Casimiro Curbelo
A public budget makes sense when it improves people's lives. When you help a family face a medical displacement, you allow a young person to continue their studies or ensure that an elderly person receives the care they need. That is the responsibility with which we have prepared the accounts of the Cabildo of La Gomera for 2027, initially approved this week by the Government Council.
The document reaches 93.5 million euros, 13% more than in 2026. There are an additional 10.8 million to respond to the needs of our island. This growth represents an opportunity and, at the same time, a requirement: to convert the available resources into services, investments and support that have a concrete use in the six municipalities.
Those of us who live in La Gomera know the difficulties that double insularity imposes. Studying abroad, accessing certain treatments or maintaining an economic activity requires added efforts. For this reason, I defend institutions capable of compensating for these inequalities and accompanying people at every stage of their lives.
This conviction is reflected in the 16.2 million allocated to social welfare. Of these, 9.8 million will allow care for the elderly and dependents in social and health centers, while health aid will have 1.3 million. The 60 places incorporated during the last year into the island's social and health network show the path we must follow: expanding the capacity for care and giving families peace of mind.
We also want our young people to be able to build their future. We allocate 2.5 million to scholarships, Erasmus programs, transportation and textbooks. Behind this aid is the effort of many homes to educate their children. Our obligation is to help ensure that economic resources and place of residence do not limit their aspirations.
The training must be accompanied by possibilities to develop a life project on the island. Hence the allocations of 2.4 million for housing and 1.9 million to promote employment. We are aware that these challenges require continuity, cooperation and persevering management.
Support for those who support our economy also occupies a central place. The accounts include one million euros in aid to SMEs and another million for the primary sector. Supporting our self-employed workers, farmers, ranchers and other producers means expanding job opportunities.
Added to this are 7.7 million for mobility, 7.9 million for infrastructure and 10.2 million for sustainability and energy transition. Improving connections, equipment and the use of clean energy is part of the same task: preparing La Gomera for the future based on the needs of the present.
Initial approval of these accounts is an important step. Now we must continue its processing and work so that each commitment translates into results. We will do it by listening to our people. Because the measure of the success of this budget will be in the well-being that we are able to generate and in the opportunities that we open for those who want to live and advance in La Gomera.
