It looks like the long running, social-services company, Adhara, will be biting the dust, much to many people’s chagrin. This private company had finally thrown in the towel after fifteen years – ironically, now that the new law provides funds for those who look after dependents with special needs.
The reason that they have given up is because the Town Hall never handed over the funds that it had received precisely for this reason. The Mayor reasoned that the company should have had sufficient funds, after all these years, to operate whilst waiting for the grant, but the truth of the matter is that the Town Hall had no right to hang on to it, much less use it for other ends, if that is indeed the case.
The company held out on strike for four months before deciding to end the struggle. The real losers, though, were the dependents that badly needed the help.
So, Adhara renounced its contract and the Town Hall and announced that it would take on the company’s work staff and would provide the home helpers directly.
Whilst the conflict was still going on between the Town Hall and Adhara, the former put the concession out to tender and provisionally awarded it to another company called Arquitiempo, pending confirmation. However, this company soon renounced the concession themselves.
According to the chief opposition leader, Francisco Prados, the Town Hall has no other option but to immediately provide the service, as they have received the money from the Junta up front