The former mayor of Albufeira, Desidério Silva, bade farewell to the residents of the town in an open letter last week.
Silva left his post as mayor at the end of October to take up the position of president at the Algarve tourism board, ERTA on November 1 (see main story).
The contents of the open letter reveal that he made the decision to terminate his role as mayor of Albufeira prematurely as electoral laws would not allow him to serve for another term.
Therefore, his decision to move to ERTA was a step which he believes will allow him to continue to share his “ideas and opinions.”
He discusses how he feels honoured to have been a part of Albufeira’s “evolution” and how he is proud to have seen the “brand of Albufeira elevated to be an attractive and beautiful place to live, visit and invest in.”
Backing up his accomplishments as mayor of the municipality, Silva said he had witnessed the successful implementation of new school programmes, social and sporting events and the much-needed modernisation of accessibility in the town; all of which he describes as being “key to improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.”
Yet, despite the honour and pride gained during his role, Silva admits that the time came for him to move on and “work on a regional scale”.
Looking into the future of his new ERTA position, he said: “I think that Algarve tourism needs a new momentum that will help to affirm its position as being important not only on a regional scale but also in a national context.
“My experience as mayor and president of the tourism board of Albufeira will help me to be able to embrace this new challenge with determination and the desire to make a difference, but always working in the defence of the region as a whole,” he concluded.
José Carlos Rolo has now taken over as the new mayor of Albufeira.
