Lack of funding for University of the Azores is another "serious case of negligence" of the National Government
The Secretary of the Presidency said this morning at the Azorean Parliament that the lack of funding for the University of the Azores is another "serious case of negligence of the National Government towards the Azorean people" like the cases of RTP or the closure of tax offices and courts in the Azores.
For André Bradford, the problem is the tendency of the National Government, when faced with financial difficulties, "starts neglecting, cutting and closing everything related to autonomy, particularly the autonomy of the Azores."
This "pattern," said the government official, "is worrisome," demanding "us to be united so that we my claim our rights." This union should happen "between the political forces" as well as "between the institutions representing the self-government bodies of regional autonomy."
Regarding this issue, the Government "has taken a very concrete and firm action in order to achieve the balance between what is the repeated disregard of National Government's duties in the Region."
The actions taken by the Regional Government are demonstrated, for example, in recent decision to recognise "the additional costs and the need to maintain the three campuses of the University of the Azores."
Therefore, André Bradford said that the Government of the Azores "grants, in addition to its legal and constitutional powers, an annual support for this specific purpose. However, due to the current context and the unjustified disregard showed by the National Government, the Azorean Government has increased the support awarded to the University of the Azores, being aware that is clearly exceeding its powers and obligation. The Government does so with the clear conscience that "is replacing the funds that should have been allocated by the National Government" to the University of the Azores.
The strengthening of the support granted by the Azorean Government happens "in a specific and temporary" context and because the Government "recognises the important role played by the University of the Azores. Given the disregard, neglect and tendency to forget the Azores, our first duty is to ensure the cohesion of autonomy so that the self-government bodies of the Azores, particularly the Regional Government, may firmly defend the interests of the Azorean people and the autonomic institutions."
One should recall that the Regional Government, through its Community funds, has supported investments in the campus of Angra do Heroísmo and the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries in Horta which have exceed the amount of ten million Euros, in addition to 150,000 Euros for the acquisition of laboratory equipments and the annual support of nearly 342, 000 Euros.
The Government has recently secured the financing of over 1.5 million Euros for the University of the Azores through Community funds so that so that this institution may pay the debt incurred to acquire equipment for the campus of Angra do Heroísmo, which the National Government refused to pay.