Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Eiryl … Late on New Year’s Day at Jardim do Mar … nice pic except that darn fisherman getting in the way!

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 23/1/2009

Today’s main story : The dream of the entrepreneur Sílvio Santos for the Colombo Resort on Porto Santo Island has come to an abrupt end, as the banks take possession of the whole project. The banking syndicate that funded the project has been informed that there is no more money to continue, let alone repay any investors. Discussions have been held with both the governments of Madeira and the republic to find a solution, but nothing has been decided. One of the options being considered was a joint venture involving the Department for Tourism of Portugal to get the project finished. Initially the project employed 400 workers, but that has gradually diminished, eventually stopping work altogether. Very sad … Porto Santo 12 months ago had so much hope for tourism, development, local jobs, and a growing economy, but everything seems to have has gone wrong. I can’t imagine any business wanting to invest there in the next few years, but I hope I am wrong.

Since the Judicial Court of Funchal had it’s metal detector operational at the entrance, security guards there are taking between 6 and 10 ‘white weapons’ a day off people who enter. A ‘white weapon’ is essentially a knife, but could include any sharp metal object with the potential to injure someone. The headline is eye-catching, but later you realise that it is mostly hype, as as these are not violent criminals entering the court, these are people with pocket knives, and nail files and nail cutters in ladies handbags.

Taxi drivers are to stage a protest on Tuesday over concerns about increased fuel prices and unfair competition form travel agencies and other organisations that ‘take’ their customers. Combined with the economic crisis in the general sense, they are finding it hard going to make a living. According to the notice placed in the rear window of the taxis, the protest will take the form of a ‘gathering’ at the parking area in Praia Formosa at 4pm on Tuesday.

The all powerful social democratic party (PSD-M) is withholding documents from the opposition parties. Files relating to contracts, developments, and other matters of parliamentary business, which all politicians have a constitutional right to access, have been withheld since as far back as last May. The socialists (PS-M) will make a formal complaint to the appropriate governmental body in Lisbon to have the matter rectified. Just when you think that Jardim’s party can’t make life any more difficult for the opposition, we learn of another dirty tactic aimed at crushing the opposition. I would say that being an opposition politician must be sheer hell, but perhaps earning up to twenty times the minimum salary makes work a little more tolerable.

Aside from the daily football piece, the only other story was about ‘The Experimental Theatre of Funchal’ (that I have not heard of) that is taking it’s turn in being hit by the crisis with reducing numbers of plays and actors. Normally it presents 2 adult and 2 children’s shows each year. In the past it received funding to the tune of €150,000 a year, but this year that is expected to be halved. Increasing the ticket prices form €10 (adult) in these hard times is no option either.

Other News :

The Madeira assembly managed to agree with almost total unity on two matters this week. The first was a vote of congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the FIFA player of the year award … but who would have dared to vote otherwise during an election year. The second matter was a vote on a two percent pay rise for themselves, where all the parties voted in favour, except the PCP who abstained, which was not really very brave of them knowing it was bound to go through anyway. Two percent on a salary of up to twenty times the minimum salary … must be worth around €2,000 a year, so not a bad days work!

Chão da Ribeira, in the freguesia of Seixal, has a festa this weekend, with up to 4,000 people expected to attend. Unlike most festas, the ‘Panelo’ doesn’t celebrate anything specific but has taken place at the same time annually for many many years. The ‘Panelo’ is actually a 150 litre cooking vessel, and it will be filled with 2 sacks of potatoes, 2 sacks of cabbage, 38 kilos of pork, 15 kilos of traditional spicy sausage (chouriço) and 15 kilos of sweet potatoes, and that’s just for Sunday lunch.

Marítimo 0 – 0 Leixões last night.

Have a good weekend!

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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 Sarah … An ‘A’ frame house at Santana.

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 21/1/2009

Most of the news stories from Wednesday were still hanging around on the website yesterday when I checked, so new front page news is a bit thin on the ground.

Main headline : ‘PSD already has a plan to raise millions’. “The men of Jardim don’t waste any time”. Straight after the Constitutional Court ruled out the legitimacy of sharing out the ‘Jackpot’ budget, the party has come forward with a different money raising wheeze (to fund the 2009 election campaigns). Whereas the ‘Jackpot’ budget previously paid the salaries of the politicians at the rate of 15 x minimum wage, now the surplus money instead of funding the parties directly, will now be used to increase the salaries of politicians to up to 20 x minimum salary depending on membership of the parliamentary groups (which one would assume are pretty much if not all social democrats). This action will be backdated until June 2007, and there is nothing more the constitutional court can do about it. The Diário quotes the total ‘benefit’ as being in 7 figures, but with doubts over the exact amounts, but the article doesn’t say how it will work from there. One would assume that each PSD-M politician will then donate his windfall to the party, and then probably declare that donation on his or her tax return to avoid personal taxation liability. Dirty tactics maybe, but it seems it is all above board. I am sad that it means the well funded PSD-M campaigns will be as noisy and intrusive as ever, and I guess any competing political parties will just disappear in the background as usual.

This years carnival (February) will have fireworks, and the TV series ‘Flor do Mar’ is to be extended … two bits of good news announced by Conceicão Estudante yesterday in Lisbon. The regional secretary for tourism and transport announced that the eight firework ‘stations’, that couldn’t be used at new year due to rough seas, will be set-off on one of the carnival days, not yet announced. She is also optimistic that the extension of the TV soap will give Madeira even more coverage and attract more Portuguese to Madeira for holidays. It was also announced that Madeira was the most popular Portuguese holiday destination in 2008, and that bookings so far for the first quarter of this year are little changed from the same period in 2008.

The cemetery in the parish of Faial at present only has the capacity to receive another four to five burials. Then, the suggested alternative to the local population will be to bury their dead in the cemetery of the parish of Santana. A spokesperson for the council said “It’s a very small cemetery and in the last five years it has been registering more deaths than usual. I tried to find a place to build a new cemetery, but the truth is that there almost no land available to expand”. She adds “The law requires that the body should be buried for at least three years, but we extend the limit for five years so that the body is fully decomposed.” So what happens to the body when it is dug up? Does this mean that when you buy a family plot that you are in fact only renting it until decomposition is complete. Not really important questions for a man of my age, who is happy to be fed to the fish rather than take up valuable cemetery space, when the time comes.

It’s been Two years since the closure of the Ethnographic Centre in Camacha, as decreed by the council of Santa Cruz, because the building has a very serious risk of collapsing. Yet there is not a short-term solution that will resolve the problem. Serious design flaws are the cause of the problems in the three story building. It was opened by President Jardim in 2001, and after closing the building for safety reasons the câmara (council) lied to everyone, saying it was closed for ‘inventory’. They say that demolishing and rebuilding is impossible as the premises are now out of guarantee. The Diário refers to the project as a ‘white elephant’ … another one to add to the growing list.

The other story was about a former Marítimo footballer who went to play for Rapid Bucareste.

Other News :

The population of Madeira and Porto Santo have specific unique genetic traits. A researcher at the Laboratory of Human Genetics at the University of Madeira claims that the people have a distinct African influence, unlike the Portuguese population on the continent where the influence does not exist or is virtually non-existent. The results of the research is important for plans to establish a centre for bone marrow donors on Madeira. The fact that Porto Santo has a distinct African trait is no surprise as African pirates were regular visitors there, leaving the women alive and expectant when they left. In fact you can still visibly see that ancestry in many people there and also some on Madeira, so maybe that has been spread around and diluted over the last few centuries. However, history is adamant that Madeira was populated directly from mainland Portugal.

The problems at Funchal Central Hospital continue, with the new computer system not coping, and an influx of flu patients and bronchitis victims. Aside from waiting for hours, many patients are having to stand or sit on the floor. Sounds like if you went in with a broken finger you might come out with something rather more unpleasant.

CMF (Funchal Council) have launched a ‘big families’ discount card. Weighing over 500 kilos will get you nothing, but any family with 3 or more children will get you 50% discount on some shows promoted by CMF, discounts on photocopies in libraries, and reduced prices in the council run sports and swimming facilities. In addition you can apply for a special ‘family tariff’ for your water consumption.

The Madeiran João Vieira set of yesterday on board the catamaran ‘Blue Note’ with the port of destination being Le Marin, Martinique. He is the Portuguese record holder for the most Atlantic crossings, and so far, including this trip, he has notched up 130,000 mn (nautical miles?) in 49 Atlantic voyages. For this trip, the skipper also has the company of a companion and a nephew. The food will be based on fish, because “every day we go fishing, and we always catch a Dourado or a Tuna, with rice or pasta and salad. We take approximately 400 litres of water and 400 litres of fuel. This trip will last 18 to 20 days without stopovers, and I intend to travel an average of 140 nms per day” he concluded. I struggle to think of many stopovers anyway, but there again I have no idea where Martinique lies.

Last year the new ferry service between Madeira / Canary Islands / Portimão brought 20,000 passengers to Madeira, half of whom were tourists. In June it is quite likely that the ‘Volcán de Tijarefe’ will start doing two trips each week, if demand is sufficient.

In national news : ‘Portuguese troops leave Iraq’. Defence Minister Nuno Teixeira, announced yesterday the end of the Portuguese participation in Iraq due to “changes in the conditions of security” and the absence of an agreement with the Iraqi government on the status of the military in the country. The six military currently personnel in Iraq will be withdrawn by the end of this month. I am sure the difference won’t really be that noticeable.

This weekend’s football : Marítimo v Leixões TONIGHT 18.30 on SportTV1, and on Saturday Nacional v Sporting 18.30 also on SportTV1.

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Has anyone done a full year on the ‘new’ car tax system, where renewal is based on the anniversary month of the car’s registration? I am only curious because there were supposed to be reminders sent
out, and I wondered if it actually happened.

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A quick count up on the school register for the free Portuguese lessons in Rib. Bra. on Wednesday showed 26 names, but this week the most we have had is 13 attendees. I think some students are frustrated because the teacher only speaks a little English, and hence things don’t get explained fully and accurately … a dangerous situation for such early days. For those who skip classes, you should note that your absence is recorded, and the school will keep a record and tell your parents at the end of term.

I have heard that there are free lessons in Calheta as well, but no one has informed ‘the blog’ so I couldn’t tell you where and when, but apparently they are 3 hour lessons at night time.

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!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Eiryl … a Madeiran chaffinch he suspects?

Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 21/1/2009

The main story of the day covers a new project in São Martinho (Funchal) that covers the zone between Hiper Sã and Nazaré, and involves adults tracking and ensuring that children stay on the ‘straight and narrow’. The teams of adults – composed of social workers, psychologists, and social educators – all have the same goal: to prevent children and youths, who spend their days on the streets, from following the paths of crime and drug consumption. The work requires time in order to supervise and to win  trust, and to find out how these ‘at risk groups’ (aged 6 to 17 years) can lead healthy life. The new project covers 40 youngsters, but a similar project has been operating in Câmara de Lobos for a year, where workers have involved the children in sports, skating, and even a course in cooking. A further project along the same lines is being planned for Bairro da Nogueira. Blows your mind when you think about it, and although the end result will be very desirable if it works, the resources involved must be phenomenal. Whether one day all Madeira’s children will be supervised in school, at home, and in their spare time remains to be seen.

The big front page picture and story covers what is going on with the change of presidency in America, so if interested you can follow that on TV or online without my input.

The TV series on TVI, ‘Flor do Mar’, is to be extended, with filming through to the summer at least. Portuguese audience figures are showing the ‘soap’ to be very popular and regularly creating viewing records. One of the forthcoming features is to hold a special ‘festa’ or party in the town of São Vicente on 31st January where filming will take place, involving around 30 of the actors. João Portugal, singer of the theme song, will be performing there. It seems the festa will run through the afternoon and night, but schedule changes may be necessary. I assume they need people to fill the festa (free of charge ‘extras’) … anyone up for it?

‘Jackpot is unconstitutional’. That’s the court verdict on the budget apportioned to paying politicians and also used to provide political party funding, saying that the parties are violating the constitution. The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira cannot legislate on the funding of political parties as it’s own initiative. That has been decided by the Constitutional Court in Lisbon, which considered the ‘jackpot’ unconstitutional because this matter is in the mandate of national legislature. What happened (as I understand it) is that an overpayment was made due to a reduction in the number of politicians in the assembly, and the social democrats (PSD-M) decided to use the surplus for party funding. I wonder if the parties will have to return the money already dished out? The new democratic party gave their share-out to old age pensioners (about €7,000 if I recall) to so that could be a bit embarrassing.

The Bishop of Funchal has just returned from Mexico where he attended the ‘VI World Meeting of Families’. He warns of a “demographic winter” as birth rates continue to fall, and calls for law changes and more support for families to combat the situation. I think that is a lost cause, as the amount of money needed to persuade families to have more children is an amount that no society can afford to pay.

The administration of ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM) and ‘Naviera Armas’, owners of the ferry  Volcán de Tijarafe now agree on the issue of loading and unloading in the port of Funchal. In future freight will only be permitted in Funchal where it is in vehicles (with engines, and not trailers) with a limit of 10 trucks. To ensure compliance the Office of Port and Maritime Transport will on Saturday inspect of the loading and unloading of the Volcán Tijarafe. I suppose that’s a reasonable compromise, and that won’t upset the ferry schedule, but a limit on freight will surely put the price up according to the laws of supply and demand.

and then, skipping the usual football story …

Other News :

The police station at Camacha is closing … less than two years after a new police station was promised. Policing matters there will now be dealt with from Machico.

Following yesterday’s story : After the report that the Diário published Tuesday, about the sending home of  patients who are in a state of coma, a spokesman for the health authority states that it is sensitive to the problems associated with looking after such patients, and will ensure the continued internment of those who are unable to be cared for at home.

The 203 largest and most famous trees on Madeira and Porto Santo are now documented in a book. The initiative started by the Regional Directorate of Forestry utilised a team of technicians in a comprehensive survey that took about three years to be completed, and has resulted in the work ‘The Trees monumental and emblematic of the Autonomous Region of Madeira’, or ‘As Árvores Monumentais e Emblemáticas da Região Autónoma da Madeira’ (in case you want to buy it). The book was launched Tuesday in a ceremony held at Quinta Magnolia. It portrays the trees from all 11 districts of the region that are best known “due to size, history, architectural beauty and ecological value,” says Miguel Almeida Domingues, who coordinated the preparation of the work. So it sound like the book is about specific trees rather than types of trees, which is unusual … any ‘trees spotters’ on this blog?

Remember this from last week : Jaime Ramos, president of the Association of Industry and Construction (ASSICOM), is totally against the Government’s proposals for waste and water management, as is his association.Yet he is a PSD-M (social democrat party) deputy, and leader in the regional assembly, and the PSD  will next week approve a legislative package that will allow the Government to create several companies to manage water and waste. In a conflict of interests, which way will he vote? HE VOTED WITH HIS PARTY IN THE END!

There is also an article on changes to the income tax system (updating of tax rates) titled ‘Families benefit with the IRS update’, but it is too technical for me to publish a reliable translation. You can see it here (you may need to be logged in) : 

http://www.dnoticias.pt/Default.aspx?file_id=dn04010703210109

Easyjet are advertising another sale, but I am not sure whether Madeira is included or not after the last fiasco. The sale covers flights for travel during February and March 28th. Use this link:

http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/late_getaway_deals_this_winter.html

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!