RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Secretary of Government and Institutional Relations, Cleiton Rodrigues, announced that R$200 million (US$50 million) is to be invested in the Segurança Presente (“Present Safety”) Program in 2020.
The statement was made on Thursday, October 24th, during the launch of the Parliamentary Front for the Defense of Present Safety Operations, of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (ALERJ).
“We have included R$200 million in next year’s Annual Budget Law (LOA) for the program to happen over 12 months,” said Secretary Rodrigues, who was awarded a medal by the President of the Front, Deputy Rodrigo Amorim.
Cleiton Rodrigues also pointed out that ALERJ’s financial assistance was instrumental in the extension of Present Safety in 2019. “The first thing we did was ask ALERJ for help, which promptly helped us financially and allowed us to finish the program this year, including its extension,” he said.
However, Deputy Rodrigo Amorim stated that he will soon present a bill to establish the maintenance of Present Safety as a state policy, including to determine the financial contribution of private companies.
“We want to ensure resources for the program’s maintenance, through legislative jurisdiction to guarantee financial contribution. The bill will also permit private companies to invest in this program. Supporting the Present Safety is necessary,” he said.
The program serves 12 neighborhoods
Created in 2014, the program is already present in 12 neighborhoods of the Rio de Janeiro capital and was also included in the municipalities of Nova Iguaçu and Niterói, in the Rio Metropolitan Region.
The team comprises military policemen on leave, civilian agents, furloughed Armed Forces, and social workers.
The general commander of Security Present’s operations in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Francisco Ramos Júnior, said that since the inception of the program, nearly 4,000 people who had escaped from prison have been arrested, more than 14,000 arrests while committing crimes, and 134,000 social assistance actions were made, such as sheltering the homeless.
“Our reward is not only through such events. Our work is also rewarded by the smile of a child on the street and also by ensuring the right of people to come and go. And, of course, the support of ALERJ is very important to make this happen,” said the commander.
Another of the government’s concerns is the recovery of tourism in the state, hampered by the lack of security on the streets. The creator of the program, Colonel Anderson Fellipe Gonçalves, also honored by Rodrigo Amorim with a medal during the event, said Present Safety is essential to end visitors’ fear to come to the state.
“We need to pay attention to security and bring back tourists because people are afraid to visit Rio and this affects the image of the state, the economy, and investments,” he said.