Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo : Thanks to Jaquine … Nesting birds

"I got this shot of a pair of strange looking birds nesting above the cliffs at Porta da Cruz in October & wondered if it might interest anyone – & if someone might know what they are?" Jaquine.

Many thanks to Elaine for yesterday’s top news stories :

Festa de São Martinho. The centre of São Martinho is getting ready for the traditional festival on the eve of São Martinho but with fewer stalls than usual. Traditional fare is roasted bacalhau, nuts and regional wine. There will be five stalls but there has been criticism of their placing, the lack of sanitary facilities and the way the licences were issued. One of the bars in the centre of São Martinho is not participating and one stall owner said he would be serving beer and frango and espetada instead. Another area where they celebrate the feast of São Martinho, also called Magusto, is São Roque de Faial and they will have musical entertainment. As well as these public celebrations, some associations and organisations have private traditional meals. Some restaurants in other areas are participating and many families prefer to celebrate at home.

Interpret the Finance Law as you wish. Each political party interprets as they wish the amount that Madeira loses in State funding. The Finance Minister said that Madeira now receives more than when the old law was in force. He just considered the amounts transferred from Portugal before the act in 2004 and after the act in 2008, an increase of €10.224 million. He ignored the cost of insularity and the Development and the Cohesion Fund and other funding, which would mean a total loss of €7 million in 2008 compared to 2004. The Socialists looked at three year periods and concluded that the loss was 6 million Euros. The Social Democrats cited the law stating that the Region should not receive less than the previous year, meaning a 200 million Euros loss. Because the Finance Minister called the Finance Law "fair" and beneficial to Madeira, the PSD-M retorted that these words are "obviously offensive" and that he has a "hatred" for Madeira, as the law leads to a cut in funding. They cannot understand how the Government of the Republic accuses the Regional Government of "financial meltdown"  when the Regional debt is 38% GDP and the debt in Portugal is 85% GDP and expected to reach 91% by 2010.

95% of admissions to the Gastroenterology Department are due to alcoholism. Complications such as liver cirrhosis, cancer and hepatitis. Due to high rates of alcoholism in the region. Complications are usually diagnosed in 40 – 50 year old males, but also as young as 30 as it depends on the age of starting consumption. There are only 15 beds, the length of time occupied is prolonged and complications are irreversible once fibrosis occurs. The only effective treatment to prevent progression is alcohol abstention and/or a liver transplant. The situation is aggravated by many alcoholics hiding their dependency so it is not detected until the signs of jaundice occur.

Justice "at a snail’s pace". Many (at least 12) reasons/excuses given why it is so slow to obtain a court hearing. It was even worse 15/20 years ago.

Police seized a mobile phone loaded with heroin. In The Old Zone of Funchal last night, a man apprehended by police officers was found to be carrying two mobile phones, one of which was switched off. This raised the suspicions of the officers and when they removed the battery compartment cover, they found 30 packets of heroin. He also had a few hundred Euros in notes from narcotics dealing.

Day of aggression ended with nine people in hospital. Nine people were treated in hospital yesterday following attacks, mainly in public. The most serious case was a 20 year old woman in Nazaré, requiring the assistance of the  Emergency Medical Team and unlike the others, was detained in hospital.

Naviera Armas disputes IPTM and maintains operation. The deadline is today for the ferry owners to deliver their defence against the allegation that they are not fulfilling the terms of their operating licence. They state they are complying with the terms as they are moving freight in the minimum time possible, as required in the licensing terms. The Portuguese regulator is studying the evidence for a few more days before making a decision. A court case might ensue depending on the decision.

32.7% less British visited in the first half of this year.  Madeira had 40,000 fewer tourists from the UK than last year. There were 27.5% fewer overnight hotel stays or 1,354 beds per day, which represents 6% of total hotel beds. This is approximately the equivalent of two hotels the size of the Madeira Carlton. Porto Santo had worse occupancy rates for UK visitors, falling 50.7% in just six months.

Images of Madeira on London cabs. The Regional Secretary of Tourism and Transport is confident that next year the British market will steadily recover. She is leading a huge delegation at the World Travel Market in London. The purchasing power of the British public has decreased by 30% but she believes that when conditions for this loss have recovered then people will travel again. As well as tourism firms, public entities are at this major tourism fair, i.e. Government bodies, ANAM, and the Association for the Promotion of Harbours. Promotional campaigns are through newspapers, magazines and taxis. The stands at the fair are trying to attract younger tourists and are promoting Madeira for quality hotels, cuisine, as a natural spa and for relaxation through walking and other activities.

Schools and health centres used as security for a Government loan.  A total of 41 buildings owned by the Region were pledged as security in 2007 for the 150 million euro loan from the State under the Ownership and Management of State Assets Fund. These properties, ranging from schools to health centres and museums, have a total value of 165 million and were licensed to the fund and then leased back to the Government. Rents have been given as collateral for the bank loan. The debt will cost two million a month and by the end, 450 million will have been repaid. The mortgage of these properties was made without the knowledge of the Assembly and it is hoped that the money has been used for investment as opposed to current expenses. The CDS-PP Lino Abreu recalled, "The middle class has already mortgaged the house and car and now the Government has mortgaged schools and health centres." To try to reduce the debt the CMF has reduced the budget for 2010 and the amount transferred from Funchal to other councils will be a 6.7% increase this year. 50% of the CMF budget will be for investment in infrastructure. —- What happens if the rents of these buildings to service the debt cannot be paid?

Casa do Sardinha is being transformed into an information centre and reception area for visitors. This building is near the Ponta de Sao Lourenco in the National Park. Today the Park celebrates 27 years of existence.

ALM approves a new model of support to residents on flights between Madeira and the Continent. Aid for air transport fares would be equivalent to the road cost between Lisbon and the county most distant from the capital. The amendment has to be approved by the Assembly of the Republic.

João Carlos Abreu launches a new tourist book on Madeira. On 17th November. ‘Madeira. Monumental e Turistica’ is a tribute to the archipelago and includes photography by the renowned photographer Roberto Santandreu. Joao Carlos Abreu was the Regional Director of Tourism for over 23 years and is associated with the Universe of Memories Museum. The book has details about architecture, festivals, cuisine and traditional costumes and provides a detailed view of the natural environment. Also includes articles about tourism and the people of Porto Santo.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a photo or video, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. 

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions and photos / videos.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

If you post a comment and are not registered on this site (free), your comment will be moderated, so please do not waste time with spam postings.  If you register, your comment will be posted automatically. If you register, your email address will not be passed to any other party … promise!

Please send any topical or Madeira related photos or videos to blog@madeira4u.com to appear on this blog. Photos may take a while to appear, depending on the number waiting. Please don’t send copyrighted material.

The headline news & other snippets reviewed here on the blog are mainly from the Diário de Notícias of Madeira, although news from any source is used and welcome.

The blogs in the ‘uncategorised’ category come from the old madeira4u blog.

IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE, TRY THE MENU ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ‘USEFUL LINKS’ & ‘TIPS & HELP’

Madeira News Blog © 2007 – 2009 All Rights Reserved