Miguel Albuquerque says he has the greatest respect for the social workers and clarified that the statement “the decision-making centres are not for social workers” was a figure of speech that he used in the context of his political discourse.
The President of the Regional Government was questioned by DIÁRIO after the public position of the Order of Social Workers came out in protest, stating how offensive his comments had been to members of the profession.
In a letter addressed to the President, the President of the Order of Social Workers says that his statements “unexpectedly judge the role and function of social workers, namely in decision-making positions.”
Albuquerque tried to calm the situation by saying that his allusion to social workers was “a metaphor” and that his political discourse is also made of figures of style that have to be interpreted in the proper context. “I won’t stop saying what I think because people don’t understand,” he commented.
Although without apologizing, the head of the Madeiran executive made it clear that he has the greatest respect for the region’s social workers, by saying:
“I had no intention [to offend], because I have the highest regard for social workers; now they can’t just take the words I said, remove them from the context, and make a political scene.”Miguel Albuquerque
At issue are the statements of the president of the Regional Government, who, yesterday, in Ribeira Brava, launched a message with a double meaning by stating that “the decision-making centres of the Government and the chambers do not need social workers.”
The statement, made during the inauguration ceremony of the urban requalification works of the town, an investment of 5.6 million euros, was widely interpreted as a direct message to Fátima Aveiro, JPP candidate for Funchal City Council, who is a social worker.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Miguel Albuquerque: I Didn’t Mean to Offend
Miguel Albuquerque says he has the greatest respect for the social workers and clarified that the statement “the decision-making centres are not for social workers” was a figure of speech that he used in the context of his political discourse.
The President of the Regional Government was questioned by DIÁRIO after the public position of the Order of Social Workers came out in protest, stating how offensive his comments had been to members of the profession.
In a letter addressed to the President, the President of the Order of Social Workers says that his statements “unexpectedly judge the role and function of social workers, namely in decision-making positions.”
Albuquerque tried to calm the situation by saying that his allusion to social workers was “a metaphor” and that his political discourse is also made of figures of style that have to be interpreted in the proper context. “I won’t stop saying what I think because people don’t understand,” he commented.
Although without apologizing, the head of the Madeiran executive made it clear that he has the greatest respect for the region’s social workers, by saying:
“I had no intention [to offend], because I have the highest regard for social workers; now they can’t just take the words I said, remove them from the context, and make a political scene.”Miguel Albuquerque
At issue are the statements of the president of the Regional Government, who, yesterday, in Ribeira Brava, launched a message with a double meaning by stating that “the decision-making centres of the Government and the chambers do not need social workers.”
The statement, made during the inauguration ceremony of the urban requalification works of the town, an investment of 5.6 million euros, was widely interpreted as a direct message to Fátima Aveiro, JPP candidate for Funchal City Council, who is a social worker.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Published in Government, Madeira, NEWS and Politics