The Vice-President of the Government stated today in Horta that the Plan for the Economic Revitalization of Terceira Island (PREIT), prepared and proposed by the Regional Government, has not only prevented the dismissal of workers of Lajes Base but has also contributed to the creation of 748 jobs since 2015.
 
"Through the direct intervention of the President of the Government, we avoided the dismissal of workers," stressed Sérgio Ávila at the Legislative Assembly. In addition to this "fundamental achievement" of great importance for workers' rights and the "social stability of Terceira Island," more than 80 percent of the measures envisaged by the Region under PREIT have already been implemented in two years.
 
Sérgio Ávila pointed out that the proactive action of the Regional Government event avoided the assumptions of PREIT which provided for redundancies. It ensured that the workers who were longer at the service of Lajes Base as a result of the reduction of the U.S. presence were entitled to compensation and full retirement, based on a law passed in 1996 by a Government supported by the Socialist Party.
 
In addition to this labour issue, which the Vice-President emphasised as the "first priority" of the spirit of PREIT, he mentioned the creation of a vast set of measures as a fundamental strategy to "minimise the economic and social effects resulting from the reduction of activities at Lajes Base, through complementary economic activities."
 
As for the measures developed by the Regional Government, the government official stated that more than 80 of those envisaged in that document have already been implemented.
 
"Besides the implementation of measures, the most important thing is their results," Sérgio Ávila said, noting that, currently, "there are 748 fewer unemployed on Terceira Island compared to January 2015."
 
With the measures developed by the Region under PREIT, it was possible to "reduce unemployment on Terceira Island by 28 percent."
 
"Hence, we not only maintained but also created jobs and reduced unemployment," said the government official.
 
Sérgio Ávila assured that the position and the degree of demand on the part of the Regional Government towards external entities in their responsibilities regarding the Lajes Base process "is the same," regardless of the political parties that support the National Government.