"It is our duty as brothers in uniform to work closely to ensure that all firefighters have access to the resources and training necessary to perform their role effectively and with dignity," said Manuel Homem, quoted in a statement from the Civil Protection and Fire Service (SPCB), to which VerAngola had access.
According to the holder of the Interior department, this assembly to share experience, discuss new practices between the different corporations and the union between firefighters from Portuguese-speaking Countries is "undoubtedly essential to face the adversities" that are presented.
Manuel Homem considered the "permanent exchange of knowledge and continuous training" equally important.
Currently, he considered, the importance of firefighters has increased and become essential in communities.
"We face, in a courageous and unwavering manner, the challenges posed by natural disasters, devastating fires, public health crises and many other emergencies that demand our immediate attention and our professionalism", he said, quoted by Angop.
Furthermore, he also left a "word of appreciation to the Republic of East Timor, which will have the due honor of assuming the rotating presidency of this organization", wishing "happiness in the missions of the tasks".
The acting president of UBPLP, chief fire commissioner Manuel Lutango, said that "during the 2023/24 biennium, the general strategic lines were adopted to fulfill the presidency, with working visits to the republics of Cape Verde, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe", thus making a "positive and acceptable balance", points out the SPCB note.
In addition to Manuel Homem, members of the council of the Ministry of the Interior and the SPCB, members of the UBPLP and also delegations from Portugal, East Timor, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea Bissau and Angola, which is the host country of this event, were also present at the opening ceremony.
The meeting serves to discuss the countries' proposal to review the UBPLP Constitution Protocol and the indicative program for cooperation in civil protection and firefighters in CPLP countries, among others.
