Doctor’s relocation incentive ; Registered ships bring € millions ; RAM most dangerous road
Today’s Photo Thanks to me … I thought we might have had some presépio (nativity scene) photos in by now, but not much apart from one Tobi sent in a while back. This one is in Hiper Sã in Ribeira Brava.
There is even a second photo today, this one showing the famous Ribeira Brava super-duper coach, the one that cost the council a small fortune a year or so ago, all painted up in a super-duper custom designed livery, which again must have cost a small fortune. There is another just like it also, but smaller. They hardly get used, so there is a problem keeping them parked up for long periods of time, so the council solution is to park this big one here, on the area of hatched-lines, just a few metres from the police station. If anyone else did the same the police would be out with their ticket book and a hefty fine would be issued. The Diário newspaper does a daily photo, sent in by readers, called ‘Em Flagrant’, which pretty much means ‘caught red handed’, and normally it involves stupid drivers, or road signs or something along those lines, but they don’t appear on the Diário website. So I thought (after a suggestion from Sheila) I would start off something similar, as ‘How well do you know Madeira ?’ seems to have died a bit of a death. Any photos or stories please send them to the email address at the bottom of this page.
Some nice ‘city’ photos here, but ignore the first one : MADEIRA PHOTOS
Madeira based artist Sonia von Walter has finished a new painting LADY IN RED … (my description) I like the painting, but hate the song.
Don’t forget that tomorrow is a Portugal public holiday (Restoration of Independence).
The following snippet is from Elaine of the West, many thanks …
(relevant to those of us pontasssolenses and others who enjoy the fun of the fair!)
Giga Park opens soon. From next Thursday the Christmas Giga Park opens to the public in Ponta do Sol. The fair is being set up in the area of future expansion of the village. The 2009 version of Giga Park consists of 11 types of amusements geared towards the younger audience and eight for adults, plus some intended for the whole family. Among the vast array of fun, of note is the return of one of the ‘ex-libris "of the fairs of yesteryear, such as the Pit of Death. Despite being 80 years old, it is a real adventure, challenging the law of gravity on two wheels. The amount of equipment increases daily, but everything should be completed by mid-week. The official opening is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, 3 December. The amusement park will be in Ponta do Sol until 11 January. The enclosure also includes games, raffles, hardware, restaurant and bars, as well as sanitation facilities. The park has an estimated capacity of about three thousand vehicles, and parking is free. Work to level the ground and the erection of structures has been going on constantly for some time. Since the beginning of the month trailers have arrived by sea with material and the amusements, with the last due to arrive in Funchal tomorrow. By Thursday, everything should be ready to go.
Circus with sharks and seals from day 17. A circus environment is part of the range of entertainment of the Giga Park. This is scheduled to debut on the 17th, going on display to the public in the last three and a half weeks of the fair. The Jorge Cardinalli ‘Aqua Show’ includes Pacific Ocean sharks in a tank with 30 litres of water. There will also be Alaskan seals, a show that features clowns, acrobats, magic and, as the old slogan circus says, ‘much more’. From Tuesday to Friday ‘Aqua Show’ plans to present a daily show starting at 21:30. On Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and holidays there will be three sessions: 15.30, 17.30 and 21.30.
and of course from Elaine of the East, with thanks …
750 euro grants do not convince doctors. The Government of the Republic will pay 750 Euros per month grants to junior doctors to relocate to Madeira, the Azores, Alentejo and the Algarve. Some see them as an ‘added value’, others as a ‘prison’. They are a promotion for doctors who want to stay in the region after specialist training but are a risk for others as they need to find a vacancy. If they take posts in the region after training, they have to work here for a few years or pay back the training cost.
Unrepaired road complaints to the Municipality. Whenever it rains with some intensity, the road Caminho da Cova Grande in Amoreirinha, Canhas turns into a muddy swamp and dangerous for pedestrians and cars. Only jeeps and wellington boots can cope with the mud that collects on the flattest areas of the road beyond the initial cemented 100 metres. The water descends from the surrounding serra along with debris which enters homes, especially as there is no storm water drainage system installed in the road. Antonio Joaquim has a garage below the road level and that is the worst part of his house affected. He complained to the Council but still no change, whereas he recalls with nostalgia that in the times of the mayor Antonio Lobo, "Within 15 days, it was cemented." The mayor of Ponta do Sol said he knew of the problem and promised that soon there would be intervention by the Municipality in order to regularize the situation of the rainwater. He confirmed that during the election campaign, which also coincided with days of rain in late September, he passed the site in question and realized the accumulation of water which comes from the serra of Canas. The extension of the cemented path is not justified because it is already up a hill. He says, "Who has a house in the serra should be prepared to deal with these situations."
Chinese citizen goes back to court to ask not to be expelled. Xu Zhiqiang was born in China and in mid-2004 was arrested at the airport by the immigration officials for illegally entering Madeira. Upon orders of a judge, he was forbidden to leave the region and was subject to Terms of Identity and Residency and to periodically report to the Immigration Service (SEF). He was professionally employed in hotel and catering. On 22 October 2009, SEF ordered his expulsion from the country in the next 20 days, for having entered and remained unlawfully in Portugal. Xu Zhiqiang obtained a court injunction arguing the order of SEF has formal and material defects and presented five witnesses. In 2008 he was denied a residence permit on grounds of his illegal entry and he has no legal right to permanency. He said he stayed illegally but was subject to a court order. He said that when he entered into the European area in the year 2004, he had a valid passport and visa. He claims he has lost, among trips made to several EU countries including Spain and Portugal, the passport and relevant visa issued by the Portuguese Embassy in China. This was ignored by the Court of Santa Cruz hence he wants the original conviction reviewed. The whole family is here, socially integrated and he has worked for five years and paid Social Security contributions and IRS. He awaits a decision by the court.
Lights, music and nativity: it is almost Christmas in the municipalities. A round-up of Christmas events staged by the Councils. The tradition still remains for presepios and carols. In Santa Cruz there are initiatives for all tastes. The Council of José Alberto Goncalves promotes several dinners – on December 23 for the elderly and December 29 for University students. Festa in the streets of the county. Camacha monopolizes the festivities, where on the 8th is the opening of the doors of the ‘tenda’ in the parish with traditional musical entertainment until January 18, promoting folklore and regional music. A Market Night (no date yet) and photography competition and the usual municipal crib. In Machico, the municipal crib and lighting start on December 7. On the 20th at the Forum of Machico, there is a Christmas Concert and the next day is the turn of the municipal band and on January 6, Singing of the Kings. As well as the usual lighting and nativity scene, Câmara de Lobos is holding a Market Night at the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. Sao Vicente’s Market Night is on December 18 and the casas do povo are organizing the municipal crib. On the 23rd at São Vicente, there is a lunch for officials and their children, at a very low entry price. Porto Santo has various initiatives and a dinner for University students. In Funchal, there are endless initiatives. A dinner for 300 employees and celebrations at all the institutions and the 14 community centres. The main attraction is the Market Night.
Forestry grant 16 licences for cutting 1,245 Christmas trees. The Regional Directorate of Forestry approved 16 applications for cutting trees for sale at Christmas. They are also thinning out trees in forest management for conservation purposes and giving them to public institutions. On November 21 they started monitoring the roads with barriers for illegal collection of material, especially in Ribeira das Cales and Paul da Serra. They also have mobile units to monitor illegal selling of flora and fauna. The problem is not as widespread as ten years ago due to educational programs. They give Christmas materials to charities and the Scouts to sell to raise funds.
Registration of ships guarantees millions in VAT. Twenty years after its creation, the International Shipping Register of Madeira (MAR) provides regional employment and generates IVA and IRC. A company based in the International Business Centre (IBC), which has six oil platforms registered in MAR, invoiced 1,300 million Euros with 291 million profit, as well as giving 60 people employment. With 153 registered ships and an additional 83 recreational boats, it is notable that the number of passenger ships has increased, with 12 cruise ships and 7 ferries. Two of these are large cruise ships and the business generated on board pays tax to Madeira. Large cruise ships carry up to 100,000 passengers and generate 6 million Euros profit per year. It is estimated that the ones registered in Madeira carry more than 200,000 passengers per year which represents daily expenditure on board of 43.7 million Euros. In the IBC there are also more than 30 licensed companies in the sector of maritime transport, which have in turn 50 ships registered in MAR and although they pay a reduced rate of IRC, they also generate revenue. More than 4,000 crew members, 10% Portuguese, work on ships registered in MAR. 80% of vessels registered in MAR have foreign owners. There should be more ships registered next year, not only related to tourism and with high tonnage. There is both a registration fee and maintenance fee, ranging from 1,600 to 37,000 Euros for registration and the highest maintenance paid is 35,000 Euros per year. A pleasure craft for sports pays 500 Euros for both registration and yearly maintenance fees. A commercial pleasure craft pays 1,250 Euros for registration. MAR appoints inspectors of registered vessels, at least 40 inspections per year costing at least 600 Euros per time. Also additional fees for certificates.
Estrada Monumental is the most dangerous road in Madeira. Since 2001, there have been 866 accidents recorded by the police. In the three sections; Ribeira Seco – Lido (282), Lido – Praia Formosa (460) and Praia Formosa – Socorridos (124). This is due to a lot of resident movement and up to 70 coaches per day. There are also trees at the sides of the roads, reducing visibility and many pedestrians in the area. The relief roads in the area should help reduce traffic and accidents. The roads are safer than in the past because of better signalling, lighting, surveillance and asphalt. Most accidents are caused by bad driving habits, 20 – 25% by excess speed and disregard of stopping distances, especially by people going to work. Roundabouts are also the cause of many accidents as people are not used to them and do not know the rules. Most accidents on the fast roads occur in the tunnels, due to bends and less visibility. The Police Commissioner advises people to leave home 15 minutes early to significantly reduce the number of accidents.
Today’s front page news stories from the Diário de Notícias :
Funchal has too small a quay for so many cruise ships – Three cruise ships yesterday occupied all the available mooring space, and that is not unusual. But bigger ships coming more frequently are the future. A recycled story that now comes up every time Funchal port gets overloaded, with the point being correct, but up until now with no solution in sight. I will leave this one for someone else to translate, not wishing to hog all the top stories.
Farmers keen in the wait of award – 50 await answers in Santana for the ‘drag’ of 2 years. "Right now it is very difficult to be a farmer. You can not sell practically anything. Potato prices are a crying shame". This was just one of many pleas heard by the Diário in the wholesale market for fruit and vegetable in Santana, where an information meeting was held for 50 producers yesterday. The meeting was arranged by the Regional Director for Agriculture and Rural Development, and is making it’s way around Madeira. As well as the money due for two years from Lisbon, that has not arrived, the farmers complain about the increasing prices of pesticides and fertilisers, the increased costs of labour, and the plagues of rats and rabbits that ruin the crops. The meeting was called to try and persuade farmers to take out crop insurance, to protect against the risks (fire, lightning strike, and exceptional weather conditions), and that can also be extended to cover farm animals. It seems some farmers were convinced that insurance was a good way to go, with a simple example given of a 1,000 square metre vineyard costing €37.60 a year to insure.
Today’s top headline : Private firms ‘fine’ on the parking meters – The companies with the concessions dispense with the PSP police in order to save money and the parking tickets they leave on the windscreens. The existing system of the police controlling parking in allocated spaces will be taken on in January 2010 by the ‘franchise’ companies that manage the spaces, in order to save thousand of Euros, and motorists are warned to take extra care not to fall foul of the rules. In effect, the fines issued will become legally recoverable charges, and it seems technically possible that the driver could be hit twice. From what I can understand, the driver, when entering on to an allocated parking space, by that act enters into a legally binding contract with the company responsible for that space. If that driver fails to purchase the correct ticket for the stay, then he becomes liable to pay the daily rate, an amount that will accumulate in the database of the franchise company (referenced by the car registration), and if unsettled will go to legal recourse. The driver will be able to take the ticket to a multibanco (ATM) and make the required payment. I can see loopholes and problems written all over this, but it seems that the system is already well proven to work elsewhere, including in the Azores, where a driver was recently forced to pay nearly €2,000 plus his costs.
Increase in violence hits teachers – Thefts and aggression increased in the last academic year. And the threats to teaching staff become fashionable. The Education Directorate is concerned, but feels that there is too much through the TV and internet. Madeira is catching up with continental Portugal in terms of problems in schools. The PSP police operate a program called ‘Safe School’, and last year through that it has been established that the majority of crimes in schools are violence against the person, with 95 cases, followed by theft (57 cases), and threats and insults (49 cases), vandalism (40), and other crimes are also listed. The news is disappointing, as what was a growing problem saw a marked improvement in the 2007/2008, but has now returned to a growing trend. The Regional Director for Education says that the problem is worrying, but that the school environment in not any more of a problem than the social context outside the school gates. He says that the influences of families ‘that have seen better times’, and TV violence, and images and videos posted on the internet all play a part in the problems in the schools.
Marítimo reduced to ten draw in Restelo – The green-reds were losing 2 – 0. The Madeira team pulled back two goals away at Belenenses to come away with a point.
CR9 was in the chair in the defeat in Barcelona, on the day on which he was nominated for the ‘Golden Ball’. Cristiano Ronaldo and his team Real Madrid lost by one goal to to Barcelona in yesterday’s top game. But who cares about Spanish football?
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Giga Park is not yet opened but is already causing controversy. The ownership of one of the leased areas is in dispute and going to court. It is not yet installed but the amusement park in Ponta do Sol is a cause of controversy, which could end up in court. Two individuals claim possession of the land in question. The case promises to end up in court with an action brought as early as next week, says the contesting party. At the heart of the dispute is a piece of land in the expansion zone of Ponta do Sol, where in two weeks time is to be constructed the amusement park for the Christmas season and will remain there until mid-January. Marcos Vaz, responsible for organizing the fair and rents the land it occupies, assures he has possession of the proper permits through signed documents by all landowners. He rejects accusations of invading property without proper consent. One of the Gouveia family, claiming land ownership, complains that the Council of Ponta do Sol is complicit in the invasion because they authorized the installation on private property. Without concealing his anger, denouncing: "Ponta do Sol as the plunderer." In the midst of this is another owner claiming the coveted land, having made a deed of justification (prescription) at the end of last October. Although a period of 30 days is liable for a contest of a document of justification, the claimant promises to take the case to court next week for the judge to rule on the legitimate ownership. The mayor was surprised that there were no objections until yesterday when no one has previously complained to the Council services. He says the person is entitled to complain over registration of the land but he just wants to create controversy. He says the Giga Park has been authorized to be placed in the expansion area of Ponta do Sol but with safeguards that the entrepreneur obtains the proper consent from the land owners. The authorities have not issued any document and will only do so after confirming the lawful possession of the land to be occupied. 
Costa Concordia debut. Italian cruise ship travelled from Lisbon with 2,200 tourists, on their way to Brazil. It was the first time this ship has visited the region and arrival scheduled for 07.00. It is on a repositioning cruise to Brazil where it will operate over the next four months. It was built in 2006, has 17 decks providing 3,780 beds in 1,500 cabins. The range of services on the floating hotel include areas of leisure, catering, gambling and nightlife. There is also a chapel for prayer/meditation. There are four swimming pools including a samsara spa, sundeck, sports area, five jacuzzis and a beauty salon. In addition to a recreation area for children, there is an area of shops, an art gallery and Internet access. The ship sails at 17.00 for Recife and the ship will return on the 22 March 2010 on the way back to Europe. There will be the traditional arrival ceremony accompanied by the Ports Authority and Ships Enthusiasts Club. 
Nuno Teixeira attends to the future of fisheries. The Social Democrat MEP promised yesterday to pay attention to the interests of Madeira in the fisheries sector, although this is not an area under his direct competence. He met with the parliamentary group of the PSD to discuss subsidies for construction and boat repair and the three month period without fishing for the black scabbard fish (espada). He took the opportunity to talk to the people of Madeira about the importance of the Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which is in consultation until the end of the year. The argument is that the European Community compensation for the additional costs in marketing certain fishery products from the outermost regions should not be subject to a time limit as these are permanent handicaps. There should be a distinction between small regional fishing fleets and large industrial trawlers, and identification of fragile habitats. 
Togolese suspect vessel may be towed. The mystery of the ship ‘Newhope’ that since November 9 has been hovering 12 miles from Funchal thickens. The vessel continues in Portuguese waters, with lack of food and fuel, a situation which the authorities consider strange for a ship travelling between Brazil and India. During the past three weeks the ship has asked permission to anchor, claiming to need supplies, a claim the Maritime Authority does not authorize as there is information that the ship’s certificates are expired and that the ‘Newhope’ is included in a list of ‘black flag’ ships, which constitute a threat to safety and the environment. Now a representative of the shipowner is in Madeira, who in recent days has been trying to encourage the regional authorities to find a solution through supplying while offshore, without the ship entering port and subject to an inspection. The presence in Madeira of the seagoing tug ‘Fairmount Summi’ thickens the mystery. Because there is suspicion that the presence in our seas for five days and without a port of destination, it is linked to the situation of the ‘Newhope’. With lack of water, fuel and oil for the generators and other equipment, the captain of the Togolese boat may request aid and thereby triggering a maritime rescue operation, that would justify the presence of this tug of Dutch flag. Recently the tugboat has towed a ship for 20 days from Brazil to Europe, at high cost, which may link the presence of the ‘Fairmount Summi’ with the situation of ‘Newhope’.
Two boulders threaten road. Two large stones are likely to fall on the road linking Pestana Junior to the access to the motorway. The rocks are about 40 metres away from the road that is used daily by thousands of cars. The warning was made to the Diário by householders residing in the area, who became aware of the situation while searching for mosses and ‘cabrinhas’ for presepios which they are making for Christmas. The two rocks should weigh close to half a ton each, appear to be based on an area of land capable of being easily altered by the elements of erosion, particularly in the event of high intensity rainfall over an extended period. Note that the slopes of the area, limiting the Ribeira de Joao Gomes, have been subject to several visits to remove earth and stones, some of which were conducted in the wake of some landslides or to prevent such an occurrence.
Prisoner of 35 steps. Maria Ilda, 59 years old, has to overcome 35 steps by using her arms whenever leaving and returning home. There was a call for the purchase of an electric wheelchair and the construction of a ramp on 23 November in the letters section of the Diário, as a last resort, but it did not work. She now has osteoporosis causing pain in her shoulders and arms and has difficulty climbing the stairs, especially when it rains. Her wasted and paralysed lower limbs are due to contracting meningitis when she was one and a half years old. A wheelchair would give her some independence but she only has a pension of 200 Euros and the family all work and have no spare income. She has requested support from the Social Security for three years with the help of the specialist rehabilitation nurse but the cost of more than 5,000 Euros could not be met. The ramp would cost about 25,000 Euros. There is a fundraising campaign by the readers of the Diário. The NIB no:00350687000056743002 in the name of Maria Ilda Ascensao Andrade.
Lightning bolts in the unveiling of the illuminations. The lights in downtown Funchal were switched-on on a stormy night with a widespread power-cut, but symbolised the initiation of the Christmas spirit : academics deliver presents and the charity Cáritas collects donations. The actual front page photo shows Xmas decorations like lightning bolts hitting the ground, but unfortunately I can’t reproduce that photo for technical reasons. Anyway the gist of the headline is that the switching-on of the Christmas lights coincided with a very noisy storm last night that put nearly the whole island (more so in the West) into darkness. Here in Ribeira Brava we were in blackness for about half an hour. It was indeed a spectacular storm with numerous dazzling lighting bolts, window-rattling thunder, and very heavy rain. It was almost without wind here which was great as I was able to stand out and watch the sky for a while. An hour or so after it started you wouldn’t have known there had been a storm, and even the moon was visible. Smarty Alec me must have had a premonition as I brought a pack of candles this week! The bit about the charity collections is already covered above in Elaine’s article.
