The JPP party in Machico has expressed dissatisfaction with the cancellation of this year's Grape and Farmer Festival in Porto da Cruz. The party blames the decision on an alleged lack of funding from the PSD/CDS Regional Government.
In a statement, the JPP deems the cancellation worthy of "total repudiation" and a "lack of respect for the rural world and the traditions of its people." The festival, which celebrates the parish's agriculture and traditions, involved the community and depicted the grape-making process.
The party questions the criteria for allocating funds to the local community centres (Casas do Povo) and calls for greater transparency. They suggest that farmers and producers should be central to future celebrations and that, if the current model is not sustainable, direct support for farmers should be considered for needs such as access and production.
