That was me with my bucket and spade, well spotted Tobi.
–Der

Dont forget the new hotel in the lido has opened as well big white thing , not seen anything about it in the paper , i believe its spainish owned.

And then the new pestana one will open next year , and then how many more are they going to build,down by praia formosa..????
–Tobi

I will have to learn to restrain myself in the future. Of course they could all cut down, but unfortunately power blinds politicians to the real feelings of the people. And that’s not an exclusive to AJJ by the way.

I can see why AJJ didn’t want the budget hotels as Madeira is sold as an up market resort. As such I, for one, do not want Madeira to turn into a Majorca or Ibiza type place.

However in these changing times and the fact that Easyjet run those cheap flights to Madeira one or two budget hotels would compliment the existing island accommodation.

On writing to the Diário. I don’t think they would even read, let alone print, my humble thoughts as they don’t fit in with their negative stance on this government.

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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos

Easyjet planned to build a hotel here, but Bertie stopped it, saying he didn't want budget hotels on Madeira.

Re budget: thought you might bite on that Carlos. I am a realist, and salary cuts I wouldn't expect, though paying the equivalent of 15 x minimum wage to what are really county councellors is somewhat over the top. If the Azores and the republic have chopped their own expenditure though, why not Madeira. Cheaper cars, less lunches out, less travel expenses … why not? Just reflecting what the newspaper said, so are you going to write to the Diário too?

Tobi, heavy rain definately, maybe storms too? Only two districts in mainland Portugal not on alert.

SPAD employees are public servants I think, so not much hope of any radical action from them.
–Der

I don't want to say that the government is totally blameless. But it is an inherent part of the culture of Madeira.

I am not excusing the owners actions. Coming from the UK we know and understand better. I am just saying that animal welfare has never ever been high on the priorities of most Madeirans.

I know people who keep a pig in a space so small it can't even turn around. Or a goat that is locked up inside all day. The dilemma I find myself in is who am I to come to this foreign land and start saying that you shouldn't do this or that and you need to change and do this instead. On the other hand it's hard to keep quiet.

I guess to solve the problem you would start by educating people followed by implementing new laws preventing cruelty in the first place.

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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.

–Carlos

Why doesnt spad arrange a march , and cause a lot of problems in Funchal to get the point across about the stray dogs, cause they are clearly not winning, and the Government are doing F%&K all about, and at the end of the day its the poor dogs that suffer when it should be the stupid pathetic owners.
–Tobi

RE: New hotel.

Ditto the comments I made about the new apartment blocks in CDL on Friday. Why does Madeira need another luxury hotel? What is the average occupancy level during the year for the established hotels? If a new hotel was needed why not consider opening a no frills hotel to compliment the budget airline Easyjet?

What a disgrace that a ‘democratic government’ will not share the pain that the rest of Madeira has to suffer … maybe that fact will come back to bite them during the 2009 elections.

I think here Der you are living in a dream world. I guess when you envisaged living on this beautiful island you had hoped for beautiful politics too!

I have not heard of any politician from any party from any country requesting that their pay should be cut in order to show compassion towards the less well off during these difficult times.

Just take a look at the shambles you left behind in the UK for evidence that politics is a very dirty and murky world. We didn’t even get a choice with the promotion of our current PM.

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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos