The letter, signed by Luz Padilla and addressed to the newspaper, highlights that, instead of promoting reflection and respect for religious traditions, the town center was transformed into a scene of street parties, gastronomic fairs, and constant music from midday until dawn. This situation, according to the letter, disrupted the peace and the right to silence during such significant dates for the Catholic community.
The author emphasizes the paradox that silence was only observed during the processions, with the noise resuming immediately afterward. This approach, she argues, not only affects residents who wish to experience their Christian faith with due solemnity but also negatively impacts tourism. Many visitors, both national and international, choose La Gomera precisely for its peace, beaches, and the solemnity of its religious acts, only to find an “imposed revelry” that has little to do with the identity of Easter Week.
Those who visit us are astonished and shocked to find an imposed revelry day after day, from the moment they enter the town, which has little to do with the identity of these dates, where contemplation is paramount, and they find a town immersed in a romería or carnival party, precisely when it is out of place.
The letter also questions the public funding of these activities, noting that they often have minimal and ridiculous attendance at untimely hours. It criticizes the lack of an alternative program that respects religious values and citizens' right to rest, suggesting that the City Council's only idea of “dynamization” seems to be the continuous organization of street parties.
Finally, the letter calls on the Municipal Council to listen to the discontent of a “silent majority” demanding respect for their traditions. It stresses that respect for religious beliefs is fundamental in Spain for all confessions, and that coexistence implies balance, consideration, and common sense, without “anything goes in the name of leisure”.
