Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Sarah … the long ascent to the church at Monte

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 23/11/2008

With a photo of a wastepaper bin containing €50 notes, the Diário reports on the number of mansions (quintas) that have been restored at great cost but are little used and falling back into disrepair. These buildings beautify the landscape, and enrich Madeira’s historical memories, but were restored at public expense after official intervention to prevent unacceptable deterioration. Their maintenance continues to be paid for by government. Two examples are Palacete dos Zinos in Lugar de Baixo and another known locally as ‘Casa do Governo’ in Santo da Serra. Both properties were supposed to earn enough revenue to pay for their own upkeep, but both are drastically underused.

A project to be undertaken by Madeira University to look at ways to protect endangered local animal species has been rejected (for funding presumably?) by the Foundation for Science and Technology. One of the key aims in the project was the conservation of a type of bat that is in danger of extinction, particularly as they control insect populations. A rough guess says that there are less than 100 remaining, and this is due to changes in human behaviour over the last 30 years.

’50 small shops at risk of closure in Funchal – financial difficulties and the crisis has already closed 348 shops in the last 18 months’. That’s the scary statistic the Diário has come up with to bring home the depth of impact of the recession to date. These new 50 possible closures will result in the loss of between 150 and 200 jobs, to add to the 1,361 already lost through shop and business closures across Madeira. Difficulties in obtaining credit has added to the problem of reduced customer spending. Around 47% of the current unemployment figures are as a result of these business closures.

Marítimo only managed a 0 – 0 draw last night at home against Sporting Braga, knocking them down into 5th place (for now). Nearly 5,000 supporters turned up for the game, more than turned up to watch Sporting, and league leader Leixões in Saturday’s other two games.

Other news :

SPAD (Society for the Protection of Domestic Animals) report that 200 to 300 animals are still being abandoned every month, with no end to the problem in sight. SPAD are having to turn to euthanasia to cope with the problem, a decision they do not take lightly, and they use where possible only as a last resort. Often these animals have infectious diseases that could affect other animals in their care, or suffer from serious stress conditions caused by their abandonment or spending a long period in a kennel.  It’s a long article defending SPAD and the reasons for putting animals to sleep, and I wonder if it was prompted by a readers letter to the Diário last week about stray dogs in Garajau being taken to SPAD and straightaway being put to sleep, which I didn’t particularly believe at the time, and SPAD have now effectively confirmed the matter.

Whilst budgets are being cut all over Madeira and Portugal, the Diário notes that the only budget not being cut was the one they refer to as ‘jackpot’ … the budget that pays the salaries and expenses of Madeira’s politicians, with the required expenditure being approved as submitted. Even the Azores have introduced measures to reduce these expenses. The Diário reckons that if Madeira was subject to the same financial laws as Portugal (another benefit of being a regional autonomy perhaps?), then €4 million would be saved. New legislation is to be passed in Portugal to deal with state provided political party funding which seems to have got out of hand. In exchange for a squeeze of the existing formula, the laws governing donations to political parties will be relaxed. 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.

The beginning of December will see the opening of a new hotel in Funchal (near the Dolce Vita centre) of a type of luxury never seen before on Madeira. ‘The Vine’ will exceed the luxury found in the existing high class hotels in Funchal, marketing itself to high budget business executives. It has 57 double rooms and 22 suites furnished and equipped to a level that will only normally be found in hotels in the major North American and European cities. The hotels is designed and decorated with a theme of ‘wine’, with the restaurant being called ‘Uva’ (grape) with a French chef rated with 3 Michelin stars. It also has an open air roof swimming pool and jacuzzi. The average cost for a room is €200 per night. 85 staff will be employed, selected from the best on Madeira. Nice work if you can get it … I bet the tipping will be worth more than the salaries, that’s if they get any customers.

Nacional won 1 – 0 at home yesterday against Trofense, and rise to third place in the league table.

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If anyone is interested, the old road between Ribeira Brava and Campanário is open again after the works to secure the rock-face just outside Ribeira Brava were completed. That’s the good news … the bad news is that it is due to close again in January, to do more rock-face securing, slightly further down the same stretch of road.

My visit to the festa at Apresentaçao at the weekend brought back happy memories of when a large bottle of Coral beer was just 70 cents (in two places visited). In five short years the price in most places in Rib. Bra. is now €1, a rise of 42%. I know you guys in Funchal can pay up to €2 for the same bottle, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Cheering thought of the day : 4 weeks today the days will start getting longer again, and today you are (some of us at least) in the warmest driest region of Portugal as the continent is on yellow and amber weather warnings.

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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, topical photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … a striking combination of dark clouds and sunshine.

Please send in any nice Christmassy photos you have to share with everyone who is not here to see the festive season on Madeira.

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 22/11/2008

Football is back on the front page, with the 91st ‘Series Madeira’ starting yesterday and continuing today … enough said!

The Regional Directorate for Cultural Matters (DRAC) has had it’s budget cut of over 50% as a result of reductions in the state budget for 2009. That means a severe cutback on cultural and heritage events and projects. The €6.4 million budget for this year will be replaced by just €2.8 million next year. Other funding is available but it is in a shared pot, or has been allocated for a specific purpose. I think this directorate covers museums, art etc, so I don’t think it will affect carnival, festa, Xmas and new year celebrations etc. In fact I am sure it won’t with 3 elections to be held next year.

The President of the Association of Portuguese Banks, João Salgueiro, who is over here for a speaking engagement with the Diário, has said that Portugal’s companies suffer from a severe problem … lack of productivity. Low performance levels by the Portuguese workforce are ensuring that businesses are finding it hard to be competitive.

Young recently qualified nurses who were promised jobs in the health service have not been recruited, and are ending up working in Pingo Doce and Wortens. The government department responsible has failed to open up vacancies. At present the number in service is 1,700, with an ideal level being between 2,300 and 2,500.

I already mentioned yesterday that the taxi drivers in Funchal decided to have an impromptu protest on Friday, blocking Avenida do Mar with a slow ‘march’ and making a right racket with their horns. Officially the protest was about the ‘disloyal’ competition from private transport companies picking up the tourists from the cruise ships. Police were called in to try and restore normality.

Other news :

It seems that teachers here, who already have their blanket performance assessment ratings of ‘good’, are still going to support the national movement against these evaluations. The teachers union on Madeira says it expects a strong turn-out on the day of the national strike, scheduled for 3rd December.

A bit of excitement in Porto da Cruz on Friday afternoon when several people saw a white unidentified flying object  plunge into the sea about a mile off the coast, leaving a plume of smoke behind it. Maritime Police were called to investigate but found nothing, and the airport control tower reported that there was nothing abnormal detected. The other large white object that leaves a trail of cigar smoke  was spotted safe and well in Funchal the same night … just in case anyone was concerned.

Two German hang-glider enthusiasts were ditched into the sea at Madelena do Mar on Friday after venturing out, against advice, in strong winds. They were rescued by a nearby fishing boat, and one was taken to hospital after swallowing large amounts of sea water.

One of the levada muggers mentioned on yesterdays blog has been detained in preventative prison, whilst the other two have been released, subject to reporting in regularly at a police station.

‘Road Crossing’s Responsible for 38% of People Getting Run Over’. That’s the title, and the article states that of the 182 people knocked down so far this year, 69 took place on ‘passadeiras’ (zebra crossings). The Diário blames the pedestrians for being impatient and without prudence, which is probably true on the light controlled ones. I am not so sure on the others, because does anyone actually understand the official protocol for using one? I don’t. If I wait on the pavement, invariably no one stops, if I put a foot on the crossing invariably no one stops. If I walk out into the road in front of a moving car, then they stop, well most of the time anyway.

Ponta do Sol village is about to grow by 33,000 square metres. The growth will take place in the north, at a cost of €5 million for works. The new development will eventually have a connection to the new ‘fast road’ to Canhas, a new police station, and a new school. I should think the police will be very happy … I wouldn’t want to work in the old police station even if they paid danger money, and maybe that is why they are always so active in road traffic operations.

The Left Block (BE) party has delivered to the Regional Assembly of Madeira a proposal to create a support centre for the treatment of Madeira’s 30,000 alcoholics. At present the only place help is available is at the Casa de Saúde in São João. The idea will be rejected for sure, as it didn’t come from the social democrats (PSD-M), so the only reason for mentioning it is the number involved. 30,000 is 12% of the population here, so I really can’t believe that is true. Perhaps they count part time alcoholics, as I think I know a few of them?

The Porto Santo ferry will drop all together its fuel surcharges, from 1st December. The surcharge rules used are removed once the price of a barrel of petroleum drops below 80 dollars.

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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, topical photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Pirex … The Santa Catarina boat

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 21/11/2008

I suppose the headline of the day is that there is no football on the front page, but there is a small front page piece on the less popular sport of futsal.

A planning application for an 8 storey building in Estreita de Câmara de Lobos has been approved, subject to a few adjustments. It is to be built in a mainly rural area, and when complete it will be the tallest building in the Câmara de Lobos district. The councillors had no alternative but to approve it as a licence was originally granted in 2004, and despite changes in thinking since then, it cannot be revoked. The new building will house 23 T2 and T3 apartments. I can’t believe nothing can be done to stop such a huge monstrosity spoiling the landscape in a higher area on Madeira. Perhaps this is a special job for President Bertie, as he has a well proven track record in ploughing through democracy.

The judicial arm of Funchal police are carrying out extensive investigations into ‘goings-on’ in CMF (Funchal Council), causing some nervousness within the organisation. Several members of staff have been interviewed about the management of the council, although the lid has been kept on so far as to the exact nature of the investigations, though the words ‘crooked deals’ do get a mention in the article.

I didn’t realise this until today but you can actually watch ‘live’ the sessions that take place in the Madeira assembly, well, at least you used to be able to. Somebody has now introduced a 5 minute delay in the online transmission, seemingly to prevent the showing of embarrassing scenes such as happened earlier this month, helping to preserve the unblemished image of the social democrat (PSD) ruling party … sorry no, it actually says ‘to protect the dignity of the assembly’. The decision was taken by the presidency of the ALM, and has surprised opposition parties. A spokesman guarantees that “there is not any kind of censorship”, and the transmission will only be cut when the works are interrupted. The new system has already been in operation for over 2 weeks, and has already been used once, and it was then that the transmission delay was spotted by a member of an opposition party. Well, well, well … another sneaky move in our democratic government to ensure we don’t get exposed to the x-rated material. How thoughtful, as I would be most embarrassed to see the unveiling of a Nazi swastika, or the expulsion of a rowdy politician, or the image of a PSD vice president making a right clown of himself. I wonder who has charge of the video remote control (obviously a man, as we always do). If you fancy a peak go to http://www.alram.pt and then ‘Plenário On-Line’.

In an interview with the President of the Association of Portuguese Banks, João Salgueiro believes that Madeira is in a good position to escape the worst of the financial crisis, the secret being in good tourist utilisation (he definitely says ‘tourist’ and not ‘tourism’). He elaborates by saying that the opportunity is there to retain and capture new business as long distance tourism becomes more unaffordable. A slight flaw in your logic there sir, as if the financial crisis is worldwide, then surely the Japanese will holiday close to Japan, the Americans close to America etc. etc?

Other news :

An attempt by the trade union representing shop workers to drastically cut Funchal shop opening hours over Christmas has failed.  The union had appealed to CMF to enforce shop closing at 8pm, saying that there were insufficient customers to justify working after that time. CMF have now authorised extended shop opening hours between 1st and 23rd December, and 29th to 31st. In the first week in December opening can be until 7pm, in the second week 8pm, and the third week until 9pm. Shops who want to open outside of these hours (up until midnight) can apply to CMF for a licence.

The rate of death due to pneumonia on Madeira is 2.8 times higher than the national average, and Madeira is one of the regions of Portugal with the worst death rates due to respiratory diseases. The reason is mainly down to a genetic mutation that is present in much of the native population.

Police are still on the hunt for levada muggers, particularly in the areas of Palheiro Ferreiro and Vale Paraíso. An operation on Wednesday led to the arrest of three men equipped with an air pistol that looked like a real gun. Property stolen from tourists was also recovered, and the police believe that they have now put an end to recent attacks.

The Portuguese airline TAP has lowered its prices by introducing tax benefits that are already enjoyed in the Azores, and through a new promotion that brings prices down to start at €65 (taxes included) on the routes between Madeira and Lisbon / Porto. Also many European flights are reduced for flights between 15th January and 31st May 2009, starting at €59.

This weekend’s football fixtures: Today Marítimo v Braga, SportTV at 6.15pm; Tomorrow Nacional v Trofense 4pm (the only weekend game not on TV).

A message from Sarah: Nice to see my pics on the blog, but I also enjoy viewing the other pics too, some very good photographers around.   Der you might know the answer for this one, or be able to advise.  Friends of mine here (they can’t access the forum it won’t allow them to log on), have asked me if I know of where one can hire bikes (push bikes) in Funchal and has anyone hired them.  Where is the best place to hire, cost, etc.  I didn’t know whether to put something on the blog, although I know its not blog material – but as you have a lot of visitors thought someone might be able to help. Best wishes Sarah.

According to the 2003 Rough Guide you can try Eurofun in the Centro Comercial Olimpo (291 228 638)  or Joyride (291 234 906) in the same location Sarah, but that was 5 years ago. Maybe someone else has a better idea?

Have a good weekend! I am off to a local festa this afternoon/night, so if the blog is a little late tomorrow I already have my excuse.

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, topical photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!