Portuguese Prime Minister Honored at Portugal Day

While throngs of citizens poured onto Ferry Street in Newark's Ironbound Section on Sunday for the annual Portugal Day festival, dozens of area elected officials gathered at the Portuguese Social Club to welcome Portugal Prime Minister Joao Durao Barroso.

Barroso was the guest of honor at the annual event sponsored by Portuguese bakery mogul Bernadino Coutinho.

Welcoming the PM was Newark City Mayor Sharpe James and Governor James E. McGreevey, who is married to Dina Matos McGreevey, a Portuguese-American.

Also at the dinner was Newark East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, a Portuguese-American, and Councilman Luis Quintana.

Recent Newark school board member Tony Machado, also a Portuguese-American, sat at a table with state Senators Ron Rice (D-Essex) and Tom Kean, Jr (R-Uunion), Newark Councilman Donald Tucker and US Congressman Donald Payne (D-10th).

In attendance were several Portuguese-American elected officials including Kearny Mayor Al Santos, Elizabeth school board member Armando DaSilva, former Elizabeth councilman Tony Monteiro, former Union County Freeholder Donald Goncalves, Elizabeth councilman Manny Grova and California US Congressman Devin Nunes. Nunes is one of three Congressman of Portuguese decent - all representing districts in California.

From Hillside Township, school board member Sergio Bichao was recognized as the youngest Portuguse-American elected to office.

Bichao is also the third Portuguese-American elected in the township of Hillside. Former Councilman Tony Fonseca and former Third Ward Councilwoman Maria Beirao were the first.


PM HONORS BUSH, UNITED STATES

Speaking to the crowd of some of New Jersey's powerful officials, Barroso elucidated his position on standing by President George W. Bush and the United States in its conflict with Iraq this year.

"Some European leaders may not agree, but the choice was clear in standing by an honorable ally such as the United States over a despicable regime such as Saddam Hussein's," Barroso said.

Barroso was one of many European leaders who supported the Bush Administration's decision to go to war.

The Portuguese PM met with Bush before the war at a summit with British and Spanish leaders at the Azores, the Portuguese archipelago.

In the past year, Barroso has dined at the White House twice - a sign, Barroso says, indicating that the US is committed to serving all communities, including Portuguese-Americans.


JAMES AWARDS PM KEY TO THE CITY

Newark Mayor James and Councilman Amador presented the Prime Minister with the Key to the City on Sunday.

"Mr. Barroso may have traveled across many seas to get to Newark, but the blood that bonds us together is thicker than any ocean," James said.

"If Portugal ever has any problems, Mr. Barroso can take this key to the second floor at City Hall and open a door to lots of money," James joked as he presented the Key.