The chairman of the Canary Islands Government, Paulino Rivero, assures the continuity of the shipping line that connects Valle Gran Rey and Playa de Santiago and San Sebastian de La Gomera with Los Cristianos on Tenerife, operated by the Gomeran company Garajonay Exprés, until a new open request for tenders is made public within three or four months time.

In a press conference held on La Gomera, and accompanied by Casimiro Curbelo, the president of the Island Council, Paulino Rivero made it clear that since the matter is of public interest, the service provided by the Garajonay Exprés catamaran is not going to be suspended. The regional president, who also held a meeting with businessmen and mayors of the island, advanced that new formulas will be sought to continue the service from June 15th 2008, the day until which the regional Canary Government has pledged to subsidize the transportation of the shipping line by 50 percent.

In addition Rivero stressed that the stop at Playa de Santiago will be a priority in the new public request for tenders of the line, and announced the launch of a comprehensive transport plan on La Gomera. According to Rivero, one of the goals to be achieved by the Government of the Canary Islands on La Gomera is a cheaper shopping cart by means of subsidies for foodstuffs, an aid which is intended to reach all goods in the near future.

The decentralization of responsibilities, improvement of road and port infrastructure, employment plan specific for the island, investment on new technologies, impetus for the development of industrial land consistent with respect for the environment, and strengthening of agriculture and livestock farming are other goals that the regional executive wants to conduct on the island of La Gomera.

"We have agreed on the good will of all the public institutions to improve the allocations and insular infrastructure on La Gomera, of which we should feel especially satisfied", said Casimiro Curbelo, before stressing that the Canary Government's response to the continuity of the connections undertaken today by Garajonay Exprés "has been convincing".