The group is calling for improvements in emergency communication, accessibility, and a schedule that covers the entire bathing season. The protest begins at 08:00 this Thursday.
Lifeguards in the municipality of Calvià will once again confront the Town Hall this Thursday. The Unió de Socorristes de Calvià has called for a gathering at 08:00 in front of the Town Hall to denounce the lack of institutional response to their demands, which they presented after an initial protest on July 3.
The group claims they have not received any response to their requests for a meeting with the mayor, Juan Antonio Amengual, nor to the urgent demands they consider necessary to ensure safety on the municipality's beaches. Among the main complaints is the limitation of lifeguard services, which are only provided from May 1 to October 31, while the bathing season in Calvià extends from mid-March to late November.
According to the lifeguards, of the nearly 30 bathing areas in the municipality, only 11 are monitored. Furthermore, the coverage hours do not match the actual influx of users. As an example, they point out that five of the seven drownings recorded in the last year in Calvià occurred on unmonitored beaches or outside service hours.
Another issue raised concerns internal communication. Half of the lifeguards have experienced failures in communication systems since the start of the season, which hampers the activation of emergency protocols. They assert that this situation compromises the response capacity to incidents.
Regarding accessibility, the service for people with reduced mobility is only available at four beaches. The lifeguards report that the installed walkways have deficiencies: some lead directly into the boat channel, while others are far from public restrooms.
A specific case that has generated discontent is that of Santa Ponça beach, where a large pergola has been replaced by four umbrellas, reducing the available shade for users with reduced mobility.
The union organization criticizes Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual for attempting to shift responsibilities to the service concessionaire. The lifeguards remind that they are affiliated with the municipality of Calvià and that, in the event of a change of company, they could be transferred and continue working in the same locality.
This Thursday's gathering aims to pressure the Town Hall to address their demands and improve the conditions of the lifeguard service, which they consider essential for the safety of bathers and tourists on the municipality's beaches.
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