The President of the Regional Government opened today the Piedade Night Centre on Pico Island, an investment of about one million Euros that is an example of the social and territorial cohesion promoted throughout the Region.
 
"This was an investment of about 1 million Euros that more than doubled the capacity of this nursing home, providing all the conditions in terms of comfort. However, it is important not to forget that the Government's goals guided this partnership with the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Lajes do Pico and were not limited to the financial support to the works," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
On the second day of the Government's statutory visit to Pico Island, the President of the Government pointed out that cohesion is, thus, one of these goals that is being fulfilled in the village of Piedade, Ponta da Ilha. It will be implemented through this new social facility and stems from a partnership signed with the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Lajes do Pico.
 
"We believe it is a right of Ponta da Ilha elderly to benefit from the same conditions and the same comfort, as the any other elderly in our Region, whether they live in the most populous urban centre or in the least populous area of the Region," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In his speech, the President of the Government stressed the importance of generational cohesion, bearing in mind that this contact between the young people and more experienced generations is an "essential aspect for our journey as a People and as a Region."
 
Vasco Cordeiro also stated this work in the social area also stems from partnerships between public and private entities, such as the case of "Santas Casas da Misericórdia" and Social Solidarity Institutions throughout the Region.
 
"This partnership is neither the only source of legitimacy nor it limits what should be the work of private and public entities, but, nevertheless, is a cornerstone of this partnership," stressed the President of the Government.
 
In this regard, he assured that the Government makes an annual investment of nearly 50 million Euros in this area to ensure the right of elderly citizens to security, dignity and comfort as well as the fulfilment of the territorial, generational and social cohesion goals. According to him, they contribute to the fulfilment of a Region in which "we are proud to live and to the ambition to improve it always."
 
On the second day of this visit, the President of the Government also visited the works to expand the Lajes do Pico Fire Station, an investment over half a million euros that should be concluded in the first half of next year.
 
"This project aims to improve the safety, operating and functionality conditions of this fire station. It is part of a series of interventions in fire stations, some of which are already underway and there are others planned for the islands of Flores, Santa Maria, São Miguel and Faial," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In the case of Horta and Povoação, the interventions include the construction of two new fire stations that are already in different phases of progress, while in the case of Flores, Santa Maria and Pico the works are intended to upgrade the existing stations.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, there has been a series of investments in Civil Protection over the last few years, such as the communications network and infrastructures with the primary purpose of having a Civil Protection system prepared for eventualities that may arise.