and this is the first time Gazette Life’s talked to me.
Well, it won’t be the last, Thanks, Freya, and best of luck.
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