The President of Caniço Parish Council, Milton Teixeira, has warned about the deteriorating condition of the Cristo Rei monument in Garajau, urging cooperation between relevant authorities for its restoration.
Teixeira visited the monument on Wednesday, accompanied by the Mayor of Santa Cruz, Élia Ascensão, and other representatives. He expressed his "disappointment" with what he described as the monument's "degradation and abandonment." The Cristo Rei is currently closed to visitors and surrounded by protective hoardings.
According to the parish council president, the statue is "seriously damaged," with considerable uncertainty about whether it can be fully restored. While acknowledging the private ownership of the monument and surrounding land, Teixeira criticized what he perceives as a lack of interest from the Regional Government, particularly the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture, which collects rent from local businesses but shows no institutional interest in addressing the issue affecting a key regional heritage symbol.
