Tolls on the Via do Infante (A22) highway and their devastating effect on the Algarve’s economy will once again be up for an intense debate this Saturday (March 22) involving a number of Portuguese and Spanish political heavyweights.
The event, organised by CUVI, the Via do Infante (A22) Users’ Commission, will be taking place at 3pm in the NERA business association conference room in Loulé.
Says CUVI – the pressure group that has been fighting the tolls since long before they came into effect: “Repair work to the EN125 has completely stalled, yet it is being used as a blackmailing tool by the government.”
In his most recent trip to the Algarve, the Secretary of State of Public Works and Transport Sérgio Monteiro said that “if the redevelopment work on the EN125 were to be resumed, then there would be no money left for the electrification of the Algarve’s railway”, adds the commission, slamming the statement as “an indescribable example of blackmail”.
“The time has come to discuss this topic and form an extensive group of people in the Algarve to fight for the abolishment of the tolls on the A22 highway,” adds CUVI, urging “everyone to show up for this important debate.”
The impressive guest list includes pivotal players in regional business like Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé; João Vasconcelos, member of CUVI and Portimão councillor; Jorge Botelho, president of AMAL (Algarve Municipalities Association);
Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve tourism board; António Ponce, president of the Federação Onubense de Empresários de Huelva; António Castillo, mayor of Ayamonte; and Paulo de Morais, vice-president of the Association for Transparency and Integrity.
CUVI says a number of other mayors, politicians and businessmen from both Portugal and Spain are also expected.
If you would like to attend the debate, please contact Michael Ferrada (English speaker) at 919 070 032.
