"It is important to reinforce presence of the Azores in public radio and television service," defends Berto Messias
The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs defended in Horta the importance of "reinforcing the presence of the Azores in public radio and television service in the Azores."
Berto Messias spoke at the end of a visit to the new facilities of the RTP/Açores Office on Faial on the date when the World Television Day is being celebrated. On the occasion, the government official conveyed his satisfaction with the "completion of the renovation works in infrastructures and equipment of the Azores offices in the near future."
However, the Regional Secretary warned that "despite the existence of new infrastructures and equipment on São Miguel, Terceira Island and, soon, on Faial, there are other challenges to be faced and overcome, which deserve our attention and concern."
"It is fair to say that we have never done so much in such a short time in terms of infrastructures and equipment, but the work does not end here," Berto Messias said, adding that he will have a meeting with the Minister of Culture in early December to "address these issues."
According to Berto Messias, "the role of public radio and television service as a pillar of autonomic and regional development is undisputed. "Nevertheless, he stressed that this role "should be strengthened by seizing the potential of new equipment as well as of human and technical resources available to reinforce the presence of the Azores in this public service. It should be based on territorial and regional cohesion, inter-island promotion and external projection."
In this context, Berto Messias emphasised "the in-house production capacity, the presence on all islands, the employment stability of Regional Radio and Television Worker, the integration of temporary workers, the technological evolution, the response to viewers' needs and the provision of a radio and television service that is the mirror of our Region, bringing together the realities, experiences and concerns of all islands of the Azores." As he noted, "these are matter that we follow particular attention and they will be conveyed to the National Government, the main entity responsible for the provision of Public Radio and Television Service."