The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs urged parties "not to harm SATA by using it as a political weapon" and to "take a serious and intellectually honest approach to SATA's accounts."
 
Berto Messias spoke at the Legislative Assembly, following a political statement presented by PSD on SATA's results in 2017. On the occasion, he stressed that this party "has purposely forgotten to mention some of the causes that contributed to these results," namely "the instability that occurred throughout 2017 has contributed to these results, which do not please us."
 
"Firstly, the rise of fuel prices, with a considerable impact on this type of business, the instabilities, the incidents that occurred last year with some aircraft and the strikes have negatively conditioned these results." They were further influenced "by the changes that took place in the market in 2015," said the Regional Secretary.
 
Berto Messias stressed that it is "legitimate for each party to have its own approach on this matter," but "with the seriousness and intellectual honesty that is required, addressing the matter in all its multiple dimensions."
 
"Addressing the results of SATA, deliberately forgetting these external factors, does seem neither serious nor intellectually honest," said the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary assured that the Azorean Government is "aware of its options and of what has been the path of SATA at the service of the Azores and the Azoreans."
 
"The clear guidelines for the implementation of some routes to support the regional tourism sector, when we plunged into a deep economic and social crisis - national and European - that overthrew countries across Europe, were consciously taken by a shareholder. The primary purpose was to protect the Azores and the Azoreans as well as the regional tourism sector and the workers in this sector," said Berto Messias.
 
Regarding SATA's results, Berto Messias stated that "they are what they are," stressing that the Regional Government does not "scrounge" them. It has "always been here to face these results," having "delivered SATA's accounts with total transparency and without inconsistencies, as always."
 
Responding the call launched by PSD for an "examination of conscience," Berto Messias replied that "opposition parties must also be aware of the impact of the lighthearted and irresponsible behaviour shown by many members of the assembly against SATA, against its workers and against what it represents."
 
"The parties constantly accusing the Regional Government of interference, when all their proposals defend an increase of the Government's interference without regard to the means, the increase of expenses or the increase of flights, should make a permanent examination of conscience about what is said and done. Furthermore, they should consider the negative results that this political action often has," said the government official.
 
"The accounts, the work, and the path of SATA are probably the most discussed matter at the Parliament as well as at parliamentary committees. The Government of the Azores has always been there and will always be there to assume the responsibility for its choices, being accountable for its actions and results," said Berto Messias.