VibrantDayofPortugalDay Celebrations,CamõesatWalvisBay

Eliphas Sheepo

The esteemed Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafôfo, graced Walvis Bay with his presence on Friday, 9 June to commemorate Portugal's National Day which falls on 10 June, an occasion that holds deep significance for the Portuguese community residing in the town.The visit of Secretary Paulo Cafôfo symbolised the enduringtiesbetweenPortugalanditsdiaspora.

Cafôfo was accompanied by Portugal's Ambassador to Namibia, Luís Gaspar da Silva, Portuguese communities' councillor for Africa, Manuel Coelho and Local businessman JosedeBritoinmeeting with local authority and laying flowers at the Bartolomeu Dias monumentinhonouroftheir Portugueseheritage. Gaspar da Silva spoke passionately about the influential historic figure honoured on that day, the prolific Portuguese Poet, Luís de Camões, who died on theJune10,1580. TheymetwithMayorof Walvis Bay, Trevino Forbes and discussed matters around tourism, governance, fisheries, and education. Forbes revealedplanstogetthe municipalboundariesof Walvis Bay extended to its original limits at the bridgeofSwakopmund, and well into the Dorob National Park. Forbes also touched on quota allocationsforfisheries. “When you start taking ple and have vessels, thenyoucangettheend productcheapertoyour people living in your country,” Forbes said. Cafôfo proposed seeking a twinning agreement between Walvis Bay and a city in Portugal.Thiswasreceived with great interest by themayor Theyspeculated on a city in the region of Madeira, the land of the soccer legend, Cristiano Ronaldo. Madeira is also where the largest portion of the Portuguese community in WalvisBayarefrom.

During a separate pursuedtheprogressin the return and preservation of a Portuguese cross that has long been in the possession of the German Government “It is very unfortunate about the monument; we are tolditissomewherein Walvis Bay but remainsinthecustodyof the German government because it hasn't been officially handed over,” Itope responded on the matter “We haveapast,butweare building a future That'swhywearehere to talk about how we can strengthen the linksbetweenPortugal and your region ” Cafôfo added in the conclusion of the meeting with the Governor quotas away from individuals and give them to fishing companiesthatemploypeo- meeting with the Governor of the

Erongoregion,Neville

Andre Itope, Coehlo

The visit by the Secretary of State was quite eventful but did not lack in festivities, with a reception dinner, which was wellattended by members ofthePortuguesecommunity and celebrated withheartyPortuguese cuisines, and laughterfilled merrymaking that spanned throughoutthenight.

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