Following the statements of Minister Lollobrigida, the president of the Le Partite iva Italia association, Angelo Distefano, wrote in collaboration with the coordinator of Sicily, Francesca Briganti, a long letter to the Minister in which he explains that this emergency must be called an “act desired” by the Schifani government, which should have intervened already last year to prevent surface water bodies from remaining dry.
Distefano’s words
President Distefano – we read in the association’s press note – explained the true financial relations between the State and the Region, because, as chance would have it, on 15 April last, the Sicilian Region arranged a transfer of 800 million euros as a contribution to public finances, in exchange the Region only obtained 20 million for the drought emergency which really seems like a handout.
The letter of reprimand – explains the president – is not an attack as an end in itself, but rather is intended to be a necessary action to start talking to the institutions about the real issues concerning Sicily.
“Autonomy is not a historical and nostalgic fact”
“Very often the special autonomy of Sicily is confused by linking it to a historical and nostalgic fact, however the Statute exists and would allow President Schifani to resolve the issues of farmers and breeders given that its article 14 contemplates exclusive legislation on the matter of agriculture and public waters. The reference to the lack of recognition of the water and sewerage infrastructure, as required by art. 22 of law 42/2009, could not be missing – writes Distefano -. If the regional government and the State do not intervene with substantial investments to avoid losing the summer harvest and livestock, the natural vocation of the island will no longer have a future, with serious repercussions on the island’s economy, already heavily affected by the economic crisis and the disadvantages of insularity which increase production costs and reduce the purchasing power of Sicilians, favoring the entry of agricultural and livestock products from abroad – concludes the regional coordinator Francesca Briganti, an inestimable damage that will involve the tourism chain, typical Sicilian food and wine and the regional agricultural market”.
