Portuguese community backs country to cope after EU bailout

Saturday 9th April 2011, 2:29PM BST.

Guernsey Portuguese Association chairman Joe Gomes said Portugal and its people would overcome the austerity measures. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 1120902)

MEMBERS of Guernsey’s Portuguese society have backed their country to come through its financial difficulties after news of a multi-billion-euro bailout.

Yesterday, EU finance ministers met to discuss the size and terms of the deal after receiving a formal appeal for help from the country after its caretaker government decided it could no longer face its debts alone.

Guernsey Portuguese Association president Elvio Pires said that after months of growing pressure, the Portuguese community had been expecting the bailout.

‘We knew it was only going to be a matter of time after what happened to Ireland and Greece,’ he said. ‘I think next it will be Spain.’