Specials

Although there has been some flaws, the historical associations provided by the article 9 of the law  n° 25 of 1975 were given credit for having built a very important human and cultural heritage, composed by hundreds of associations.

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FESISUR: Balance of a Historical Federation

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Before ITENETs projects were created, we had already formed a big net which wrapped up the world and placed at the disposal of the Sicilian Region Council, which had to use this resource with the appropriate legislative instruments.

The law 55/80 has been the most important act of the regional policy, it is a law still in force, although it is disregarded. It provides for a row of measures and facilitations for emigration and also the democratic instrument of self-government, elaboration and  study, that is the Sicilian Regional Consult of Emigration. Within this instrument there is the voice of  emigration representatives, who are allowed to discuss and try to suggest some solutions concerning many difficult problems of emigration and immigration.

This instrument worked effectively for many years until politics decided to put it aside and after having attacked it for being a useless institution, then it has been forgotten,  determining a great breach of the law  that provides for it.

The last decree of appointment of a Consult, which has never taken office, dates back to the year 2000 while the first attempt to modify the law 55/80 was made during the third regional convention of emigration. This modifying attempt was asked by the associations  because they wanted a new law which considered the changes and the innovations of a new emigration. Since then, many bills have been created, some  aimed to modernize the legislative instrument, others instead, to favour a policy of patronage, that would  destroy all the work made by the regional associations in many years. Let it be clear, we are not against associations abroad, indeed we helped them to originate and to grow up, nor against federations, provided that they continue to protect the emigration, democracy and pluralism rights.

We have always supported, and we still do, the institution of an association register, with its rules and admittance features, which could at last keep order in this sector for the benefit of everyone.

Looking for some direct contacts, bypassing the associations, making good use of some friends,  just like some politicians who try to create their own circuit for political purposes, all this caused many damages because it tried to take the law apart, by using some decrees that are not completely legal.

Today the associations firstly ask for the respect of the law 55/80 as it is, since it has not been modified yet. Moreover, they request the taking office of the consult, appointed in August 2000, with its specific functions:

1) study and help to predispose the new bill, as it is by law the only organization allowed to do it;
2) adjust the rules for the direct election of consultants abroad, who according to us must not be less than 20; while the new consult should not exceed 36 members;
3) establish the rules and features to be admitted in the associations register;
4) establish the minimum rules to properly represent the federations;
5) establish tasks and competences of the consultants abroad.
When these tasks are accomplished, as far as we are concerned, the consult can be broken up to be replaced by the new one, which could legitimately deserve the vote of people
 

* This text is the abstract of the paper presented by dr. Salvatore Augello to the conference "Memories of the Future" (Palermo, 28-29 November 2008)