 Daily news from the Canaries and the islands' biggest English language newspaper on-line  |  |  |     |
 Daily news from the Canaries and the islands' biggest English language newspaper on-line La Gomera Taking the mickey in Taguluche? By Barbara Belt Inhabitants of the small, rural enclave of Taguluche are thoroughly fed up with the continual problems suffered at the village's only bar and restaurant.  "This man has done nothing but go against the village. If this is the quality of life that he wishes to impose on us, we insist that he resigns. We, the local people, refuse to put up with this negligence and abandonment any more. He's taking the mickey!" Taguluche is the next valley westwards from Valle Gran Rey and falls within its municipal boundaries. Only ten minutes away by sea, weather permitting, it takes nearly an hour on winding, narrow roads to get from Valle Gran Rey to Taguluche by car and is one of the more isolated of the island's inhabited villages. Tourism has changed the face of its bigger neighbour, but has barely touched the equally picturesque Taguluche. The population has gradually dwindled as young people leave in search of jobs elsewhere. The people remaining are mainly elderly. The few younger people still there have a difficult time managing schooling for their children, or buying what they need. They tend to leave, sooner or later. The remaining elderly population is isolated and, although accustomed to rural life, made vulnerable by ageing in an exclusively elderly community. The bar in question, the village’s only social centre, is housed in a building owned by Valle Gran Rey’s municipal council and has been closed since May, when the young family running this multi-functioned bar, restaurant and general store decided to go. Since then, according to the neighbours’ association, "we haven't even been able to buy basic necessities like bread. We've been around to Valle Gran Rey to the town hall on numerous occasions to try to talk to the mayor about a possible solution, but he hides away and refuses to see us. All we can do is officially register our complaints at the office there, but nothing ever comes of any of it. They tell us someone will come soon, but nothing ever happens. They've forgotten us. Our visits there are always a complete waste of time. We're totally fed up with the situation. "The building’s also used as our medical centre when the doctor comes on Wednesdays. We have to go in and clean it ourselves because it’s in such a terrible state. When there are funerals it's the same. And now this!" What has really upset everyone now is a recent event, put on by the local council, in the building. "We're looking into having him officially declared persona non grata. This really was too much", continues the neighbours' association. "He (Ruymán García) held a meeting there! Can you believe it! It got opened up, cleaned and stocked with food and drink so that guests could enjoy the live music that was put on. Why wasn't all the money it cost spent on sorting out this problem? Does he think he can keep us all quiet with a plate of food?" The mayor, for his part, denies that the building is closed. "We're trying to find a solution to the bar problem, but the building isn't totally closed. The computer and gymnastics rooms are still available". A computer room is unlikely to be of much relevance to an elderly population. It also seems improbable that country people, accustomed to hard physical labour, will be excited by the attractions of gymnastics. Perhaps the fact that the building still functions as a weekly health centre and occasional morgue provides some consolation to locals. Whilst a morgue is not nearly as entertaining as a glass of wine or two, a game of dominoes, singing, or even that default pastime, arguing about football and politics, it may, after all, be thought more appropriate for a handful of pensioners than a bar. That would appear to be the official view. However, the people of Taguluche have a history of fighting the untenable. The same group tenaciously dragged the previous council right through the Spanish legal system, and on to the European Court of Human Rights, to secure the end of a planned water-bottling plant which would have dried up village irrigation water. "All we need now is somewhere to buy essentials and a place to relax", says the neighbours association.
| Tenerife - 09.02.2012 - A Tenerife schoolteacher is being quizzed by police over allegations he indecently asasaulted two girl pupils. more... Adeje - 09.02.2012 - The murder trial involving four members of a dangerous Kosovo Albanian gang accused of killing two compatriots in a turf war slaying in Adeje seven years ago has ended in acquittals. more... Tenerife - 08.02.2012 - Emergency services in Tenerife were called into action again yesterday to rescue a hiker who took ill during a walk in the Anaga hills outside Santa Cruz. more... Canary Islands - 08.02.2012 - Yesterday's ugly scenes at Bilbao airport, where Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary had to be given a police escort after his provocation of former Spanair employees, prompted a furious reaction against the head of the airline by Canarian MP Ana Oramas. more... Las Palmas - 08.02.2012 - The snags preventing the release of tickets for the concert by rock legend Bruce Springsteen in Gran Canaria have now been resolved and the gig has been confirmed 100%, say the organisers. more...    Banish the blues They tell us that this is one of the most depressing times of the year more...   | Elektronische Zigarette Kombiangebote Elektronische Zigarette 8,9cm mit der E-Zigarette Classic www.elektrische-zigarette.eu Rent a car Tenerife We have been in the rent a car business since 1976 in Tenerife. Our experience - your advantage. www.hermanns-cars.com Electronic Cigarette The Electronic Cigarette SLIM is recommended for smokers with few consume, occasional smokers and to go. www.liquid-shop.eu Real Estate Tenerife We are a real estate company, constituted in the year 2002, and nevertheless our professional team possesses a long trajectory in the real estate sector in the north of Tenerife. www.optima-tenerife.es ic media group |
