Madeira News Blog

(15th September). Today’s main news headline : ‘Câmara Loses Revenue – Funchal council charged tax to the Pestana Hotel Group at the start of an unconstitutional regulation. As a result, 15 years after, it is forced to return 255 thousand Euros’. It’s an old case, dating back to December 1994, when the boss of the Pestana Group was told that the câmara had determined the payment for council tax had been established at over €255,000 for the division of lots at the site of Quinta Leacock. The local authority considered that such a fee was payable under the Regulations of Fees and Licenses, passed by the council on 9th May 1994. The Pestana Group argued that the site, intended for the construction of the ‘Pestana Village’, was exempt from the regulations, and first appealed to the courts in 1996. From there it gets complicated and detailed, but in a nutshell, 13 years after the initial court case, the Pestana Group has now won its battle, and is now free to recover the payment which should never have been made.

Today’s main front page photo shows a concerned lady pointing up at the scenic rock face in front of her : ‘Houses And Road At Risk In Madalena – The report of LREC confirmed the evident signs of ‘instability’ in the rock face’. A cliff face with obvious signs of instability is causing concern in Madalena do Mar. It’s the part between sítios da Palmeira (above) and Banda d`Além (below) in the general area of the bathing complex to the west. It is causing particular concern, as in the event of a collapse, the buildings above could also be sent plummeting. The findings are revealed in a report by the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LREC), who were on site to assess the conditions of the problem area located slightly ahead of the mouth of the tunnel that leads to Calheta, almost opposite the access ramp to the local beach. A spokesman from Ponta do Sol council tries to reduce the fears saying that "the opinion is just a warning. There is nothing [danger] imminent". However, the council is working with a housing organisation "trying to find alternative space" for residents in the danger zone, because says the council president, "perhaps not to do ‘the devil contrives’ and we have there another problem in our hands" (as a rule, I try and avoid translating such sayings or expressions). The assessment by LREC was triggered by an application for a building permit for a block of 12 apartments, an application that was understandably refused in the circumstances. Amongst the recommendations of the LREC to stabilise the rock face are dynamic barriers, high strength mesh, and where possible steel and concrete reinforcement, as well as the building of a wall lower down to retain falling rocks. The report also warns of the danger of carrying out the costly work, which in itself might trigger some problems, and the dangers of continuing erosion through atmospheric conditions. Rui Marques, council president, who is a qualified engineer, believes that the LREC report is "just a warning of the possibility and not an imminent situation. The opinion is more about prevention, with care needed not to scare people", he said.

’87% Of Candidates Get Placements In The First Phase Of Higher Education – Just 187 Madeiran students didn’t get through’. It is the lowest number in recent years, with only 187 students not placed in the first stage of the competition for access to Higher Education. 87% of the candidates who competed on Madeira for a place in the Portuguese universities were selected. Until this Friday, the 187 students who were not placed in the first round of applications, can still compete for vacancies that remained unfilled.

Today’s sport headline : ‘Award For Dinis – The awards ‘Diário / Powerade’ will be delivered today, distinguishing also the dedication of Dinis Aveiro to regional sport’. A posthumous ‘career award’ is to be made to Dinis, for his contribution to sport on Madeira, and in particular his club ‘CF Andorinha’. Always the last to leave after training, putting away the equipment, always with a smile, and an urge to monkey around, he was a true example of dedication and love for his football club. Then at the weekend, he was always off to watch his football team Marítimo. Not a name many readers will recognise for sure, but you might of heard of his son, Cristiano Ronaldo.

A group of mothers from Câmara de Lobos are threatening to stop their kids going to school, because despite living some way away from the school their children attend, they are not able to receive subsidised but passes. Yesterday morning, the group tried to get a reaction from the school and the Department for Education and Culture, but without success, and now they threaten that their children, aged between 10 and 15, will not go to school unless there is a solution to the problem. The golden rule seems to be ‘one kilometre’ away to qualify for a subsidised bus pass (normally costing €43 a month in this case), but it seems that schools have some say in the matter, taking into account distance, roads [existence?], and even steep slopes. With ‘back to school’ next week, and elections that following Sunday, probably something will be done very quickly to pacify matters and keep the voters happy.

‘Serra d’ Água Will Be A Mini European City’. President Jardim highlighted the "notable unban regeneration" in Serra d’ Água in recent years, during the inauguration of the new plaza (pictured) and public park of the parish. Alberto João Jardim went as far as to compare the location within the region of Ribeira Brava to "any well developed small town in Europe". The parish is now equipped with a multifunctional space especially designed for leisure and entertainment, with an amphitheatre, a playground, a bar with a terrace, and an underground car park of two floors with the capacity for 59 cars. €1.7 million has been spent, and further investment is promised.

‘The number of cancer patients has increased’. Following yesterday’s headline in the Diário about the lack of resources and conditions for cancer patients attending hospital in Funchal, with some having to go private for scans, the Regional Secretary for Social Affairs assures that the prevention of cancer, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancer patients, are priorities of the Madeira Government. However, it is also true that "the number of patients with cancer has been increasing alarmingly". He assures that works are planned to expand, and points out the recently opened Radiation Therapy Centre, and also the new centre for the Volunteers of the Portuguese League Against Cancer. The Secretary states that the situation will change substantially after the expansion work in the Department of Hemato-Oncology. At that time, there will be a ‘Unit for Pain’, as well as better equipment to make diagnostic tests.

(5th September). ‘Community Funding Diverted – The budget that should be applied in the restoration of a levada was used for other purposes. AJAMPS already resolved the matter, but the illegal practice is being investigated’. The Association Of Young Farmers Of Madeira and Porto Santo (AJAMPS) used money allocated for the restoration of a levada in Porto da Cruz to pay current expenses. The money was funding provided by the EU specifically for the levada project, and the association almost lost the right to apply for future funding through its actions, and had to turn to the bank for help in correcting the situation. What was even worse that the restoration work was done and the company was not paid the €175,000 owed (not at the time anyway). Diverting and misuse of European funding, whatever next! What on earth would Uncle Bertie think of such an action, diverting funding, not paying suppliers, then trying to conceal the action. At least we have a government here that these naughty young farmers can use as a role model.

‘Under 23′ Pass Doesn’t Come To Madeira – The students in higher education have, since the beginning of the month, a reduction of 50% on the cost of public transport. But only on the continent’. A bus pass from a rural zone to the University of Madeira costs up to €160 (per month) without any discount. From 1st September higher education students are allowed 50% discount on their bus travel in Portugal, but here on Madeira, the measure has not been applied, at least for now. The students will continue to receive a 25% rebate through an Academic Association. According to Luís Eduardo Nicolau, the president of the Association, there have been no answers. "We called the (bus company) ‘Horários do Funchal’ and they said they knew nothing about it. The students of Madeira are again in no man’s land". The government of Madeira is talking of discrimination. From the viewpoint of the regional government, this difference is a clear discrimination for the students of the Azores and Madeira, not to mention those studying at smaller universities in in the country, at least that is the opinion of Francisco Fernandes, the regional secretary for Education.

‘Exhibition Teaches to ‘Overcome Fears’ – The ‘BD’ raises awareness for the objectives of the United Nations’. The cartoon strip exhibition, that opens next month, called "Overcoming The Fears", is a ‘journey’ through the eight Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations that are planned to be completed by 2015. The exhibition has already been in some major venues in Portugal, and now comes to Funchal. The exhibition, a national initiative of the Portuguese Institute for Development Support of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, will be inaugurated on Wednesday October 7th, at 6 pm at the Electricity Museum (Casa da Luz) in Funchal, staying open to the public until 31st October. The Millennium Development Goals were established in September 2000 between the Heads of State and Governments from 189 countries, including Portugal. The meeting took place at the United Nations, resulting in the signing of the Millennium Declaration. The countries present committed themselves to fighting poverty and hunger, gender inequality, environmental degradation, and HIV / AIDS. The assembly also committed to improving access to education, health care and drinking water. The agreed eight Millennium Development Goals were to be achieved by 2015. I wonder why it has taken 9 years to deliver this information to us in Madeira, with only 6 years left I am thinking this might not work out as expected, and what are these ‘fears’ I wonder?

The sports / football headline : ‘Compelled To Win ‘Doing Without’ Benefits – The national squad of Portuguese football just want to win the great prize : to be in the World Cup’. I can’t find this story online yet, but will return to it later if it crops up.

Our local sides don’t play this weekend, as Portugal are playing Denmark in a critical World up qualifying game. That’s on TVI channel 4 at 7 pm tonight.

Petrol and diesel will both drop 1 cêntimo per litre in price on Monday.

UPDATES :

‘Bad Weather Interferes In August – Entrances in the swimming complexes in Funchal decreased compared to 2008′. The number of entrance tickets sold diminished in the facilities in Funchal managed by FrenteMar in August, with the bad weather during the final fortnight of the month blamed. Sales were up until 22nd August, but from 23rd to the 31st there was a "rampant descent" in sales. Last year 100,637 tickets were sold in August, but this year it was down to 97,823. The Lido complex was the most popular as always, with 51,033 tickets sold. I don’t remember any bad weather, a couple of cloudy days at worst. It’s not rained over my way for a couple of months, unless I was hibernating.

‘Security Of Hiper Sã Catches Thief With €5,000′. A 20 year old man was caught trying to escape from the store in São Martinho, whilst in the road, with the money stolen from an employee. The Funchal man had hidden in the store until after closing time, and then around 11.30 pm jumped an employee in the restaurant area who was counting up the days takings. The thief ran into a passer by as he was fleeing, fell, and was then caught and held until the police arrived.

The driver of this car had ‘popped into’ a petrol station in Gaula to ‘fill up’ very early yesterday morning, doing slightly more than the recommended velocity. He also hit a petrol pump before entering the premises.

‘New Roads Inaugurated In Machico And Ponta do Sol’. The road linking the villages of Achada and Fajã dos Rolos, in the parish of Santo da Serra in Machico, will be inaugurated today at 5 pm by the president of the Regional Government, Alberto João Jardim. About an hour and a half later, he will open the road to Levada da Vargem, in Lombada, in Ponta do Sol.

‘Electricity of Madeira Invests €13 Million – Wind energy already represents 6.5% of the total production of the electricity of Madeira’. The region has another wind turbine park in Paul da Serra, with 12 units. It was inaugurated by president Jardim yesterday. Each unit has a potential to generate 850 kW. A spokesman for the electricity company EEM said that two more such parks would be constructed in 2010 with a potential of 15 MW, that will take wind power up to 9.8% of the total of electricity production, with the eventual aim of 30% of production through renewable resources in 2017.

Today’s main news headline : ‘Government Has 130 In Positions Of Trust – The team includes secretaries, directors, presidents of institutes, cabinet chiefs and assistants. Costing €5 million annually just in wages, it has less advisers and more consultants’. The Diário refers to them more or less as the ‘Orange Brigade’. A band of merry men working for president Jardim, ranging from Regional Secretaries (where appointed, rather than elected politicians) to advisors. Alberto João Jardim leads a team equivalent to an infantry company, but with much higher costs, especially since almost all are highly qualified or experienced. It represents a significant fiscal burden to Madeira. In round numbers, over five million Euros per year in salaries, not including allowances, expenses, subsidies, vehicles, and equipment. Those termed purely as ‘advisers’ have been cut from 39 to 14 to save costs in the last year or so, as the treasury could not accommodate all the costs. I can’t imagine why this has come up now, especially so near to election time, but it has been reported before. No doubt some of them are genuine needs, but 130 people (neither politicians or civil servants), for a little island like this. Come on! Every political system has cronies for sure, but this is a little regional autonomy not a state.

The pre-election campaign for the Assembly of the Republic is going to start tomorrow for the PSD social democrats. Candidates will not only start door to door campaigning, but will also be waiting at church entrances. The party is aiming to take 5 of the 6 seats available to Madeira. 

‘Eurozone to grow more strongly – Interest rates stay at their lowest level in the ECB’s 10-year history’. The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised its forecast for economic growth in the Eurozone and kept interest rates on hold at 1%. The head of the bank said there was an expectation that "severe contraction" would now be followed by a period of "stabilisation and gradual recovery". Eurozone rates were cut from 1.25% to a record low of 1% in May this year.