Teaching the Portuguese language and culture is the incentive behind the Portuguese Cultural Association's new cultural centre.

The centre is open to those of Portuguese descent and other members of the public looking to learn about this particular community.

And it allows for Government school students to have a facility where they can find literature about the Portuguese.

Association president Joe Benevides said a few months ago the association did not have their own headquarters and was using the Vasco da Gama club as a school.

"Then we had to leave and we found an old building on Laffan Street, that belongs to St. Theresa's Cathedral. With the help of Bishop Robert Kurtz and a few companies like Standard Hardware, SAL, D&J Construction, Island Construction and the association and friends, we rebuilt the place.

"It was three months of hard work especially by the committee and a few other people who really spent a lot of time.

"The building was full of termites and old materials so we took it down and repaired it so it would be safe for the children,'' Mr. Benevides said.

He added: "Upstairs we have the school hall and our offices and downstairs we have the main hall where the folk dancers can rehearse.'' Classes take place every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students between the ages of seven and 16 are eligible to attend.

Mr. Benevides said mostly what "we are trying to teach them is the language and the culture''.

"The language is important if they have to go back to the Azores and the culture will teach them about our fathers back in the Azores,'' he said.

"When the students walk into the classroom they must speak Portuguese and we have a really good teacher, Paula Botelho, who gets along with the kids. She really puts her effort into it and teaches them what needs to be taught. Right now we have 75 students.'' Mr. Benevides said it cost about $10,000 to renovate the centre, which costs $34,000 to run. The Portuguese government gives the association a $5,000 annual grant and the rest comes from different functions like food stalls and raffles.

Why is such a school so important? "It is important because it seems that with the way we find things in Bermuda a lot of the Portuguese are going back to the Azores and this way they can go back with their eyes open knowing how to read, write and speak the language,'' Mr. Benevides said.

"It also gives the other kids a chance to know a second language. Some of the parents of the kids are of Portuguese descent and it is nice for them to learn the culture and the language.'' But the classes are open to all.

"We are open to anyone to come in you become a member of the association for $30 a year and then you pay $100 a year if you want to attend the school.

"It is open to anyone who wants to learn about Portuguese whether you are Portuguese or not. Right now we have a night programme through the Warwick Community Centre for adults who want to learn the language but we will also start a night programme at the association's classroom for adults.'' Mr. Benevides continued: "Anyone interested in knowing a second language should take this class. The Portuguese community is very into the Bermudian community and I think it would be worth it if Bermudians learned about the Portuguese culture and language.

"Some of the Bermudians' great-great grand parents and so on are Portuguese so it would really be worth it.'' He added that he would like the Portuguese descendants to come out and help the association not only for the culture but the language.

"We also have a good library at the headquarters. A lot of the books came from the Azores government, along with clothes for the folk dancers. This is great for school kids who need information for their projects.

"I have been receiving calls from students who are doing special projects about the Azores and we lend them books so they can research.'' Mr. Benevides added that he would like to see the Portuguese language in all Government schools.