Identity and love for the Azores unite immigrants and emigrants in the Azorean project, says Rui Bettencourt
The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Ponta Delgada that all Azoreans are "united by an identity and the love for the Region," regardless of where they were born and where they live.
Rui Bettencourt spoke Tuesday in the celebrations of the International Migrants' Day, stressing that this involves "those who chose the Azores and those who were born and live here, or even those who were not born here and live far away." As he stressed, this day is about celebrating emigrants and immigrants.
"You can set an example by working here in the Azores and becoming involved in the Azorean project," the government official said, addressing the immigrants attending the event. They were "born outside and came to the Azores," they "chose" the Azores to live, they "are with us and work to generate wealth, and they are here every day to build the Azores." On the occasion, Rui Bettencourt thanked them for their contribution.
In turn, he also welcomed the Azoreans "who were not born here and live outside the Azores" and who already make up a few millions. They are great-great-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and children, and even seventh-generation descendants living in the USA, Canada, Bermuda or Brazil.
"We have to increasingly think of a way of involving all the Azoreans in the world, who are in the order of millions, in this Azorean project," said Rui Bettencourt. According to him, this goal could be now achieved "either in the cultural project or in the economic project, or even in environmental development and tourism projects." This is especially important in cultural matters as far as they are what most unites the Azoreans; however, there is still a lot to do but there is also lots of enthusiasm for it."
The Regional Secretary emphasised that the dynamics and enthusiasm of this "Single People" for the Azores make the diaspora "fabulous," mobilising millions of Azoreans scattered around the world.
The celebration programme of the International Migrant's Day was promoted by the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, in partnership with AIPA and CRESAÇOR. It included the conference on "270 Years of Azorean Presence in Santa Catarina" delivered by Sérgio Luiz Ferreira, a native of Santa Catarina and a descendant of Azoreans from São Jorge Island. He presented a historical retrospective of the Azoreans from the various islands that emigrated to this Brazilian State, addressing the legacy that still exists there in terms of traditions and culture, and their similarities with the archipelago.
The celebrations, which aimed to stimulate and promote the cultural diversity of the archipelago, also included a musical performance featuring artists Rafael Carvalho, Pingo Grapiuna and Jaime Goth, the latter two being from Brazil and Cape Verde, respectively, and a moment of intercultural socialisation.