Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Eiryl … Cristo Rei statue at Garajau, or Christ the king if you prefer.

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 30/7/2008

SATA (the Azores airline) has been authorised to reduce the ticket price between Madeira and Porto Santo Island by €10. The reduction is for non-residents in either location. The reduction has been made to strengthen competitiveness against ‘sea travel’, and there is some motivation caused through the ‘low cost’ air travel market also.

In works costing €46 million (plus IVA/VAT), the ‘Arena do Marítimo’ will be ready for use in 20 months time, and ready for inauguration in the football season of 2010 / 2011. The work has already gone out for tender applications in the European Journal. The new ‘green’ stadium will use as much as possible natural resources to cover it’s running needs, and will hold up to 9,000 people, all seated. There will be 500 car parking places. The venue will become a cultural and sporting stadium, built to hold all the kinds of cultural events, such as concerts, musicals and others spectacles of large and small scope. Marítimo intend to play all their games in the stadium throughout the period of reconstruction. The stadium will be taken from government ownership and given to the club at no cost, but it’s is not clear who will have to find the €46 million for the extensive rebuild. I can’t see how Marítimo FC could possibly fund such a big venture unaided, or even pull in enough revenue to cover it’s running costs. The government says that it doesn’t have any spare money, and I am pretty certain the project would not qualify for any European funding. Something fishy going on here …

In a recycled story from a few weeks ago, the Porto Santo Ferry has faced increased fuel prices of 163% over the last 4 months, and as a result of fuel surcharges, ticket prices for travellers have risen 11.4%. I think the newspaper is making the point that the fuel surcharge has not decreased despite the drop in oil prices over the last few weeks. No great surprise, as like the airlines who are quick to add their increasing fuel costs to the ticket price, it seems that downwards fluctuations rarely are implemented quickly, if at all.

Other News :

Update on the escaped convict story (yesterdays blog) on the run, and driving a stolen black Volkswagen Polo. At 9pm on Monday, a robbery was reported in a bar near the cemetery of Santo António, where the owner was threatened and €200 was stolen. The robber was driving a car matching the description of that stolen by the escaped prisoner. Tuesday morning at 8pm, the car was spotted, slightly damaged, in Rua da Infância. The police attended and found the 31 year old man inside, ‘stunned’, and with 4 slashes on his left wrist. He was taken to hospital where he is under observation, but free from danger. And I bet it’s very close observation this time … Oh well a short lived drama is better than no drama at all!.

A man in Calheta has been arrested after police found him in possession a large stash of liamba (cannabis product). The 6 kilos of the drug would have been sufficient for 2,400 individual doses. The information leading to the arrest was obtained after intelligence revealed that small quantities of drugs were being sold around Calheta. The cultivation area for the cannabis plants were also found.

For the second time this week, an arrest was made on Porto Santo for possession of small amounts of the drug hashish. The 18 year old local and resident was detained overnight and was before the court the following morning. The amount involved was very small, and so the youth was conditionally released.

I usually have great admiration for the work and success of the police on Madeira, if you step out of line you are nearly always identified, caught and punished, or sometimes given a bit of ‘local justice’. It seems to work pretty well, as the police seem to know who to keep an eye on, and when something goes wrong they know where to look. Obviously the constraints of a small island, and a small population who all know each others business helps, but I reckon the main factor is that they are not reigned in by red tape, and stupid laws that protect criminals. They can to a great extent use their local knowledge and own initiative and methods … good work lads, we just need more focus on crime deterrents and prevention.

Drivers will be pleased that all our petrol stations (Galp, Repsol and BP) all dropped their prices yesterday by up to 4 centythingies per litre.

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

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Karen … A lovely view over Jardim do Mar from Prazeres.

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 29/7/2008

‘Lisbon’ ignores the comments made by President Jardim at Chão da Lagoa on Sunday, is the headline. “No comments” or “not interested” are the reactions of the politicians in central government. “I will not allow myself to comment on the craziness of Dr. Jardim”, said one constitutionalist in response to the comments that President José Sócrates was an ‘insult’ to the Portuguese people, and “a big enemy of Madeira”. See, it’s not only me that thinks that AJJ has a screw loose!  (but I will miss him when he’s gone).

An inspection of the bars, cafes, and restaurants in the beach zones and complexes of Madeira has led to the detection of 17 infractions in 15 locations.  As a result 100 kgs of merchandise has been seized, and in one case a criminal action has been instigated. The inspection operation was started on 15th June and runs throughout the summer, at some point going to Porto Santo Island. The infractions detected are : 2 operating without licences, 4 with cleanliness / hygiene problems, 3 do not have or have not been using the complaints book procedure correctly (livro de reclamações), 6 had problems with sanitary conditions. The other two were selling food ‘improper’ for consumption, which in one case was considered a danger to public health. I am very pleased to hear that this is being taken seriously, as I like to know that my meal is well prepared and germ free before I get ripped-off.

Latin American bananas are going to be harmful to the Madeiran banana industry, with changes in the tax / tariff regime which are going to lower costs by 46% up to 2016. After complaints of restrictive trade were received from the South American producing countries against European regulations, action was taken, and the result is likely to hit exports and maybe even the home trade of Madeira grown bananas. Actually, I can’t see the home trade being affected, as I am sure President Jardim will invent some new law to protect his own interests, even if he ends up legislating for smoking bananas in pubs and restaurants … I am sure he will have a good rant about this and the European authorities in the next few days so I will keep you informed.

The Madeira Wine Rally 2008 looks set to be front page news for the next few days, and today the story in about the road stewards tasked with crowd control and public safety. Wearing orange waistcoats with ‘segurança’ on the back, these 310 volunteers will be fundamental to the success of the competition, and without doubt the just result. Talking about the collaboration and behaviour of alcohol fuelled spectators, a spokesman said “the Madeiran public have started cooperating and have improved their behavior over the years”. Ah, so that’s what the Madeira ‘Wine’ Rally really stands for! Any good rally pictures, please send them in for blog publication.

Other News :

The beach of ‘Praia Formosa’, west Funchal, still doesn’t have its Blue Flag. It was removed after a possible sewerage leakage or seepage was found on 15th July. The source of the problem still has to be identified. A spokeswomen is quoting as saying the water is still good.

 On the same subject, the beaches and waters of Machico that also don’t have a blue flag, were being defended by the council, who say that the water quality is good, despite recent criticisms.

Funchal Council (Camara) are to send threatening letters to the ‘Vespas’ nightclub, the ‘Café do Teatro’, and a hot dog caravan after accusing them of neglecting their responsibilities to keep the accesses and surrounding areas clean and litter free. If they don’t sharpen up they will be fined. The main problem seems to be after Friday night revellers. Do hot dog caravans actually have addresses and letterboxes to receive letters?

In the weekly ‘via rapida’ traffic report, last week (Monday to Sunday) there were 15 accidents and 6 non-serious injuries, well over the weekly average of 10 accidents. 71 breakdowns were attended, there was one abandoned car, 17 animal rescues, 10 pedestrian removals, and 33 large objects removed from the motorway. At the weekend, for Madeira as a whole, there were 21 road accidents, and 14 injuries. This weeks accident hotspot league table : 1st Funchal, 2nd Santa Cruz, 3rd Câmara de Lobos. 14 drivers were found over the legal alcohol limit at the weekend, they were from Santa Cruz, Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, São Vicente and Calheta.

In an unusual story, a prisoner allocated ‘outside duties’ stole a car and disappeared whilst his supervisor was distracted. The 30 year old man was working in a slaughterhouse in Funchal at the time. The convicted drug trafficker and addict was on outside duties due to good behaviour and was nearing his release date. A team of prison guards are conducting a search for the man, who is not considered dangerous. It is not the first time that a prisoner has escaped, but the Diario says that they are ALWAYS recaptured … tempting fate perhaps. In that case, keep your boats and amphibious vehicles well secured!

The last session of the regional assembly officially sat yesterday, even though it seems to close anyway when they feel like it. All the politicians will be off on well deserved holidays now, returning to ‘work’ at the start of October. So don’t expect anything useful to happen for 2 months … just business as usual really!

Barclays Bank joined in the race to have more bank branches than people on Madeira, by opening a new branch in Rua do Sabão (Funchal) on Monday. Barclays say this is just part of a new strategy of expansion that is going to strengthen the network of branches throughout Portugal. Funny that, the banks stupidity puts half the world in recession, and yet the banks still have loads of money to expand on a small island that needs new banks about as much as it needs more bananas.

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

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Dave … “your readers may be interested to see a picture of Pombar an isolated hamlet near Pinheiro. I walked through it yesterday along the route of the Levada Nova and yes amazingly it is still inhabited.”

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 28/7/2008

Sócrates is an “insult” to the Portuguese … the Portuguese prime minister was the subject of the day in Chão da Lagoa at the annual political rally of the PSD party President of the PSD on Madeira, Alberto João Jardim, said that is “an insult” that Portugal is governed by a prime minister like José Sócrates and affirmed that the social-democrats of Madeira will do everything to enable a political change.”This has arrived to such a state that it is not enough that we leave this to the broken politicians of the opposition. We are people that should change Portugal.  They know that they can count on the Portuguese of Madeira to return Portugal to the way it should be. Sócrates cannot continue to govern Portugal”.

He called José Sócrates a “big enemy of Madeira” through the difficulties that he has caused in the region:  “That individual, the big enemy of Madeira, thought that he could destroy us, thought that we are going to stop our  development, stealing money from us.” That was Jardim’s “moderate” tone that he promised at the end of last week … I would hate to be on the receiving end of his real wrath then! In another story, there was a forest fire in the locality that afternoon which firemen managed to control … perhaps not everyone agrees with Pres. AJJ.

The new commander (3 months) of the Public Security Police says he wants the public to evaluate the performance of the police force, and wants to provide a form of victim support, particularly for the victims of domestic violence.  He hopes that by taking on board feedback from the community, that there can be a strong relationship between the PSP and the public, and that the citizens can have some degree of satisfaction with the performance of the police. A model of crime prevention will focus on the known problem areas on Madeira, and in the localities of the greatest crime incidence.

The ferry ‘Volcán of Tijarafe’, that arrived from  Portimão yesterday brought with it to Funchal the rally cars, support vehicles, and the equipment needed for the Madeira Wine Rally. You can find out everything you need to know on www.ralivm.com, which you can view in English. It shows the full programme, the routes, maps, and even which roads will be closed and when.

Other News :

Featuring the thousands of Madeirans about to embark on their summer holidays, the Diario reports on how easy it is now to travel within Europe, with border controls very relaxed between EU countries, but singles out the UK as having more stringent controls. Travelling outside the EU however is not so simple, and visas may be needed, and you also need to have six months validity on passports, and two free pages for immigration control stamps.

In it’s continuing series of beach reports, this one covers Porto da Cruz, highlighting it as a paradise for ‘bodyboarders’. Praia da Lagoa has a sandy area with much to offer for surf, as well as sun and relaxation. Because of it’s surf attractions, the beach appeals more to younger people. It seems it doesn’t have the normal ‘blue flag’ due to some “residual waters” that enter into the sea. Nevertheless, the beach complex has changing rooms, showers, toilets, playground and a restaurant, in a area that includes Internet through Wi-fi. There are several parking facilities and areas, but you may have a few minutes walk.

The public car park at Lido (Funchal) gets a story, as some drivers are finding their cars locked in when it closes at night. Apparently the hours of opening / closing are not displayed, and if your car is there after 10.30pm (or is it 11pm?) you have to call the police to retrieve it or wait until morning.

Another thin newspaper today … must be the politicians on their summer break.

Message from Dave (today’s photographer) “I wonder if any of your readers know where I can purchase either large (bulk) quantities of Casca Pinheiro or decorative stones (small)? I’m aware of Maxmat but they only seem to cater for relatively small quantities and I need a couple of tons (of the latter or an equivalent volume of pine bark chippings)!”

No idea Dave, but hope someone else knows (Casca = skin of fruit, egg shell, husk, pod, or in this case tree bark)

www.madeira4u.com

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

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Cafe Cristo Rei, over Garajau way I think.

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 27/7/2008

The police force of Madeira only have 6 radars and 8 trained officers that can identify and deal with speeding on our roads. 3 of the radars are in fixed locations. A spokesman says that over the last 6 years, the traffic division has lost 25% of its budget. Nevertheless, the number of detections is growing, with the offences recorded rising from 716 to 1,074 between 2006 and 2007. This year so far 957 speeding vehicles have been identified, 953 of which have been exceeding the limit by 20km per hour or more. Another problem is evident with transporting children, where in only 74% of the cases analysed children were adequately restrained inside the vehicle. Only 5 cars a day stopped for speeding, that’s incredible. It’s better than the 2 cars a day in 2006, but there is a long way to go in establishing identification of speeding drivers as an effective deterrent. The newspaper publishes an illustration showing the 17 most dangerous spots on the motorway, you can see it at the bottom of the page:

http://www.dnoticias.pt/Default.aspx?file_id=dn04010209270708

Murder on Madeira is on the up! Over the last 10 years or so, the average was about one a month, but in 2007 it was only 9. This year so far there have already been 10. Normally the crimes are not premeditated, and often involve excess consumption of alcohol.

The regional government has decided to put the Madeira Tecnopólo conference and fairs centre into private management, basically because independent management would be better for use and profitability. Public tendering will be used to find a suitable management company.

A proposal has been made to provide regular programmed entertainment in St. Catherine’s (sta. Catarina) park in Funchal. The proposal includes the erection of a permanent structure to allow concerts of various types. Nice idea, but I thought President Jardim said the government didn’t have any money?

Other News :

After a long absence of reported ‘syringe crimes’, a new one happened in a supermarket in Imaculado Coração de Maria. The thief went into the ‘Supermercado Regional’ stole 4 packets of shaving blades, threatened a member of staff with his syringe, and then fled the shop pursued by local(s) until the police arrived and arrested him.

High ultra violet sun warnings around again at the moment, so eye and skin protection is recommended between 10am and 5pm.

The Diario reader participation section on the website is attracting plenty of letters and suggestions in response to what can be done to reduce road accident deaths. One writer suggests that accidents in general are due to a lack of education and respect for others, and suggests that people need to organise their lives better. Another suggests police signs telling drivers to slow down, and more police stop operations at weekends and at nights to control drink driving. Another suggests that the use of mobile phones whilst driving causes danger and with little police enforcement. Another suggests limit the CC of the vehicles used on Madeira, and has the only suggestion certain to work … close all the roads.

Bit of a ‘thin’ newspaper, so that’s it for the day.

www.madeira4u.com

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

TODAY’S PHOTO : Cows grazing on Porto Santo Island. If you are getting fed up of looking at Porto Santo photos, please feel free to send in some fresh material … thanks! 

Front Page News : source : Diário de Notícias 26/7/2008

(President) Jardim promises to talk “moderately” at the festival of “Chão da Lagoa” today. “The Region should show a face of moderation to a State that abuses power and is becoming a police State against the rights, liberties and individual security”. If that second sentence is moderated, I think he has already exceeded his ambition in the first sentence. What a charmer …!

The police will be particularly attentive to alcohol and drink driving, mentioning the 4 road deaths in the space of a week, and to disorder at the festival.

The Regional Government is to create a new system of incentives exclusively to boost the islands main economic activity … tourism. Full details are not being revealed until September, but the Diario headlines the article SPECIFIC PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO GUARANTEE EXCELLENCE IN  TOURISM and mentions the sum involved of €40 million up until 2013, courtesy of Brussels.

A very low rainfall this year is threatening water supplies. First to be cut as non essential use will be supplies to agriculture and for watering gardens. The water authority maintains that if everyone makes a big effort to save water, then maybe we can get through the summer without water cuts. “In the last 15 years, the rain between October to May was limited to 1,380 mm annually, reducing to 1,237 mm annually over 10 years, and 1,146 mm annually over the last 5 years. The rain, especially in the two last years, has been scarcer. The traditionally humid months of December and of January have became dry”. With the increasing pressure of urban consumption, it is easy to see that the situation with Madeira is worrying. 

With the Peking Olympics almost here, 6 Madeiran athletes are on their way. Here they are :

Alberto Paulo (22) – Athletics, specialising in 3,000 metres hurdles

Ana Moura (22) – Badminton, specialising in singles

Helena Rodrigues (23) – Canoeing, specialising in K2 500 metres

Marcos Freitas (20) – Table tennis

Marco Vasconcelos (36) – Badminton, specialising in singles

Joao Rodrigues (36) – Sailing RS X M

The Diario names them as the ‘great Atlantic pearls’.

It certainly would be nice to put Madeira on the sporting map for reasons other than Cristiano Ronaldo, but I don’t think expectations are too high. And if not, at least they will be over there drinking Chinese water supplies rather than ours.

Other News :

So far 2,460 youngsters have been identified to start school for the first time in the new term, but that leaves around 1,000 vacancies unfilled in the public schools.

“It is easy to speak about poverty” as President Jardim answers the critics that “go home and sleep easy”. “Poverty has always existed, that is not the reason that we did not  eliminate it.  We should fight poverty.  But it is an action of selfishness when is said ‘that responsibility is with the politicians’ and we are going to sleep very well”. Jardim says there is no money, and therefore the priority is the construction of a new hospital. Well, nothing forthcoming there then, just a few  more roads, municipal golf courses, hospitals, fire stations, sports centres, beach conversions, football bungs, white elephants and whale museums, to go, and maybe then there will be some money left to help the poor.

A paedophile was released to freedom by the court in Santa Cruz last week, after being detained since 2007 for abusing minors of 12 and 15 years of age. He received a 4 year prison sentence suspended for the same period. No mention of a register of sex offenders, so perhaps they just go back on the streets with the hope they won’t re-offend?

The Porto Santo ferry ‘Lobo Marinho’ has transported nearly 1.7 million passengers since it came into service just over 5 years ago, but like all passenger ships it has to do safety demonstrations and evacuation simulations periodically under whatever rules their jurisdiction dictates. I think that the ferry, being just a short trip, has particular problems in getting passengers to cooperate, especially with such a multilingual clientele. On Thursday morning the crew undertook such an exercise, with a lifeboat actually being lowered, but complained that hardly any passengers reacted or cooperated. I remember being lucky enough to go on a 10 day cruise once, and they did exactly the same thing, but it was on the day before the cruise finished.

The new Hiper Sá store in Santana opened as planned, providing work to 75 people, and brought with it the promise of further investment in the region. Work is now underway to build a store in Machico (Easter 2009) and thought is still being given to building a store on Porto Santo Island.

www.madeira4u.com

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