Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … another shot of Machico beach, newly sanded, but how long will it stay there?

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 30/10/2008

In a follow-up article about the relative poor exam results for Madeira compared to nationally, the Diário headlines with ‘Pupils show little interest’, saying that they are “less motivated and hardly willing for the studying and sacrifice”. One commenter blames the infrastructure of the schools here, whilst the regional director for education considers the results to be satisfactory. A full table of the exam ranking of the schools of Madeira can be viewed here if anyone is interested: http://www.dnoticias.pt/Default.aspx?file_id=dn04010210301008

No none asked me for an opinion, but I will give one anyway. If an intelligent school child were to look at the job opportunities for their parents and other adults, and see that so many have really poorly paid jobs, in construction, tourism, and the retail sectors for example, and also the number of unemployed, then these options would probably come to mind. 1). I will end up in a rubbish job anyway so what’s the point of studying to get great exam results or 2). I will go for a job in local government or public services (police etc), but these jobs are highly prized and in every case  compared to general European standards are already substantially overmanned and facing budget cuts, or 3). I will aim to get great exam results to go to university and get out of the rat race, with a job in the professional sector. The trouble is with option 3 is that this island already has far too many lawyers, dentists, engineers, accountants etc, and so the only real option would be to leave Madeira to seek a more ambitious career path. That’s not quite Hobson’s choice, but it’s not far off. I may be wrong, but if I am then that means the accusations in the Diário are correct and basically spell out ‘laziness’ or ‘apathy’. Am I also accusing the government of not creating job opportunities and investing in the long term employment prospects on Madeira … possibly. With such a fantastic location, great climate, low crime, pretty good flight offerings, hi-tech communications,  lowest IVA / VAT rates in Europe, tax free zone and other tax advantages, low cost labour, why is Madeira not a company ‘hot spot’ in Europe?  All the focus seems to be in bringing tourists here, and if the same effort was made to bring new businesses here this could be a far more successful and even a very strong economy.

Police have arrested 6 thieves in and around Camacha and Santo da Serra, accused of theft, deception, and receiving of fencing stolen goods. The leader of the 6 was ‘grassed up’, and the article only states that the theft of household furniture was involved.

The excitement on Wednesday all took place when the judicial police ‘raided’ the Fire Station in Santana. 3 inspectors unexpectedly turned up in an unmarked vehicle, named as a black Skoda Fabia, and stayed there an hour doing ‘searches’. No one is exactly sure, or is admitting, what is going on, but the two favourite theories revolve around irregularities in a suppliers contract, and the dubious sale of an ambulance given to them by the town council. A black Skoda Fabia eh … what intrigue! Watch out for cars like this pulling up outside of your house. Rest assured that when I know the truth, you will know too!

With a picture that looks like the cruise ship ‘Independence Of The Seas’ in Funchal on Wednesday, the article covers the plight of shopkeepers that despair because the cruise passengers spend little or no money, continuing “business is near the hour of death”. Less and less visitors spend money in the shops and on the traditional merchandise in Funchal, preferring to hop on a bus or do an excursion. Those that do stay in the centre buy a few postcards, small keepsakes, and costume jewellery, but that is about it. Most passengers of the 4000+ from the ‘Independence Of The Seas’ paid each €1,260 for their interior cabins for the 11 day trip, for a pretty much all inclusive package, and shopkeepers just don’t understand why they don’t spend in the shops of Funchal like they used too. The Diário offers some theories. One is that the 36 coaches and 5 jeeps whisked most of them away on excursion packages sold to them on board, another says that of those who stay in Funchal many do guided tours, and hence get taken just to the shops where the guides get commission. The newspapers and authorities here always look at things from a Madeira angle, never from the angle of the tourist, and that is certainly a failing on their part, and that punishes Madeira’s business and will continue to do so. I have several other theories to add also, but I won’t bore you with them now.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Manchester United in a victory on Wednesday night in the English Premier League. Perhaps his form of last season has now returned. Before the match he showed off his ‘Golden Boot’ and FIFPro awards.

Other News :

It seems an age since we had a mosquito story, but look no further. The mosquito ‘Aedes aegypti’ that is spreading out of Funchal slowly, has found a new adversary by the name of Roberto Thomé (a mathematics teacher in Brazil), who has suggested the breeding and liberalisation of sterile male mosquitoes to combat the population growth, alongside the use of chemical insecticides. It’s a well explained and perfectly plausible theory, but that is all it at present, an article in a newspaper that had already that same information given to it several weeks ago. (David – Link here: http://www.dnoticias.pt/Default.aspx?file_id=dn04010211301008 )

As the Diário website is still showing the economic stories from Wednesday, that’s as much as I can give you today.

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