Spanish writer and poet, Pedro García Cabrera, who was born in Vallehermoso, on the island of La Gomera, was imprisoned at Fyffes in 1946 (after initially escaping and being re-caught), showing that it was in use as a prison for many years. In the Canary Islands, there wasn't a Civil War, exactly, but there was massive repression that cost many lives. Many of those who sympathised with the opposition were either taken out and shot, or "mysteriously" fell into the sea. But, as well as the deaths, an estimated 4,000 were imprisoned, mostly without trial.
Some 2,000 political prisoners were held at Fyffes. Unlike many of the other prisons, there was no forced labour on site at the Fyffes plant (only because of its location). Instead, prisoners were taken to Los Rodeos and Granadilla and forced to work on various public works, such as the construction of the roads up to Mount Teide. Remember that, next time you drive up to admire the scenery!
Sources:
- Tenerife: la carretera del Teide, los miles de prisioneros republicanos olvidados
- Los campos de concentración en Canarias durante la Guerra Civil
- Pedro García Cabrera El compromiso y el paisaje
- En Canarias aún hay miedo a hablar sobre la Guerra Civil
- Franquismo en Canarias
- Plátano de Canarias
- Prisión de Fyffes