Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Sam … Porto Santo and it’s finest asset, taken on a bargain ferry & hotel trip last week. The boat in the distance is the 1896 sail boat ‘Bélem´ leaving Porto Santo for Funchal.

Source : Diário de Notícias 30/5/2008

Funchal City Council (Câmara) voted unanimously on Thursday to pass new rules to reinforce and control it’s planning approval process, but insist that the use of them will be the exception rather than the rule. It restricts the authority of individual councillors to make decisions about planning matters, preferring all matters to be dealt with by committee. There has been some bad publicity recently about this matter, and Madeira is well known for it’s ‘backhander’ planning approach. So how will those affected supplement their losses?  Probably stand for election in another part of Madeira where it’s business as usual … 

Those people staying or living on the west side of Funchal may have had a rude awakening at 8.20 on Thursday morning, as a hefty rockfall occurred onto the beach at Praia Formosa. Fortunately the area was cordoned off for construction workers on the promenade, and doubly fortunately there were no  workers there at the time.

The Regional Government of Madeira is busy buying up pieces of land at the back of Ribeira Brava to make way for a new Via Rapida which will run through to São Vicente. In total 102 plots will be purchased making up nearly 17,000 square meters of land. The land owners in Meia Légua seem to be happy with the whole plan, saying they look forward to improved road safety. The article mentions the famous Poncha Bar situated there, so perhaps that will disappear into the rubble too … lets hope not!

Referring back to something a few days ago about the change in law which prevents utility companies charging for the hire of their meters. Funchal Câmara have announced a new tariff that increases the price of water supply by €3.70 per month to domestic customers … exactly the same amount that the meter hire charge was before being prohibited. A spokesman for Funchal Câmara when asked about this coincidence said that the price rise “had nothing to do with it”. Yeah, right!

so that sets the scene really, the new law is not going to save us any money.

Madeira’s fishermen, although supportive of the national strike, are not taking part on the grounds that their plight with fuel prices is cushioned by government support. Madeira will be able to export some fish to the continent to supplement their shortages, but that will have little impact. I can see two scenarios here … firstly Madeira keeps it’s own fish, but without imports the choice will be limited in the shops, … or secondly someone gets greedy and sees the shortages as a way to get rich quick, selling to the highest bidders, here or in Portugal.

The Pestana Group, who seem hell bent on owning half of this planet, as well as being owners of some of Madeira’s most prestigious hotels, has launched a new online travel agency. With the strapline “Cheap voyages with much sugar”, the new website at www.leitecreme.com is not doing much yet as the links don’t work. There is no special access for English speakers.

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Friday was supposed to be the day when the new proposed tobacco law was supposed to be discussed in the Madeira Assembly, but there was nothing in the news about it. If passed, this would effectively remove the obligations of bars and restaurants in terms of banning smoking inside. Some local opinion is that Jardim is acting outside his authority … apparently when the wearing of seat-belts in cars was made obligatory in law some years ago, President Jardim tried to pass local legislation to stop it … thankfully he failed. Words fail me …

HOWEVER, a friend of mine said that a bar/cafe that she frequents in Funchal, yesterday had ashtrays back on it’s indoor tables for the first time this year?

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Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Wil … another great underwater shot from his diving exploits off the coast of Madeira (is that you in the picture Wil?)

Source : Diário de Notícias 29/5/2008

A big story that broke yesterday morning made national headlines on the TV, is about a couple of Madeiran businessmen with stakes in several Madeiran companies, including the Savoy Hotel, and the Tobacco Company of Madeira. The two are accused of fiscal fraud, false invoicing, and other monetary crimes, and the authorities carried out searches for evidence and documentation.

Already this year 39 children have been victims of road accidents (4 seriously injured). That is not good, but compared to last year it seems slightly better (1 killed, 12 serious, and 103 non-serious injuries). As a measure to try and improve matters, the Police and a Children’s Protection society are promoting the use of reflective jackets. Young cyclists seem to be particularly vulnerable, and if reflective jackets are to help (presumably mainly after dark?), then you have to ask why kids don’t have lights on their bicycles?

Madeira is home for three different species of bats, but they get very little attention compared to the other endangered and ‘cuddly’ species that this archipelago is home to. Recent studies have shown the populations to be declining due to the destruction of suitable shelter, pesticides, and a prolific increase in new buildings. Also people kill them out of superstition or fear.

85% of Madeira’s electricity output comes from oil and oil based products, with just 15% from renewable and clean sources. It was announced during the ‘World Day of Energy’ that production of the latter source would rise to 27% by 2017, with new hydroelectric initiatives in Calheta and Paul da Serra, amongst others in the mountains. This will save 205,000 tons of CO2 and take it inside the EU target of 20% clean energy by 2020.

12 new Land Rover’s (jeep style) are to be given to the Police (of Public Security) next week. They will be used to patrol the high zones and rural areas. They have been paid for by fines paid by local people, that Madeira is permitted to keep for it’s own budgets. That should put back a few tons of CO2 into the atmosphere that we save through ‘clean’ electricity.

Also on national TV there is much about the fishermen’s strike, which is really a protest over fuel prices, that also involves other countries. The resulting fish shortages are predicted to hit the shops on Saturday, but as it was a national story I am not sure how that applies to Madeira. And still on the subject of fuel prices, yesterday in Madeira petrol ‘gasoline 95′ cost €1.39 per litre, ’98′ cost €1.53, and diesel €1.27, after 3 price increases in the space of a week. Whilst the prices in Portugal were: ’95′ €1.39, ’98′  €1.46, and diesel €1.31. Some of the difference is accounted for by the difference in IVA (VAT) rates. The Azores have much lower fuel prices, as the government there set their own prices.

The old sail ship in Funchal yesterday and today is the ‘Belém’. It is French, and was built in 1896. Having served France with shipments between Brazil and the West Indies, to name a few countries, it was retired from service in 1914. At that point it was brought by the Duke of Westminster who used it as a ‘tall ship of luxury’. In 1984 it was totally restored, and classified as a historical monument. On leaving Funchal this afternoon, it will depart for Boston, and then on to Halifax and Quebec. Anyone got a picture please?

SATA, the Azores airline that also serves Madeira has launched a new website at www.sata.pt. I checked it out yesterday and got ‘system errors’, but even so it seems to be better than the old one which I found unfriendly and hard to find what you were looking for.

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Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Josie … the military parade at the weekend marking the Funchal 500 celebrations.

Source : Diário de Notícias 28/5/2008

After the mention of the Ilhas Desertas (Deserted Islands) in yesterday’s blog, the headline story is about a fourth endemic species of bird found there. The marine bird ‘Freira do Bugio’ or ‘Pterodoma feae’ has been found to be exclusive to the region. There are similar birds in the island group of Cabo Verde, but genetic blood testing has shown that they are sufficiently different to be counted separately.

In a ‘survey’ carried out Tuesday in Funchal, to mark European Day of Neighbours, most Madeiran people considered that they have good neighbours. They could could turn to their neighbours for help in difficult moments, ask them to keep an eye on their home when absent, ask for ingredients they lacked when cooking, or just have a friendly chat when the opportunity arises.

Some of the strawberries being sold on Madeira have been tested and found to contain pesticides. Unfortunately it is not clear where they are from or where they are being sold.

Travellers from Funchal to Câmara de Lobos should find an easier journey starting from the end of this summer, when the first phase of a new €18 million road will be opened. Most of the 1.2km new stretch is through tunnels. Later phases will make Câmara de Lobos more easily accessible from other directions.

Following the part in yesterdays blog about energy savings, and how not to make them, an online-survey underway shows what people here are doing to cut energy bills.

Little or nothing  16% 

Taking cold baths  2% 

and I bet if it wasn’t for the special deal on energy efficient light bulbs at EEM, then that wouldn’t be the top response!

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Anyone use Skype to make their calls, through the internet? They have introduced special subscription packages to allow unlimited ‘free calls’ within Europe and worldwide. In a special promotion that finishes the end of this month, you can have your own telephone number in the country of your choice (limited) so people can phone you, and free calls to that same country for a year. I paid just under €20 for that deal for a year.  Also there is a new version of Skype software available that cuts down on the amount of connection time, and promises to improve on the situation with ‘dropped calls’ (and with 2 calls received by me in the last 24 hours, so far it seems to be working).

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Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … who kindly invited me to raid his Facebook account for photographs, which I have done! There are some fantastic photos on there, but I don’t know if you need to have a Facebook account and know Tobi to access them, but I am sure he will respond to this. This photo is of the Ilhas Desertas.

Anyone ever been to the Ilhas Desertas (Deserted Islands) as pictured above? I have heard of boat trips out there, and I would love to go and take a peek, as it’s full of rare species of various types. But it may be that you need a visitors permit. Please let me know if you have any information, or also fancy going, as maybe a boat could be chartered if there are others interested.

Source : Diário de Notícias 27/5/2008

I suppose we shouldn’t really be surprised that in these days of rising energy bills and petrol / diesel, that someone somewhere is trying to fleece us of a few bucks with bogus energy saving ideas, even here on Madeira! How about a device you plug into your wall socket which will save energy on any connected appliances, or an adaptor that will allow your car engine to run on water? The Diários only money saving advice is to use the car less and switch off lights and electrical devices at home … well, thanks Diário, I would never have thought of those simple steps to save money without your help!

Unusually high numbers of sicknesses and deaths are being reported in the town of Caniçal, due to cancer, cirrhosis, suicide and problems associated with senility. It is thought that this may be happening because of pollution in the ‘Zona Franca’ (an industrial area, eastish of the town). Studies are underway, but particularly notable is the number of cancer deaths in people aged between 30 and 50, and youngsters of 20+ victims of neoplasias*. Historical records show that the normal death rate per annum is around the 20 mark, but more recently that has risen to 30, with 15 already this year.

* A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissues, and persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change.

Staying with Caniçal and it’s bad luck, 4 boats were sunk in the port on Monday morning when a shipping container was being unloaded and fell. Luckily the boats were empty at the time (no … I am not going there!).

Maybe some good news for our friends in the north of Madeira, is that Hiper Sá is intending to build a supermarket there, although the plans are not yet complete and approved. If all goes to plan a medium size store will be built, and will create 100 jobs (directly and indirectly). If approved, the store will be built in São Vicente, with the objective of serving Porto Moniz also.

Meanwhile, the good people of Santana, who until now had to go to Machico or Funchal for their shopping, will have their new Hiper Sá supermarket open in July, albeit 4 months late. Surprising that there are no plans (that I am aware of) to put some new stores and competition at the west end of the Island. With just one Pingo Doce west of Ribeira Brava, you would think that there would be some incentive?

And then the Diário website went down …

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Having not mentioned football for a while, don’t forget that the Euro 2008 starts on Saturday week (7th). Portugal play Turkey on the opening day (8.45) in Basle, so a few sparks expected there. With the next matches on the 11th (Czech Republic), and 15th (co-hosts Switzerland). I am glad that regardless of results, Portugal will not have to play at the stadium in Berne, as I think I would crack up every time they mention the stadium name.

Speculation about Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United and going to Real Madrid this summer are rife, and fuelled by an article in a Venezuelan newspaper after an interview with a source very close to the men at the top in Spain. Talk is of a transfer offer of €120 million. It’s what Ronaldo wants, it’s what Madeira wants, it’s what Chelsea wants, and it’s what Manchester United’s owners and financial backers want … let the man go to a decent team!

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Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … the two tall ships referred to by Josie in yesterdays blog. The Creoula(?) on the left, and the Sagres ‘training ship’ on the right.

Source : Diário de Notícias 25/5/2008

Pingo Doce (again!) is to start selling ‘off the shelf’ or ‘free sale’ medical products, starting with the newly refurbished ‘Anadia’ shop, and then in the shops in Cancela, Dolce Vita, Fórum Madeira and hiper do Lido (Eden Mar?).

Petrol prices are thought to be going up again this week, so if you have space and money get your car tanked up.

Vânia’s performance in the Eurovision Song Contest receives high praise, but with strong accusations of cross border and mutual voting totally distorting the results of the competition. 12 countries voted for the Portuguese entry, including notably 8 French points, and 10 each from Andorra and Switzerland. And with ‘nil points’ from Spain, there can be no accusations of vote tampering there.

According to the National Institute of Statistics 49% of homes on Madeira have a computer (up from just 12% in 2001). 41% have internet connections.

Source : Diário de Notícias 26/5/2008

The lead story is about the introduction of new higher taxes on the population of Madeira, to compensate for the reductions in European funding and from Portuguese central government. In 2000 56% of Madeira’s finances were raised from local sources, such as taxes, fines, and charges to businesses, climbing to 65% in 2006. A new finance bill for Madeira is referred to as introducing ‘silent changes’. The government here is limited as to what it can raise taxes on, as IVA (VAT) and duty on fuel and tobacco for instance go to mainland. Over a period of 8 years government (Madeira) expenditure rose from €555 million to €794 million (up 43%). The covering of salaries within government and administration has risen over 50% over the same period, well above the average inflation percentages. It looks like the politicians are looking after themselves and their own, as usual!

Another article talks about the existing poverty and those at risk of falling into the poverty trap because the salary (or take home pay) already just won’t stretch to pay the bills, and the cut backs start with food. Madeiran families have to live with €71 per month below the Portuguese national average income, a situation obviously far worse outside of Funchal. These poor people need tax rises and fines like a hole in the head.

The ‘QE2′ cruise ship will make it’s last ever visit to Madeira on 19th June, after 80 visits to our island that started on 2nd April 1970. The Queen Elizabeth II was inaugurated in September 1967, and 41+ years later will become a floating hotel owned by ‘Dubai World’, who paid €70 million for her. The Ships Enthusiasts Club of the Madeira is planning something to mark the occasion (are they the equivalent of train spotters in a land that has no trains?)

The International Association of Air Transport (IATA), which has 240 member airlines, including the  Portuguese TAP has announced that starting on the 1st June that its members will be moving to electronic ticketing systems, saving €2.2 billion in annual costs, and 50,000 trees. These electronic tickets can be acquired through the internet or travel agents, and buyers will be sent a receipt by email, mail, or fax which they can use to check in at the airport. Fliers on flights involving transfers may still get a paper flight ticket. Blimey! Are we really that stupid! So the airline industry saves mega€uros, and we spend them instead using costly printers, papers, and inks to print them off at home. Any claim to environmental benefits are just hogwash, and if anything, without the economies of scale the environmental impacts will surely be worse?

Portugal tourism is on the up, with a new yearly record for receipts up to March amounting to €7.5 billion. Income for the first quarter of 2008 was up by 11.5% on the same period last year, and up 13.6% over a year. These figures were announced on Friday by the Bank of Portugal.

Finally, a message from Dave : Hi all, we came to Madeira on the 14th May for 5 weeks house hunting but only managed 4 days and was called back to England as some Toerag had broken into our home. What I wanted to say was that the help we had from staff at the Airport was great. (First Choice ) they managed to sort us out within an hour and we were heading home.  The good news is we will be back this Wednesday and try again fingers crossed we managed to get one of those cheap flights someone was talking about £19-99 each.

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Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog page), please send any unreported Madeira news, photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – thank you!