The Regional Director for Communities stated in Cambridge that the Azorean Diaspora is "an integral part of the development process of the Azores," through its permanent physical and emotional ties to their home islands.

Paulo Teves Spoke at East Club in Cambridge on the sidelines of the cultural soiree organised in the context of the 23rd Meeting of North American Portuguese Teachers, attended by over 200 people. The government official highlighted the migratory route of Azoreans in various parts of the world, considering that "their determination, responsibility and courage deserve our recognition and encouragement to continue disseminating their identity legacy."

"Our mission should increasingly comprise younger generations in order to disseminate the current reality of the Azores with all those who, despite not being natives of the archipelago, share its cultural origins," said the Regional Director. In this context, the government official added that "albeit the modernity and development of the Region, due to the progress made in recent years, the genuineness that has characterised us for over five centuries of history remains unchanged."

Paulo Teves stressed the importance of community organisations in the integration of thousands of Azoreans who have emigrated to Canada since 1953 and pointed out that, nowadays, these institutions "have managed to adapt themselves to the needs of communities, becoming the representatives of Azorean emigrants."

"Rather than maintaining and promoting what we share, from traditional dances to music, religion, handicrafts, traditional cuisine and to the Portuguese language, Azorean emigrants and Azorean descendants, despite being far away from the islands of origin, are indubitably our most valuable heritage," said the government official.

The Regional Director attended the closing session of the 23rd Meeting of North American Portuguese Teachers last Sunday. This year's edition was held under the theme "Cooperating is Teaching." He also took part in the Holy Spirit procession as well as in traditional "sopas" (Holy Spirit soup) that there were served to nearly a thousand people.