The construction of a fire station in the Graciosa aerodrome “is another example of the Government’s commitment regarding the improvement of the accessibilities, not only for this island, but also for all islands of the Archipelago,” stated the Regional Secretary for the Economy on the first day of the Government’s statutory visit to Graciosa.
Vasco Cordeiro spoke at the presentation of the construction project of the facilities that will accommodate the fire-fighters of the Graciosa aerodrome, defending that “this effort to improve the accessibilities is not only addressed to the larger islands, but to the entire Archipelago.”
With regard to Graciosa, the Secretary stressed that “the Government of the Azores will implement significant investments, bringing a new development to the island,” such as the case of the new hotel, of the works that are being carried out in the Carapacho thermal baths, or of the intervention in the fishing and passenger ports in Praia.
According to Vasco Cordeiro, “these are not abstract measures. (…) These are measures that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.” Nevertheless, the Secretary alerted for the necessity that “everyone should make the most of their potentialities.”
The Regional Secretary stated that “development is not only achieved with the Government’s intervention; it is also achieved with the private initiative,” appealing to “a partnership between the public entities and the private entities, with the purpose of making better use of the business areas, which are now provided by the public investment.”
Amongst the new potentialities, Vasco Cordeiro pointed out those that will be created by the coming in force of the new Public Service Obligations for the inter-island transportation in October 2009.
These new rules, as the Secretary said, “include an effective reduction of the air fares, in about 17 percent for the smaller islands, the establishment of special air fares addressed at large families and a new model for the student air fare, being now connected to the resident air fare and not to the economic air fare, something which had happened until now; therefore, they represent a clear example that the Government’s investments are widely productive.”
The renewal of the SATA Air Açores fleet, which in the case of Graciosa will enable “the operation of very different aircrafts, representing a significant increase of the passenger and cargo capacity with many advantages for Graciosa” was another example given by Vasco Cordeiro.