The president of the PS/Azores, Francisco César, accused the Azorean executive of wasting “the largest package of European funds ever,” particularly in the housing sector, stressing that “when the PSD is in charge of the government or municipal councils, nothing works as it should.”

Francisco César was speaking at the PS/Azores parliamentary conference, which ended yesterday in Graciosa.

“There is money available in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), there are funds in the councils and in the Regional Government, but when the PSD is in charge, what happens? Nothing.

The funds remain unspent and the problems get worse,“ he said, citing the lack of investment in housing as an example.

On the other hand, the leader of the Azorean Socialists once again highlighted ”the chaos in the maritime transport sector and the disorganization of inter-island air transport, with direct consequences for the economy and the daily lives of the Azoreans.”

“With the PSD in power, we now have an unacceptable situation, with goods held up in ports, investors postponing openings because cargo is not arriving, and even empty shelves on islands such as São Miguel and Terceira,” he added.

Francisco César said that in the health sector, “the situation is equally worrying” and that, in the case of Graciosa, “access to specialists, consultations, and diagnoses has worsened.”

The PS/Azores leader also criticized “the deterioration of roads,” particularly in Graciosa, emphasizing that this is “the responsibility of those who have been in power for five years.”

On that occasion, the socialist was clear about the role of the PS: “We cannot give up. We have to turn difficulty into motivation, show that we have an alternative, mobilizing project, and above all, one that is done with truth.”

“The PS is proud of what it has done in the past and is ready to present an alternative that will restore confidence to the people,” he concluded.

For his part, the PS deputy elected by the island of Graciosa, José Ávila, said that the island “has been forgotten by the Regional Government” and that “this has to change.”

José Ávila identified the main difficulties facing the island, namely “serious shortcomings in health care, increasingly limited mobility, neglect of tourism, difficulties in exports, and a lack of housing.”

The parliamentarian was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the Carapacho Thermal Baths, as part of the PS/Azores parliamentary sessions.

The socialist stressed that, during two days of visits to institutions, companies, and strategic locations on the island, the PS/Azores “gathered testimonies confirming the Regional Government’s lack of response to problems that have been getting worse, one of the most worrying being mobility.”

“We now have two weeks ahead of us when there are no places to leave or enter Graciosa. This causes enormous difficulties for the population, but what concerns us most are the sick, who are unable to travel for treatment and consultations,” he denounced.

Maritime transport of goods was also highlighted as “critical.” “The government has increased the number of stops, but the companies were not prepared. There is a shortage of containers, especially refrigerated ones, and ships are missing their stops. As a result, we are unable to export our live cattle or our traditional products,” he added.

The deputy said that in the health sector, “there are increasing reports of failures in the provision of care.”

He also denounced “the decline in tourism,” stressing that “Graciosa has been left behind.”

Other concerns addressed during the parliamentary sessions include the consequences of the increase in SATA fares, which make it difficult to export fish and sweets, as well as the impact of the prolonged closure of the Carapacho Thermal Baths.

In Diário Insular, José Lourenço-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.