The president of the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), Carlos Barbosa, assured this Sunday that the organization of the Rally of Portugal is not indebted to the GNR regarding the safety operation of the race.
On Saturday, the Association of Guard Professionals (APG/GNR) said Carlos Barbosa “does not have a good reputation”, noting that “there were many occasions when GNR professionals were paid late and at poor hours”, for the services they in the Rally de Portugal.
“This criticism makes no sense, we always pay the GNR before we start the Rally. We’ve been doing it this way for seven years because the law requires it,” echoed Carlos Barbosa, when he signed the protocol to hold the race in the 2024 World Championship.
The leader welcomed the confidence that the competition’s promoter had given to the Portuguese organization as it rewarded “the effort the ACP is making to get the rally on the road, even without the support it should have” .
Still responding to Saturday’s APG/GNR statement that the ACP “made millions” organizing the Portugal Rally, Carlos Barbosa pointed in the opposite direction.
“If you could read a balance sheet, you would see it reflected in the accounts of the ACP we lose 400,000 euros every year with the rally, instead of making millions as we say”repeated Carlos Barbosa.
The ACP president said he will meet with the interior minister on Monday to discuss again the costs the organization pays to the GNR for the rally’s security operation.
“We have no problem with the GNR, they are doing an excellent job and we just have to thank them. This is a problem between us and the government, who are responsible for surveillance and have to bear these costs, because we are providing a public service.” “said Carlos Barbosa.
The director went on to point out that in “Fatima [nas cerimónia do 13 de maio] there are 700 GNR soldiers who have not been paid by anyone”.
“I think that despite everything, the church earns a lot of money from pilgrimages and should pay for it,” concludes Carlos Barbosa.
Source: DN
