The Angra do Heroísmo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAH) and the Business Association of São Jorge Island (NESJ) have expressed disappointment over the brief visit of the President of the Republic to the island of São Jorge. Initially planned as a two-day visit, it was reduced to merely a symbolic, hurried two-hour presence.
In a press release, the organizations noted that the visit was confined to participation in the ceremony of integrating a new member into the Confraternity of São Jorge Cheese, a moment of significant symbolism for the island and its main local product.
“However, the brief and rushed nature of the visit fell short of what was originally planned and publicly announced by the Office of the President, and of what the island of São Jorge rightfully expected,” they emphasized.
The content of the communication was shared with the Office of the President of the Republic and the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro.
According to the business leaders, given the “previously announced visit that created anticipation,” a closer agenda with the local population, the business sector, and the various realities of day-to-day life on the island was considered essential, particularly in light of challenges associated with insularity and isolation.
The CCIAH and NESJ mentioned that a symbolic dive by Marcelo at Poça Simão Dias was planned, which would have represented a significant opportunity for promoting tourism on the island within the national market, with obvious impacts on tourism, commerce, and hospitality sectors.
“The change in the presidential agenda was clearly a result of pressure from the presidency of the Regional Government to have the head of state visit São Miguel island, which was not part of the initially established agenda,” according to the associations.
This decision, they added, represents “not only institutional disrespect towards São Jorge but also reflects ongoing concessions to regional centralist interests that systematically ignore the smaller islands of the Azores archipelago.”
The CCIAH and NESJ also expressed “equal perplexity” over the absence of the president of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, Luís Garcia, who, unlike in other islands during this presidential visit, did not attend events in São Jorge, despite having “previously confirmed his participation in the ceremony of the São Jorge Cheese Confraternity.”
Last week, the President of the Republic visited several islands of the Azores, accompanied by the President of the Government of the Azores, among other institutional figures.
