WASHINGTON – Portugal will keep open its consulate in Providence, Portuguese Consul Ricardo Cortes yesterday told U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, state Rep. Helio Melo (D-East Providence) and state Sen. Daniel Da Ponte (D-East Providence, Pawtucket).
“This is terrific news for Rhode Island’s Portuguese community,” Reed said in a statement, adding: “I understand the difficult decision that Portugal faced, and I am glad that it recognized the importance of keeping its representation in our state.”
Late last year, the Portuguese government said it would close some consulates because of budget constraints. In January, Reed and Whitehouse wrote to Prime Minister Jose Socrates Sousa, citing the local consulate’s importance to Rhode Island; that same month, Mello and Da Ponte led a rally in support of the consulate.
“I am pleased the vital services offered by the Portuguese Consulate in Providence will continue to be available to Rhode Islanders … further strengthening the strong ties between our Ocean State and the nation of Portugal,” Whitehouse said.
Melo heralded the announcement as “great news for the Portuguese American community in … Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts,” while Da Ponte praised the state’s congressional delegation, saying: “Their work in providing diplomatic discussions with the Portuguese government was crucial.”
