Controversy in the Beja Fire Department: Rejected list responds to a statement from the management

Following the note sent to the newsrooms, by the Management of the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Beja (AHBVB), the only list rejected from the elections on December 18th issued a clarification in the form of a right of reply.

The document, signed by Jerónimo Picado, reads:

«a) All members of the aforementioned list are EFFECTIVE members of the institution, even though the Management has changed some members to the status of AUXILIARY members, but continues to receive money from their quotas.

b) As members of the only list that has so far been presented to that electoral act, we will not make considerations about the causes of an “irrevocable” dismissal of the president, but which out of “solidarity” dragged all the social bodies and which more later was reversed.

c) Regarding “the void of power”, the expression POWER itself substantiates the installed mentality.

d) Regarding the rejected list, we do not question the integrity of the “opinion” and who signed it, much less the issues of it not being accepted, however we question the payment of dues that continue to be made by the “Auxiliary” members who, as already said they were accepted as full members.

e) Justifying that “it is not known that there are any lists” is not a justification for the President or anyone else to make such a statement because the period for submitting them ends at 6pm on March 15th.

f) “Ethics and Morals” are principles that we have always cultivated and do not accept that they are exclusive to the current Management of AHBVB. Regarding Ethics, we recall what was said by the President of the Board at the General Assembly, held on January 3, 2024, that “no member of the board present in the room re-candidates for any electoral act of the institution”.

g) Were there “ethics and morals” when they intended to include Mr. Luís Fragoso as president on the REJECTED list and then Mr. Fernando Silva as treasurer?

h) Was it to avoid “a vacuum of power” or was there or are there other reasons for the “intended solution”, for those who stated that they did not present any list to avoid such a “vacuum of power”?

In this way, and in favor of the confusion that has arisen, as a result of the intrigues, bad words in the statement signed by the President of the Board, the elements of the rejected list agreed that they will not be part of it again, nor will they present any list for the electoral event scheduled for the next on March 28th, because they believe they have values ​​that they defend, such as transparency, good faith, democracy and, above all, doing something new and better for our firefighters.

We wish the current management good management, as well as its continuity and good use of the money allocated by the Beja City Council.

Our renunciation passes Principles such as Ethics and Morals.

ETHICS and MORALS do not pass through everyone».