The Regional Secretary for the Economy reiterated today in Horta, the Government's confidence in the effectiveness of the cohesion measures chosen to support smaller islands keeping the pace of the ongoing development process in the Region.

Thus, Vasco Cordeiro refuted the public statements made by PSD which accused him of being personally responsible for what was considered a failure of cohesion policies.

Making clear that the most important aspect of this assessment is not even the fact that PSD, after the current Government being in office for three years, does not know that the cohesion policies are not under his administration (but of the Vice-Presidency) after three years, the government official said that the Azorean Government is “very proud” of the choices made in these matters.

"The cohesion policies developed by the Regional Government on several areas have indeed have indeed become the heritage of the Governments led by the Socialist Party which PSD, unfortunately, does not want to recognise," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The Regional Secretary mentioned some examples of these measures, such as the area of transport, “with essential investments for these islands,” incentives, “with a positive discrimination on the cohesion islands” and the differentiation of support at various levels.

Vasco Cordeiro also noted that the Strategic Plan for the cohesion of the Azores Islands, which is currently under presentation and discussion, represents a “new level in the efforts undertaken by the Government in favour of the cohesion islands.”

The Regional Secretary is also “surprised” by the position taken by PSD as when the President of the Republic recently visited the cohesion islands, "despite acknowledging the difficulties of this effort, said that, in his view, the political choices seemed to be correct and well implemented."

Vasco Cordeiro criticized, on the other hand, the alternatives presented by PSD, particularly the creation of Development Societies for each island. “Knowing what happened and what is happening in Madeira, we can easily estimate where PSD wants to take the Azores to and the outcome that it would have for the Azores.”

The other initiative presented by the opposition party concerns “the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee” at the Parliament to monitor this matter: I think that is all said about the competence of PSD and its will to do something for the cohesion islands," concluded the Regional Secretary.