Protest against privatization of beaches of Arrábida gathers “centens”

“Com honesty we make a very positive balance and it was in such a way the adherence that we can not measure, but we are talking at the house of hundreds “, said to Lusa Daniela Rodrigues, the Block and Left (BE) of Setúbal and co-promotor of the movement.

The initiative, held today around 19:00 in the form of ‘flashmob’ in Bocage Square, aimed to symbolically transform the center of Setúbal into a beach, with participants taking towels, sun hats, glaciers and other beach objects.

According to João Cruz, also from the movement “Disengage Arrábida!”, this was the fourth initiative promoted in the context of the contest to the claims of Herdade da Comenda on five beaches and other natural spaces of the region.

Asked about what changed since the beginning of the protests, João Cruz stated that the main objective is to change public perception of the problem.

“The key we want to change is the public perception of the problem,” he said.

“It is the attempt to privatize public space that has historically been enjoyed by everyone and now there are a number of people who are taking initiatives to curtail public enjoyment, namely our right to rest and enjoyment of the landscape,” he added.

João Cruz also considered that the possibility of questioning the public nature of the beaches has provoked “a great indignation” among the population of Setúbal.

The Sociedade Palácio da Comenda, SA, owner of Herdade da Comenda, has several lawsuits to run, in which it intends to see recognized the “exclusive ownership” of the strip of land where it develops the path called Caminho Municipal 1056, considering that it is private domain.

In the proceedings before the Court of Setúbal, the owners want to be considered private domain land that includes five beaches – Rasca, Comenda, Rainha, Maria Esguelha and Albarquel – as well as the lands on the banks of the Ajuda River, from its mouth in the Sado River estuary to the Merendas da Comenda Park.

The Public Prosecutor and the Portuguese Environment Agency reject the claim of Herdade da Comenda to obtain the title of the beaches.

João Cruz expressed confidence in a outcome favorable to the populations, although he acknowledged that the decision is up to the court.

“The process is in court, so we cannot know what the outcome will be,” he said.

” The question of beaches is still uncertain, but we are confident that with the struggle and mobilization it will be possible to prevent this unfavorable outcome to the populations of Setúbal”, he added.

Daniela Rodrigues highlighted, for her part, the popular mobilization and criticized the position of the municipal executive before the process.

” At this moment we are still faced with silence by the Municipal Executive. For our understanding, it has not yet been expressed soundly and unequivocally as an ally of the population” and “this ongoing judicial dispute is maintained,” he declared.

The co-promotor also highlighted the increasing articulation between movements that contest limitations to access to the coast.

“What we find is that the population remains committed. The movements by the right to the beach and the right to the coast are increasingly articulated and there is increasing awareness that it is a common struggle,” he said.

In this context, Daniela Rodrigues also announced a new protest for October 3, at Praia da Galé, promoted by the platform TAMLA – Get your hands off the Alentejo Coast.

“What I can guarantee with all reliability and certainty is that this burning struggle is lit, it is absolutely present in the county and the population remains immensely committed. And this is a joy for democracy,” he concluded.