Greece was the cradle of Western philosophy; Rome was the cradle of European land communications; Angra do Heroísmo was the cradle of Azorean autonomy. All of that is in the past, and what matters most is the present, because we are better to each other due to our human qualities fostered by today’s democracy.

Angra has a unique feature: it appears that we view the coastline through the lens of an outdated method of securing ports against pirates, whereas the reality is that there are thriving populations and no piracy. The coastline that was once intimidating has become a haven for the populations and their visitors.

A technical and preliminary note: the towns and parishes have no power or responsibility over the coastline, so they also have no budget for this matter. The coastline is shared among the municipalities, regional governments, and the combined efforts of both. The parish councils are only responsible for cleaning these areas under a cooperation agreement with the municipalities. Governments are very fond of the subject of the sea, perhaps because it requires little effort and allows them to make impassioned speeches about theory, but they do not like the coastlines that need work and do not bring in votes. In 2025, only Salga, Salgueiros, Refugo, Silveira, Negrito, and Cinco Ribeiras have blue flags.

This is the current situation in the municipality of Angra on Terceira Island:

Level 1: coastline with very difficult access and few opportunities: Serreta and Doze Ribeiras.

Level 2: coastline with difficult access but good opportunities, already open and already developed: Cinco Ribeiras, Santa Bárbara, Feteira, and S. Pedro.

Level 3: coastline with difficult access but possibilities: S. Bartolomeu and Ribeirinha.

Level 4: coastline with difficult access but enormous possibilities: São Sebastião.

Level 5: coastline with easy access, but with very little investment: S. Mateus and Porto Judeu.

The coastal parishes of Sé, Conceição, S. Bento, and S. Pedro are part of the city (in addition to St.ª Luzia). Here, the problem is different: Fanal, Prainha, and Cais da Figueirinha do not receive a blue flag because, despite the efforts to treat residential and industrial sewage and the detection of problems, these issues remain unresolved. In Fanal, there are technical excuses, but the truth lies in the sewage, specifically in the discharges. In any case, it was recently awarded the 1st Totem-OneUP in the Azores, a system of lifebuoys and a direct emergency connection to 112. In other words, the historic Fanal does not qualify for a blue flag; it is not a bathing area, and few dare to be contaminated by faulty discharges; however, it is the municipality’s primary concern, ahead of Silveira and Negrito, which have large numbers of bathers every day of the year.

In level 2 parishes, there is no investment. The little that exists is in Cinco Ribeiras, primarily focusing on maintaining what already exists. Santa Bárbara is a unique example.

In level 3 parishes, there is also no investment. In São Bartolomeu, a group of citizens plans to adopt the model used in Santa Bárbara.

In the village of S. Sebastião, there is no investment, only maintenance of what already exists in Salgueiros, and there is almost total neglect – despite an absolutely extraordinary coastline. Nothing is invested in its protection, at least; it has unparalleled potential. It is a practically original coastline where the sea is gradually encroaching and destroying without anything being done about it. This coastline boasts a truly unique luminosity and color, and its history holds a prominent place on the island and in the country, with its abandonment being considered a religious sin.

Level 5 villages: Porto Judeu has invested heavily in its coastline, featuring several extremely beautiful walking trails. It is an example of extraordinary resilience, and the results are worthy of attention and enjoyment (as I often do). It is clear that these are precarious investments (due to the poor durability of the materials used) and have probably been built without structural financial support from the municipality or the government. Porto Judeu, like Santa Bárbara, is an example: doing things little by little and at their own expense, but getting things done. S. Mateus is the worst and the best example: the municipality invested in protecting the coastline at the entrance to the fishing port, between the Bairro dos Pescadores and the Bairro Novo do Bravio (which currently has a huge problem with unbearable smells, almost every day when we drive past), but neglected everything else, including the magnificent bay of the Negrito bathing area. Here, every year, basic works are carried out that fall apart in a few months, systematically turning the funding drain into something of no quality whatsoever. Negrito is probably the best bay in the municipality of Angra due to its enormous potential, but it is not respected: it is a drain on poorly investigated funds because it lacks the minimum quality; it is an area that is very popular with bathers and tourists all year round, but it is always dirty and littered with gravel, sand, and various types of trash. The simple maintenance of cleanliness is sad: the bins overflow with trash, going weeks without being emptied, and they are never cleaned. The sanitary facilities are dirty and in poor condition, and are only open during the bathing season. In short, Negrito, which is legally a bathing area, is a terrible example; the population often complains, but to no avail.

The entire coastline of the municipality of Angra is lined with military forts in various states of repair, giving Terceira the status of an army island with a unique history in the Azores and Portugal. It is a place of great beauty and great potential for the well-being and safety of the population. The greater the beauty, the greater the contempt. Why is there no investment in our coastline, in our safety and well-being? Why do we pay taxes and have this beauty taken away from us due to a lack of investment?

It is all too clear that this colossal failure is solely down to the politicians. In the Azorean democracy, there is a problem with freedom.

Arnaldo Ourique is a specialist on the Portuguese Constitution and the Azorean Autonomy. A researcher in the fields of Politics and Society.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers in the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with insight into the diverse opinions on some of the archipelago’s key issues.