"Time to Make a Real Accounting," Says Filipe Sousa
After fifty years of democracy and autonomy in Portugal, the political movement Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) believes it is, perhaps, finally time to make a careful accounting of what it really costs to live on an island.
In a statement sent to the media this Sunday, Filipe Sousa announced the proposal to create a special mission structure. Its goal would be, as he put it, to understand the real financial burden carried by residents of Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores.
We want to find out, based on scientific research, investigation, and data comparison, what price we pay for living on an island, far from major decision-making centers, with increased costs and various limitations.
Elvio Sousa, JPP, Diário de Notícias da Madeira
The JPP's lead candidate emphasizes that this initiative “has nothing to do with previous ideas that sought to ‘settle accounts’ with History.
A Study That, Some Say, Should Have Been Done Long Ago
The idea of calculating the true costs of island life is not exactly new. But Sousa believes it’s something that "should have been done already" to offer both the regions and the country a firm and trustworthy foundation for discussion - instead of relying, as he says, on mere partisan guesses. According to the plan, this special mission structure would include not only national and regional deputies but also representatives from the central and regional governments.
What Is the True Cost of Insularity?
The proposed study would attempt to answer a wide range of questions that many islanders often ask themselves but never really get full answers to. For example: How much do air and sea transport really weigh on family and company budgets? What about the price of housing - from buying to renting? How heavy are water, electricity, and gas bills compared to the mainland? What portion of family income is spent on education, on healthcare, on basic groceries?
"A Voice for the Islands" in Lisbon and Beyond
At its heart, the project is also a political statement. Sousa frames it as a way to give the islands "a real voice" in national discussions. He believes that having solid data will strengthen future negotiations - not only with Lisbon but also with Brussels. Still, even as he lays out a broad and hopeful vision, it is clear that much depends on how the mission is set up, and whether the political will to act on the findings will follow.
Source: Diário de Notícias da Madeira
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