El president of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, highlights that the island, in the two years they have been in front of the government in this legislature «advances, and does so from cohesion, sustainability, and shared progress,» although he has admitted that the challenge of approving a unique tax system for territories like La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Palma lies ahead.
Curbelo has pointed out that in these two years of government, «more than 70%» of the island’s budget has been allocated to social policies that «improve the lives» of citizens, so that «more than 5,000 people» have benefited from the «social shield» through direct actions in terms of welfare, health support, training, or assistance to vulnerable groups, as reported by the Cabildo of La Gomera in a press release.
Regarding the economy, he indicated that the productive fabric of the island has been «strengthened» through diversification, stating that the «investment in innovation has borne fruit» with the implementation of initiatives related to the aerospace industry, as well as the launch of the I3Gomera, a center that he considers «will mark a before and after» for the development of knowledge on the island.
As for the primary sector, he explained that it has received more than two million euros to «address the challenges» of climate change and ensure its sustainability, while tourism «continues to grow from a responsible approach,» with over three million euros allocated to a sustainable model that «prioritizes quality over quantity.»
Curbelo also refers to strategic infrastructures, stating that in these two years, the new socio-sanitary center of San Sebastian has been put into operation and two others in Agulo and Valle Gran Rey have been projected, which he indicated «has improved the island’s road network and modernized» hydraulic infrastructures.
«All this without forgetting the unprecedented effort that has been made to reinforce our electricity supply system after the energy crisis of July 2023, and to advance in the electrical interconnection with Tenerife,» he added.
However, he considered that challenges remain, such as the approval of a unique tax system for territories like La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Palma, stating that it is a measure that «is not only necessary but fair» to «lay the foundations» to build a Canary Islands that «advances at a single speed capable of attracting investment, generating employment, and decisively improving the quality of life» of those who live in the Green Islands.
Curbelo has argued that «only with an adapted tax system» will it be possible to «address, in an integrated manner, the structural surcharges» resulting from insularity, as well as «achieve real» equal opportunities for all Canary Islanders.
Finally, Curbelo states that they have the «responsibility to preserve» what they are and project what they want to be, so he affirmed that they will continue working so that the «youth find opportunities in their land,» so that the elderly «live with dignity, and so that every corner of La Gomera breathes progress, equality, and hope,» as true development is not only measured in numbers but in the ability to transform lives.
