Caracas, Aug. 7, 2025 (Lusa) - There are more and more Portuguese people in Venezuela in difficulty and in need of financial assistance from the community, not only for everyday matters, but also for healthcare, warned the Academia do Bacalhau de Caracas (ABC).
However, according to the ABC, there is growing awareness of the situation, which has meant that solidarity is no longer exclusive to businesspeople but is also practised by other Portuguese professionals and even Venezuelans who are sympathetic to the community.
"Solidarity is increasingly justified. There is a growing need in our community. Thank God, through ABC's contacts, we have even managed to obtain support from Venezuelan institutions for chemotherapy and operations for our compatriots, because our role is to help those in need," he said.
José Luís Ferreira was speaking to Agência Lusa at the ABC's monthly gathering, which on Wednesday evening brought together more than 110 people in a well-known banquet hall in Caracas.
“Not all of them are businesspeople, some are [just] friends of the community who share [the gatherings] with us. There are even other professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and MPs. When they learn about our cause and our principles, they join us and participate,” he said.
Regarding the ABC, he explained that it holds a monthly gathering, attended by an average of 100 to 150 people, with significantly higher numbers at anniversary and end-of-year gatherings, which can reach 400 and 500 people, respectively.
He also said that in the first week of September, the Congress of Bacalhau Academies will take place in Serra da Estrela, Portugal, which will be attended by representatives of the ABC and the Academia do Bacalhau de Los Altos Mirandinos (south of the capital).
“Believe in us, support us. We work to help those who need it most,” said José Luís Ferreira, emphasising that part of the monthly proceeds from the ABC gatherings goes to the Padre Joaquim Ferreira Home for the Elderly, which houses dozens of compatriots.
He explained that Wednesday's gathering featured a typical Madeiran menu, including espada preta (black scabbardfish), arroz de lapas (rice with limpets) and caldeirada de cabeças de espada (swordfish stew), followed by a dessert of sonhos (egg white and sugar cookies) and honey cake.
“Some of our friends are not from Madeira, but we wanted to remember Madeira, celebrate Madeira Day, our homeland and our origins,” he said.
He also explained that a month ago, ABC organised the Madeira Day Festival, during which 25,000 US dollars (€21,460) were raised to help run the Padre Joaquim Ferreira Home.
“We made a request and the Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira donated the black scabbardfish for the festival. As there were some scabbardfish left over, we wanted to organise this gathering, which also has solidarity and charity as its guiding principles,” he stressed.
The Academias do Bacalhau are gatherings of friends promoting the good name and prestige of Portugal and the Portuguese wherever they may be.
FPG/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
