Monchique will have facilities built from scratch for the GNR Territorial Post, in an investment of 1,7 million euros, which was launched last week by the Minister of Internal Administration (MAI).
José Luís Carneiro, after visiting the land where the future barracks will be built, located behind the town's cemetery, then went to the Town Hall, where he approved the inter-administrative cooperation contract, signed between the Municipality of Monchique, the General Secretariat of the MAI and also the GNR, represented by its general commander Ribeiro Veloso.
Paulo Alves, president of the Chamber, highlighted that the GNR currently operates «in facilities with poor conditions and little space, leased and paid for by the Municipality and will continue to do so until the new barracks is operational».
Stressing that the land for the new barracks «is provided by the Monchique City Council», the mayor argued that «together, we turned a problem into an opportunity».
Why? The new barracks, «in addition to housing the GNR, will also house the UEPS [Emergency Protection and Relief Unit], with accommodation for both».
According to the Monchique mayor, «the presence of UEPS in Monchique proves to be of primary importance» for the municipality, since fires and other natural or human-created catastrophes do not choose times to occur.
For his part, the general commander of the GNR Rui Ribeiro Veloso welcomed the «moment of pooling of efforts», which allowed «creating new working and living conditions».
The important thing, defended the national responsible for the GNR, is to “provide the Guard with dignified and functional modern facilities”, which allow “increasing the quality of service to communities”.
The Minister of Internal Administration highlighted that «this investment contracted in Monchique, of 1,7 million euros, is one of other investments underway in the Algarve»: Aljezur with 2,2 million euros, Olhos d'Água with 652 thousand euros , Loulé with 11 million, with the Chamber assuming 50% of the costs, and also Vila Real de Santo António with 1,4 million.
«Right now, in contract, in a clear and concrete commitment, we have 16 million euros of investment in the Algarve, in equipment and infrastructure for the internal security forces», highlighted José Luís Carneiro.
Afterwards, investments will be made in GNR facilities in Silves, São Bartolomeu de Messines, in the valorization of the old barracks in Lagos, tax post in Ponta da Areia and Castro Marim. In this case, added the minister, «Castro Marim Chamber had to send plans of the land so that the general secretariat can work on it».
«There are investments that were waiting for 15, 20 years, then citizens stop believing», highlighted the government official, arguing that a contract like the one signed in Monchique, marking the advance of investment, gives new hope.
Regarding political instability, which could affect the completion of the works, the Minister of Internal Administration explained that «these State agreements remain in place, regardless of political power, these priorities are in the programming law, financing is guaranteed», i.e. , do not depend on whether or not governments continue.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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