Hotel plans in Garajau ; Coastal erosion dangers ; €21 million in agricultural support
Today’s photo – Many thanks to Pete … Norwegian Jade ship 10 February 2010
Many thanks to Becky for these hiking web snippets :
"The things I read about Madeira on the Net sounded like it was a nice place to be in March. So I packed a flashlight, extra batteries, rainproof jacket and trousers, and a rain flap for my rucksack, and went off to the island of perpetual spring." WITH A SPRING IN HIS STEP
8 of the most unique walking paths in the world … and Madeira and Pico Island, Azores are among them. HERE
This link from Tobi … thanks a lot "Some nice Carnival pics at last" Wow, they are great Tobi, but even so after 30 or so (of 424), I had to call it a day. Then I read Tobi’s next email … it’s only the first 12. Great pics Hugo. Der
Thanks to Pete for sending in this web-link for a report about MADEIRA AIRPORT. There is a great photo of the airport extension under construction.
It’s the big match tonight … the local derby between Marítimo and Nacional. It’s on SportTV1 at 8.15 pm. With both teams level with 25 points, this will could launch one or the other into a European placing, albeit for less than 24 hours.
Many thanks to Vanessa Swesnik for this complete translation :
Awareness Raising for Internet Security – Young people were target audience as privileged users of the Internet.
As part of the celebration of European Safer Internet Day, Câmara de Lobos Public Library and the Judicial Police held an awareness raising event for the allusive subject.
The audience consisted of, above all, young people- standard users of the Internet; however, the event was also open to the public, namely parents, teachers, and educators among others.
European Safer Internet Day’s objective is to promote the informed, critical, and safe use of the Internet, whether it is by children and young people or by families, workers or citizens in general.
Although children and young people enjoy opportunities provided by the Internet, especially through social networking sites, many give personal information without realizing who can see it. ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN PORTUGUESE
Many thanks to Sue for this contribution :
‘Cristo Rei’ with hotel.
There is a proposal that provides a complete renovation in the area of Cristo Rei, more specifically the pool and tennis courts that are there continuing down to the beach at Garajau. The Inter-Marina ANLAGEN company owns the entire area and has developed many of the lots already built in this area. They obtained the necessary authorization from the City of Santa Cruz last Tuesday for 16 building lots and a hotel beside Cristo Rei, however, the company’s proposal was even more ambitious in that it proposed the construction of 21 lots, two for tourism and nineteen for housing.
At the meeting the mayor explained the project. We approved the installation of 14 lots on the site where today there are two tennis courts and a swimming pool, two lots on the hillside next to the coffee shop and there is also for the construction of a hotel built in 2 buildings, going down towards the beach at Garajau, which will not degrade the environment. The Mayor went on to point out that it was an investment that would be good fun with sea sports and the enjoyment of nature. The project has now moved on to the architectural side of the project. José Alberto Gonçalves, ensured that the area of implementation is not within the area of nature reserve of Garajau, established in 1986. Where the allotment is, we will be careful to preserve everything that is in the public maritime domain, however a certain number of concessions were agreed to offer greater convenience to the site. Including the recovery of the site of the Chapel of the Mother of God – asked a couple of locals – blank faces – i.e. did not know of one that had existed to be recovered?
Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :
DIÁRIO 18/02/2010
FRONT PAGE NEWS
Sea consumes the coast. Raising the level of sea water, reducing the amount of sediment reaching the coast, anthropogenic degradation (by human activities) of natural structures and coastal works have led to a phenomenon that environmentalists describe as transgressive. These are the main factors for coastal erosion and the retreat of the coastline, in other words the coastline migrates towards the land. Some factors are natural but most are either directly or indirectly caused by human intervention. In September 2003, national and international environmental groups attended a summit in the region and predicted that the transgression phenomenon would occur. The opposite action is called regression, when the coastline migrates towards the ocean. Areas by the mouths of rivers like Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Machico have a medium-term risk of being engulfed by the sea. This is demonstrated by the destruction of breakwaters and coastal walls.
MADEIRA
Secular tradition in the parish of Santa Cecilia. In 1910, when the Convent of São Bernardino was abandoned, families living in Câmara de Lobos rescued nine images of saints. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the traditional day for the Procissão das Cinzas (Procession of the Ashes) in this parish, marking the beginning of Lent. Despite the heavy rain that fell minutes before the departure, hundreds of parishioners attended this historical event. The Convent was abandoned (like many church buildings) when there was separation of the Church and the State. At the time, câmara-lobenses collected the images of the saints (São Francisco de Assis, Santa Margarida de Cortona, São Roque, Santa Rosa Viterbo, São Benedito, Santo Ivo, Santa Isabel de Portugal, São Salvador and Santo António de Motte), an act that allowed the preservation of this significant collection. After a century, the images are still with the families, passed down several generations, with some restoration in places. One family said, "It’s an honour and a delight to have the saint under the care of the family." The image is stored in an oratory in one of the houses of the family.
Twinning of Santa Cruz with Carrizal. This is a way to strengthen ties between the region and emigrants in Venezuela. The twinning arrangement will be formalized by the end of this year. In 2007, the county of Santa Cruz twinned with El Hatillo. The twinning with Carizzal was announced by the mayor who is presently in Venezuela on behalf of the county to attend the first anniversary of the Association of Descendants of Santa Cruz. At Altos Mirandinos, a town in the county of Carrizal, a replica of the Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Fátima is being built, the only one in South America. If authorization from the Ministry of Internal Affairs can be granted in time, the vice-president of Santa Cruz wants the twinning between the two counties to be signed on the 25th June, the Day of the Municipality of Santa Cruz. Twinning has advantages to both parties, culturally and financially in terms of tourism and trade. The immigrants in Venezuela are apprehensive and live in uncertainty with parliamentary elections later this year but have no interest in returning. Thus, they want the document signed before the elections. Counties in the Region of Madeira are involved in a total of 36 twinnings.
ECONOMY
Francisco Sá Carneiro is the third best airport in Europe. This airport in Porto was voted third by the ACI, Airports Council International. João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada (Açores) was also distinguished. The Airport of Madeira registered ninth place. The award was for the greatest rise in indicators of quality of service between 2008 and 2009.
‘Cristo Rei’ with hotel. The proposal will completely revolutionize the area of Cristo Rei in Garajau, specifically the areas around the old swimming pool and tennis courts and the road descending to the praia do Garajau. The company that owns the entire area, Inter-Marina ANLAGEN, has authorization from Santa Cruz Council to build on 16 lots and build a hotel near to Cristo Rei. They had originally proposed to develop 21 lots, two for tourism and nineteen for housing but the council reduced the number. This company owns most of the area of Cristo Rei, including where the image of Cristo Rei stands. The plan was originally approved in 2005 with the condition that a geological survey was carried out. Some nonconformities with the PDM led the company to review the plan in terms of the gross area of construction, number of floors and number of parking spaces. The Regional Secretary of Tourism and Transport has approved the plans. The construction work cannot be in the area of the Reserva Natural Parcial do Garajau and will need to preserve everything in the Public Maritime Domain. Santa Cruz Council say this area of urban expansion is of low density. The approval on Tuesday was for 14 lots on the site where the two tennis courts and swimming pool are, two lots next to the cafe, a hotel constructed of 2 buildings in the area by the road descending to the beach (photo). There will be created over a hundred parking spaces, garden areas, a children’s playground and the firm will renovate the Capela da Mãe de Deus.
POLITICS
One Azorean is equivalent to 50 Madeirans. The PSD-M have looked at the amount of money in the State Budget for investment in the two autonomous regions. From 2009 to 2010, there will be a 92% reduction in the amount of money for Madeira, from 5.5 million Euros to 427,000 Euros. The Azores will have 21.4 million Euros for investments. This is equivalent to 87 Euros for each Azorean and 1.65 Euros for each Madeiran. The Government of the Republic wants to invest more abroad than in Madeira, for example 300,000 Euros for haemodialysis in Cape Verde and 400,000 Euros for the televisions of PALOP. 0.02% of the PIDDAC (State investments) is for this Region which will not resolve the problems at the law courts of Ponta do Sol and Santa Cruz and the police stations at Porto Santo, Santa Cruz and Ponta do Sol. The PSD conclude that the Prime Minister of Portugal does not consider the Madeirans as Portuguese, but also are not considered as foreigners, taking into account that 43 million Euros are for investment outside national territory.
UPDATE
Madeira has GDP lower than the European average. The Lisbon region is the only one with a GDP per inhabitant (104.7%) above the EU average (100%). In Madeira, the GDP per capita reaches 96.3% of the EU average. Madeira has the second highest value in the country. The mean for Portugal is 75.6% while the Continental territory has a GDP per capita of 75.3%.
Financial assistance to farmers amounts to 21.3 million Euros. This large income support to farmers benefits almost all of the agricultural population in Madeira. The funds are made available by the Regional Government and the EU to support the production of grapes, wine, cane sugar, milk, meat and bananas, among others. It helps the region to be more competitive in the production of flowers and fruit and encourages the export of fresh and processed produce. It is the first time there is aid for the export of cane sugar products which is justified by an increase in production.
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
In the Azores [president] César gives in a year what Jardim spends in two months – In the Azores, the support for all social communication costs €600,000 a year. On Madeira, the Jornal da Madeira newspaper alone takes €4 million. It looks like the Diário newspaper chiefs have got fed up of waiting and nothing happening. Last year they took some bold steps at country and international level to highlight the unfairness of the situation between the two main daily newspapers on Madeira, but it doesn’t seem that anything has changed. The politically biased, government controlled, and technically bankrupt Jornal da Madeira continues to get €4 million of taxpayers money each year, and an unfair amount of government ‘advertising’ on top of that, and is available free to the public. The Diário gets nothing. The World Press Association even wrote a LETTER to the president of Portugal about it, but nothing seems to have changed. It’s a disgrace!
Today’s main news headline : Unpaid debt to the pharmacies paid in five years – The Government promises to pay €80 million in 60 instalments. The National Association of Pharmacies demands guarantees.
Today’s main front page photo shows a snowy landscape with a car blocking a road, traffic stopped, and a few well wrapped spectators. Attraction by the snow creates despair – The bad weather is back to wreak havoc and surprise the adventurous. Madeira is deaf to the warnings of the Civil Protection Agency, and some drivers jumped in their cars and sped off in freezing temperatures to see the snowfall in the high zones of Madeira, where tree falls, high winds, and accidents were some of the problems experienced by drivers on the climb to Pico Arieiro and on other routes. A gust of wind in Caniçal yesterday registered at 150 km / h. The bad weather will continue into the weekend, with heavy rain forecast for Funchal tomorrow, thunderstorm, and high winds, especially in exposed places. If you want weather stories turn on the local TV news for floods, rock fall, landslides … it’s all there. Somebody told me yesterday that a Rodoeste bus was hit by a rockfall, but I don’t think there were any serious consequences.
Santa Cruz and Ponta do Sol ask the Regional Government for help for coastal protection.
New drawbacks in the Regional Finance Law – The voting on the final draft is delayed. [Prime Minister] Sócrates promises to resist.
Passos Coelho seeks support on Madeira. This is the guy who seriously upset President Jardim over his stance on the amendments to the Regional Finance Law. He is a candidate I think for the national leadership of Uncle Bertie’s Social Democrat Party, but UB will do everything he can to finish Coelho’s political career.
Porto Santo without air connections for over 24 hours – The SATA ‘shuttle’ suffered a breakdown, but trips will recommence at 10.20 am. The president of Porto Santo Council, Roberto Silva, has asked for a second aircraft to come into service to ensure the service is guaranteed. Not having much luck with the ferry these last few days I notice too, with several crossings being cancelled, but somehow I can’t see SATA taking much notice of Sr. Silva’s somewhat silly plea. In fact he would probably have more success asking his boss Uncle Bertie to build a road and rail bridge, or a tunnel perhaps, between the two islands.
The main sport / football headline today : Derby match has the makings of a tie-breaker in Barreiros. The big game tonight between Marítimo, with home advantage, and Nacional.
If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated.
An extra article from Elaine, many thanks :
Emanuel Salvador plays with the CMO and Ferreira Lobo
Directed by maestro Ferreira Lobo, violinist Emanuel Salvador will play on Saturday. The young Portuguese violinist Emanuel Salvador will play on Saturday February 20 at 21.00 with the Madeira Classical Orchestra, a concert led by José Ferreira Lobo, conductor of the Orquestra do Norte and artistic director of Festival Opera Portimão. Born in 1981, Emanuel Salvador is concertmaster of the Orquestra do Norte.
The program consists of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major Opus 61, by Beethoven, Symphony No. 8 in B minor, the ‘Unfinished’, by Schubert, and the Hungarian Dances nos. 1, 3 and 5 by Brahms. Tickets are available Monday to Friday between 13.00 and 17.00 hours in the Tourist Office, Avenida Arriaga, and at the venue (the Congress Centre of Madeira Casino) between 19.00 and 21.00 hours.
Emanuel Salvador has performed in prestigious concert halls in England (St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Southwark Cathedral) in Kazakhstan (Philharmonic Hall), Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal (Centro Cultural de Belém, Gulbenkian Museum) Germany (Palatin, Wiesloch), Spain (Centre for Performing Arts, Salamanca), Italy and Malta (Manoel Theatre). He has won prizes at national and international competition level: 1st prize in the contest ‘Isolde Menges’ (RCM) and Beckenham Festival, Barbirolli Memorial and Wolfson Foundation Award, 2nd prize at the Young Musicians, Honorable Mention at the Julio Cardona International Competition, among others. He won a scholarship to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation from 2000 to 2003, and in 2008 and 2009 to the Instituto Camões. He graduated Bachelor of Music in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and gained a Master’s Degree in Musical Performance from the Royal College of Music.
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MSC Splendida visits Funchal for the first time. Photo of the ship this morning. This new cruise ship accompanied two others, bringing a total of around 7,000 tourists. The Splendida has 3,300 tourists on board but can accommodate up to 3,887 passengers. Arriving form Tenerife at 7 am, she sails for Malaga at 17.00. Traditional arrival ceremony hosted by the Ship Enthusiasts Club and the port authorities but she will not be seen here again until 21 January 2011.
Rampa de Carros de Pau in Água de Pena. (These are home-made wooden go-karts). 28 ‘cars’ and 40 participants in the fourth edition of the race which is organized by the Parish Council. There were more participants yesterday afternoon than previously. Some ‘cars’ are conspicuous in their originality, one decorated with the ‘colours of Ferrari’. The competition is open to all ages and there are prizes for all present, especially the winners of the two categories: individuals and pairs. As they went between the Caminho Florestal and the Queimada de Cima, there were a few minor scratches and bruises from falling off or to poor driving ability, especially around corners, but all the participants were satisfied and happy to complete the course. — I watched them on the news this morning and they were able to accurately steer when they had to weave in between tyres placed in the centre of the road, and quite reasonable speeds were achieved. Some were wearing the requisite helmets and elbow and knee pads but not all. I remember that the race had to be rescheduled to yesterday due to previous bad weather. Fathers and children had combined forces, really enjoying themselves and proud of their efforts – great to see.
Right to a view in Avista Navios recognized by the courts. A widow in her 70s living in Caminho do Avista Navios in Nazaré, Funchal has had a long standing dispute with a neighbour over construction work which obstructed her view of the bay of Funchal. She owns a building of 762 square metres and a neighbour built a wall that caused the dispute. The neighbour bought the property in 2003 and in 2004 built a wall which was 2.35 metres high rather than the legal 1.5 metres, and a chimney for a barbecue which also obscured the view. The widow complained that her house has an aluminium and glass porch with a 80 cm high balcony, from which there had been a fantastic view over the city. She has had this right to a view for over 20 years and in addition, the building works caused water damage to her property. In 2005, the defendant was ordered to lower the wall to 1.80 metres and replace the adjacent roof and gutter that had been removed. The neighbour refused and in 2008, another court case ruled that the widow had a right to a view, the offending part of the wall would have to be demolished and compensation paid. The case then went to the Appeal Court in Lisbon and without any reasons given, the court ruled the first decision was correct. The neighbour, still not satisfied, went back to the Appeal Court and on the 10 December, the court again ruled the widow had a right to a view and part of the wall had to be demolished. The defendant has no right to further appeal and will have to comply with the court order.
Two hundred watched the Cantar os Reis. The rain did not stop attendance at this initiative yesterday afternoon, organized by the Casa do Povo da Camacha. It is the first time a tent has had to be used due to heavy rain, erected in the Largo da Achada by Santa Cruz Council. Folklore groups from Camacha and Santo da Serra took part. They will still keep the tradition of singing at people’s homes during the night of the 5 – 6 January. 
It is recalled that each year there are more houses visited. The "Kings" are received with great joy and are always invited to visit the Lapinha and have a liqueur and sample the traditional broas and cakes of this season. This activity has always been held on the Saturday before the Epifania do Senhor (Epiphany of the Lord), (the day the Church celebrates the Dia de Reis, second Sunday after Christmas). The fact that this initiative falls on a Saturday makes it possible for young people, mostly students, to participate since the visits last into the night. 
150 thousand litres of water ‘bail out’ Ponta do Sol. Over 150,000 litres of drinking water have been distributed in just 4 days. The tankers used to provide the water will not result in any additional costs for Ponta do Sol council. Normality is returning to domestic users in Ponta do Sol, as drinking water now flows through household taps. A week ago around 5,000 people in the district were still without drinking water, due to storm damage to the supply network in Rabaças on 22nd December. The council used it’s own tanker, and one from the fire brigade from Ribeira Brava, to meet demand for drinking water, but as it pays €100,000 a year to the ‘bombeiros’ in support, the service provided will not cost the taxpayers in Ponta do Sol anything extra.
Vandalism puts gas tank at risk. The gas tank that supplies a block of flats situated near the Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint in Santo Antonio, was yesterday at risk of exploding. Two rubbish bins were destroyed by fire and damage to the infrastructure meant a temporary interruption in ZON and Portugal Telecom cable television and Internet in the area. Immediately behind the rubbish collection containers is a gas tank, which could have easily caught fire. Vandals set fire to the area at 1.30 when there was poor visibility in the high zone. The Funchal bombeiros extinguished the flames but the charred remains are an eyesore for visitors to the viewpoint. There have been similar acts of arson at ecopoints recently, all at night, in the area of Courelas and near this viewpoint. 
Bad weather stories round-up. In Vasco Gil, the electrical cables were ripped down by a storm-felled eucalyptus tree. In Funchal, various roads closed, especially the Estrada Luso-brasileira, due to landslides. Officials had to use chainsaws to remove buganvilia (bougainvillea) from the Ribeira de Santa Luzia, after heavy rain caused it to fall into the water and block the water course.This plant also caused problems and had to be cut back on the Rua 5 de Outubro in Funchal. The only access to Curral das Freiras, the Estrada da Eira do Serrado, was cut off by falling eucalyptus trees, destroying power lines. Rubbish discarded thoughtlessly has washed down to the coastline, especially in Serra de Agua and Ribeira Brava. Falling trees destroyed the roof of a residence in Camacha (photo). Three eucalyptus and two pine trees fell onto the roof of the unoccupied Villa Viera Cardosa in Rochao. The owners live in South Africa. Neighbours had asked the family to cut the trees two years ago, as they recognized the potential danger. The family displaced at Monte yesterday will be temporarily housed in lodgings by Funchal Council. A landslide near the electricity station at Serra de Agua left about a dozen families isolated at Achada dos Aparicios. The only access road to the power station and their houses was blocked by the landslide. The Council unblocked the road by the end of the morning. The sea invaded at least one bar on the esplanade at Praia Formosa. The bar Barra Azul was affected last night and the bar is half destroyed. In front of the Atlantic Gardens, the footpath has been closed due to waves threatening the beach area. According to the IM, the coast of Madeira will be hit by strong waves until the end of the year. Two large ships are sheltering from the weather off the north coast and are being monitored by the Harbour of Funchal to ensure they do not come too close to shore. One is a large container ship, en route to Rotterdam, the other is a tanker.
