The majorero council estimates a 70% increase in transport costs following the removal of the stop in Fuerteventura on the maritime line with the Peninsula. President Lola García criticises the Ministry of Transport for not considering the connection a public service.
The removal of the stop in Fuerteventura on the maritime line connecting the Peninsula with the Canary Islands will mean a more than 70% increase in transport costs, according to initial economic assessments made by the majorero council. The extra costs, which will require links through Gran Canaria, will directly impact product prices and will ultimately be paid by the families on the island.
An essential service that disappears
The president of the Fuerteventura council, Lola García, responded this Friday to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility after receiving the letter sent by the General Directorate of Merchant Marine. It confirms that the stop in Fuerteventura is not part of the Public Service Obligation (OSP) of the maritime line of public interest between the Peninsula and the Canary Islands, as this obligation only pertains to connections with the capital islands.
As García explained, the stop in Fuerteventura was made as a result of an improvement offered by the awarded company, not as a mandatory condition of the contract. Now, the company has removed the stop on the island, leaving the majoreros without a direct connection to the Peninsula. "Fuerteventura is not asking for a privilege; it demands the same treatment as any territory when an essential service is at stake," the president emphasised.
Impact on the local economy
The increase in logistics costs will not only affect consumers' wallets but also reduces the competitiveness of majorero companies. García warned that the extra costs "end up being borne by every majorero family" and that the situation is unsustainable for an island that largely depends on maritime transport for its supply and trade.
The concern over the loss of maritime connectivity with the Peninsula had already been expressed numerous times by both the council and the Puerto del Rosario City Council and the Canary Parliament. "Without us being heard", lamented García, who criticised the state's passivity in the face of a business decision that alters an essential service for the island.
Institutional reactions
The president of the majorero council not only addressed the Ministry of Transport but also urged the Canary Islands Government to mediate in the conflict. "It does not seem reasonable for the state to remain indifferent while a business decision alters an essential service for our island," she stated. She also reminded that the connection with Fuerteventura has been excluded from the OSP, which represents a comparative disadvantage with other islands.
The council has requested an urgent meeting with the Ministry to seek a solution that guarantees the island's maritime connectivity with the Peninsula. Meanwhile, the majoreros face an uncertain future where the prices of basic products could soar. Maritime transport is the main channel for goods entering Fuerteventura, and any alteration in the routes has direct consequences on the local economy.
The removal of the stop in Fuerteventura also affects tourism, another fundamental pillar of the island. Travellers arriving from the Peninsula will have to transfer in Gran Canaria, which raises ticket prices and extends travel times. Connectivity is key to the economic and social development of the island, and the loss of this direct line is a severe blow for the majoreros.
In light of this situation, the Fuerteventura council has announced that it will not relent in its efforts to restore the direct connection with Cádiz. "We will fight until the end for Fuerteventura to receive the same treatment as the rest of the Canary Islands," concluded García. A meeting with the island's social and economic agents is scheduled for next week to coordinate the actions to be taken.
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