The guest speaker at a recent dinner meeting of Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC) was the President of the Câmara Municipal de Loulé, Sr Vitor Manuel Gonçalves Aleixo.
Born in the Freguesia de S. Clemente in the Concelho de Loulé on 7 February 1956, Sr Aleixo was appointed President following the elections in October last year. As well as being President, Sr Aleixo’s other claim to fame is that he is the grandson of the famous Portuguese poet António Aleixo, whose statue sits permanently outside the Calcinha Bar in Loule and is a magnet for tourists keen to have their photograph taken with him.
Sr Aleixo spoke at some length about the growing needs and primarily financial problems facing citizens which have grown in number since 2009.
Compared to the boom years when money was readily available for the building of roads, schools and health centres when maybe two of every ten people requesting assistance from the camara were asking for financial help, or help to find work, that number has grown to eight of every ten people.
“It is for that reason that the Cámara intends to concentrate its finances and resources on social needs rather than large building projects or heavy construction” said Sr Aleixo. “We plan to help those most at need with the payment for medicines; help to pay rent; water and energy bills and minor repairs to properties. We are aware that some school-children are going without food at home and we plan to open school canteens during the holidays to help to alleviate this problem.
Contrary to the belief of some people, Loule is not a wealthy council. We have a high rate of unemployment. We are working hard to attract investors and, of course we need to do more to invest in publicity to promote tourism which is a great source of income for us and for businesses. We also plan to increase the number of performances by the Orchestra Clássical do Sul at the Cineteatro Loule”.
Sr Aleixo ended his speech with praise for the Safe Residents Programme, established in 2010 at the instigation of local people with the full cooperation and hard work of the GNR, and which has now grown to cover most of the Algarve.
In conclusion Sr Aleixo thanked AIRC for their charitable work and their efforts in helping local communities, especially UNIR which provides day care and activities for adults with mental disabilities.
