In a ceremony at the Convent of Santo António, the municipal holiday of the municipality of Lagoa, held on the 11th, was marked by a moment of homage to the former Mayor of Lagoa and businessman, Luís Alberto Meireles Martins Mota, who received from the hands of the Mayor, Frederico Sousa, the Key of Honor of the Municipality, the highest municipal award and which, according to a note from the municipality, recognizes his remarkable career, strategic vision and decisive contribution to the development of the municipality.
“More than just completed works, Engineer Luís Martins Mota leaves us a legacy of seriousness, approachability, and dedication, which endures in the collective memory of the people of Lagoa and continues to inspire generations today through his example of close, attentive, and future-oriented governance. Engineer Martins Mota was a visionary who knew how to interpret the needs of his time, anticipate challenges, and work with determination for the progress of Lagoa,” added the mayor.
Engineer Luís Martins Mota, through words spoken by his grandson, Tomás, expressed his deep gratitude for being awarded the Key of Honor of the Municipality of Lagoa, emphasizing the special significance of the distinction in the land he has always sought to serve with dedication and humility.
Looking back on his time in local government, he highlighted his commitment to the integrated development of the municipality and the improvement of the living conditions of the people of Lagoa, arguing that progress is built "with everyone and for everyone," and also expressed his appreciation to the municipal entities for the distinction awarded, dedicating it to Lagoa, to all those who collaborated with him throughout his career, and to all those who contribute daily to the development of the municipality.
In his political and local government career, he was a Member of Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, President of the Socialist Party of the Azores, and served as Mayor of Lagoa between 1990 and 2005. During that period, he also held the positions of President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and member of the General Council of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities.
His fifteen years in office as Mayor were marked by the completion of structuring projects in the areas of basic sanitation, housing, requalification of school facilities, creation of sports infrastructure, including municipal swimming pools, expansion of the Town Hall, urban requalification, improvement of the road network and administrative modernization, through the computerization and decentralization of municipal services.
His role as a driving force behind the Technology Park, which is currently establishing itself as a hub for economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, stands out in particular.
Public recognition of his merit resulted, in 2005, in the awarding of the Gold Medal of the Municipality of Lagoa and the naming of one of the main access roads to the municipality after him. More recently, in September 2025, he was honored by the Nonagon Association, with the naming of the Auditorium of the São Miguel Science and Technology Park after him, as mentioned in the document made available by the municipality.
Source: Azores Post Office
