Jersey Inaugurates New Portuguese Cultural and Sports Center

A new Portuguese cultural and sports center has commenced operations in Jersey. The facility, previously the Rojos nightclub, welcomed the public on Sunday following over three months of renovation work. Those behind the initiative anticipate it will foster unity within the Portuguese community and enable the sharing of its cultural heritage across the island. According to the 2021 Jersey census, approximately 8,000 Jersey residents were born in Portugal or Madeira, with 9,700 individuals identifying as ethnically Portuguese. Gilberto Franco, who serves as president of the Portuguese Cultural and Sports Centre (CCDP), the organization responsible for this endeavor, stated that it required “so much hard work.” He expressed his desire to “create a beautiful atmosphere… not just for the Portuguese community but for the wider community too”. Mr. Gilberto further remarked, “I thought we must not miss this opportunity not just for us the old ones, but also for the new generation.” He verified that the project incurred a cost of £15,000, with 15 committee members each contributing £1,000 towards the hub’s construction. Maria de Oliveira, among the donors to the initiative, expressed that she was “so happy” to contribute. She commented, “I don’t think the Portuguese community has ever had anything like this before,” adding, “But it can be for anyone, any culture to be here with us and it will be nice for all of us to be together.” The hub is slated to host music and sports events, in addition to offering food and beverages to the broader community. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas may be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.