CASTROVILLARI – Calabria is dressed to the nines to welcome its highest institutional representative on a day that promises to be historic. At 11 am, President Sergio Mattarella landed in the forecourt of the “Gias” plant in Mograssano, the leading company in the frozen products sector where he will make his first visit, and then reach the headquarters of the Castrovillari milk plant in a private car , already in fibrillation since the early hours of the morning. A doubly symbolic choice, on the eve of Labor Day and in two companies representing a virtuous Calabria, a sign of redemption and hope. The Pollino dairy factory is packed, for the occasion, with the highest military, religious, political and trade union leaders in the area.
For the Councilor for Agriculture of the Calabria Region, Gianluca Gallo, the presence of the Head of State in this land of Calabria is «an important recognition in support of a sector, agri-food, which in recent years has shown itself to the country as a dynamic and growing sector. This must make us proud and must make us reflect and must push us to invest even more in this sector which is the real driving force of the territories. A virtuous model, a system of rules that has ensured that there are entrepreneurs who have grown in recent years, that there are workers capable of bringing bread home for their children by working honestly in a Calabria that has great strength, a great potential in these sectors which must support and enhance this wealth”.
This is echoed by Arsac president Fulvia Caligiuri who says it is «a historic visit for the whole of Calabria, not just for Sibaritide and Pollino. These are two agri-food excellences that President Mattarella visits today, which means that passion and professionalism are recognised. They are two historic families who have spent themselves for the territory and it is a fair recognition. Which means that Calabria’s agri-food sector is on the right track. And then on the eve of Labor Day, celebrate together with the workers and President Mattarella: there is no better gratification! A beautiful day”.
For the regional councilor Fedinando Laghi it is «an honor to receive the President of the Republic and at the same time a very important advertisement for our region, among other things in an area, that of agri-food production, which is talked about so much and should still be done more because tourism and agri-food could actually be developed to make them a real driving force for development.” A “thank you” to President Mattarella from the bishop of the diocese of Cassano allo Jonio, Monsignor Francesco Savino: «Thank you because the president reconciles us with the institutions, because very often there is a dystonia between the country and us. And then I say thank you because he comes to visit two excellent companies: this means that we in Calabria can do it, it’s as if he wanted to tell us “you see, you’re good”. But what is Calabria missing? What is missing is a cultural system, a political-institutional system that puts the person and their needs at the center. We need to go beyond individualism and selfishness to build the legality of “us”.
