The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture protested against the wishes of "some opposition parties" to turn the Regional Government into what "it is not and should never be," that is, a "host of popular festivities."
 
"It is strange that some opposition parties, which constantly criticise the Government for allegedly meddling in almost everything, causing alleged constraints to the civil society, want to turn the Government into what it is not and should never, that is, a host of popular festivities. This goes against the tradition of our ancestors that has always been anchored on freedom, independence and mutual aid," said Avelino Meneses.
 
The Secretary for Education and Culture spoke at the Legislative Assembly during a debate about the legal framework on the support "mordomos," committees, "impérios" and brotherhoods in the preparation and organisation of traditional Holy Spirit festivities. In this regard, he stressed that this project, the first by popular initiative, lacks clear definition in substance and scope.
 
"With the clear aims to defend and promote the cult of the Holy Spirit, it mixes this goal with the devotion to Patron Saints as well as with the protection bullfighting, more specifically bullfights on a rope; the latter is common on the island of Terceira and rare to non-existent on the remaining islands," said the government official.
 
Avelino Meneses said the cult of the Holy Spirit "is the true religion of the Azorean people" insofar as it "perfectly joins the diversity we are and the unity we want to be." It is celebrated "in a different manner on each island and in each place," but "it is celebrated throughout the archipelago. Therefore, the celebration of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was wisely decided to be held on Monday Pentecost, an emblematic date celebrating the Holy Spirit."
 
For Avelino Meneses, this is indeed "the best way of identifying Autonomy with the history of the Azores, since the true autonomic dates - February 16, March 2 and June 6 - are still too fragile and have not met with agreement. Moreover, they are dates specifically related to S. Miguel, taking into account the identification of Ponta Delgada with the cradle of Azorean Autonomy."
 
On the other hand, the Regional Secretary considered that the religious and secular manifestations of the cult of the Holy Spirit "are contrary" to the establishment of rules and discipline by "any authorities, particularly civil authorities."
 
In this context, he stressed that the initiative under discussion at Parliament will be contributing to the "degeneration" of "private festivities in political and public festivities."
 
According to the Regional Secretary for Education and Culture, this project also poses "a threat to the nobility of many principles, including freedom, independence and volunteering, which traditionally characterise the relation of the people with the Divine."
 
The project for regional legislative decree, which was rejected by the Legislative Assembly, also had financial implications for the public purse, which, according to Avelino Meneses, "cannot be overlooked."