The Solemn Session of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores to be held Monday in the municipality of Calheta, São Jorge Island, will be celebrated with the bestowal of 29 Honorary Commendations upon personalities and institutions.
In a joint organisation of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Azores, this ceremony will distinguish 21 personalities, seven of them posthumously, and eight regional institutions
The Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was established by the Legislative Assembly in 1980.
The date, observed throughout the archipelago as a regional holiday, celebrates the "affirmation of the identity of the Azorean people, their philosophy of life and their regional unity." In this context, they are regarded as "the basis and justification of the political autonomy that has been proudly recognised and recognised."
The Azorean Commendations, whose legal scheme was approved in 2002, aim to distinguish "citizens and legal persons who have distinguished themselves by personal or institutional merits, acts, civic deeds or by services rendered to the Region."
There are four Honour Commendations in the Azores: Insígnia Autonómica de Valor (Autonomic Commendation of Value), Insígnia Autonómica de Reconhecimento (Autonomic Commendation of Recognition), Insígnia Autonómica de Mérito (Autonomic Commendation of Merit that comprises professional merit, industrial, commercial and agricultural merit, and civic merit) and Insígnia Autonómica de Dedicação (Autonomic Commendation of Dedication).
The Autonomic Commendation of Value intends to distinguish "the exceptionally relevant performance of positions at regional self-government bodies or at the service of the Region" or civic deeds of great relevance."
In turn, the Autonomic Commendation of Recognition aims to honour "the acts or the conduct of exceptional relevance" of Portuguese and foreign citizens who "value and confer prestige to the Region in the Country or abroad," who "contribute to the expansion of the Azorean culture or to the knowledge of the Azores and of their history or who "distinguish themselves by their literary, scientific, artistic or sporting merit."
The Autonomic Commendation of Merit intends to distinguish "meritorious acts or services rendered by Portuguese or foreign citizens in the exercise of public or private duties."
This commendation is divided into the Professional Merit category, "to distinguish the exceptional performance in any professional activity, whether on self-employment or on dependent employment"; Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Merit "to award those who, having developed their activity in industrial, commercial or agricultural areas, have distinguished themselves for important services in the development of these areas or by exceptional merits in their action; Civic Merit, "to honour those who, according to a clear understanding of their civic duties, have relevantly contributed to the services for the community, namely in social and cultural areas."
Finally, the Autonomic Commendation of Dedication "aims to distinguish relevant services rendered in the performance of duties in the Public Administration as well as to honour the workers who demonstrate unusual qualities in their position and who, by their conduct, may become an example to follow."
According to the legislation establishing the Azorean Honorary Commendations, those distinguished with these awards have the duty to "honour the Region" in all circumstances and to "dignify the commendation by all means."
The list of personalities and institutions distinguished this year with Autonomic Commendation at the Solemn Session of the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is as follows:
Autonomic Commendation of Value
- Comando da Zona Marítima dos Açores – Centro de Coordenação de Busca e Salvamento Marítimo de Ponta Delgada (MRCC Ponta Delgada)
Autonomic Commendation of Recognition
- Francisco Inácio da Silveira de Sousa Pereira Forjaz de Lacerda (posthumously)
- Frederico de Menezes Avelino Machado (posthumously)
- Genuíno Alexandre Goulart Madruga
- Manoel Tomaz Gaspar da Costa
- Milton Augusto de Azevedo de Morais Sarmento
- Nuno Sequeira Correia de Sá
- Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores (CIVISA)
Autonomic Commendation of Professional Merit
- Carlos Manuel Pimentel Enes
- Maria João Maciel Jorge Dodman
Autonomic Commendation of Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Merit
- Carlos Manuel da Silva
- Maria de Melo Pacheco de Medeiros
- João Silveira Tavares
- Maria de Jesus dos Santos Bettencourt Félix (posthumously)
- Renato Manuel Gonçalves Goulart
- Vasco Elias Bensaude (posthumously)
- Confraria do Queijo São Jorge
Autonomic Commendation of Civic Merit
- Adelino Paim de Lima Andrade
- António de Fraga Pimentel (posthumously)
- Clélia de Fátima de Brito Nunes Vicente
- Guilherme João de Fraga Gomes (posthumously)
- João de Brito do Carmo Menezes
- Luís Miguel Costa Oliveira Mota dos Santos (posthumously)
- Manuel António das Matas dos Santos
- Associação Cultural AngraJazz
- Clube Desportivo Escolar Flores
- Filarmónica “Clube União Instrução e Recreio”
- Instituto S. João de Deus – Casa de Saúde de São Rafael e Casa de Saúde de São Miguel
- Santa Casa da Misericórdia das Velas