Today Formentera's Local Security Board convened for a meeting that was chaired by Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, and Enrique Sánchez Navarrete, island director of the State. Josep Marí, Formentera's interior councillor; Alejandra Ferrer, vice-president and representative of Gent per Formentera; Rafael Ramírez, social welfare councillor and representative of the PSOE, and Lorenzo Córdoba, representative of Sa Unió, also attended. Among the members of law enforcement in attendance were Félix Ramos, chief of Formentera Local Police; Manuel Hernández, chief commissioner of the National Police of Eivissa; Juan Carlos González, commander of the Civil Guard; a representative of the Emergency and Interior Headquarters of the Balearic Government, and other authorities.

"As every spring, we ask that the presence of the security forces on the island be reinforced", said President Juan, "and we ask for a continuation of the smooth coordination with Formentera Local Police and other emergency corps that we have witnessed in recent seasons". President Juan also underscored "the need for rangers in Formentera's natural areas, as well as Maritime Civil Guard officers". She additionally called for more agents of the Balearic Islands Institute of Nature (Ibanat) on the island "to be able to deal with forest fires".

Meeting participants also discussed coordinated actions in response to boats arriving on the island with migrants, the support to be given to them and efforts to subsequently remove the boats from the coast, as highlighted by the councilor Josep Marí. Attendees also called for a greater wintertime presence of security forces in public squares and areas.

16 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

These findings were revealed by a 2022 study comparing the prices of ten basic products conducted by the Formentera Data Observatory. In addition, from January to October, the cost of these groceries increased 21%

The Formentera Data Observatory of the Consell de Formentera conducted a study on the local cost of groceries compared to Eivissa and mainland Spain. Prices were also compared between January and October 2022 –before and after the start of the war in Ukraine– to see how inflation has affected commodities.

The prices of ten basic private label products were compared for the study: one kilo of rice, one loaf of bread, one dozen eggs, one head of lettuce, one five-litre jug of water, one litre of whole milk, one litre of sunflower oil, one litre of olive oil, one kilo of potatoes and one kilo of chicken.

To run the comparison, the engineers of the study looked at two large supermarkets on Eivissa, two on the mainland, and the two Formentera supermarkets with the lowest prices. In January 2022 it cost 13% more to buy groceries on Formentera than on Eivissa and 12% more than on the mainland. In October 2022, shopping on Formentera was 18% more expensive than on Eivissa and 22% more expensive than on the mainland.

Month-to-month comparison
During this first year of data collection, the comparison was performed in a total of five Formentera stores. Among them, variations of up to 60% were detected between the highest and lowest prices.

Moreover, comparing the average cost of these basic purchases in the five stores in January 2022 with October 2022, the local cost of groceries increased by 21%. During this same period, prices increased by 17% on Eivissa and by 11% on mainland Spain.

"These data highlight the sharp premium that Formentera residents face when making basic purchases, and that this has increased in the last year", explained Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and head of the Formentera Data Observatory. Vice President Ferrer voiced concern about "the great expense that Formentera residents face when buying basic items on the island" and asserted, "We will continue with these studies and implement new ones, improving our working methodology to discover the real cost of living on Formentera and introduce or request measures to offset our insularity".

Furthermore, the Consell de Formentera has requested a meeting with the Small and Medium-Sized Business Group (Pimef) to explain the data obtained and discuss this issue.

This year, small businesses on Eivissa and in mainland Spain have been included in the study to make it possible to compare all types of establishments in the three locations. Sampling will also be conducted more frequently to obtain more specific data.

Complete data from the study can be found in the "Visió del Resident" section of the Formentera Data Observatory website. https://www.observatorideformentera.cat/visions/visio-del-resident/cistella-de-la-compra/

16 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Today Ana Juan, president and commerce councillor of the Consell de Formentera, has delivered eight new artisan cards to the islanders who passed the exam last year. The following individuals have obtained cards: Lorenzo Pepe, master artisan jeweller; Rosa Collell, artisan bag maker; Lorena Escandell, artisan knitter; Maria del Carmen Costa Ferrer, artisan sewer; Leile Ghenem, artisan trimmer; Valentina Llorens Matutes, artisan costume jeweller; Pep Juan Castelló, artisan jeweller, and Carlo de Bortoli, Debo, artisan object decorator.

First of all, President Juan congratulated the artisans who received cards. "Today Formentera craftwork is in luck, because the fact that every year we have more artisans, and also more young people, who are eager to train, learn and grow shows us that we have a strong and consolidated sector". The president said that last year the artisan exams, which had not been held since 2017, were reinstated and six diplomas were awarded — five to artisans and one to a master artisan. "Manual craftwork is a fundamental trade in our commercial fabric that must be valued and one that administrations must support, protect and promote", said Juan, who also congratulated the representatives of the technical panel that evaluated examiners.

The new artisans passed an examination evaluated by the technical craftsmanship panel in November. The panel was made up of managers of Consell departments and master craftsmen. During the exams, artisans had to make the product in which they sought specialisation in their workshop, while panel members observed the working methods and asked practical questions about technique and the production process. Depending on whether they opt for the title of artisan or master artisan, aspiring artisans must also have knowledge of foundational subjects such as basic notions of the craft; tools, equipment and machinery of the trade; origin of materials used; preparation, handling, processing and finishing; professional safety and hygiene, and more.

With the newly accredited artisans, today Formentera has 75 card-holding artisans, 12 master artisans and four honorary master artisans.

15 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Today Ana Juan, president of the Consell, swore in a new interim officer of the Formentera Local Police (PLF) and welcomed the three new students who will complete the basic training course for local police officers at the Balearic School of Public Administration (Escola Balear d'Administració Pública, EBAP) and who are expected to perform practica on the local force this summer. Josep Marí, interior councillor, and Félix Ramos, chief of the PLF, also attended.

The PLF has a staff of 16 officers, three of whom are currently in training. In the summer, the force is expected to reach 19 officers, including the trainees now starting the course.

15 March 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera