Father José da Cunha Duarte, who was the founder of the Costume Museum of São Brás de Alportel, wrote, on November 1st, a letter to the provider of the local Santa Casa da Misericórdia, in which he defends Emanuel Sancho, who was controversially suspended from his position as director of that museum, as the Sul Informação reported, first hand.
Emanuel Sancho, director of the Costume Museum in São Brás de Alportel, was suspended on September 23 by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, owner of the space, and prevented from entering the premises. At issue was a 50 thousand euro transaction that led to harsh criticism from the museologist. In reality, the bad relations between the Misericórdia's provider and the museum director had already started years ago.
In this most recent episode, the Administrative Board of Santa Casa da Misericórdia reacted to Sancho's position on the alleged diversion of 50 thousand euros allocated by the City Council to the Museum for other purposes, considering them as "unfair and dishonest accusations", suspending him from his position and prohibiting him from entering the facilities.
Now, in your letter, to which the Sul Informação had access, and which is circulating in São Brás de Alportel, Father Cunha, bluntly, accuses the provider Júlio Pereira of having watched «impassively and serenely the degradation of the relationship between Misericórdia/Museum», without doing anything.
“All attempts at dialogue came from the Museum, but you tried to turn them into humiliating episodes. Since you took office in 2016, you have not once called upon the Director of the Museum to start a constructive dialogue,” accuses the former parish priest of São Brás, aged 84, who now lives in his hometown of Penafiel. “What kind of leader are you?” he asks, addressing the Mercy’s ombudsman.
“Emanuel Sancho is a Brother of Mercy, Director of the Museum and President of the António Bentes Cultural Center,” recalls the priest. “I remember the praise you gave him at the Board of Directors meetings for his good administration and accountability,” he adds. That is why “you wanted him to be the nominee for your electoral list. He did not accept. You never forgave him,” he denounces.
“You continue to persecute him, he was the one who built the Museum and gave it a name nationally and internationally,” criticizes Father Cunha.
Recalling a letter he wrote to the ombudsman Júlio Pereira in 2021, when public conflicts began between the Misericórdia and the director of the Museu do Traje, Father José da Cunha Duarte emphasizes that «this time I decided to write to you again. As unfortunately you did not accept my advice before, I decided this time to make my letter public».
Without mincing words, as is his custom, Father Cunha adds: “Now, I do not want to die without denouncing your moral profile, which, in the eagerness of an excessive ambition, sets itself up as master of everything without regard to the means. It is a disgrace what has happened and continues to happen within this Mercy. Fear and denunciation have taken over the Institution.”
“As a member of the Brotherhood of this Mercy, I appeal to all members to put an end to this fratricidal war, for the good of all. May the common sense of all brothers force the Board to change its course, otherwise the General Assembly will start thinking about a new Provider”, concludes the letter from Father José da Cunha Duarte.
However, the petition «It is urgent to save the Costume Museum of São Brás de Alportel!» already has 950 signatures online, and another 200 on paper. Addressed to the president of the Administrative Board of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de São Brás de Alportel, president of the Municipal Council, Bishop of the Algarve, president of the Union of Portuguese Misericórdias, president of the CCDR-Algarve and also to the Minister of Culture, the petition highlights that the «unjustified suspension of the director of the Museum puts at risk a project that is over 20 years old and greatly dignifies São Brás de Alportel».
The petition can be read and signed here.
The conflict situation at the Costume Museum of São Brás de Alportel has already been the target of protests by the Algarve Museum Network, APOM – Portuguese Museology Association and Local PSD.
This Sunday, the new leader of the CDS/PP in the Algarve also considered, in a statement, that «the engine of culture in São Brás de Alportel has stopped».
«As president of the CDS-PP Algarve District Political Commission, I cannot help but be concerned about the matter raised by the president of our CDS-PP Municipal Political Commission of São Brás de Alportel, Alexandre Guedes da Silva», demanding «rapid actions based on cohesion, transparency and commitment to the continuity of the work».
“Saving the São Brás de Alportel Costume Museum is essential to preserving the region’s cultural and historical heritage,” adds Rodrigo Borges de Freitas.
However, despite the most recent conflict between Emanuel Sancho, as director of the Costume Museum, and the provider Júlio Pereira being based on a subsidy granted by the São Brás de Alportel Council, the municipal officials have not yet made a public statement about this case.
Read here the letter from Father José da Cunha Duarte to the provider in full:
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