This site has a couple of photos of a cruise ship in Funchal. It has real grass and a golf putting game FUNCHAL DAILY PHOTO hmm, looks good enough to eat (baahh)

From Paul in Paul do Mar … interesting stuff, many thanks Paul :

Here are some great contributions: links to the Financial Times

1. Funchal: the difference in life between 1933 & 2007. (can’t say any more because of copyright restrictions, so you will have to visit the site yourself. Der) . FINANCIAL TIMES

2. Article: Title: George Bernard Shaw: “Have you ever tried Madeira?”

According to a Financial Times (FT) article about learning holidays George Bernard Shaw learnt to tango in Madeira at Reid’s Palace Hotel in 1924. There is a photograph of him in the hotel 68 and white-bearded in the arms of the glamorous and youthful Hope du Barri. “To the only man who ever taught me anything,” he wrote on a photograph he gave to the hotel’s male dance teacher.

As the FT article ends: “For there are those, as Shaw observed, for whom a holiday can be “a good working definition of hell”, in which case a purpose, not to mention a ringing sense of having accomplished something, can make all the difference. Even on his voyage home, he was agog at his triumph on the dancefloor. “Have you ever tried Madeira?” he wrote in a letter to Lady Meyer. “I learnt the tango.” Learning holidays, then, can be as much about self-indulgence as self-improvement.” MORE AT THE FINANCIAL TIMES

3. Title: The ukulele which originated in Madeira is so in vogue even Tony Blair has been snapped strumming one whilst on holiday YET MORE AT THE FINANCIAL TIMES

This from Elaine (East) … a translation of Saturday’s article in Jornal da Madeira in a series of Madeira Christmas editions. (Many thanks as always … Der)

Specialties of the season – The sweet tradition of Madeiran liqueurs

Although no longer there are so many people making homemade liqueurs, as was the case previously, the truth is that there are still those that like to stick to tradition, as is the case of Teresa Santos, President of the Casa do Povo at Ponta do Sol, who since a young age has learnt to prepare at home the most diverse specialty liqueurs. And the recipes are not lost because the young people are interested in this art, so in 2007 the Institution launched the book "Sabores da Ponta do Sol", a project coordinated by Theresa Santos and had the support of the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources, through the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development Services.

As she said, the writing of this book began with a survey of sweets and dishes preferred by the ponta-solenses in the Christmas season, the result was a set of recipes that pass through the fish dishes, meat, soups, side dishes, desserts and drinks. These have highlighted the place of traditional liqueurs of our land. The book is a collection of recipes for drinks, published in the newspaper Brado d’Oeste which was published in Ponta do Sol, on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 1907 and 1917. This includes liqueurs of tea, peppermint and liqueur of rose, the latter recipe required the precise "fourteen deciliters of alcohol, fourteen decilitres of pure water, one hundred and twenty grams of roses and six grams of sugar." An old recipe whose outcome is still very good.

Because in Ponta do Sol there were noble families who had their own kitchen, in this book are included recipes of D. Teresa Pita de Macedo, a descendant of one of these families. These include, among others, recipes for liqueurs of cocoa, coffee, fig leaves, fennel seed, passion fruit and orange. Teresa Santos reminded us that "up to the last 50 years of the last century, people were making use of the aromatic herbs, leaves and peel of orange or tangerine to make liqueurs. Then it moved to a stage when it began using chemical essences. Now there are many people who are using herbs and peels, as before, which give a better flavour to liqueurs." It tells us that the liqueurs are easy to make because "just place the fruit or aromatic herbs or peel in an infusion, then boil the water to make a syrup and when cold add the alcohol."

The president is satisfied that the young seem to be interested in liqueur recipes, as reflected by the enthusiasm that occurs in cooking classes that are held in the Casa do Povo of Ponta do Sol. As she told us, "liqueurs are associated with Christmas but are also an integral part of the visits of the Holy Spirit, in Ponta do Sol, and not possible to be missing in the festas of wedding and baptisms. This tradition comes from the time that at these visits men would be offered a glass of wine and ladies a liqueur."  One of the reasons that liqueurs are a particular beverage at Christmas time is "because there was a belief that spirits give warmth at this time of year when the weather is cold, nothing better than a warm liqueur for people, provided that they drink in moderation."

According to the encyclopaedias, liqueur is a sweet alcoholic beverage, often mixed with fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, roots, tree bark even creams. The term comes from the Latin liquifacere, which means liquefy, dissolve. This refers to mixtures which are used in making drinks. The liqueurs are not usually aged for a long time, but may take some time to rest until they reach the ideal flavour. In Madeira, Christmas has a flavour all the more special with a variety of liqueurs that can be proven before, during and after the time of the ‘festival’.

Elaine on the West side found this article in the Jornal da Madeira :

Entertainment till 10 January : The Circo Brasil will be in Machico until 10 January 2010. From Monday to Thursday this week it will be open for Christmas parties and sessions geared to groups of companies and / or schools by previous appointment only. Yesterday, one of the shows was for the children of employees of the Jornal da Madeira.

As of Friday 18 December the sessions are intended for the general public and there are two scheduled shows, at 18.00 and 21.30. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays there will be three shows, at 15.00, 18.00 and 21.00, with the exception of Christmas Day, which is at 16:00. Entry is 15 Euros for adults and 10 Euros for children and each show lasts approximately 2 hours. Trapeze artists, jugglers, Olympic rings, clowns, fakir, Chinese scarves, illusions with "Harry Potter" and another with dogs are the main attractions Circo Brasil offers this festive season. For the second consecutive year the circus tent is located next to the football stadium in Machico. The owners of the company, Joaquim Silva and Fernanda Alves, hope to match or surpass the success achieved in 2008. Since opening last Friday the house has been virtually full. Once again, Circo Brasil has the support of Machico’s Câmara.

Circo Brasil is, like other circuses, run by one family. In fact, Joaquim Silva and his wife Fernanda Alves, their children and other immediate family members provide most of the entertainment. For example, the character "Harry Potter" is interpreted by his son, Sandro Silva (19). Other artistes have also been hired, and in total the company consists of about 15 people.

Many thanks Elaine

Many thanks to Elaine (East) once again for this picture link and yesterday’s top news stories below :

Error in yesterday’s Diário CO2 emissions report. Madeira is responsible for 1,000 million kilos, not tons, of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Madeira has a value of emissions per capita (4.3 tons) which is below the national average of 7.2, due to the absence of heavy industry. Madeira may not meet the goals set by the EU to reduce atmospheric emissions by 20 – 30% by 2020. By international agreement, countries also pledged to increase the share of renewable energies to 20% and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020. In Madeira, the goal of 20% renewables will be met if linked only to electricity production. But what the EU decided covers total energy, including fossil fuels used in transport. In this context, the goal will not be met as electricity is only about 30% of energy consumed in the region, transport accounting for 60%. Public transport occupancy rate is only 22% so to meet these targets, Madeira would have to change its transport policy and reduce the import of fossil fuels.

Illuminations cause ‘spark’ between mayors. The cost of Christmas lights and decorations triggered a ‘spark’ between mayors. All because Funchal benefits from assistance from the Regional Government, which is not true for other municipalities, who have to pay for their decorations. The issue continues to cause a division of opinion between mayors of the PSD. The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos does not hide his dissatisfaction, although the other councils also have to pay for their decorations. The Mayor of Ponta do Sol considers the claim of his counterpart in the câmara-lobense unreasonable. Arlindo Gomes says he thought the current situation is an "injustice" whereas Rui Marques finds reasons to justify this ‘discrimination’. "Our capital is the area of concentration for most tourists and the Funchal amphitheatre is excellent for the spectacle of New Year’s Eve." The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos said, "While in Funchal the Government is paying, here the council supports all these costs. All these Christmas decorations should be part of a Regional project and not handed over to each municipality." The councils have to pay for the decorations whereas in Funchal it is for profit. Funchal receives EU funding for its decorations whereas other cities, like Câmara de Lobos, do not receive anything in this context. Rui Marques rejects this claim as "out of context." "In this time of crisis when the Regional Government is asking for everybody’s efforts, to be raising controversy about a benefit that is in fact for all, because not only Funchal gains, gains for all the region, I think it is inappropriate." The ponto-solense mayor defends the continuation of the current model "according to the possibilities of the councils." Rui Marques is against the municipalities that ‘burn money" on the night of S. Silvestre. The overwhelming majority of people who want to celebrate the New Year go to Funchal, where the firework display is a worldwide tourist attraction, even those that live in Porto Moniz or Santana are now less than an hour away from Funchal.

Meeting of twins. During this month, there will a total of 44 cruise ships calling at the Port of Funchal. Today is no exception with three cruise ships arriving. It is an odd moment in the history of the port because it is the first time that both the AIDAbella and AIDAluna will be here simultaneously. The AIDAluna moored yesterday with 2,250 German tourists and the AIDAbella brings the same number of Germans. Both leave at the same time and for the same destination, La Palma in the Canary Islands. This situation will be repeated twice next year on the 28 February and 21 March. The other ship today is the Island Escape carrying 1,500 tourists which arrived from La Palma and goes to Agadir in Morocco at 23.30. The port will also accommodate the ferry Volcan de Tijarafe from Portimão which will leave later today for Tenerife.

Classification of trees does not always protect them. It has been previously announced that the regional database of iconic and monumental trees is to be updated. The DRF (Regional Directorate of Forestry) now state they prefer to classify zones rather than individual trees. If individual trees are defined, it could lead to vandalism and revenge attacks just due to the sheer pleasure of destroying, so the Regional Director considers it could be counterproductive to implement the national law in the region. The small size of the island compared to the mainland also leads to incompatibility issues, for example the need of a protected area of a radius of 50 metres around the tree. The present laws and land management initiatives for authorities to implement mean that it does not make sense to adopt the national law in the region. Trees can only be pruned or cut with pre-authorization. Some species are already protected like the lauraceas and the invasive eucaliptos and large acacias whose largest specimens occur in Jardim da Serra. Examples, even if on private land, are protected if of botanical or landscape interest.

Hundreds say farewell to the Pilgrim Statue in Ribeira Brava. Hundreds of people gathered yesterday afternoon on the football pitch in Ribeira Brava to attend the farewell Mass of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady Fátima from the parishes of Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol. The service was taken by the Bishop of Funchal who also took part in the motorcade and presided over welcoming  prayers at the present location of the Monastery of Caldeira (Convent of Sister Clarissas) in Câmara de Lobos.

SEF holds a person for fraud in Portuguese test. A person who was applying for the acquisition of nationality by naturalization, was arrested by the Immigration Authority in Madeira for committing a crime of fraud in the compulsory Portuguese test. SEF were carrying out a surveillance operation at the national level covering 31 educational establishments, including one in Madeira and one in Porto Santo. They detected falsification of documents and altogether a total of 14 applicants were arrested.

Chocolate Festival attracted more than 3,000. The first Chocolate Island festival this weekend at the Congress Centre attracted more than 3,000 people. The chocolate sculptures which were more than three metres high and made by local school children attracted the most visitors. The organizers expected smaller sculptures so were surprised by the enthusiasm of the children. The target of next year’s edition is to attract international professionals. Two of the exhibitors ran out of products and had to quickly acquire more stock.

Burglaries becoming more daring – or desperate. Collection of stories about unusual burglaries. In Nazaré, the residents were surprised by the daring of two individuals who prey on the elderly alone in their homes. With the intention of robbery, the two walk around the apartment blocks, knocking on doors where they suspect elderly people live. On one occasion, they cursed an elderly woman who persistently refused to open the door because she lived alone, as advised by her family.  In Estrada Monumental, it is not safe to leave a hotel room window open, even on the eighth floor. A thief managed to climb in from the balcony and stole 2,000 Euros worth of goods; 500 Euros in cash, two watches, a mobile phone and a gold chain. Playing a round of golf at Santo da Serra is not even safe! There have been thefts from the golf trolleys while players move away from the equipment during the course of play. There have been several complaints to the police that wallets and documents have been stolen, from both locals and tourists. The same group of individuals is suspected that have for some time been hanging around the area and have on previous occasions climbed over the security net and cut holes in it. ‘Sapatinhos’ were stolen from gardens of houses in Poco do Gil, Machico last week. Dozens of vessels containing sapatinhos were stolen and the neighbourhood is on alert to apprehend the individual in the act.

European Commission wants to reduce catches of mackerel in Madeira and the Azores. The Portuguese Government is opposed to the EU wanting to reduce by 15% the catches of mackerel in the waters of the Azores and Madeira, based on scientific criteria. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries points to a study by the University of the Azores which indicates a good state of stocks of the species and does not anticipate the need to reduce.

Jardim’s monologue. The Regional Plan and Budget for 2010 starts to be discussed tomorrow in the Legislative Assembly, in a way that is unparalleled in most democratic parliaments. First, because the President of the Regional Government is not required to provide any clarification to the members. He can, and probably will, give a speech on Thursday with no time limit and without the right of questions. In both São Bento (Portugal) and the Azores, the presidents always participate in the debates. Due to the limitation and distribution of time, the opposition does not have the opportunity to raise any detailed questions to the members of the Executive. Each individual members of the BE, MPT and PND have three minutes and each member of the Regional Government has 45 seconds for a reply. Despite the budget’s spending cuts, the opposition will still be critical especially as the PS expect the total debt to increase to 5,000 million Euros. The PS will propose more than two dozen amendments, including a tax of 1.5% on the assets of furniture companies holding concessions for public services and as with other proposals, the proceeds will be used to fund social projects. They also want a 7.5 euro tax on each ton of aggregates extracted in the Region. They will present alternatives to the limits of indebtedness, investments and current expenditure. The PCP (communists) want 39 measures on social and economic development that have already been debated in parliament to be recovered although previously rejected by the social democrats. They highlight the payments of debts to suppliers, reduction in VAT rates, intervention in energy prices and a new transport policy to support businesses and families. Other measures are compensation to farmers and fishermen, support of the taxi industry, construction of a new Hospital of Madeira and Hospital of Porto Santo, and an increase of 7% in the minimum wage. The CDS-PP want a reduction in expenditure and investment priorities should be limited to a new hospital, the rehabilitation of health centres and schools. They want a reduction in both income and corporation tax and tax incentives for the establishment of new companies in rural areas. The BE, MPT and PND each have only one member in the Regional Government. They have similar views and due to limited time, should attack tax revenues and the large proportion of current expenditure. The BE will propose measures to combat unemployment, support for the elderly and funding for school boards.

More than 7,000 square metres of leisure. Second phase of the redevelopment of the Avenida do Mar in Funchal opened today. The project cost 778,000 Euros. According to the Mayor of Funchal, it will allow, among other things, "to contemplate the sea". The public toilets have been renovated and there is one for people with disabilities. Also installed, a sculpture by the artist Silvio Cro, entitled The Blind Man. According to the sculptor, "it is a metaphor between the traditional game and the experiences of the women in the Old Zone."

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Bang on time and as noisy as ever the ‘Missa do Parto’ explosions started this morning. 5 mega-bangers went off at 5 am this morning, and having eventually got back to sleep another series went off a while later. This is the first time I remembered it was going to happen, so not quite the usual shock as in previous years … oh well, only 9 more days to go of the same!

A bit more on the orange weather alert I mentioned earlier in the comments :

Madeira orange alert – Wind, wave and rain motivate warning from the Institute of Meteorology. Due to wind, rain and strong sea waves the Meteorological Institute placed Madeira on orange alert for Tuesday, the second most severe on a scale of four. Weather forecasts indicate periods of rain or showers, temporarily strong, and favourable conditions for the occurrence of thunderstorms. Moderate winds (25 to 35 km / h) south-west, blowing strongly at times (35 to 50 km / h) with gusts of winds of 65 km / h. In mountainous areas, high wind (35 to 55 km / h) southwest with gusts of 70 mph, making it very strong (60 to 75 km / h) with gusts to 120 km / h. At sea, on the north coast waves of 2.5 to 3.5 metres, increasing to 4 to 5 metres. On the south coast the forecast is for waves of 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 3.5 to 4 metres. Due to the warning of rainfall and strong winds, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Department caution and advise against walking or driving on the mountains and the exposed slopes.

Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :

200 thousand per day – In the Christmas season, the amount of mail to deliver soars. The daily average for December so far is around 170,000 mail items, but yesterday was exceptionally busy, and the dates the 21st and 22nd December will be the same, with 200,000 or more items to be delivered. The busiest day last year saw 220,000 items being delivered.

Today’s main news headline : Tenants owe €8 million to IHM – despite of the reduction in the amount of infullfilment, there are many social rents to pay. This story comes up regularly, as tenants of the housing institute of Madeira fail to keep up with rent payments.

The other top story today : Complaints about salary arrears grow – The accusations against the failure of bosses in civil construction are arriving in the courts. According to the trade union for construction workers, the civil sector will have lost around 50% of the workforce in the last 4 years. The union has received nearly 200 complaints from workers since the beginning of this year, nearly half of them relating to arrears in salary payments, followed by unfair dismissals.

Companies criticise unfair competition of the government in the meeting with UEFA.

Emigrants without tickets – Still with 6 months to the football World Cup, some emigrants living in South Africa complain that they cannot get tickets for the Portugal games.

Social Democrats reject Jardim – Some notable names in the party in Portugal don’t want to talk about the chance of the leader of the PSD-M being a candidate at national level. Rumours that President Alberto João Jardim is being pressured by some PSD members to go to Lisbon to go on the National Executive save the party, are in the wind again. PSD members contacted by the Diário generally say they don’t know of any such move, or just don’t want to talk about the matter. Of course you will probably guess that he has my full support for such a move, and his dictatorship leadership skills probably make him the ideal candidate for the top job in the flagging party that seems to have no real direction.

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 Thank you in anticipation.

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Some people publish their family holiday snapshots online, never expecting anyone to ever see them, so naked sunbathing photos are not recommended. I expect this lady will have a bit of a surprise when she sees her visitor stats tomorrow. TÂMARA’S MADEIRA HOLIDAY

"These two astronaut photographs illustrate the northern (top) and southern (bottom) Savage Islands. The two views were taken 13 seconds apart from the International Space Station; the geographic centre points of the images are separated by about 15 kilometres. Selvagem Grande, with an approximate area of 4 square kilometres, is the largest of the islands. The smaller and more irregularly-shaped Ilhéus do Norte, Ilhéu de Fora, and Selvagem Pequena are visible at the center of the lower image. Spain and Portugal both claim sovereignty over the Savage Islands". ILHAS SELVAGENS

"In an attempt to liven things up a bit, we started trying to determine which of the interesting looking fruits might be edible.  These rather attractively purple bananas (you will need to click on the link to see the photo) turned out to be not only ripe, but deliciously sweet, and rather oddly crunchy, with seeds the size of peppercorns. I SUSPECT THOSE ‘WILD’ BANANAS WERE FAR FROM RIPE OR WERE NOT BANANAS worth a read and some nice photos

British lawyer laundered bribes to Nigeria – "The entire Nigerian bribery scheme was organised through London, according to the US authorities, taking advantage of Britain’s weak laws against overseas corruption. Labour ministers waved through a British loan guarantee for part of the deal in 2003, describing it as an example of "sound financial judgment". Cash flowed down an elaborate route, involving a subsidiary registered in Madeira, a Tesler company registered in Gibraltar and bank accounts in the Netherlands". LINK I doubt if the Madeira free zone needs this type of publicity as it is under so much scrutiny at the moment with accusations that it is effectively an ‘offshore’, but as this article was published in the UK Guardian newspaper, I doubt that reproducing this here will cause any further damage.

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

Government outlines new goals for organic production. Bio Madeira Week. At the time when the region has 5% of agricultural land classified as organic, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources yesterday set a challenge of increasing this area from 240 hectares to 500 over the next few years. In 2000, there were only 21 hectares devoted to organic farming. For these producers there are added incentives, e.g. payments higher than for traditional farmers – 30% more for organic grapes and bananas. The expansion of this type of agriculture is an opportunity and a factor of competitiveness. As Madeira is only a small island, farmers cannot compete on price so the produce must be of high quality and organic certification is a critical distinction.

Verandim yields and ‘betrays’ two elderly people. Two women, aged 69 and 79, were yesterday admitted to the Central Hospital of Funchal from injuries suffered in a fall from a balcony, about two feet up. They were leaning against a varandim (balcony) of iron when, for reasons not known, it gave way causing both to fall. They were assisted on site by the bombeiros and taken to the hospital. One had a cut on the scalp and both complained of back pain. The older woman was kept under observation in the Emergency Room and the younger one admitted to Orthopaedics. The accident occurred at a private house in Sao Roque.

Man denies domestic violence case. Following on from yesterday’s article about domestic violence in Porto da Cruz. "For 20 years I do not drink." The outburst from the man accused of scaring the daughter and ex-wife who live in a secluded area of Porto da Cruz. He denies the allegations that he appeared drunk on the doorstep and is sure that he has not seen his daughter since the divorce. Outraged and hurt about the complaints to the police and the Commission for the Protection of Children, he says he will proceed with a criminal complaint against his ex-wife and son. The marriage lasted for 25 years. In his version, the ex-wife will have given false information about the alleged appearances at the old family home. As for drink, every time he has been breathalysed in police stops over the past 20 years, the reading was zero. He has not seen his 11 year old daughter since the divorce at the beginning of this year, although access is guaranteed by the divorce ruling. It is the ex-wife who prevents him from seeing the daughter and he abides by her decision. He stills pays the maintenance every month. He insists he never injured the daughter and has only been to the house to collect his belongings.

Regional Development Forum. The current economic situation determines the theme of the World Forum of Regional Economic Development, which is taking place in Funchal until tomorrow. A key objective is to find concrete measures that are feasible and apply them to the various regions, whatever they are. About 70 people of various nationalities are participating in the Forum which began yesterday. They are from places as diverse as China, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, United States and Europe. Energy is expected to be a fundamental aspect of the future. Hence the presence of the Russians and Ukrainians in the meeting, " They open and close the tap." One aspect that is certainly discussed at the meeting is the importance of social aspects. Today the world and regions face a social crisis. "In some countries, more than half of young people are unable to find work."

PS does not celebrate November 25. As the Legislative Assembly of Madeira did not celebrate April 25 1974 by a special sitting, members of the PS (Socialists) will not participate in any ceremony dedicated to 25 November 1975. In the commemorative session they will recall the military action that led to the stabilization of democracy. On 25 November 1975, according to the PSD, a party which for years promoted the realization of this plenary, models of Communist rule were rejected. ALM celebrates this ‘consolidation’ of democracy but does not devote any space to the celebration of the Carnation Revolution that ended more than four decades of dictatorship in Portugal. The leader of the PS, João Carlos Gouveia, explained that it is a celebration by a right wing party that does not accept democracy, and is closer to the fascist regime that oppressed Portugal. A year ago, the session on November 25 did not have any members of the Socialists, Left Bloc or New Democracy Party.

Junta de Gaula against Jardim’s cuts. The JPP party (Together for the People) on Sunday in public denounced the cutting of public works by the Government and Council of Santa Cruz. The leader of the local Freguesia, also JPP, was also against the cuts. Élvio Sousa said it revealed a profound disregard for the interests of the Gaula population, a situation which needs to be explained by the mayor of Santa Cruz and the former executive responsible for the Freguesia of Gaula – that the analysis deceived the people of Gaula. He cannot understand how the work has been postponed when a framework contract has already been signed in March 2009. Élvio Sousa asks the following question: "To what extent are local councillors, who must defend the interests of the people of Gaula, ‘slaves’ of the masters in Funchal?"

ALM budget approved in eight minutes. Less than 10 minutes were enough to discuss and approve the budget for the ALM. Only the PCP communists referred to the famous ‘jackpot’ for the parties and the questions raised by the Court of Auditors in relation to the use of funds transferred by the Assembly. In discussing the accounts of the ALM in 2008, Baltasar Aguiar of the PND New Democrats commented on the high cost of parking, paid by Parliament (165,000 Euros per year). He also asked Miguel Mendonca why a trip to America that was to last 3 days ended up lasting 11 days.

Christmas Outreach Project. The Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Transport put forward an action of solidarity, aimed at the young. There will be a large Santa Claus in the Avenida Arriaga where you can deposit toys which will be distributed to children in institutions in the region. The toys will be distributed at the show ‘Singing of the Kings’ at the Municipal Park on January 5, 2010 at 20.00.

There will be less money in 2010. Presenting the budget for next year, Ventura Garces announced several cuts. The budget has been reduced to €1,531 million, €50 million less than 2009. The region should experience an increase in net debt of around €178 million resulting in a loan of 230 million Euros (still lacks the authorization from the State) and €52 million is needed to repay the loan. Another loan worth 50 million Euros might be applied for from the European Investment Bank. Sport will receive 11% less and agriculture will receive 14% less. The opposite applies to business development that increases 111%, employment over 37%, and tourism 6% more than 2009.

Meeting of the Union of Embroiderers in Turkey. The Madeira Union of Bordados (traditional embroidery) at a meeting in Turkey, want the creation of an International Federation of Home Workers. They want an Internet site to unite home workers from every country, and a Federation to fight for their rights. The Union has delivered its proposal to IBTAM to double the payments made to embroiderers, as an incentive. There are fewer and fewer workers due to the low income.

Car caught fire on motorway. A car caught fire yesterday on the Funchal – Ribeira Brava motorway. The incident occurred around 15.30 and the front of the Peugeot 206 was completely destroyed. Manuel Rodrigues, the owner, said that while going from Funchal to São Vicente, at the exit from the tunnel after Quinta Grande the car started to emit smoke and then fire broke out. This continued until the exit to Campanário. He used a fire extinguisher but it was the bombeiros who eventually extinguished the fire. The car was purchased in London and was brought to the region yesterday via the Naviera Armas. The fire might have been caused by a short circuit.

Cruises yield €40 million per year. The Ports Authority want to increase the number of calls by cruise ships, which is close to 300 per year. The objective is outlined at a time when the administration is preparing to make a new study on the satisfaction of cruise tourists who visit the island. Cruise ships tourism generates revenues of €40 million per year, but APRAM want to end the seasonality when May to August are quiet months. One way is the association with Medicuise which should give access to new routes. The last survey was in 2005 and this one will occur in the first half of 2010. It aims to update the data on spending patterns of the passengers and crews while on the island. It is recalled that in 2005, the study concluded that each passenger spent around 70 Euros a day. An EU survey concluded that crew members spend an average of 25 Euros per day. The inauguration of the new Maritime Station has been scheduled for next year, but no date fixed. The building will be completed by the end of this year then in the first half of next year, the equipment to operate it put into place. The cost will not be passed onto cruise ship passengers. The Traditional Trade Association want an extension of Saturday and Sunday opening to catch the weekend trade of hundreds of tourists when cruise ships call. Only last weekend there were 6,300 tourists who found a city deserted and empty. The authorities should promote tours to the city center and the Farmers’ Market. Sights of interest should also open at the weekend.

Government will encourage ‘Park and Ride’. The Horários Bus company, the Council of Funchal and the Regional Secretariat of Tourism and Transport are studying this concept. This initiative is intended to relocate parking from the city center to the periphery and make public transport sufficiently attractive so that people do not want to drive into the centre. A previous attempt at Viveiros did not work due to low compliance. The idea is to have two parking areas, one at the Western side and one at the Eastern side.

Police detain nine suspected of stealing from several homes in Funchal. Nine men between the ages of 20 and 59 are suspected of burglary and are thought to belong to a gang "presumably involved in concerted behaviour." Several items were seized including several pieces of gold, worth more than 6,000 Euros. The suspects are residents of Funchal, Santa Cruz and Lisbon.

Today’s headline news from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :

Top story today : Demolition of Savoy starts in January – The hotel comes down in a process without implosion that will take 10 months. The developer Horácio Roque says that he intends to spend the New Year eve 2012-13 in a new building, budgeted at €120 million. Perhaps Mr. Roque is thinking of staying in another new hotel then, or perhaps in a hotel outbuilding? If it needs 10 months to knock down the old one (using traditional methods) and clear the site, that leaves just over two years to build a new one. This is Madeira … I have seen houses that have taken longer than two years to build. The bets are on! The idea is demolition with as little disturbance as possible, but that is of course impossible to avoid. I have pity for people in that zone that will have to put up with all this for years to come, particularly as this project was never necessary, and better options were available to revitalise the fortunes of the Savoy hotel, and for the loyal staff that were all sacked.

Debate concludes that the crisis is going to endure – The ’100 Biggest and Best’ (companies) united bosses of success in times of difficulties. I agree. An economy based so heavily on leisure will always be amongst the last out of recession, and I didn’t need to attend a conference of company bosses to work that one out.

In the Madeira budget for 2010, 29% of the revenue needed is not guaranteed. Someone else fancy a look at this one?

Health is in contention in the screening for Gripe A – Each exam costs more than 100 Euros and should be reduced. In January support for private analyses finishes. There seems to be two intertwined stories here, but the one in front of me says that tests and analyses samples taken by hospitals and health centres on Madeira, that went to private companies for processing, will no longer have the costs reimbursed from January. All such work will in future be undertaken by the Pathology Laboratory in Funchal Central Hospital. That’s old news, but maybe the effective date is new?

SATA wants to continue the operation Funchal – Porto Santo. President of the company showed himself to be interested in the contest anticipated for 2010. That can be no great surprise, as it has been well known for a long time that the Azores airline SATA brought two new (not brand new) planes to service the route. Quite why they will be flying from Funchal I am not sure, perhaps the usual airport at Santa Cruz is expected to fall into the sea next year. Cruise ships go to Funchal, not air traffic. You know what I have actually met people who think this island is called Funchal.

Madeira ground-breaker in the inventory of organs. Church organs that is. The inventory of church organs started on Madeira recently is the first of it’s kind in Portugal. It seems a book is to be published ‘Organs of the churches of Madeira’. It must be a job creation scheme? Surely no one is going to buy the book in sufficient numbers to make it a financially viable project.

Today’s sport headline, well two in one actually : Cristiano returns and Barcelona defeat Mourinho – The Madeiran is back tonight in the Champions league. Barcelona shone yesterday. Ronaldo is back for Real Madrid v FC Zurich after injury. Portuguese José Mourinho watched his team Inter Milan lose last night.

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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. Please don’t send in automatic translations (like Google translator) without checking them through and correcting them first, thanks.

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

In yesterday’s Portugal Cup 4th round football matches, mixed results for our lads. União (Madeira) lost in a penalty shootout away to Mafra. The Mafra team came onto the pitch wearing protective masks as a protest, after attempts to postpone the game, because of squad members with Gripe A swine flu, were rejected.

Camacha however march on onto the next round, after beating Vigor e Mocidade by 1 – 0 in their home game. They should have won easily as the opponents were from series D in the third division.

Nacional struggled against Fátima in Funchal, with no goals in the actual game, but eventually qualified for the next round after winning a penalty shootout 4 – 3.

Elaine asked me to post this. I am clearly not having much luck in attracting sufficient help, so I really hope Elaine has more success :

WARNING BELLS ARE RINGING.

Der and myself are desperate for help. We are both taking far too much time on the blog, more than you would think (or I dare to admit). People really need to start sending Der articles or this blog will finish for good. We are both fighting hard to keep it going. Please don’t let everyone down by thinking your help isn’t needed or that your article won’t be interesting. Even a small contribution, regularly or otherwise, would help and encourage others. It would take some of the pressure off us both. The more diverse, the more interesting it could get for everyone.

Suggestions of how people can help:

Take a section of the online Diário. Front page, Madeira, Economy, Politics, Culture. I use Google translation toolbar, and other online translators are available.

Other newspapers online. Jornal da Madeira, Diário Cidade.

Tourism Board site. They will send you an email every month with details (in English). Also DRAC site has a monthly Cultural Agenda in English.

Scan newspapers and sites for articles about the island, tourist reviews and blogs.

Any travel articles. Ports, airports, organized tours, hotels.

Any experiences about your days out here, e.g. exhibitions, restaurants, cafes, bars, tours, museums, walks, places visited.

Local food with recipes and wine tasting.

Nature articles. Plants, birds, animals, environment, parks.

Local customs and culture.

Festivals and cultural events – coming or visited.

News and activities where you live, if on the island.

Shopping and offers.

Nautical events and special sports events.

Organisations and their events.

Any suggestions welcome.

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Elaine had very kindly again provided yesterday’s top news stories :

Enterprises, employment and tourism have money. Strengthening tourism promotion, incentives to businesses and jobs and greater investment in culture depends largely on ….. state.  At the end of the year, Madeira will have the largest direct debt in the history of the Region. For the bank loan guarantees, the Government has commitments in the order of 1,900 million Euros. Ventura Garces, the Regional Secretary of Planning and Finance will deliver tomorrow to the President of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira the proposed budget for 2010. As normal, 40% of expenditure is for public investment to secure employment through public works and to prevent people becoming dependent on meagre state benefits. Little is known of this year’s proposals. Tax revenue is expected to drop significantly next year so they are optimistic that the State will transfer €70 million early on. The European Union has provided a transfer of €75 million. The Regional revenue (tax etc) and transfers from the State and the EU will cover 86% of expenditure, so a loan is required for the remainder. Garces would not admit to the amount which he is asking the State to agree but it is thought to be more than €200 million, enough to repay the loan and secure payment to suppliers. Education and Health account for 73% of expenditure and Garces is worried about the spiralling costs of the departments, institutes and autonomous funds which represent 28% of total expenditure, and these levels could be cut. Incentives to business will cost €20 million and tourism will have an increase of almost one million Euros for promotion. In the next three years, €362 million will have to be repaid to banks, €52 million next year. The Government owes more than €150 million to suppliers, backed with loans amounting to €1,174 million. The Regional Government debt is expected to rise to €784.9 million by the end of this year, the highest value in history. This is justified by the debt being 17% GDP and the EU allowing up to 60% GDP or a debt limit of €2,760 million Euros. Jardim hopes to save tens of millions by his recent cuts.

Rocks continue to fall. The rock fall between Ribeira Brava and Tabua continues, along a section that has been sealed off to the public for almost two years.

Bad weather boosts road casualties. The number of accidents increased this week with rain and excessive speed for the conditions. There were 61 accidents that caused 19 minor injuries, compared with 45 accidents and 21 injuries during the previous week. Funchal (26 accidents, 8 injured), Santa Cruz (13 accidents, 3 injured), Câmara de Lobos (9 accidents, 3 injured). Friday was the worst day, 5 people taken to hospital and 15 accidents. The via rápida, where there are an average of 11 accidents per week, had the most accidents with 28 last week resulting in minor injuries to 6 people.

UMajuda helps schools in Achada and Rochão. This University organisation collects donations, especially for the younger age group. They have distributed dictionaries, children’s books, encyclopaedias, maps, video tapes, games and sports equipment to the schools in Rochão and Achada, as elsewhere in the region during previous years. The university musical groups ‘tunas’ have also visited the schools. They have also helped the elderly and the Red Cross and SPAD.

Support for the outermost regions are possible. One of the MEPs said that permanent funding for the outermost regions is not guaranteed from 2013, but it is possible under the Community Support Framework. He said that with the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, member states have not lost their sovereignty under a centralized Europe, as there are sometimes opt-outs if they think the matter should be debated nationally. Risks are that some countries will dominate and defend their own interests first. Costs will increase with an increase in the number of posts.

Official websites of Government and councils lack maintenance. Lack of update. Regional statistics are out of date, some by two or three years. Most councils have not updated details about council members since the elections. Good examples are Câmara de Lobos, Porto Santo, Machico and Santa Cruz.

Bandolin Christmas Concert. December 12 at Teatro Baltazar Dias, Funchal, cost 5 Euros.

Lobo Marinho delayed due to power failure. An electrical failure late on Sunday night affected the electrical connections. The fault was detected at 8 am when the ferry was preparing to leave Funchal and delayed the departure. The electrical failure on the bridge and engine room made it impossible to leave the port of Funchal so a tug had to intervene at about 9.15 am. The failure did not affect the speed of the ship but it had to reduce speed to provide time for the tug to reach Porto Santo. The route normally takes 2 hours 10 minutes and took around 5 hours. The captain said the return journey should not be affected as tugs would be ready both at Porto Santo and at Funchal. The ship had about 200 passengers on board.

Government reinforces consular assistance in South Africa. Portuguese Government will reinforce assistance during the World Cup next year. They will also produce a brochure with local contact numbers for emergency assistance.

Builders guarantees on new properties provide most complaints. In 2008, the Office of Consumer Protection in Madeira received 305 requests for assistance in this area, and this year the number has already reached 289. For a period of five years, owners of new properties should be able to have any defects repaired by the builder. In reality, it is difficult to get the repair corrected and the person often has to go to court or pay themselves. They often find the builder has gone out of business or disappeared. Legal action has to be taken within three years of the complaint.

AIDS prevention. Madeira, like other European countries, faces serious problems that affect many young people, like drinking, smoking, drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. This was stated at the conference yesterday, ‘Youth Without Risk’. Portugal has a staggering number of infected people, especially related to teenage pregnancy. Young people are educated about the transmission of AIDS but still do not use protection.

Burglaries in Barreiros. Burglaries  at the apartments Barreiros Golden and Stadium in Barreiros over the past two days have resulted in doors being broken down and around 8,000 Euros of gold and cash stolen. These occurred last Tuesday and Wednesday and the police have increased patrols.

Failure of lifts in apartment blocks force tenants to climb 150 stairs. Apartment blocks affected are Varzea Park in São Martinho and Caminho do Amparo, block A 1 North. The top flats on the ninth floor are 150 stairs up. Some older people refuse to leave the flats and this has occurred for two months now.

The ‘Madeira’ in documentary. Alzirino Henriques has produced a DVD about the ship ‘Madeira’ which used to transport goods and passengers between Madeira and Porto Santo. Its sinking on 21 October 2000 has led to its use as an artificial reef and this 30 minute video demonstrates the beauty of the flora and fauna which have colonised it. The video is in both Portuguese and English and the producer is Eduardo Costa, who has produced many local videos. It costs 15 Euros and can be purchased from FNAC, the Porto Santo Line and Tourism posts.

Sue very kindly sent in these news stories, many thanks …

The funeral of cabo Telo was held in the presence of hundreds of people – "Now he is in his own country". Hundreds of people gathered yesterday at the church of Paul do Mar for the last farewell to the first cabo (corporal) Gabriel Telo, killed in action 36 years ago in Guinea Bissau. The funeral closes a case of a group of soldiers, of whom two were from Madeira – the cabo and the soldier Telo João Nunes Ferreira. The process of exhumation and repatriation of the bodies to Portugal took about three years. The Union of the paratroopers was the body who started this rescue – being three elements of this special force among the 11 corpses – which now ends with this funeral, the last of the bodies were removed from Guidaje in Guinea Bissau. Now closed, in fact, a course whose objective was to bring home the bodies that had been buried in that cemetery campaign in Guinea, explained the president of the Parachute Regiment, General Avelar de Sousa, who yesterday attended the ceremony. Several entities had joined forces for the task to make this last tribute to the soldier, who died on May 25, 1973 (not 1963 as incorrectly written yesterday). Miguel Mendonça, chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, in the morning put a wreath at the urn of the soldier, while still at the monument to the Madeira overseas soldier. A little later, in Paul do Mar, the district where  the cabo was born, Monteiro Diniz attended the funeral, ex-Representative of the Republic to Madeira, also Brazão de Castro, regional secretary, and Manuel Baeta, Mayor of Calheta, among other personalities. The process of exhumation and repatriation of the bones of cabo Telo opened a wound in the family that they had spent decades trying to heal. Mother, Flora Telo, never gave up so that the memory of the son would not be forgotten. During the last 36 years she insistently repeated stories about Gabriel, highlighting the qualities of this young man, who was sacristan in the church, the same church that hosted the final farewell ceremony. Yesterday, the upset prevented Flora Telo from saying what that final moment meant for her. The day before, however, she confessed that she still felt "a great longing for my son." And looked towards the sky and called to Gabriel. "He was a good dear son, as a child" and he helped in the church, she recalled. The arrival of the remains opened wounds of the past in the family, but, despite the moments of pain and anxiety, no one regrets the decision. Yesterday, Gabriela Telo, his sister two years younger, said one feels ‘satisfied’ that Gabriel was now "closer" to the family. The youngest of the sisters, said she felt "a mixture of emotions that were impossible to describe." Still, she said that at that very moment, outside the cemetery, she felt "a joy, because he is now at home. These last days have been a difficult time, with resentment, but now that he is here in our cemetery in his country, it is now a relief." With the funeral of cabo Telo "we have closed, in fact, a path with the objective  to bring back the bodies that had been buried in that campaign cemetery in Guinea", said the president of the Parachute Regiment, General Avelar de Sousa, who yesterday attended the farewell ceremony of the soldier from Madeira, who died 36 years ago in Guinea Bissau.

Regional success against smoking in national press. At present, about 45 percent successfully quit smoking with smoking cessation consultations from the Health Centre of Bom Jesus. Compared to internationally, the success average here is 35 percentage points higher. Having just celebrated "No Smoking Day", which leads people to seek consultation  at the Health Centre of Bom Jesus. Ermelinda Alves said there are several reasons. Some people, because they became aware that tobacco is bad for their health, causing heart and lung disease, and that it is the cause of many cancers, and therefore making the decision to quit. One of the reasons that have more recently led to consultations relates to the economic crisis, where people cannot afford to smoke and come here to seek help to quit. There are also younger people who have young children who, at school, hear their teacher says it’s bad for health, and then the children ask their parents to quit and come to visit. But, of course, that success will be achieved when the smoker makes that decision, and has a strong motivation to quit smoking.

Mini-series will be shot in RAM. After the success of the TV series "Flor do Mar", Madeira will return this year to be the scene of another project of the TV company TVI. After the series (Flower of the Sea) that "exceeded expectations" in terms of growth in the number of tourists from Portugal visiting Madeira, the regional secretary for Tourism and Transport, said that the private channel is preparing a new Portuguese mini-series to present to their viewers in the first quarter of next year. Filming will take place in Madeira in December. "The plot is funny, but I will not reveal", said Conceição Estudante, explaining that the purpose of not wanting to remove the mystery around this new project is to ensure it commands a good audience in Portugal. The exact date when the mini-series will go on air also remains unknown.

Cakes, cakes, liqueurs and pork – In times gone by all these products were made at home and since the beginning of December there was a great hubbub, especially from the ladies in the preparation of these delicacies. Recipes for cakes and liqueurs were often kept in the minds of people and passed on to subsequent generations. A tradition that has persisted over many generations was the so-called "Night of bread." At a time when there were few existing bakeries in Madeira and Porto Santo, families gathered on the evening of 23rd December to bake the bread in the oven. The hard work was done with joy and often the sound of typical melodies of Madeira. Even today in some parishes, especially in the city of Funchal this tradition is maintained. The meat of the pig that was killed on the 8th of December, or the next few days after that date, provided an enormous amount of different recipes.

When the "Feast" had another flavour. Maria Fernandes 78 years clearly remembers the "Feast" and at times it is with some nostalgia that she refers to the many activities taking place in the build up to Christmas. "In the past it seemed that time was not moving. We waited with anxiety the arrival of December to experience the festival. And since there were many difficulties times, Christmas was a very special time because meals were better, we had cocoa and cheese, which during the other months of the year were a luxury. "Also important was the day the pig was killed. The entertainment around the event was varied" Maria Fernandes recalled. "On the eve of that day I almost could not sleep thinking about the task the next day. From early morning until the night I had so much to do with helping "Marchant" (the man who kills the pig), to prepare the various ingredients with the meat of the pig, the innards, blood and lard. And as it was a day of entertainment, I was always looking to play some pranks such as asking someone to go and get oil to lubricate the saw to cut the pork, or  placing of the nails in the pockets of some of the more intoxicated people. And throughout the day no one went hungry or thirsty, with coffee with brandy drunk early in the morning, and not forgetting the dry red wine". These traditional activities of yesteryear are still re-created in the present day by some cultural associations of the region. And in some rural parishes of Madeira, there are those who keep their Christmas with an authentic flavour.

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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. Please don’t send in automatic translations (like Google translator) without checking them through and correcting them first.

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

From Tobi : "Der this is quite funny, if you click on newer post (bottom left) he has a couple more posts". Cheers Tobi, this blogger is nuttier than other bloggers  I know. GNOME ON MADEIRA

Quite a useful short guide to some of the museums and specialist centres on Madeira, for those with the time and interest. Unfortunately in most cases the locations are not mentioned. STATIC ATTRACTIONS

"Madeira has got to be the world’s wackiest wine. Most folks know madeira as "cooking wine" … bobbing in the Atlantic some 350 miles north of Africa". So I woke up in Spain this morning did I? Got to be the whacky newspaper article of the day DAILY HERALD

Madeira Photo Excursion – Nature Meetings in cooperation with Associação Promoção da Madeira, ACIF with their Chapters of Hoteliers, Photographer’s & Travel Agencies, are organizing on Saturday 21st of November 2009 a Full Day Madeira Photography Excursion.The Autonomous Region of Madeira is one of the best photogenic locations in Europe. For both amateur and professional photographers we offer to combine their visit to Madeira Islands with a Full Day excursion. A professional local photographer will provide photo coaching and guide you to locations helping you take full advantage of the opportunities presents during the excursion. The excursion will set you back €39.50, but includes transport from Funchal and a 3 course lunch. PHOTO EXCURSION

Sócrates Government to focus on development of Autonomous Regions. Directly related to the Azores, the program of Prime Minister José Socrates will also seek to limit the terms in office for regional presidents. Already delivered to Parliament, the program of the 13th constitutional Government states that "the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira represent devolution strategies of great importance to the country". The Government is committed to consolidating autonomy at institutional, economical, social and cultural level. In addition, José Socrates will enforce the law of incompatibility between public office and pluralism of representation at the Legislative Assembly, as stated in the Political-Administrative Statute of Madeira. The Government’s program also plans to introduce limits of office for Regional presidents, and financial effort aimed at convergence in order to contribute to national development and cohesion. I found this on the RTP Azores TV website, and having never seen anything on RTP news written in English, I thought I should mark the occasion. I would argue that the mandate limit is more related (or even targeted) at Madeira rather than the Azores, not that will ever be admitted of course. Unlike Jardim of Madeira, President César of the Azores is a socialist, the same as Sócrates, just so there is absolutely no doubt on the issue.

Many thanks to Elaine for yesterday’s top stories :

CMF give ultimatum to residents of the ‘Edificio Infante’. The Marina Shopping mall owes 1/4 of the building and some shops are thought to have strategically closed before upgrading work has to be paid for in the first quarter of 2010, rather than close due to bankruptcy. The two facades of the building (Avenida Arriaga and Avenida do Mar), terraces and garage fitments need redecorating. The idea is to start the work when the weather improves in the Spring. The condominium administration company are looking for tenders and the next meeting with the residents is at the end of the month. At previous meetings, the residents have rejected the costs despite ‘tireless’ work by some and when works are approved, fund-raising will begin. If the residents still cannot agree then Funchal Council will find a tender and it could be more costly to the residents, so the condominium administrator wants this to be a last resort. The longer the delay, the more expensive it will become, so it is an investment.

Ribeira Brava will have the Emigrant Museum. The proposal was in the electoral program of the Social Democrats and highlighted at the inauguration of the mayor who is starting his final term, and is a former immigrant. It is intended as a tribute to those who go abroad for a brighter future but always remember their ‘roots’ where they were born. Plans are for the museum to be installed in the old health centre, which was the first one in the area.

Signs that Madeira is in economic crisis. In the past nine months, there have been an overall 27% fewer automatic transactions through electronic terminals or ATM machines, a loss of 437 million Euros (1,637 to 1,200) or 1.6 million Euros per day. 30% less through automatic terminals, 23% less using cards, 25% less through ATMs and 42% less international transactions. This penalises local companies and taxes, for example IVA (VAT) and consumption taxes on fuel, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

Quinta do Lorde will raise 7 million in taxes. Machico Council have calculated they will receive 7 million Euros in direct taxes (IMI and IMT) accruing 625,000 Euros in licences/permits and 68,000 Euros in IMI each year. This was one of the arguments they used in a court case filed on July 17 opposing the construction of the resort. They also expect employment for 400 construction workers and 200 jobs created in the future. —- I thought it had been ruled legal and the arguments finally ended.

German resident in Água de Pena accusing neighbour of assault. A 66 year old German, resident since 1977, has filed a court case against a 35 year old Madeiran neighbour. Both residents were in dispute in 2006 over the construction of a house on the Vereda (lane) da Quinta da Lagartixa, which gave access to the German’s residence. There were a dozen subscribers to a petition against the construction but the Council authorized an alternative access to the vereda, which was constructed. The German citizen alleges he was insulted then pushed against a wall resulting in minor injuries and an upset wife. The court hearing has begun today in Santa Cruz.

Community policing in Nazaré works. Recovered a stolen ‘Toshiba’ portable computer worth 1,000 Euros which had been sold for 40 Euros. Case of theft and receiving stolen goods, to pay for drug addiction. The police were on patrol in São Martinho and spotted a man carrying a ‘Toshiba’ laptop identical to one which had been reported as stolen from a house in Nazaré. He could not explain the origin and was the suspected receiver of the laptop. The suspect of the crime is the brother of the victim, referred to as toxicodependent, who admitted selling it for 40 Euros. The laptop has been returned to the rightful owner and legal proceedings will follow.

Sweet potato weighing about eight kilos. From farmland in Água de Pena, Machico.

—– Quite a fertile region for unusual and large vegetables.

Government will spend 10% of the budget on pensions to former MPs. €1.6 million to 52 former MPs. The politicians on the Continent and the Azores lost this ‘privilege’ in 2005 following an amendment which Madeira did not follow. Holding office for not less than 12 years and under 55 years of age, the pension is 4% for each year in office, up to a maximum of 80% of salary.

50% fewer fatal accidents at work. In 2000, there were 10 and only 4 in 2008. A Regional Strategy 2008/11 has been implemented. The ultimate goal is to minimize occupational accidents and illnesses by changing attitudes, behaviours and through training and awareness. The highest number of fatal accidents are in construction, responsible for more than a third, but 7% less in 2006 than 2000.

Police catch a well-known thief after a pursuit. The 40 year old man from Caniçal is known for burglary of rural properties. A neighbour alerted the police that the man was inside a property in Poco do Gil. Realizing that the police had arrived, he fled to land near the football field. The police surrounded him from several sides as he ran through private land and had to be handcuffed for detention at Machico Police Station for identification.

Savoy Group can start building the new hotel. The present Savoy Hotel can be demolished ready for the construction of a new hotel on the Avenida do Infante. The permit should be issued shortly and work begun within six months. The details of the plan for the redevelopment of the Ribeira de São Joao still need approval.

‘Aida Vita’ passenger air-lifted off yesterday. A 77 year old German on the cruise ship was evacuated to Funchal Central Hospital after a suspected cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The ship was about 240 miles west of Madeira and although the area comes under the Ponta Delgada rescue services, a naval ‘Merlin’ helicopter was deployed due to the proximity of the navy in the area.

Madeiran drivers aggressive. A Driving School Instructor said the psychological testing for some applicants for driving licences, if the new law is applied in Madeira next year, should be extended to all drivers. He said most driving is of a good standard but too many drivers are aggressive and lack the maturity and civility needed. Testing would help reduce this number. He outlined in particular the problems with lane discipline on roundabouts. ——- Are there many unemployed psychologists here to carry out testing?

A quick look at today’s front page headlines :

Reoccurring burglaries shake Campanário – Elderly question the law. The Diário got together a group of victims and neighbours to discuss the problem. One lady aged 60 said "But what law is it that we have on Madeira", after being a victim 3 times so far this year. Residents say they are fed up of the burglaries and point the finger of blame on a 23 year old man, a drug addict called Hugo, but the justice system appears to do nothing.

Today’s main news headline : Police Expel Commissioner – Manuel Saldanha was influential in the PSP (Public Security Police) of Madeira. He was a promising official, but he ruined his own career. He was convicted for the practice of a crime of drug trafficking, conduct that led Internal Affairs to dismiss him.

Deadly skid in Rosário. A 34 year old man died from his injuries after his truck went off the road at a bend and hit a wall.

Madeira pays €200 thousand to exhibit art in Lisbon. The regional heritage (collection) is going to be promoted starting 21st November in the National Palace of Ajuda.

The main front page photo today shows a number of elderly football supporters arriving at Madeira Airport : Bilbao brings a thousand supporters and Nacional asks for a full house. "Them coming is helping us to win". The challenge is launched by Nacional coach Manuel Machado. Spanish flight operators fill four charter flights. The game is live on SportTV1 around 8 pm tonight. Last chance saloon methinks, so good luck lads!

In politics : New president changes the locks – The drastic measure of Rui Moisés motivates the opposition to ask if the local authority was burgled. The new president of Santana Câmara took the measure as one of his first acts after taking command. He says that is something "normal for one who is new in post" and "it is not a lack of confidence in anyone". Knowing the level of corruption that goes on in politics here, I think I would have done the same thing, and used the exact same excuses.

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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.

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‘Ilha Pays Tribute To The Emigrant – Folklore, conviviality and animation lead hundreds to the village of Santana’. Tribute to the emigrants is the goal of the festival that happens every year in the Summer in the parish of Ilha. Organised by the Casa do Povo (House of the People) every year, they look to vary the programme every time. The event attracts hundreds of emigrants from all over Madeira and from Madeiran communities abroad, and includes traditional games. If they are emigrants from all over Madeira, in theory they wouldn’t be Madeiran?

‘Not Even With Pepper Gas Can The PSP Calm Nogueira – A family brawl spreads and not even police officers can control’. The neighbourhood is each time more out of control. Police officers are starting to fear going there. This time the trouble started when a man assaulted his ex-girlfriend. Not even the use of tear gas was sufficient to help police to make arrests during the family brawl in Nogueira. The police were threatened and insulted, and the ruffian managed to escape the three officers called in on Saturday afternoon. He is known to use knuckle-dusters in fights and is well known for his aggressive behaviour, and his frequent involvement in fights. The cops need to start waving their guns around a bit perhaps.

‘Two Boats Adrift Receive Tow’. In separate incidents at the weekend, two boats had to be rescued. The yacht had an engine failure off Ponta de São Lourenço, and the other boat ran out of fuel 7 miles south of Funchal. When rescuing the yacht the 8 occupants of the boat were found to be sick (sea sick I think), and hadn’t realised that their boat actually had a back up engine. Both boats were towed to dry land.

‘Accident In Calheta Injures Four’. Why this makes the front page I don’t know, but a car went off the via-expresso of Calheta between Prazeres and Maloeira early yesterday morning, and the 4 occupants were taken to Funchal hospital.

Yup, footie is back. With about half the front page taken up with the picture of Alonso of Marítimo running in to take a penalty. ‘Steady Marítimo Surprise Benfica In The Stadium of Light – Firstly there was the surprise of the blue and yellow (kit), then the steady performance. Overall the goalkeeper Peçanha was fundamental in the 1 – 1 draw achieved. The ex-Nacional player Alonso scored the goal of Marítimo, from a penalty, with plenty of class’. I missed the first half, but the second was one-way-traffic in my opinion and hardly steady, but a fine result nether-the-less. That result made 6 out of the first 7 initial games of the season drawn over the weekend, with the big three teams all blessed with late goals to avoid defeat.

‘Mother Of God Wants A Bus- The council agrees with the population and asks for more understanding from the bus company’. Nothing special about the story about the transport needs of the population of ‘Mãe de Deus’ in Caniço, I just liked the headline. Of course Caniço rather oddly has it’s very own bus company (EACL), and perhaps not many people know that?

‘Helena Rodrigues Makes History In Canada’. A 4 woman team took the bronze medal in the k4 200 metre canoeing event in the world championships in Canada. Maybe Helena is from Madeira, it doesn’t say.

‘São Martinho Homes A Quarter of Funchal – The parish has experienced a large increase in population’. When the trend is for the decline in population, the parish of São Martinho takes the opposite path, homing approximately a quarter of the population of Funchal. According to statistics from 2006, the population of Funchal was 99,759 inhabitants, while that of São Martinho amounted to 26,540, almost six thousand more than in 2001. The area of 8.06 square kilometres is about 30% of the total area of Funchal, and is now one of the most sought after for housing. Hmmm, I doubt if Nazaré or even Santo Amaro are included in that statement, but as the mass expansion of concrete in Ajuda is also within São Martinho, that probably accounts for quite a lot of the growth.

(16th August). From yesterday’s Jornal da Madeira : ’274 Burglaries In Homes In The First 6 Months Of 2009 – Last year the police registered 647 situations’. 274 burglaries in 6 months on Madeira say the Public Security Police, who take some credit through action that they themselves took to ensure the numbers stayed low. That includes ‘Operation Safe Summer’ that warned residents to be extra vigilant during the holiday period, and even allowed people going on holiday to let the police know that their house was empty and to keep a lookout, although only 93 people have used this so far (until the end of July). Though I doubt whether everything has been reported, it seem pretty good, and it seems that potentially this year will even be lower than last years total.