Madeira News Blog

(1st July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Government Finishes With Regional Red Wine (Vinho Seco) – The executive orders analyses to be done, apply taxes and control the retail sales. Everything in the name of quality to put in order the wine of the poor’. A sub headline says ‘Dry wine of Madeira ‘sentenced’ to extinction’. Madeira’s government have already published an order in the official journal (Joram) that defines the rules to control retail sales of Vinho Seco on Madeira and Porto Santo. Producers and farmers "who want to stay in business" must comply with the rules, which include chemical-physical analysis, payment of taxes and quota limits, and fines for not meeting date deadlines. However that may help eliminate the copious quantities of dubious quality wine that is sold openly. The tax is set at around 7 cêntimos per litre, for a minimum quantity of 500 litres. A EU regulation adopted in 2006 is also to be used to try to get farmers to switch to a vine that produces a better quality table wine, but that is likely to take at least another 6 years. This is the dry red wine that tourists will probably never see, that is the main result of lower grade grape vines that cover Madeira. It is what many locals, and particularly poor people drink, and can be brought for around €1 a litre, or €0.35 by the glass in a bar. It is also the source of many an alcoholic on Madeira, or at a lesser level drunkenness on the streets. I drink it now and again, in moderation of course, rather than pay 4+ times the price for glass of a bottled wine, but my expertise comes from being a grape picker every autumn. Normally it tastes fine, but bad brews have been known, and this is sometimes then illegally distilled to make spirits. This will certainly be seen as taking a dig at the poor, but on the other hand it does cause a lot of social problems. Should the wine become tightly controlled or even extinct, it will only result in a ‘moonshine’ market for sure, as these vines exist on just about every bit of arable land not used for commercial agriculture.

‘Suspect Of Gripe A In Madeira Airport – Health authorities investigate two suspected cases’. The two people were taken to the health unit at Madeira Airport on Tuesday night, after travelling from London with flu symptoms. A ‘prevention’ team has been assembled at the airport to manage the situation until the H1N1 swine flu has been analysed.

‘Summer 2009, 44 Beaches Waiting For You’. A generic headline with several sub headlines:

1. ‘There Are Still Many Beaches Without Surveillance’. Around 130 life-guards and assistants have been employed, but there are not enough to cover all the legal requirements on all the beaches. Notices should be posted at beaches to inform the public of the life-guard situation. Also, two search and rescue boats that were acquired in 2003, but have been grounded through bureaucracy, will be finally launched on 15th July, depending on a final inspection.

Further information on safety and conditions  for all beaches can be obtained on a website, but when I checked it was not working properly MADEIRA BEACHES

2. ‘The Swimming Pool In Ribeira Brava Disrespects Edict’. This is about the council or their contractors emptying the swimming pool for cleaning during peak beach hours, when the complex is full of people. The same with the kiddies paddling pool. They do it often, and even worse, the foot washing facility which feeds of the pool ceases to function, ending up with beach sand all over the place. The council have now committed to doing something about it.

3. ‘Scalding Prices Of Hotels On Porto Santo In August’. (I will have to leave that one for now, as there is loads today).

‘Desperation Arrives At The New Desk Of Social Security’. The new service set up to deal with growing numbers of enquiries from people claiming or trying to claim benefits, or just obtain advice, is struggling under the load, with over 2,000 enquiries in six weeks. The time taken to respond, and the quality of information is leaving much to be desired, with different clerks giving different information on the same topic, and some responses taking several days.  Most enquiries are along the lines of "when will I receive my benefits".  The new system was started around 2 months ago in order to improve the response to ‘customer enquiries’, through personal visits, through a WEBSITE, email (cssmadeira@seg-social.pt), or by telephone (808 200021) during the hours 9am – 12.30 and 2pm to 5pm.  On the website one can see personal data, change address or bank details, apply for benefits and pensions(?), request the European Health Card (the old E111 ?), obtain statements etc.

(30th June). ‘UNESCO Intervenes In The Rabaçal Cable Car – A committee seeks to assess the impact on the heritage’. The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has requested a "quick" evaluation of the controversial project to build a cable car in Rabaçal, after the matter was discussed at talks ongoing in Seville. The report will need to be delivered by 1st February 2010. The area is covered by Laurissilva forest, which in 1992 was incorporated into the network of biogenetic reserves of the Council of Europe and is a designated Special Protection Area under the directive for birds. On the other hand, the regional government of Madeira stresses that the cable car project "aims to enhance an area of unique beauty, creating a convenient fast and safe access, with minimal visual impact on the landscape".

‘Portugal Telecom launches FTTH network on Madeira’. Portugal Telecom (PT) has launched triple-play services delivered over its new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network on Madeira, giving residents access to Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The new triple-play packages, called ‘Meo Fibra’, are available from today in two versions – ‘Meo Fibra 20 Megas’, offering Internet speeds of up to 20 Mbps. unlimited telephone calls between 9pm and 9am and 70 linear channels on the telco’s IPTV service ‘Meo’, costing €47.41 per month; and ‘Meo Fibra 100 Megas’, offering Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps, unlimited telephone calls and 100 linear channels on its IPTV service, costing €61.66 per month. The new network is being installed in 12,000 homes across the island by the end of this year, using 150 km of fibre-optic cable. Not sure I understand all of that … so just as well I didn’t have to translate it!

A new office in Funchal has opened to deal with simple divorces and matters of inheritance, the first of it’s kind on Madeira. It is located in Edifício 2000, and was opened on Monday. Besides saving time in the resolution of the matters mentioned, it should also work out a lot cheaper. In the case of inheritances it will be possible to work out entitlement in the sharing of goods, and deal with any taxes and records of ownership (property etc.), relating to anywhere in Portugal. In the case of simple ‘shared divorces’, it will be possible to deal with all acts and formalities connected with a decision to divorce, division of property and marital assets, and manage taxes and records. The cost savings are considerable, and what used to cost €1,200 to €1,500 should now cost nearer €300. The aim is to open similar facilities in all the 11 regions of Madeira by the end of this year.

The EU has announced that from today (1st July) mobile charges between EU countries will be limited to €0.43/min to make calls, €0.19/min to receive them and texts €0.11. Outside of Europe costs are higher.

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … a view down to Calheta Beach

Apart from on the radio and TV, not much sign of the European elections here. I have had one piece of junk mail so far from the Christian Democrats, and I have only noticed two billboards put up in town. Long may it stay that way. It will be my first time voting, so has anyone else done it before? I have a voting card, but do I need to take my marriage certificate and every other document under the sun, like you normally do when entering any government office?

Paul, in Paul do Mar, inspired by an article on the blog this week has written an article on Wikipedia about the Madeiran tenor Lomelino Silva, aka ‘The Portuguese Caruso’. Paul is now trying to track down any recordings or samples, films, photos, or anything on-line, so if anyone can help please contact me and I will pass it on. The new CD is now on sale in FNAC, it is called ‘Lomelino Silva, O Caruso Português’. Read the Wikipedia article HERE

I have now removed the ‘Tips & Help’ posting from the top of this blog, updated it, and moved it elsewhere. If you need to find it again, I have placed a link on the ‘Useful Links’ menu on the right hand side of this page.

Please don’t forget that news articles will now be posted at various times during the day – Check back regularly and keep yourself up to date.

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

(more…)

(31st May). ‘Sun And Free Entrance Compose The Beaches – The good weather takes many people to the beaches, even with a very high UV factor’. Even the clouds that descended over Funchal yesterday afternoon didn’t deter people from Lido*, Ponta Gorda, Gavinas, and the other free beaches. Some people said that they no longer use the beaches that charge entrance fees. Today also has a very high ultra violet warning. (*I believe access to Lido is free for a temporary period?).

‘The Thematic Park At Santana Is Going To Have A Time Machine’. The attraction will show visitors old images of Madeira "which curiously continues until the year 2419", a thousand years after Madeira was discovered. I wonder if Uncle Bertie will feature in those later years, or perhaps that will be saved for another display about the dinosaurs of Madeira.

Ribeira Brava Distinguished With ‘Accessible Beach’ Flag – It is the first beach on Madeira to display the flag that shows that there is special access provisions for disabled people, people with mobility problems, pregnant women, and the elderly. The award is made by the National Committee of Coordination for the European Year of People with Disabilities. To obtain the award, six criteria must be met : Pedestrian access,  parking provision, access to bathing area, beach crossing path, adequate sanitary provisions, and access to help / first aid. Other less critical considerations are access to bars and restaurants, and availability of amphibious wheelchairs (which Ribeira Brava doesn’t have). The award, which has been running since 2004, already covers dozens of beaches in Portugal and the Azores. 

(30th May). ‘The ship Santa Maria offers tickets at €15 for the Atlantic Festival – Cheaper tickets for Madeirans’. Demand to see the firework displays is high, and the company that owns the ship will do Saturday night trips out to see the event from offshore. The tickets are on sale at the booking office at Funchal Marina. The outing departs at 10pm, returning at 11.30pm, and includes a glass of Madeira Wine. Other Portuguese and foreigners can book tickets at hotel receptions and travel agencies for €25. I am sure someone will have something to say on the price differential … over to you!

(29th May). ‘SATA Brings New Aircraft To Porto Santo – The new plane has less seats, but will be more modern’. The two Bombardier Dash Q200′s have already arrived on the Azores, but for now have a Canadian registration. They will fly the Madeira – Porto Santo route from the start of next year. They have already been painted in the new SATA group ‘brand’ that uses the slogan ‘The Atlantic and you’. The planes already have 11 years of service, having been used by the North American company Horizon. They will substitute the ATP which currently does the Porto Santo route, and will be more modern and more efficient for the job. There will only be 37 seats, compared to the 65 currently, but the new planes will be able to make more journeys. SATA also awaits delivery of four new Dash Q400′s, with capacity for 80 passengers, and these will be used in the new year on routes between the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands initially, and later for Faro and also the islands of Cabo Verde.

‘Post of Madeira In Lisbon ‘Despejado’ By The AICEP’. A couple of things there I can’t work out, but the gist of the article is that Madeira has been kicked out of it’s space in the tourist information offices in Lisbon, a space it had shared with the Azores over many years. Turismo de Lisboa took the action without consultation, and surprised Madeira, although the Azores had already made alternative arrangements. The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport may have known, but probably wasn’t given time to make alternative arrangements. The search is now on to find somewhere else suitable.