José Manuel Bolieiro opens new headquarters of Santo Amaro Parish Council, highlighting "value" of local government and democratic "proximity" - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, presided over the opening ceremony of the new headquarters of the Santo Amaro Parish Council, municipality of Velas, on Tuesday, highlighting the Government's commitment to strengthening local government and investing in local solutions.

The new headquarters, located in the renovated building of the former elementary school, is a tangible response to the needs of the parish, providing better conditions for the functioning of the parish council and integrating an outdoor space designed to host cultural and community activities. The work was carried out with the direct support of the Regional Government, being an example of institutional cooperation among the regional administration, the municipality of Velas, and the Parish Council of Santo Amaro.

“Today is a day to acknowledge the dignity of local government,” José Manuel Bolieiro stated, emphasising that the work “is not the result of an exceptional effort, but rather something that the parish and its population deserve.”

The initiative is part of a governance vision that values proximity, dialogue between institutions, and the sharing of responsibilities to achieve tangible solutions. The President of the Government was keen to emphasise that this cooperation was possible thanks to the understanding between the different levels of power, putting the interests of the people first.

"Only with cooperation and coordination among all parties can we better serve our people," he said, mentioning the collaboration between the Regional Government, the Municipality of Velas and the Parish Council of Santo Amaro.

The head of the Azorean Government also took the opportunity to highlight the new technical and financial cooperation scheme with Azorean parishes, recently implemented by the Government of the Azores. This new model has provided parish councils with more stable and predictable tools for planning and implementing small-scale interventions and services.

"It is about ensuring consistency and stability in the relations with parishes, promoting responsible decentralisation with the necessary resources," he said.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, and the Mayor of Santo Amaro Parish Council, Roger Sousa, reiterating the spirit of inter-institutional cooperation that has guided the actions of the Azorean Government.