ACRAL, the Algarve retailers association, has slammed the “incompetence” of bureaucrats who know “nothing about the reality of the country or of the region”.
Talking about the “huge mistake” made in the drawing up of a list of the least densely populated boroughs (Municípios de Baixa Densidade), ACRAL boss Vítor Guerreiro has said the incompetence of national municipalities association ANMP will have “serious consequences”.
As we have already reported, many of the Algarve’s “most fragile” boroughs feel they have been unfairly left off the list – a situation which will hamper any bids for community funding.
For now, only Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Monchique and Vila do Bispo are in line for special treatment.
Calling the list’s elaboration “a very poor job that will only accentuate the region’s inequalities”, Guerreiro suggests it should have been left to Algarvians or at least people who could appreciate local realities.
“It’s the only way one can understand that parishes such as Ameixal (Loulé) or São Marcos da Serra (Silves) have the same classification as Quarteira and Armação de Pêra!” he stormed. “Even though they are located in the same borough, they cannot be compared.”
ACRAL is not the only association to criticise the list.
AMAL, the association of Algarve borough councils, has also spoken out against it and says it will be suggesting changes.
