The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the Resource Centre of the National Scouts Corp (CNE) in Ribeira Seca is "an unmistakable evidence of your commitment and civic participation in the Azorean society and, in this particular case, with the population of Terceira."

Isabel Rodrigues spoke Friday at the opening of this centre, which, with the support of the Regional Government, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, is installed in an old school building, donated by the village of São Sebastião. Its purpose is to keep in readiness equipment and human means to support scout activities and official civil protection services in drills and situations of disaster. The project is expected to be extended to other islands.

"This commitment and support to the Azorean population has a long tradition of CNE. Almost from its inception, scouts were always ready to assist in immediate relief and provide support in situations of great distress that unfortunately plague our islands from time to time," said Isabel Rodrigues.

In her speech, the Regional Secretary stressed that "in cases of earthquakes, disasters, floods, storms and other difficult situations, people know they can rely on scouts and, above all, they trust their work, which is always efficiently coordinated, organised and attentive to the needs of people and their families."

"This action," added the government official, "combined with the extremely important daily work with children and young people in the Azores, is the practical translation of a culture of solidarity and civic participation that the National Scouts Corps have passed on to the generations of Azoreans."

"For all these reasons, and for the work the CNE has developed in the archipelago, the Regional Government will continue to support scouts associations in the Region, particularly this association, which is represented on all islands of the archipelago, comprising more than 4,000 scouts," said Isabel Rodrigues.