The PCP demanded that the Government justify the “significant delay in the works at the Commercial Port of Portimão” and that it proceed with a realistic forecast of the beginning of the intervention.
The questions were addressed to the Minister of the Sea by deputy Paulo Sá, elected by the Algarve constituency, in the Assembly of the Republic.
The communists recall that they had already drawn attention, at the end of 2018, to the delay in works on this infrastructure.
At the time, the Ministry of the Sea acknowledged the delay in the Environmental Impact Study, adding that this delay "does not affect the schedule of the contract" and that "the physical execution of the works planned for the Commercial Port of Portimão […] will occur according to what has always been planned, that is, starting in 2019 and ending in 2020", according to the PCP.
However, the works have not started yet and, according to information collected by the PCP, they will not start this year and very unlikely in the next one.
“In other words, despite public statements made by the Minister of the Sea, to the contrary, the works at the Commercial Port of Portimão are really late! Such a delay could even jeopardize funding from Community funds”, they warn.
Hence, the communists also want to be clarified on whether this delay “compromises the financing of the works by community funds” and, if so, “how the financing will be ensured”.
The PCP highlighted that the Commercial Port of Portimão has asserted itself as a destination for international cruises and also as a possible logistical base for the supply of cargo transported to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
«It is an unquestionable fact that the passage through the Commercial Port of Portimão for hundreds of thousands of cruise ship passengers has been contributing to economic dynamism and job creation in the hotel, restaurant, recreational and leisure activities sectors , and local commerce», they say.
But, in order for this activity to grow, with evident benefit for the Algarve region, it is necessary to carry out works to improve the maritime accessibility of the Commercial Port of Portimão, such works that the previous PSD/CDS Government did not carry out and that the current Government is slow to carry out”, they conclude.
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