The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Horta that the growing number of passengers and vehicles transported between the islands of São Jorge, Pico and Faial "demonstrates the success of the model we have implemented."
 
Vítor Fraga spoke at the Legislative Assembly, revealing that the first eight months of this year registered "a growth of 25 thousand passengers and 2,523 vehicles in this part of the archipelago."
 
According to the Secretary for Transport, the model implemented on the "Triangle" islands during this term has "clearly shown its advantages, as evidenced by the increase of 63 passengers from 2012 to 2015, and the introduction of new trends, such as the transport of vehicles and cargo on a roll on/roll off system."
 
Vítor Fraga spoke during the debate of a proposal submitted by PCP (Portuguese Communist Party) recommending the acquisition of a vessel for the transport of passengers, vehicles and cargo between São Miguel and Santa Maria. In this regard, he stressed that this model should "be extended to all islands in an integrated perspective that not only includes a mobility solution for both islands, as proposed, but also a solution for the mobility of people and goods throughout the entire Region. This will increase the mobility of all Azoreans and provide a decisive contribution to the development of the internal market."
 
"Just because someone insists on a mistake, it will not cease to be a mistake," Vítor Fraga said, mentioning the fact that this was the fourth time that this topic was under discussion during this term on the initiative of PCP.
 
"The option presented by PCP is a mistake, because it is an isolated solution for the transport system which, in our view, should be an integrated support system that positively discriminates all islands," said the Regional Secretary.