In a joint statement after a meeting in São Sebastião, on the coast of São Paulo, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) announced measures for the region affected by heavy rains last weekend.
Lula praised the collaboration between the three spheres of power – Union, state and municipal government – to overcome the tragedy. “We are together, the election is over. He has the obligation to govern the state of São Paulo, he the city of São Sebastião and I to govern the country. If each one of us is working alone, our income capacity is much smaller, it is That’s why we need to be together, to share the good and the bad. Together, we will be stronger and São Sebastião will recover.”
“A governor, a president and a mayor, sitting at a table, with a microphone, working on something in common, which affects all of us. It is a demonstration that it is possible to exercise our role in democracy, even when we think ideologically differently, the common good of the people is more important than our divergences”, completed Lula.
Freitas took advantage of the meeting to announce the transfer of the seat of government to the municipality. “We’re here in São Sebastião all day today and we’ll also stay as long as necessary. I transferred my office to the north coast so we can take all the necessary measures. Our idea is to work in collaboration with the city hall, extending a hand and accompanying the work here from up close and personal.”
Lula committed himself to the recovery of the main access road to the city, which was invaded by mud and has several sections blocked. “I insisted on coming here and bringing a group of ministers to assume a government commitment with São Sebastião. We are going to recover the Rio-Santos road. And we can no longer build houses in risky places. We are going to work together with the city hall”, he said. .
This Monday, the government of São Paulo, in a publication in the Official Gazette, declared three days of official mourning, “in a manifestation of deep regret for the victims of the heavy rains that hit the municipalities of Bertioga, Caraguatatuba, Guarujá, Ilhabela, São Sebastião and Ubatuba in the last few hours.”
Flying over the region hit by the rains on arrival in São Sebastião. I meet now with the governor @tarcisiogdfthe mayor @prefeitoFA and ministers of our government to work together to face this crisis.
🎥: @ricardostuckert pic.twitter.com/xMqPb1RRkY
— Lula (@LulaOficial) February 20, 2023
Editing: Thalita Pires