Fabián Chinea Correa, senator for the Gomera Socialist Group (ASG), has expressed his discontent with the Spanish Government's refusal to reinstate the position of Maritime Captaincy in La Gomera. This post has remained unfilled since the retirement of its previous head in 2021.
The senator deems it "totally unacceptable" that an attempt is being made to replace a fundamental service for the island through online processing and occasional visits by staff from Tenerife.
An official response from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility confirms the absence of any job position assigned to the Maritime District of San Sebastián de La Gomera. Functions are being handled by the Maritime Captaincy in Tenerife, supplemented by occasional openings of the island's office and remote assistance.
According to Chinea, this solution demonstrates a "profound lack of understanding of the reality of an island like La Gomera and the needs of professionals linked to the maritime sector." He emphasized that "fishermen, boat owners, and all groups that regularly use the services of the Maritime Captaincy deserve stable and in-person attention."
The Gomera representative criticized that the State's response to the citizens of La Gomera is to process matters online or wait for personnel to travel from Tenerife. He recalled submitting questions to the Executive precisely to ascertain the economic and social consequences of this staff shortage.
Chinea stated that insularity should not serve as an excuse for service cuts and that this situation "is not the way to defend our fishermen, nor to meet the needs of the men and women of Gomera."
The ASG senator pledged to continue working to reverse this situation and achieve the position's coverage, considering it an "essential" service for ensuring adequate attention to citizens and maritime sectors.
He announced further parliamentary initiatives to ascertain if the Government will reconsider its stance and proceed with filling the post, aiming to restore permanent in-person service and strengthen the services provided by the Maritime Captaincy in La Gomera.
He concluded by emphasizing that "the people of Gomera cannot be second-class citizens or settle for provisional solutions." He urged the Ministry of Transport to fulfill its obligations and guarantee dignified public services, consistent with the reality of a territory with significant maritime activity.
