The House of the Azores of New England launched among the Azorean Community residing in the State of Massachusetts an awareness raising campaign for the defence of a radio and television public service, with special emphasis on the defence of RTP-Açores, by sending letters expressing this feeling to the Minister Assistant and for Parliamentary Affairs, Miguel Relvas.

The initiative was announced at a public debate, held in New Bedford yesterday night, on the "Role of RTP Azores and its significance to the Azorean community in the United States of America," which was attended by the Regional Secretary of the Presidency of the Government of the Azores, André Bradford.

The enthusiasm of the emigrants who participated in the debate was evident; most of whom expressed "the concern about the intentions that have been announced regarding the approval, by the Minister, of the economic sustainability plan for RTP and, consequently, the production of RTP Açores contents in a five hour period."

The Azorean community residing in North America believes that "RTP Açores is essential as a means of connection to the everyday reality of the Azores and an irreplaceable link to the culture and heritage of the Azorean people."

Moreover, the Azorean emigrants reminded that "they have access to RTP Internacional via cable television distribution, especially to watch the contents produced by RTP Açores," stressing that its programming "represents about 26% of the total programmes broadcast by RTP international. For that reason, they "have subscribed this service and thus contribute to the financing of RTP."

During his speech, the Regional Secretary of the Presidency restated the Government's position which has always defended that "the funding of radio and television public service in the Azores, in accordance to legal provisions and in its concession contract, is a State responsibility that must be met."

With regard to the reduction of broadcast schedule of regional contents, André Bradford told emigrants that the Government of the Azores "will not accept this situation," adding that if he did so "he was admitting that Azoreans are second-class citizens who condescend with the dismantling of many years of work and effort expended in the construction of RTP Azores, which will be detrimental to the archipelago and its connection with the diaspora."

For the government official, the initiative undertaken by the House of the Azores of New England "is an act of the utmost importance in defending this cause and that should unite all those who disagree with the dismantling of the RTP Açores, which will contribute to its slow death."