The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estevão, announced that the Government of the Azores is making a historic commitment to recognizing and valuing the Azorean diaspora.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Azorean communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, held at the House of the Azores of New England, in Fall River, Paulo Estevão highlighted the creation of a Regional Secretariat dedicated to the Azorean Communities, a new initiative marking the 48 years of the Azores’ political autonomy.
For the Regional Secretary, “the commitment to the diaspora involves valuing and mobilizing the new generations,” which is why the Government of the Azores “will devote special attention to the children and grandchildren of emigrants born in the host societies,” he stated.
On his first official trip to the Azorean diaspora, coinciding with the Great Festivities of the Holy Spirit of New England, which takes place in Fall River over the weekend, Paulo Estevão stressed that engaging with the younger generations is a key aspect of the government’s strategy.
This initiative will promote visits for young community leaders to the Region later this year, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the contemporary Azores and inspire others in their resident communities abroad.
Additionally, the government will introduce an experimental edition of the Community Games next year, aiming to establish sports exchanges between young people in the Azores and those from the diaspora.
Paulo Estevão emphasized that this new office is a significant step in acknowledging the diaspora’s potential to contribute to the development of the Azores. He also remarked that the XIV Government’s innovation already led to strengthened investments to enhance ties with the Azorean communities worldwide.
During his five-day official visit to New England, Paulo Estevão also met with community representatives and Portuguese language media based in Fall River and New Bedford, accompanied by the Regional Director for Communities, José Andrade
Source: azores.gov.pt
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
