The President of the Government expressed his belief that the Azores have the ability to overcome the challenges they face, highlighting the "sense of partnership" between regional and local power as one of the "major forces" of the Region's development over the last 40 years.
 
"Whatever challenges there may be in the present and the future, we must have the confidence and awareness of our ability to overcome them, just as we have overcome them in the past," said Vasco Cordeiro. He spoke Thursday at the solemn session commemorating the 516th anniversary of the municipality of Lajes do Pico.
 
In his speech, he emphasised that the contribution of public entities to successfully overcome these challenges must also be guided by a "high sense of rigour as well as with total and absolute intransigence when this, perhaps, does not happen."
 
Vasco Cordeiro highlighted the "sense of partnership" that has developed between different levels of power over the last 40 years, in this case, between local power and regional power.
 
"This partnership is built on a daily basis so that in the municipality of Lajes do Pico, as in any other county in our Region, it will be always possible to create the conditions that favour development and economic and social progress," said the government official.
 
This partnership is increasingly built with the "clear awareness that it is the major force for the development of the Azores," said the President of the Government. He considered that, from the standpoint of regional power, interventions include the investment in infrastructures but also the implementation of sectoral policies with actual impact across the Region.
 
In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro pointed out the examples of the new school in Lajes, the expansion of Piedade Elderly Home, the improvement of Lajes Health Centre, the enhancement of the operating conditions of Pico Airport, the improvement of maritime accessibility and the relaunch of New sectors, such as vineyards and wine.
 
With regard to tourism, the President of the Government stressed that this sector on Pico Island has shown clear signs that is keeping up with the regional trends, namely in the number of overnight stays. In 2016, it grew more than 14 percent compared to the previous year and it already registered an increase of six percent in the four months of this year.
 
"I am not mentioning these results with the intention of conveying the idea that there is nothing else to do. It is important to be always aware of the challenges that remain to overcome and what we have yet to improve at regional and local level," said the government official.
 
At this solemn session, which distinguished several institutions and personalities with the Key of Honour of the Municipality of Lajes, including Carlos César, Vasco Cordeiro emphasised the "care and interest that he, as member of the National Assembly, has shown towards our Region, the challenges we face and how we may overcome them."