The fifth and final in-person meeting of the Ponta Delgada Participatory Budget took place; however, residents still have additional opportunities to present their ideas through online participation meetings. As stated by the Mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, “Participatory Budgeting represents the best form of direct participatory democracy between citizens and elected officials, in which the former express their legitimate aspirations and the latter, the local authority, undertakes to fulfill the wishes of the residents.” The mayor, who was speaking at the headquarters of Escuteiros 433 Arrifes CNE, at a meeting for the parishes of Arrifes, Santa Clara, São José, São Sebastião, and Relva, recalled that “due to inflation, we intend to increase the maximum amount for each Participatory Budget project, allowing us to continue to fulfill our duty and ensure a more appropriate response to the wishes of the municipality’s population.”

From this fifth public participation meeting, and according to the number of participants, three proposals were submitted for technical analysis: Covering the playground at EB/JI Poços de São Vicente Ferreira and purchasing children’s play equipment; creating an outdoor space for animals without leashes in Paim; and a Functional Park in Jardim D. Leonor Afonso, Arrifes. The online participation meetings will take place from June 16 to 23, through the website op.cm-pontadelgada.pt. It should be noted that the Ponta Delgada Participatory Budget is a deliberative initiative, developed through a democratic process that allows anyone aged 16 or over to submit proposals, debate, prioritize, and vote on projects they would like to see implemented in the municipality by the local government. The proposals that receive the most votes at the public participation meetings are then subject to technical validation before being published, submitted to a final vote by citizens, and implemented by the local authority.

In Diário dos Açores, Paulo Viveiros – director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.