The President of the Government announced today that the National Government has accepted to transfer to the Region the vacant houses left by the USA at Lajes Air Base, which will be available for projects intended to strengthen the local economy and promote employment creation and wealth generation on Terceira Island.
 
"The National Government has already replied to the letter and to the proposal that the Regional Government had already submitted regarding the transfer of these houses on Terceira Island. It is with great pleasure and pride that I convey to you that the response is positive," stated Vasco Cordeiro at the Legislative Assembly.
 
Next month, the Government will launch the public tender for the first phase of rehabilitation works of Beira-Mar neighbourhood, composed of 138 houses, as well as the school complex left vacant by the United States.
 
In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro assured that, as a result of this positive response from the National Government to the Regional Government's claims, "today we have better conditions to continue this effort to strengthen the economy of Terceira and the Azores as well as to promote employment creation on Terceira and in the Azores."
 
At the plenary session taking place in Horta, the President of the Government stated the decision dispels the fear that the transfer of these houses to the Region would condition the implementation of investment projects by the USA or other entities in cases they needed these houses.
 
"I am pleased to share with this Assembly that the Regional Government is fully available to assess with the US Government, or with any other entity, any project for the use of these houses that will help strengthening the local economy as well as to promote wealth generation and employment creation on Terceira Island," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
At the parliamentary debate on the reduction of US forces at Lajes Air Base, the President of the Government stressed that social and economic data on Terceira Island are "a major incentive to do what remains to be done so that we may respond to economic and employment creation needs, and further strengthen the tourism sector on Terceira and in the Azores."
 
In this context, he added that the island Terceira has submitted projects amounting to 103 million Euros under the incentive scheme for private investment - SIDER throughout its seven-year period. With regard to the COMPETIR + incentive scheme, which is only halfway in its implementation period, this island has already submitted projects representing an overall investment of 102 million Euros.
 
"So far, the amount submitted under the private incentive scheme in the first years of its implementation period is practically the same as that submitted in the seven-year period of the previous incentive scheme," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government also pointed out that, as of January 2015, there were 2,658 registered unemployed on Terceira and the number dropped to 1,643 in December 2017, a reduction over 38 percent.
 
"In 2015, the island of Terceira registered nearly 176 thousand Euros overnight stays, while in the last year there were more than 327 thousand overnight stays, which represents a growth of 90% compared to 2015 and over 100% over 2014.
 
Before the members of the Regional Assembly, the President of the Government rejected the idea that the Government of the Azores has acted with secrecy over the Lajes Air Base process.
 
"This idea is far from the truth. I, as President of the Government, have already requested three times - and this was done - to meet with a Commission of this House to specifically address the issue of Lajes Air Base," recalled Vasco Cordeiro. Moreover, he added that, before and after the meetings of the Permanent Bilateral Commission, he directly contacts party leaders to discuss developments in this process.
 
"Accusing the Regional Government of acting in this matter with secrecy has nothing to do with the reality. The Government acts in this, as in other matters, with total and absolute transparency with the members of the Regional Parliaments," assured the President of the Government.
 
Regarding the announced operation of US airline, Delta, to the Azores, the President of the Government also assured that, during the meetings of the Permanent Bilateral Commission in which he participated, "it was never mentioned that the Delta flights would be a sort of compensation for whatever it may be."