The Socialist Party in the Algarve has issued a statement condemning "the transfer of the management of the commercial ports of Faro and Portimão to the Directors of the Port of Sines” a decision taken by the Government but which the socialists believe "further devalues the Algarve.”
The government argues that the merger will create “the conditions for investment which the Ports of Faro and Portimão have needed for decades to increase their capacity both in terms of cruises ships and in handling cargo." The Algarve has heard it all before.
According to the socialists, "once again, as in other public services, we have witnessed the centralisation of decision-making bodies away from the Algarve which seriously affects our autonomy and responsiveness, examples being education, medical emergency provision, food safety and economic monitoring, among others."
The socialists added that “the general state of disrepair in the Algarve region is a reality particularly evident in the ports sector with the total absence of any investment in maintenance. This has been the subject of endless complaints that have been totally ignored by government, despite it receiving hefty revenues.”
"Despite numerous promises announced by the Government for the upgrading and refurbishing of port areas, these remain unfulfilled and it has ignored the huge tourism potential that is being prevented from developing.”
The dredging of the Guadiana river, the expansion of the quayside in Portimão, the building of a fishing harbour in Tavira are “examples of work that has been announced several times and has never happened - also the absence of a tug boat for the Algarve coastline and other interventions and priority investments."
"Six months after promises made by the Minister of the Economy, there is no record of the progress of any promised investment at all, bidding procedures ended long ago and no contracts have yet been awarded by Lisbon," conclude the Algarve socialists, who have a point.
The creation of a new body, Administração dos Portos de Sines e do Algarve (APS, S.A.), takes control from the Algarve region with yet more promises of funding for a creaking ports system. Promises of investment have been made before and it is curious that anyone in the Algarve has believed the smooth assurances of ministers over the decades.
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New advertising slogan should be , "The Algarve , Lisbons Ginger Haired Stepchild".