Consell celebrates Diada de Formentera

2019diada1The Consell de Formentera hosted its celebration of the Diada de Formentera by honouring local residents and businesses with awards—the island's gold medal (Medalla d'Or) and the Premis Sant Jaume. The 8.30pm ceremony took place at the Sala de Cultura (Cinema).

Sant Jaume awards
One of the Sant Jaume awards goes to AECC Formentera. The Formentera chapter of the Asociación Española contra el Cáncer, from its leadership to its corps of volunteers, work with selfless generosity to better the lives of people living with cancer, to accompany and support them and their families, not only acting as advocates for those who are suffering, but also supporting prevention efforts in building awareness around health issues.

Jazz&Co also received the distinction. In twenty-five years, they have become an unavoidable feature of our cultural landscape. The group is synonymous with summer nights, and live (particularly jazz) music in the squares of Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran, and bringing into the fold both local talent and international names.

The other Premi Sant Jaume goes to Can Forn in Sant Francesc, for sixty years of service as a family-run, local shop, and one which, across the generations, has stayed true to its original allure as a neighbourhood outpost.

Gold medal
This year's Medalla d'Or will go to Formenterers Solidaris in recognition of the charitable, altruistic and humanitarian work the association performs to address the needs of the less fortunate through support and orientation, as well as local funding for aid and development projects across the globe.

A representative of the group expressed appreciation for the award on behalf of other honourees, and President Alejandra Ferrer gave an address to the crowd in which she saluted this year's winners.

The prize-winners are “a mirror where we can see ourselves reflected", said Ferrer, "You reflect us, and that's a great and fantastic responsibility”. “Your deeds and values are commendable, and we hope they guide us as a people”.

The evening concluded with a performance by local band Sweet Lure. Among those in attendance were the Balearic first minister Francina Armengol and deputy first minister Juan Pedro Ylanes; not to mention Sílvia Tur, Formentera's provincial councillor at the regional parliament; Vicenç Thomas, the body's chairman; Consell d'Eivissa president Vicent Marí; Santa Eulària mayor Carmen Ferrer; and Consell de Formentera leadership.

24 July 2019
Communication department
Consell de Formentera