On behalf of the local cabinet, Consell de Formentera president Alejandra Ferrer addressed a letter to the associations of the Consell d’Entitats to applaud their solidarity and generosity: after submitting projects to the island’s Pressupostos Participatius (Participatory Spending) initiative, member groups accepted a proposal from the cabinet to “invest the initiative’s 2020 budget of €325,000 in assistance for individuals and businesses, part of a bid to soften the economic blow of the crisis on Formentera families and leave no one behind”.

As individuals and from positions within local groups, islanders are offering to help any way they can. Take the parents’ group at Mestre Lluís Andreu primary school, which contacted the Formentera Department of Citizen Participation to suggest that the 2020 Pressupostos Participatius budget be freed up for investment in social causes. The department connected with the other groups that had submitted ideas for this year’s round of the initiative, and according to President Ferrer, the response was unanimous: today, the priority is those most in need.

Pressupostos Participatius invites Formentera-based groups to not only participate in administering local public spending, but at the same time, learn about the workings of government and management of public money. Similar to the local government’s own budgetary retooling, the proposed change unfolds against a backdrop of transforming priorities, and speaks both to the maturity of the Consell d’Entitats and to the humanity and solidarity of Formentera’s associations. “We’re enormously proud of you”, said Ferrer.

The money—€325,000 previously earmarked for 2020 Pressupostos Participatius—will be allocated for assistance. Projects that won the Consell d’Entitats’ support in previous years remain on track for execution as soon as the current situation permits.

Other budgetary changes
Many individuals, families and businesses on Formentera are already feeling the grave economic consequences of the health crisis. The central and regional governments alike have implemented various measures, including a Guaranteed Social Income (Renda Social Garantida), renter’s assistance and programmes to help businesses and freelancers obtain liquidity.

The Consell is working hard to keep islanders informed about available assistance and to process applications, simultaneously taking steps to extend how far its own resources go to help at-risk families. All branches of the island’s administration are now engaged in work on a package of measures to ease the pressure of fees and levies assessed at the local level. A budgetary retooling is in the works that will free up a maximum amount of available resources for much needed assistance.

Go-ahead recently came from Madrid so that the Consell could divert €200,000 of its 2019 surplus to social assistance. The local government has asked for permission to use the whole surplus to that end.

21 April 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

The island’s Department of Culture, libraries and Language Advisory Service have come up with a virtual activities programme to celebrate Sant Jordi Day (St George’s Day) on Thursday 23 April. The programme can be seen on the Sant Francesc library’s new Facebook page, “Biblioteca Marià Villangómez”, which launches today, Monday 20 April, marking the holiday when people offer books and roses as gifts. Details about the programme will be posted on 23 April to the “Formentera es queda a casa” page on Facebook, which will also contain content shared as the week progresses on the library’s new social media page.

As education and culture consellera Susana Labrador put it, “for a special day like this one, we knew it was worth doing a confinement-friendly version”, directing islanders to social media to find “loads of all-ages activities about reading, books and fantasy”. Labrador said the idea behind this year’s catchphrase, “Llegeix i viatjaràs” (Read and you’ll travel), was to remind people that “when we read we can travel without leaving the house—a proposition that’s likely to appeal to an increasingly wide audience these days”.

Monday
The programme kicks off at 12 noon, when organisers are planning to take to Facebook to launch a daily game of literature-themed questions called “Superlectors” (Superreaders). Each day that follows will come with the answer to the previous day’s query as well as a new question. At 3pm from Monday to Friday, a reading recommendation will be posted as well.

At 5.00pm Xènia Fuertes will serve up her own thoughts and recommendations for Sant Jordi, while two hours later, writer Josep Rubio, who is best known to formenterencs as the presenter of the island’s daily radio broadcast, Ràdio Illa’s De Far a Far, will dish on his book “Formentera: Una mirada enrere”.

Tuesday
At 5.00pm artist Maristela Campana will guide children through a creative workshop to make Sant Jordi roses. Two hours later, writer and Eivissa native Nora Albert will browse through the newest edition of her book “Mots i brases” as well as other publications as she curates a Sant Jordi Day recommendation of her own.

Wednesday
At 5.00pm artist Célia Ruiz will share with Formentera youngsters a clip of a made-for-kids clown show, and at 7.00pm, Lluís Ferrer will discuss the comics he created with illustrator Jaume Escandell.

Thursday, Sant Jordi Day
Formentera’s Language Advisory Service has signed on to “Per Sant Jordi, una paraula” (For Sant Jordi, a word)—the regional government’s initiative to encourage youth in the island’s to think about their favourite word in Catalan and share it. Like the sound of tomata? How about atzavara? Fonoll is a good one. Or maybe you’d pick robapàgines. Decide which Catalan word makes your ears tingle and on 23 April, post it on social media under the hashtag #parauladesantjordi. You can share thoughts on the word, a text containing it, an explanation of why you chose it... You be the judge of how to customise your contribution: write it, record a video, take a picture... Mull it over, pin down a word and share it. And remember to include “#parauladesantjordi”!

At 12 noon, a group from the local chapter of Obra Cultural formed by poets Maria Teresa Ferrer, Esteve Portas, Mireia Bernabeu and Neus Costa will offer up their own tailor-made and filmed-at-home poetry recital.

At 5.00pm, specialist Maira Vila will lead participants through a Sant Jordi-themed online mini clinic on lettering.

And what would the day be without the Sant Jordi dragon? At 6.00pm, artist and storyteller Xènia Fuertes will perform “El Drac refredat”, sharing with youngsters one of the most important parts of Sant Jordi: the magic of storytelling.

At 7.00pm, Eivissa author-turned-Formentera resident Carles Torres will close out the programme with a presentation of his novel “Els Cossos elèctics”.

Friday
Last up, Friday will see a 5.00pm post with snapshots of the Sant Jordi roses made at Tuesday’s workshop, followed by a literary recommendation from Ramon Mayol at 7.00pm.

The wide-ranging Sant Jordi Day programme marks the launch of the library’s Facebook page, which, for the duration of confinement, will serve as a showcase for weekly reading recommendations and questions put to readers. At the end of confinement, the page will promote and disseminate details about local libraries’ monthly lineups of activities.

20 April 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera