Protesters gathered, shouted slogans against oil exploration, asked for the resignation of the Minister of Environment, but he… did not appear. João Pedro Matos Fernandes, who should be present at the discussion of amendments to the National Plan for Spatial Planning Policies, which is taking place this Tuesday at CCDR Algarve, in Faro, ended up not coming to the Algarve.
The protesters, about five dozen, reinforced by the presence of “storks” from the Satori association, were arriving in droppers. The opening ceremony of the session was scheduled for 9:30 am, but if the minister had arrived, and on time, he would have encountered even fewer protesters.
«In the Algarve, we are in the firing line. Where are the Algarvians, for God's sake?” asked Rosália Cruz, one of the participants in the protest. "At this point, our concern is huge because we see that we are in a camouflaged dictatorship when a minister of this country does not listen to anyone, any sector of society in this region, or the country, and does not listen to associations or opinions", he said.
«The opinions presented to the Portuguese Environment Agency were ignored, the ICNF, at the time of the issuance of TUPEM, had already requested an assessment of the effects on cetaceans, in the migration route they are trying to drill. It is a zone of active seismic faults, we do not understand how this prospecting can pass in a democracy without an evaluation”, added Rosália Cruz.
Some mayors and government officials, such as Miguel Freitas, Secretary of State for Rural Development and Forests, who were present at the PNPOT discussion, were cheered and increased the noise produced by the demonstration. However, minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes, wherever he was, did not hear the protest.
“Even if he were here, I doubt he would have the courage to come and talk to us,” concluded Rosália Cruz.
Photos: Golden Gonçalo|Sul Informação
Comments