Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Sarah … more great footage from the flower festival, this one from one of the earlier days when the kids dressed up.

Front Page News : main source : Diário de Notícias 28/4/2009

‘Just Four Games Lost In Eleven Years Of Championships’. Madeiran ladies, Esmeralda and Cristina, are pictured from the Madeira Ladies Handball team, formed in 1998, with the ambition of being the top women’s national team in all competitions. They even exceeded that with honours at European level, and with this season still unfinished they are practically already celebrating their 11th league title. In the national championship the team have during those years played 230 games, losing only 4 times. Cristina Vieira played in 226 of those games.

Yesterday’s main headline : ‘Breast Cancer : Tests Running At Half Gas – The mobile screening unit working Madeira is insufficient in helping to prevent a disease that strikes 500 women every year’. In the case of Funchal, the breast cancer testing centre hasn’t been working during the last 6 months, after it was noticed last November that there were cracks in the wall. The mobile unit just can’t manage on it’s own, with only 50% of the work being fulfilled in screening women between the ages of 45 and 69. It seems that the Secretary for Social Affairs ordered it’s closure for safety reasons. It is predicted that it will restart soon. There’s not much point in telling women that it is time critical to screen for cancer, if the service provided operates like that. As well as 6 months lost, it would take at least another 6 months to catch up, if that was actually possible. 

‘Customs Hunt Five Kilos Of Hashish At The Door Of The Armas Ferry – A Spaniard Was Caught With The Drug On Saturday’. The drugs were disguised as presents, and were found by Customs and Excise.  C & E have no powers in drug trafficking, so the 40 year old man was handed over to police, and is now being kept in custody. The drugs were sufficient for over 50,000 individual doses. I can’t believe that’s the first time it has ever happened, but drug seizures rarely make front page news these days.

‘Case Of The Wild Duck Unresolved For Three Years On Porto Santo’. It was 3 years ago that the Pato Bravo (Wild Duck) was assaulted on Porto Santo, the owner (of the bar of that name silly), was so badly hurt he was at deaths door for three days in a coma, and spent three weeks in hospital. The robber was caught with at the airport trying to flee, having been identified on video security, but since then nothing has happened and the robber is living in England. The owner / victim has made complaints with the authorities to try and get the matter concluded, but he has been stonewalled with the answer that the matter is subject to ‘secrecy of justice’. 

‘Madeira Prepares Itself Against Swine Fever – The virus that is alarming the Americas has already arrived in Europe. Madeira is taking the defensive measures adopted in Portugal. So far, there is no knowledge of any Madeirans in Mexico’. Spain already has 20 reported cases, and although there are none yet in Portugal, 3 hospital are on alert. Madeira will follow the guidelines of the health department (DGS), and will take all the preventative measures recommended by the World Health Organisation. One of the measures nationally will be to check the flight (the passengers presumably, as I doubt if the plane has caught it) that comes from Cancun in Mexico, with 200 passengers, before anyone is allowed to disembark. Portugal has a stash of 2.5 million suitable vaccinations, left over from the risky days of Bird Flu, that are still within date, and will be called upon if necessary in the event of a swine fever outbreak. Pig meat is still on sale here, and guaranteed to be unaffected, although in spite of that, prices are in free-fall.

’700 Evoke The History Of Funchal In August’. In continuing plans to mark the 500 years of Funchal City, plans are in hand to organise a commemorative parade on 21st August this year. The parade ‘A History of Funchal in the Street’, will follow on from a similar event last year, but this time will concentrate more on the use of period costumes, and to have more men involved. Anyone wanting to take part, especially men, can check out the website www.funchal21deagosto.com and register an interest there, and opt for ‘wardrobe days’ during May. Being a man, I would love to join in, but the 21st is always ‘toenail clipping night’, so unfortunately I will have to give it a miss. I am left wondering that if Zarco only discovered Madeira in 1420, what sort of clothes were the locals wearing so soon after. The photo with the story shows folk wearing expensive gowns and billowing silky dresses, but I would have guessed it was something more like loincloths back in those days.

Other News :

‘Government does not know where to take tourism ‘. Yesterday there was a parliamentary debate on Tourism, an initiative of the Socialist Party, who beforehand had accused the regional government of not having a strategy for tourism. I wonder about these socialists sometimes … 1). when will they learn that a government with an absolute majority now, and for the foreseeable future, doesn’t need a strategy for anything, and that’s why it doesn’t have one for education, health, poverty relief, drugs and alcohol abuse etc. etc. 2). What is the point on having a debate on the matter, when any ideas that the PS come up with will be rejected on principle, whether brilliant or not – the best tactic with a good idea is to leak it to a PSD politician, so he can claim the credit, and that is the best way to serve the people of Madeira when representing minority parties … yes I know it hurts to do that.

Madeira’s new stamps were launched on Monday morning, featuring a series of fruits characteristic of this region. The stamp with the lowest rate, €0.32, shows the Anona (Custard Apple), and 330 thousand stamps will be issued. Others are the Pitanga (Surinam Cherry), with a rate of €0.68 (230 thousand copies), the Avocado, with a rate of €0.80 (200 thousand copies), and the Guava, with a rate of €2 (265 thousand copies). I have definitely covered this before, but if it’s good enough for the Diário …

‘European Commission watching the fees charged by the banks’. They believe some of the bank fees are unjustifiably charged to consumers, as was said Monday by the European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Meglena Kuneva, adding that Brussels will in July release a detailed study of the commissions that banks charge. “The study is not yet ready, but everything points to the existence of a large number of unacceptable fees” said the Commissioner, at a seminar on the 35th anniversary of the DECO-Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection. “Consumers have the right not to be robbed by their banks” she said. Research shows that “in more than two thirds of cases” it was impossible to “distinguish the structure of bank commissions to determine the actual cost of service.”. Quite right too … I bank with BPI and have done for around 4 years, and suddenly they whipped €21 out of my account last month, after no charges for all that time. They referred me to a letter sent last December … would that be the one by any chance that I took to my local branch to be told “don’t worry, it won’t affect you”?

——————————————-

One the subject of ‘unfair competition’, that our favourite newspaper, The Diário’ is claiming against the Jornal da Madeira, I took a look at the JM yesterday to see what they said about the World Association of Newspapers writing to to the president of the republic of Portugal. They report on a conspi
racy of letters, emails, and telegrams aimed at pushing forward a law called ‘pluralismo’, that will deal with some of the issues that the Diário is complaining about, but has been hanging around for some time unapproved. Thanks to ‘Snitch’, by the way, for posting the copy of the WAN letter yesterday, and nice to hear from brother ‘Snatch’ as well.

Talking to a couple of locals about it last night, they were of the view that the JM had no respect on Madeira, despite the fact that it is the mouthpiece for the political party that most people vote for. To demonstrate the fact, I was shown the ‘Obituaries’ section of both papers side by side. The JM had just 3 entries, which would have been massively discounted at the taxpayers expense. The Diário had 4 or 5 times as many, and I was told that they cost around €75 an entry.

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, stories, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … even more stunning than yesterday’s photo from Sunday’s flower festival parade. In fact, I am so impressed that an extract from this photo will probably be a permanent feature on the new blog (if Tobi doesn’t mind that is).

To those who took the trouble to send in flower festival photos, many thanks. I had so many I won’t be able to use them all now, but I will keep them in the reserve folder so we can have the odd reminder now and again, until next April.

Front Page News : main source : Diário de Notícias 27/4/2009

‘It’s yet More Beautiful – Flower Festival parade left tourists well satisfied’. Thousands of Madeirans and tourists watched the parade on Sunday afternoon in downtown Funchal, and hoards of children took part. the 54th festival involved many well known faces from the small screen, especially from the TV series ‘Flor do Mar’, and Madeira’s current favourite daughter, the singer Vânia Fernandes. Several comments from the tourists were very favourable, and one group from France said they were motivated to return to see it again. There is some film footage here : FLOWER-FESTIVAL  (although it didn’t work when I tried earlier, hopefully it will be fixed).

In a second but related article, Madeira’s Secretary for Tourism says it is difficult to determine which of the two events is responsible for bringing the greater number of visitors to the region, in trying to evaluate the success of the end of year celebrations and the flower festival. Conceição Estudante admitted that last weeks event had fully met it’s objectives, and had brought a partial recovery in tourism. She added that the goal now was to make other events, such as the ‘Atlantic Festival’ just as popular. Yesterday’s parade, with the theme “The Little Prince”, brought many recreations of the characters of Antoine Saint-Exupéry, the author of the book. The variety of flowers were huge, but it was no surprise that the rose, which in the book is described as the best friend of the Prince, was supreme. 1,100 participants took part in the 9 parade groups. That would be some achievement making the Atlantic Festival just as popular as the top two events, as visitors would have to stay 3 or 4 weeks to see all the displays. I have an idea that would be popular for tourism. In lieu of a grassy knoll, which would be ideal and more permanent, why not put stocks in Saint Catherine’s Park, and make our politicians take turns to be the target of rotten tomatoes for a week. Even I would be a regular visitor to Funchal to see that. I think Senhora Estudante just about deserves to be excluded from the line up, though she is no longer in my good books after ignoring my last letter.

Main headline of yesterday : ‘Crisis Gives Favour To The Cheaper Meats – Chicken and pork are stealing the market share of beef. The purchasing power of people is affecting the consumption of beef. Fillet and loin remain in the butchers displays, whilst rump is gaining ground. This is happening not just in the domestic market, but also in hotels and restaurants’. The ‘cut’ in the flesh has affected the market since last year according to the supplier Nóbrega, with customers moving to cheaper alternatives, although overall there has been no significant fall in meat (and poultry) sales. It is not just the customer pocket dictating the trend, but the rising prices of meat generally are deterring hotels and restaurants from buying what they used to buy. I don’t know much about meat, as I rarely buy any, but it seems chicken and pork in my local Pingo are cheaper than ever on some days … unlike fruit and veg which just seem to get more and more expensive. Maybe I have been sheltered by farmers freebies for too long, but as that source has temporarily dried up until July, I am having to buy everything for now. I paid €1.10 a kilo for spuds yesterday, and I brought apples for the first time since last Summer, as the price was down to €0.69 a kilo in Hiper Sã (the truth is I don’t like them that much either). 

‘Fátima Creates Contest For Young Talents’ -  In an extension of a theme that already runs in Brazil, Angola, and Venezuela, Fátima Lopez wants to put the entire nation on the search for the best young talent in Portugal. The ‘Face Models of the Year’ competition, on reading further, has nothing to do with talent, and is more about modeling and fashion involving a rubber woman called Fiona. Madeira will have its own regional final in 2010 if all goes to plan. She is a famous stylist apparently.

‘Adoption Is Still Not Consensual – The children come first, but it warrants more attention to the situations where there are biological family ties’. “There is a lack of humanity”, “It is horrible for children when they are separated from parents when there are emotional ties”, are a couple of the quotes from Sister Celeste Silva, from a children’s home, referring to cases where the courts have made the decision that children should be put up for adoption. She is referring to children in her care, who can stay there, but still receive visits from parents until visits are cut by court order, leaving offspring scared and confused. “I am not saying that we should not opt for adoption. There are cases where this is the best solution, but I realise that there are other (better) alternatives for the sake of the emotional stability of children”. The option to remove custody of children from parents is based on the law and the facts (from reports of social workers and psychologists), where there is evidence that children face serious risks. Particularly those children in danger of abandonment, abuse, lack of affection, overwork, or behavior that jeopardizes their development.

The only other headlines were Nacional’s win at Belenenses on Sunday, putting them back in fourth place above Sporting Braga, and that the defeat for Marítimo away at Benfica has virtually ruled any hope of a European place for them.

Other News :

‘Easyjet’ has already carried 100 thousand passengers in just six months. The low cost airline has also registered 125 thousand reservations on it’s service between Madeira and Lisbon, since opening up last October, giving it an impressive occupancy rate of 93% on it’s twice daily flights. Credit to them, especially as they have forced TAP, the Portuguese airline, to drastically slash prices on the same route. However it seems Easyjet has a diminishing reputation with the British, who on the UK – Madeira flights, are now paying much higher prices than when the new connections started in 2007, so no brownie points for you there Sir Stelios! The latest Easyjet sale finishes tonight, but unusually no one has commented as to whether it is any good this time.

‘Lobo Marinho Registers 43.8% Occupancy’. The company that owns the Porto Santo ferry was unable to fill 450,000 of the 800,000 places on it’s 694 trips made in 2008. It has the capacity for 1,153 passengers, but only averaged 505 per sailing. nearly half those passengers who travelled, did so during the 3 main Summer months. The regional government and Porto Santo Line were therefore a little surprised that the president of the câmara (council) of Porto Santo has called for another boat to do the same service (seemingly to start from Porto Santo in the mornings, and return there at night). He also mentioned that the Madeira-Portugal-Canary Island, Naviera Armas, ferry could do a stop there, but it is not entirely clear whether those are the one and the same suggestion.

After the debut visit o
f the ‘Ruby Princess’ at the weekend, another newcomer, ‘Vision of the Seas’, came in yesterday. It is traditional for a newcomer to get welcomed by a tug boat spurting jets of water for its inaugural visit.

120 years ago today the dictator António Oliveira Salazar was born, and now the man has been recognised as a political example for the current leaders in Russia, alongside Franco, Hitler & Mussolini.  And I thought Russia was trying to move forward …

Those good people at Galp, who have many petrol stations on Madeira, have come up with or copied a good idea to save the environment … an on-line lift sharing scheme, where people register their work journeys, or other regular routes, and offer to give people with the same needs a lift. Quite honestly I doubt if many blog readers will find it of interest, especially as the site is in Portuguese, but here it is anyway www.energiapositiva.pt

Sam at Madeira Active very kindly sent me a copy of the letter from the World Association of Newspapers, as mentioned a couple of days ago. It is in English, and was sent to the president of Portugal, Cavaco Silva. It is a strongly worded critical letter about the attempts of the Jornal da Madeira to crush our favourite daily, The Diário de Notícias. As it is in PDF format, I cannot reproduce it on the blog, but if anyone want to see it email me and I will send it on. Thanks very much Sam!

Oh joy!!! Thank you Leixões for that lame home draw last night. Nacional are now 7 points ahead of you, with 4 games to go … two wins will be enough to qualify for Europe, maybe less, but with Benfica, Porto & Sporting in Nacional’s final fixtures, maybe it would be better if Leixões could lose just one more.

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, stories, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi …great photo, but the float is just stunning. Yesterday’s flower festival parade.

Front Page News : main source : Diário de Notícias 26/4/2009

Yesterday’s main headline ‘Professional Beggars – It’s not illegal, but there are networks of organised beggary that exploit physical deficiencies and the good faith of the citizens’. They arrive in Funchal by taxi, and live in luxury rented properties, with one landlord confirming that they pay the rent. Tricks of the trade seem to be feigning amputated limbs, and using wheelchairs and babies as props. Once in a while someone comes by to empty the takings from the plastic cups, and tell the gang when it’s time to go home. The Diário says they are foreigners, who have brought the bad habits of eastern Europe. There is no proof, but one comment suggests they can make up to €500 per day. The Diário reporter went undercover and followed them around, publishing a log of movements and events of ‘The New Mafia’. We already know of this of course, in small pockets, but this is the first time that it has been reported in such a formal manner. It was only a couple of months ago on this blog, that we discussed the lady supposed to be crippled, who at the end of her ‘shift’ gets up and walks off.

‘Radical April – War vehicles in the city, flags of FLAMA, the usual lunches and evening meals, and an empty parliament : It is April on Madeira, audacious and radicalised’. That story had 4 front page photos, and relates to the marking of the ‘Revolution of the Carnation’ on Saturday, 35 years after the dictatorship was ousted. The new democrats political party organised the return of troops onto the streets of Funchal, along with 6 military vehicles. Lots of things going on, but the highlight for me would have been the ex-mp, José Manuel Coelho (aka The Rabbit), megaphone in hand, ordering President Jardim to surrender, which he did and he was subsequently taken prisoner, but was rescued soon after by the police. (FLAMA = Liberation Front of the Archipelago da Madeira).

‘União Champion – The final hectic test, with incidents in Prazeres, where the title race was decided’. After beating Estrela da Calheta 1 – 2, CF União won the Coral League of Madeira.

Bernard Trinidade, the secretary of state for tourism in Lisbon, will not stand for the socialists for a place on Funchal Council (Câmara) in the forthcoming elections, as was reported in the Diário of the previous day. Of course he won’t, and that’s why I didn’t mention the matter before, despite the Diário and other politicians taking it seriously. Shame though, he would be a great asset with all his contacts and experience in tourism, but let’s face it, it would be like going from chief executive to boot polisher in terms of status.

‘Serra D’Água – The Diário goes to another parish, where the lady farmers ask for a market’. There are little more than 1,500 inhabitants, but farming is big business. The men who have jobs work mostly in civil construction, and the women stay home, with a ‘bit of plowing’ to do as well. The Pestana sisters, who live near the hydro-electric power plant, say that the only art they know is the ‘hoe’, “we dig it, plant it, water it” says one of the sisters, adding that all the produce is for personal consumption. There is much abandoned land in the area, purely because there is insufficient water to keep the crops alive. Many of the residents don’t know how to read or write, and the president of the ‘Casa do Povo’ 3 years ago managed to get an adult education class going, but now only 10 people continue to attend. Unusually, no mention of crime or drugs, as highlighted in many previous reports.

‘Farinha Sells His Company – The continental group Norvia acquires the majority shareholding in Prima, that belongs to Avelino Farinha’. I have never heard of either company, so that kills that story off!

Other News :

The first two days of the flower festival brought 19 thousand visitors to the Flower Exhibition in Avenida Arriga, compared to the 34 thousand that came last year during all the four days. Sounds good, but wasn’t there bad weather last year though?

If you like to shop in the Anadia shopping centre in Funchal, look out if you choose to use the lifts. According to the inspection discs in the two lifts, the last time they were checked was on 11th November 2005.

In a speech in the Madeira Technipolo on Saturday, the leader of the socialists gave his assessment of the PSD-M (social democrats) and the ruling government, calling it the ‘black heritage’. The list included an abysmal record on alcoholism, drug addiction, schools, hospitals and health centers without decent conditions, plundering of nature, corruption and fear “this is the heritage of the PSD and the Government”, said João Carlos Gouveia.

In yesterday’s football, Nacional managed a great 1 – 2 away win at Belenenses, keeping alive slim hopes of a place in Europe, whilst Marítimo lost 3 – 2 away at Benfica, despite a very good performance … somewhat better than the 0 – 6 home defeat against the same team earlier in the season.

A very thin newspaper yesterday, probably with everyone out enjoying the ‘April 25th’ commemorations, and the flower festival too.

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, stories, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!