There are two main themes on the table Provincial Committee for Order and Security which this morning, chaired by Prefect of Potenza Michele Campanaro, met in the Italy Room of the Government Palace.
First item on the agenda, the examination of request of the Football Club “Sorrento Calcio 1945 srl” to be hosted again, for the home matches of the next season of the Serie C championship, in the “Viviani” Municipal Stadium of the Lucanian capital.
The Table has preliminarily taken note of the impossibility of playing the home matches of the 2024/25 championship in the “Italia” stadium in Sorrento (NA)where work is underway to adapt to the standards of professional football, as well as the unavailability, at present, of other sports facilities in the Campania region, supported by a communication issued by the Prefecture of Naples.
After having ascertained the availability of the Municipality of Potenza and the “Potenza Calcio” football club, the Committee therefore expressed favorable opinion on the issuance of authorization for the use of the A. “Viviani” Municipal Stadium, also for the 2024/25 sports season.
It should be remembered that, in the absence of prefectural clearance, football clubs cannot register for a professional championship.
Prefect Campanaro underlined on the sidelines of the release of the authorization:
“The football season just ended did not record any critical episodes in the management of public order, thanks to the brilliant work carried out by our Police Force and this must be acknowledged today, with full thanks.
However, it is now necessary that the surge of commitment required to manage public order at the matches of three Lega Pro C teams (Potenza, Picerno and Sorrento) corresponds to a significant strengthening of the presence of the local police, as today ensured by the Municipal Administration of Potenza”.
The second session of the Committee was then entirely dedicated to planning of safety and security measures, in view of the celebrations in honor of San Gerardo Vescovo, patron saint of the city of Potenza.
This year, the city celebrations will begin on May 25th with “Student Day 2024”, event organized by the Student Council of Basilicata which will involve the entire historic center in talk shows, debates, cultural and sporting events, ending with a evening concert in Piazza Mario Pagano.
Again Piazza Prefettura, as the people of Potenza usually call the heart of their city, will be the location of the three days of the “Potenza Folk Festival”organized by the Association of “Bearers of the Saint”, which will start on Sunday 26 May.
Highlight of the celebrations, the “Great Parade of the Turks” which with its 1,150 participants, on the evening of May 29th, it will unfold through the city streets starting from the municipal stadium “A. Viviani” to arrive, in the evening, in Piazza Matteotti, where the traditional rite of the Lighting of the Iaccara will take place.
Finally, the On May 30th, at the end of the celebrations, the solemn celebration will take place in the cathedral presided over by the new Archbishop of Potenza Monsignor Davide Carbonaro and the religious procession along the streets of the historic center.
“The program of the most awaited party by the Potenza community is enriched this year with new contents.
They will be days characterized by events, concerts, meetings, awards ceremonies, during which Potenza will be immersed in that joyful union between secular and religious traditions that has always characterized the feast of the Patron Saint.
We await, like every year, thearrival of thousands of people and like every yearwe will not be caught unprepared, planning the ‘safety’ and ‘security’ measures necessary to guarantee the celebration in a safe setting, with particular reference to the Parade of the Turks and its attractive force, capable of attracting people to the capital thousands of visitors, even from nearby regions.”
In-depth focus, therefore, on the “Safety Plans” developed by the municipal administration and the Associations of the “Bearers of the Iaccara” and the “Bearers of the Saint” and already subjected to an initial evaluation by the municipal supervisory commission on public entertainment venues.
In particular, this year we proceeded to draw up a Single Security Plan for the concerts in Piazza Mario Pagano on 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 May, one for the “Great Parade of the Turks” and another for the Lighting of the Iaccara.
Particularly sthe security measures that will be put in place for the five evening concerts are incorrect, starting from access gates which will be positioned at Vico Fratelli Bandiera and Vicolo Giordano Bruno-Via Caporella in the heart of the city centre.
The square, where in addition to the stage the gazebos for refreshments will be erected, will be accessible to approximately 3,500 spectators during the performances.
The “elevation” of the Teatro Stabile will be reserved exclusively for disabled people.
The gates and the square will be manned and controlled by 20 security personnel, together with volunteers from the organizational staff.
They will also be present 6 firefighting teams manning the hydrants and fire extinguishers, positioned under the Government Palace and in the areas of the stage, the control room and the gazebos.
Furthermore, during the entire duration of the concerts, parking will be provided 2 ambulances, 1 medical car, 1 PMA area with doctor and 2 SAP teams made up of para-health personnel.
Garrisons also strengthened for the Great Turk Parade on May 29th.
Since this is a non-static event, it is, in fact, necessary presence of dynamic teams that follow the parade throughout the entire route.
There will, therefore, 28 control staff, 100 Civil Protection volunteers and 60 healthcare workers, of which 46 on foot with technical backpacks and 114 distributed between 4 ambulances and 3 medical vehicles.
They will also be present, for the entire duration of the event, 3 doctors.
The DEU 118 will preside over the event with its own ambulance which will be added to those prepared by the organizers.
Further strengthening of the safeguards for the ritual of the “Iaccara”, the torch made of reeds and wood, 10 meters long and weighing one ton, which at the end of the Parade is lit to ask for protection from the Patron Saint.
The ignition procedure will take place under the watchful eye of the Fire Brigade, in a delimited area closed to the public who will be able to watch the event in the remaining part of Piazza Matteotti, from the intersection with Via Pretoria down towards the Tempietto di San Gerardo or from the giant screen that will be positioned on the stage in Piazza Mario Pagano.
In expressing an initial generally favorable opinion on the Security Plans presented, the Council underlined the need for a constant connection between health facilities and the 118 Operations Centre, as well as the establishment, within the Municipal Operations Center-COC which will be established in the Town Hall, a control room for more effective coordination between all operators in the field, including the Police Force.
Precisely the profiles relating to the management of public order will be further detailed, upon indication of the Prefect, during the Technical Roundtable at the Police Headquarters, convened closely.
The Government Representative underlined on the topic:
“The indication is to guarantee a maximum security framework with a significant deployment of the Police Forces, including territorial and reinforcements, as has already happened in the last editions.
Everyone, from young people to children, to families and the elderly must be able to experience these days which are, by far, the most eagerly awaited in Potenza in complete safety and serenity.
This is why, alongside the important safety measures that will be carried out by the Police Force, the Fire Brigade, the local Police, the 118 and the volunteers themselves, I feel I must address an appeal to the entire Potenza community for full responsibility, to avoid any form of excess”.
Present at today’s meeting of the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Security:
- the provincial leaders of the Police Force,
- the Councilor for Culture and Tourism of the Municipality of Potenza Stefania D’Ottavio, accompanied by the managers of the competent municipal offices,
- the provincial councilor Rocco Pappalardo,
- the Regional Director and the Deputy Provincial Commander of the Fire Brigade Vincenzo Ciani and Saverio Laurenza,
- the Director of DEU 118 Libero Mileti the representative of the Association of the “Bearers of the Saint” Giuseppe Lo Vito,
- the President of the Provincial Student Council Simone Carcuro,
- the CEO of the “Potenza Calcio” club Nicola Macchia,
- the President and General Director of the “Sorrento Calcio 1945” Club Giuseppe Cappiello and Benito Starace.
