Correio dos Açores – What do you think of the parish of Sete Cidades today?
Cidália Pavão (President of the Sete Cidades Parish Council) – Today, the parish of Sete Cidades is increasingly sought after by visitors and tourists. In recent years, we’ve noticed that the parish receives visitors throughout the year, compared to a few years ago, when the influx was more noticeable only in the summer. In my opinion, contact with nature is one of the parish’s great attractions. The growth of tourism requires conditions that, unfortunately, the parish has not yet developed 100%. For our inhabitants, it’s important to think of strategies to retain the younger population, because many young people are leaving the parish.

What are the main difficulties facing the parish?
The main difficulties are a lack of housing, especially for young couples, a lack of jobs, parking lots, a hall for festivities, empires and parish celebrations, and specific spaces for snack bars.
In addition, the lack of maintenance of rural and urban roads, as well as the cleaning of areas around the shores of the lagoons is a problem, because there is a shortage of manpower. The competent authorities, such as the Regional Government, the Town Hall and even the Parish Council, lack the manpower and funds to carry out cleaning and maintenance work that requires higher costs.
Climate change has also been making itself felt, especially in the winter months with the heavy rains. Lately, the parish has seen some flooding of homes. There is also a need for greater maintenance of the streams and retention basins, as landslides have been increasing.

In your opinion, what could be done to solve these problems?
First of all, it is undoubtedly necessary to create the conditions for hiring more manpower. There also needs to be greater control over the cleaning of paths, gullies and basins. These places must always be clean so that drainage is easier. There must also always be money available for emergencies.

How big is the housing shortage in the parish? How can this problem be solved?
There is a great shortage of housing in the parish, especially for young couples. The existing houses, which are for sale, require work. Buying a house and adding the cost of the work is not easy these days, with the aggravating factor that you always have to buy the land for the houses, which is not affordable either. As far as construction is concerned, it is necessary to create support conditions for this.

Has the trafficking of illicit substances and the number of drug addicts been increasing in the parish?
Curiously, there was a time when drug trafficking and the number of drug addicts were notorious in the parish, but recently this number has been decreasing and has not been so evident in local society.

What is the extent of poverty in the parish? What has the parish council been doing about it?
In fact, there are cases of poverty in the parish and in some situations it’s not obvious. However, the Parish Council is aware of them and has tried to help by referring cases to the Social Security Institute of the Azores, so that families can be monitored. The parish council also helps out with food, as far as it can, especially at festive times.
We also have some needy families and RSI beneficiaries in the parish who already receive support from the Regional Government and the Town Hall. However, I think there should be greater control and an attempt to get these beneficiaries into the job market. These people can do jobs in the parish, in order to justify the support they receive and not shy away from the subsidies they are given.

What is the Sete Cidades Parish Council’s approach to developing tourism? What is its impact on the parish in socio-economic and environmental terms?
Tourism is growing in Sete Cidades. There is socio-economic growth, mainly in terms of restaurants, but I think there could be some points of sale for handicrafts, thus favoring the parish and creating jobs.
In terms of tourism activities, the parish is well developed, as it has various nautical activities, such as canoeing and pedalos. It also has bicycle tours, which promotes the parish.
In terms of environmental impacts, people are becoming more aware and more civilized. However, we need more litter garbage cans and more enforcement, especially at weekends and on public holidays, because we need to control the parking of cars on the shores of the lagoons.

Is there no way to put pressure on the government and local authorities to move forward with the Monte Palace project?
Unfortunately, we haven’t had any information about what’s going to happen to Monte Palace for three years. One of the representatives met with us and showed that he had many ideas and a great desire to transform the building, but so far nothing has been done.

The completion of the Sete Cidades campsite has been delayed. What efforts have you made to complete it?
According to a meeting with the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, the campsite project is nearing completion. We’re looking forward to it being finished as soon as possible.

Sete Cidades is also a rural parish. Has the agricultural economy suffered from the fall in the price of milk and the rise in production costs?
Clearly, the number of farmers who have had to sell up and stop farming is increasing, not so much because of the fall in milk prices and the rise in costs, but because Mr. Caetano de Andrade terminated the land contracts with the farmers, because the rent they were asking for was unaffordable. Having run out of land, the producers had to stop working, leaving many without another source of income. Now in their 40s and 50s, they are forced to find another profession.

Does the parish have the potential to develop further?
There is always potential to develop. We should invest in tourism. As contact with nature is now in great demand, I think we should create specific spaces that are conducive to this.

What are the main development priorities for the coming years?
As a priority for the next few years, I would point to the restoration of the central area of the parish, the construction of a hall for festivities, the creation of specific leisure and picnic areas, as well as parking lots.

Carlota Pimentel, journalist for Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director

This story was published with the sponsorship ship of the Carlos Vieira Foundation.