The World Council of Houses of the Azores (CMCA) is holding its 2024 in-person general assembly this week on the island of São Jorge.
The 26th annual meeting of the coordinating body of the Houses of the Azores takes place in the town of Velas from October 11 to 13 at the initiative of the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities.
The main meeting of the CMCA kicks off with the opening session scheduled for 7 pm on October 11 at the main hall of Velas Town Hall.
This session will be attended by the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, the Mayor of Velas, Luís Silveira, the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade, and the acting president of the CMCA, Suzanne Cunha, from the House of the Azores of Ontario.
The following day, October 12, the first plenary session of the CMCA will be held at 10 am at the Cunha da Silveira Museum House. The topics on the agenda include the revision of the CMCA regulations and the formal admission of the House of the Azores of Espírito Santo in Brazil, along with a debate on the main challenges these institutions face today.
On Saturday afternoon, the programme includes a joint session between the presidents of the Houses of the Azores and a group of young people from the United States of America, Canada, Bermuda, Brazil, Mainland Portugal and Uruguay. They are attending the CMCA as observers and visiting the Region as part of a meeting for young community leaders promoted by the Regional Government.
On October 13, the Houses of the Azores will present the essentials of their activities to the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities and the members representing the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores at a third panel to be held at the Cunha da Silveira House Museum, starting at 9:30 am.
The closing session of the 26th General Assembly of the CMCA will take place on Sunday, October 13, at 12 pm at the main hall of the Velas Town Hall. It will be chaired by the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro.
This session includes the presentation of the conclusions of the general assembly and the awarding of the CMCA distinctions, with the quality Azorean product designation awarded this year to São Jorge Cheese. The Medals of Merit will distinguish three Azorean emigrants in Toronto: António “Tabico” Câmara (posthumously), Cidália de Sousa and Grinoalda Pavão.
At the same time, the annual presidency of the CMCA will be formally transferred from the House of the Azores of Ontario, Canada, to its counterpart in New England, USA.
Founded in 1997, the World Council of Houses of the Azores aims to promote and develop activities that contribute to the affirmation of the Azores and their diaspora worldwide. Additionally, it intends to promote social, cultural and economic relations between the archipelago and the regions where each of the Houses of the Azores is located.
It currently comprises the Houses of the Azores of Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, California, Quebec, North Region, São Paulo, New England, Ontario, Winnipeg, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay, Bermuda, Maranhão and Madeira.
The House of the Azores of Espírito Santo will be officially admitted at this assembly. In turn, the Houses of the Azores of the Centre Region and the South Region of Mainland Portugal will attend the proceedings as observers.
