Pedro A. Meneses, a bastion of the port of Tenerife in the Senate

The appointment of José Antonio Valbuena as a counselor of the Government of the Canary Islands means he leaves his position in the Senate, which will be taken over by the first alternate, Pedro Anatael Meneses Roqué (Los Silos, 1947), a veteran socialist militant and critical voice within the so-called internal current of Izquierda Socialista of the Tenerife PSOE, a party he has belonged to since 1982. In 2007, he was elected president of the Local Group of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is currently a member of the Regional Committee.

Pedro Anatael Meneses is a veteran leader with extensive experience in the maritime-port sector, which raises hopes that he can intervene and influence from his new responsibility and knowledge, so that the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife can regain the heartbeat and momentum lost in recent years.

Indeed, Pedro Anatael, who was a professor at the Higher School of Nautical Studies – from which he graduated as a machinery student in 1963 – held various important positions from 1973 until his retirement in 2013, including his integration into the University of La Laguna. He has held several significant roles, such as the management of the Association for the Promotion of the Port of Tenerife (1988-1990), which was due to his initiative; president of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife; president of the State Stevedoring Company (1990-1995); and director general of the Merchant Marine, president of the State Maritime Safety and Rescue Society, counselor of Ports of the State, and counselor of Compañía Trasmediterránea (1995-1996).

Chief engineer of the Merchant Marine since 1968, his professional life is linked between 1965 and 1971 to Naviera Aznar, CEPSA, and Naviera de Canarias. He expanded his studies in Madrid in 1971 at the Experimental Cold Center dependent on the Scientific and Technical Research Board “Juan de la Cierva,” where he obtained the title of Graduate in Engineering and Cold Applications. He also took several courses related to his profession, and in 1980 he completed the Interior Safety course on ships taught by the Spanish Navy, and in 1995 he studied at the Institute of Higher Business Studies (IESE) at the University of Navarra. In April 2006, he obtained his doctorate from the University of La Laguna, with the qualification of outstanding cum laude.

From his business stage, the following actions are cited: technical director and manager of Frigoríficos de Tenerife (1971-1979), Maritime Services (1979-1980), SENAMAR (1982-1983), and commercial director and managing director of NUVASA (1984-1988), a period during which the Tenerife shipyard for naval repairs experienced one of its best stages. After his political stage, he returned to the private sector as CEO of Frigoríficos Hispano-Suizos and General Warehouses Company (1997-2002) in Gran Canaria.

Photo: provided