Government of Pará carries out historic actions for quilombola communities at the Black Consciousness Day ceremony
The ceremony, held at Utinga Park, reinforces the commitment of the Government of Pará to racial justice, social inclusion, and the guarantee of rights for quilombola communities
The Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat for Racial Equality and Human Rights (Seirdh), held a ceremony on the morning of this Monday (17) at the Utinga State Park, in commemoration of the National Day of Zumbi dos Palmares and Black Consciousness Day. The initiative was in partnership with the Housing Company of the State of Pará (Cohab), the Land Institute of Pará (Iterpa), the State Attorney General's Office (PGE), the Secretariat of Planning and Administration (Seplad), the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (Semas), the Secretariat of Public Health (Sespa), the Secretariat of Education (Seduc), the State Secretariat of Culture (Secult), and the State University of Pará (Uepa).
More than 200 quilombolas from various regions participated in the event, which brought together municipal, state, and federal authorities. Governor Helder Barbalho and Vice Governor Hana Ghassan announced a robust set of public policies aimed at strengthening the rights, social inclusion, and quality of life of quilombola communities. Strategic actions were launched in the areas of education, health, housing, land regularization, culture, food security, and social inclusion.
For Governor Helder Barbalho, the set of measures reinforces the State's commitment to racial justice and the development of quilombola territories. “It is essential that we celebrate this day with deliveries that transform people's lives. With the titles delivered today, we have reached 57 regularized communities in all regions of Pará. We are here to write history with consistency, dialogue, and actions that truly change the reality of quilombola communities,” he stated.
Vice Governor Hana Ghassan emphasized that the advancement of these policies is a direct result of the integrated action among institutions. “Today is a day of victories and recognition of the history, culture, and struggle of quilombolas. We have demonstrated, in the State Government, the strength of unity. The achievements we celebrate here are the result of integrated work among institutions, ensuring security, prosperity, and rights so that each territory can advance more and more,” she said.
Also present at the ceremony were the national secretary of Policies for Quilombolas, Peoples, and Traditional Communities of African Matrix, Peoples of Terreiros, and Gypsies, Ronaldo dos Santos; the secretary of Seirdh, Edilza Fontes; the president of Cohab, Manoel Pioneiro; the president of Iterpa, Bruno Kono; the state attorney general, Ana Carolina Lobo; the deputy secretary of Sespa, Heloísa Guimarães; the rector of Uepa, Clay Chagas; the secretary of Semas, Raul Protázio Romão; and the secretary of Culture, Ursula Vidal; in addition to representatives from the State Coordination of Associations of Remnant Quilombo Communities of Pará (Malungu).
Structuring actions for education, health, and inclusion
Among the measures formalized is the submission to the Legislative Assembly of Pará (Alepa) of a bill that reserves 10% of the vacancies in state public competitions for black candidates, 5% for indigenous people, and 5% for quilombolas. According to Secretary Edilza Fontes, the initiative consolidates an institutional milestone. “This is a significant advance. We are structuring, within the State, public policies involving quilombolas that ensure a more diverse management,” she emphasized.
In education, the government announced the implementation of the New Quilombola High School and the holding of five regional consultations to advance the regulation of the State Policy for Quilombola School Education (EEEQ). The construction of two quilombola high schools, in Oriximiná and Salvaterra, was also confirmed, along with the signing of the Uepa Student Assistance Law, which ensures scholarships for quilombola and indigenous students.
In health, a program directed exclusively to the quilombola population was launched, with itinerant actions, specialized care, mental health, and priority in the regulation for medium and high complexity hospitalizations.
Another highlight was the delivery of 50 checks from the Sua Casa program to families in Abaetetuba, in addition to the officialization of Collective Land Titles for 11 communities. National Secretary Ronaldo dos Santos highlighted the historical dimension that the State is achieving. “Pará is not only the first State to title a quilombo; it is the one that does the most, it is an example for the country. The delivery of the title is a historic achievement.”
Additional measures formalized to strengthen the territories:
- Allocation of resources for state quilombola policies;
- Strategies for food security and access to income transfer programs;
- Transfer of R$ 100,000 to Malungu to support cultural manifestations and quilombola games;
- Allocation of resources to Civil Defense and the Fire Department for the implementation of water supply systems;
- Support from Semas in filling out the Sicar/PA, facilitating access to the quilombola CAR;
- Decree promoting afro-tourism in the Visit Pará app;
- Facilitation of the Technical Cooperation Agreement of the Aquilombar Project;
- Guarantee of high-quality internet in quilombola communities; and
- Allocation of property and donation of a brand new car to Malungu.
Emotion and historic achievements - After decades of struggle for land regularization, the delivery of collective land titles generated strong emotion among those present. Joana da Cruz, a resident of the Umarizal community in Baião, celebrated the moment. “We are very happy because we came to receive our title, for our land. This means a lot. Now we have more security in our community, we can question what is necessary in the municipality and claim our rights. A lot is going to change,” she stated.
Simone da Conceição, a beneficiary of the Cheque Sua Casa program, highlighted the change that the resource will allow in her routine. “I was very worried, I had no way to make the renovations that my house needs. Today I am very happy because this check means the realization of a dream. With this benefit, I will be able to renovate and finally have the house I have always dreamed of.”
The actions announced by the Government of Pará consolidate a continuous movement to strengthen public policies aimed at quilombola communities, expanding access to rights, promoting social inclusion, and reaffirming the State's commitment to racial justice and dignified development in all territories.
