Madeira News Blog

(29th August). Today’s main news story : ‘Robberies In Madalena – The police admit that there is a new wave of break-ins on the Avenida da Madalena. Garages and cars are the targets’. The area itself is quite calm, but the break-ins just don’t stop. Even the noise of the car alarms don’t deter the criminals. The article gives quite a few stories from residents in the zone of Funchal, who have had their cars broken into, both on the street and in garages, but they are all much the same. According to a spokesman for the PSP (police), Commissioner Roberto Fernandes, "the PSP has been monitoring this phenomenon closely and has found a fluctuation in the crime of car robbery in the area of Madalena. He said the population needed to take more care, making sure they were not followed into garages for example, and also mentioned condominiums where access is not secured.

‘Gripe A : Six Thousand Masks Face masks For The 1st Cycle And Pre-School’. Madeira government preparing plan to ensure there is no disruption to school meals. Paper towels and hot air hand driers installed. All measures in response to the risk of the spread of H1N1 swine flu. The masks will only be used in the event of a suspected case, while the situation is being dealt with and the kids are in isolation. In fact, right now, all eyes are focused on a contingency plan to avoid disruptions in the supply of meals in schools. The Director of Planning and Educational Resources points out that this issue is very sensitive and, if not taken care of, can cause problems for families. "Imagine that two of the three kitchen staff of a school fall ill during the night. The school must have alternatives to continue to provide meals to students, in order not to compel families to find solutions on their behalf". Now there’s a scary thought … 6,000 infants, … even scarier is 6,000 hungry infants with masks.

The sports story of the day is an expansion on what was given yesterday : ‘The Distinguished And Dangerous In The Group Of Nacional – Club President Rui Alves expects to get through the group stage with victories in the Choupana’ (home games). Group L fixtures for our local football team in the Liga Europa are : Weder Bremen 17/9 (h) & 3/12 (a), Austria Vienna 1/10 (a) & 16/12 (h), and Athletic Bilbao 22/10 (a) & 5/11 (h).

‘Licensing Hours Annoy Businessmen In The Docks – The council of Porto Santo provides for the bars of the city and leaves Penedo do Sono deserted’. The article is accompanied by a photo outside the location in question, with not a person in sight. The bosses in the dock area say they are worried. Those that invested in bars in Penedo do Sono are upset with the câmara who have spoiled their Summer by "giving out licenses to any bar on the island that might want to stay open until 4 or 5 am in the morning", said Ruben Drumond, night club owner and spokesman for the discontented. He said he made a considerable investment in his venture on the strength of a ‘scenario of withdrawal from the city and residential zones, that did not come to pass’. A measure adopted, he adds, because it is a local election year.  "It appeared to us a sense of injustice and disrespect on the part of Mr. President, Roberto Silva, who conceived and laid down certain rules that now have no value in themselves, thereby showing a great contempt for those who believed in his ideas" he regrets. "The city council had set a strategy to remove the noise from the city centre and focus on the nightlife in Penedo do Sono" he recalls, explaining that this was intended to "feed the evolution of the island as a destination of quality", with a separation between those people seeking rest and those seeking nightlife. Ruben, who owned a bar in the town in 2005, was approached directly by the câmara president in November that year, and told that the opening hours were to be cut back, and anyone wishing to ‘make a noise’ late on would have to do it in Penedo do Sono, which was to be built for this purpose. A politician who doesn’t keep his word … whatever next! A businessman who bases a substantial investment on the word of a politician … whatever next!

‘Adverse Weather Conditions Cancel Entertainment In São Vicente – The international group Hermes House Band should have been playing, but the performance was cancelled’. The entertainment programme, including the open air disco, for the night in the annual festival in São Vicente was cancelled due to strong winds and rain. Tonight the top comedy act ‘Super Gordo’ also depends on weather conditions. And there’s me just down the road struggling to find a breath of cool air last night, and certainly not a sniff of rain.

UPDATE

‘Excavation makes rats to flee to the homes’. An excavation which is being undertaken in the area of Ribeiro Seco, which is encompassed in the work of connecting the Port of Funchal to Pilar, is causing the rats to flee, which were there in large numbers, to the houses in the vicinity, including the Caminho da Fé. The complaint was made by a resident of the area, directing criticism at the company who is doing the work, in particular for not having targeted the rats for extermination before the start of the ground-works. Something he stresses that has been suggested by residents at an earlier stage of the work.

Restriction on some lands preventing hunting have been lifted, in time for the new hunting season. As a result, in Paul da Serra there will be 400 more hectares available to hunters than there were last year.

‘Biofuel production to start in Porto Santo before the end of the year’. The production of biofuel from biomass, made through the intensive cultivation of micro algae will start to be implemented by the end of the year in Porto Santo, said a spokesman from EEM (Empresa Electricidade da Madeira). The new ‘substation’ at Calheta is costing €1.3 million, and is in response to growing demand on the island, and to make Porto Santo "truly green in terms of electricity". Porto Santo, was the home of the first wind farm in Portugal, established in 1998.

Several ‘bush’ fires were reported yesterday, including in Santa Cruz and Câmara de Lobos, and also two suspicious fires started in Campanário.

Funchal’s taxi drivers are to put together a petition against the decision to make the 4 ‘eco buses’ free of charge to users, on the basis this it creates unfair competition. Actually it says ‘taxi drivers of the region’, so maybe they are expecting others outside of Funchal to come on board. The decision was taken at a meeting last week, to which very few taxi drivers actually attended. The petition will be signed by the drivers, families and friends. The chances of getting public support will be pretty thin, like turkeys voting for Christmas, and what with the fierce inter rivalry between the 11 regions of Madeira on taxi matters, I doubt whether there will be much support from outside of Funchal either.

The ground staff on strike at major airports have returned to work, after promises from the airline TAP that jobs will be retained. Unions and management signed a protocol after a meeting lasting 4 hours, that ended the industrial action of the ‘handling’ company Groundforce.

The last of the front page offerings for today is from politics. The main photo today shows a close up photo of the face of Humberto Vasconcelos, the president (or soon to be ex) of São Vicente Câmara : ‘Humberto Felt That They Wouldn’t Allow Him To ‘Give More’ – Humberto Vasconcelos expressed his state of spirit on The Dia do Concelho (day of the region) of São Vicente about not being able allowed to continue the work in the North. In an interview to the Diário, he explains himself better. Who doesn’t feel …’. A restrained interview with HV who seems to be popular locally, but he got on the wrong side of President Jardim, who stopped him standing for another term. "That I have to respect" he said. "From my point of view there is no conflict, it was a strategy determined by the (PSD-M) party", he said. At his farewell speech in the ‘dia do concelho’ this week in São Vicente he received a standing ovation from the crowd, something the government representative in attendance didn’t get. The opposition parties will use this controversy to pressure the PSD-M in the forthcoming elections, and as the seat is less safe than the social democrats would like, they might find winning here a bit of a struggle. Another Uncle Bertie classic ‘own goal’ perhaps?

(25th May). ‘Private Plane Crashes At The Airport’. A small acrobatics aircraft (type Zlin 142) crashed at Madeira Airport yesterday evening at around 7pm, when it was performing a landing manoeuvre. It hit the grassy area between the runway and the aircraft parking zone, where the craft caught fire and was partially burnt out after the impact. The cause of the crash is so far unknown, although one witness wrote in to the Diário saying that it had been doing acrobatics before the accident. Two people were taken to hospital in a serious condition, after being rescued by fireman. One 39 year old man was later flown to São João Hospital in Porto for treatment, suffering 60% third degree burns, whilst the other, a 49 year old man, is reported as being out of danger. The airport was closed for 3 hours after the incident.

‘On The Estrada do Poiso, A Car Fell 300 Metres Into A Chasm, Causing The Death Of The Driver And Injuries To The Three Other Occupants’. The accident happened at Montado do Pereiro in Funchal, early on Sunday evening, leaving one of the survivors seriously injured with the woman’s life hanging in the balance. The back seat passengers, a 41 year old woman and a 3 year old girl were also taken into the emergencies department in Funchal Hospital. 14 firemen used mountain rescue equipment to reach the car and free the victims, having to use cutting equipment to retrieve the body of the driver. The accident happened at a time of thick fog in the area. With what was already reported yesterday, that was definitely a ‘black weekend’ for serious accidents of all types.

‘Champions’. For the second consecutive time, Telma & Pedro of Machico school, conquer as the best in mathematics in the country. The national competition ‘PmatE 2009′, which was in it’s fourth year, was held in Aveiro in Portugal at the end of last month, and involved teams. The two champs are both 9 years old.

‘Plan To Help The Aged – The project of the Madeira government consists of 14 objectives to be achieved through 43 measures. There will be a director and assisted residences’. The plan is aimed at helping over 32,000 elderly people living mainly out in the parishes of Madeira, and was adopted on the 7th May in the regional plan for 2009 – 2013 (having originally been planned for 2007 – 2011, but what’s two years late for a struggling pensioner!).  The Diário was denied access to the plan, as it had not yet been finalised, but it focuses on aid for ageing people through physical, mental, and social help, and has a separate strategy to  support elderly people in a state of dependency. The scheme has been mottoed ‘Live Better, Live Longer’, and uses Madeira’s demographic trends and forecasts to target resources. Promoting good health and preventing disease will be one angle of focus, with younger generations being steered towards family care for the elderly, as well as an expansion and improvement in facilities for those no longer able to help themselves. With over 13% of the population of Madeira covered by the plan, there will be for sure sceptics who feel that this measure is timed for election purposes, being two years late in delivery. I am expecting a visit from the word police after one word used above probably doesn’t exist, so if there is no blog tomorrow you know they have called.

Important Things To Remember If Driving On Madeira 

Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

1. If you are a tourist or visiting Madeira, you may hire a car. You cannot own and drive, or borrow a car, unless your licence has been registered with the driving authorities. Nearly all of the car rental agencies are based in Funchal, and some also have booths at Madeira Airport. Most international car rental companies cover Madeira, but not all, and so reservations can usually be made online.

Research shows that most problems with car rental generally are the result of surcharges for extras, petrol, and vehicle damage. Keeping petrol receipts, and doing a careful inspection with photographs of any damage might help you later in the event of problems. Also check the terms of the insurance, as if you make a claim and haven’t followed the requirements, your claim could be rejected.

2. If you are resident on Madeira, you have the option to keep your own European format driving licence, having registered it with the authorities, or you may swap your driving licence for a Portuguese licence. You must register with DGV within 30 days of becoming resident on Madeira.

Registering A Driving Licence – The DGV (Direcção Geral de Viação) is the licensing authority, and is based either behind the casino in Funchal or in the ‘Loja do Cidadão’. To register a EU issued driving licence, you need to complete their registration form, copy it, and take two copies of your ID and two copies of your driving licence. Also you may need to provide photographic ID. You can do this by post or in person. They will give you back a stamped document, which you must keep. With the exception of hire cars, you cannot drive a car on Madeira without registering first.

3. In line with most of Europe, in Portugal you drive on the right hand side, and if you buy a new car it will be left hand drive. You use roundabouts in an anticlockwise direction, otherwise the driving rules are similar to the UK, and the traffic signs and warnings should be recognisable, if not readable.

Many of the roads on Madeira are hilly and have sharp bends, so extra attention is needed. The standard of driving is generally good on the island, but as in any country you need to be beware of the odd idiot driver.

Speed limits on Madeira are signposted, and are generally 40 to 50 kph (kilometres per hour) in built up areas, other wise you can drive at up to 80 kph. The major dual carriage ways (via rápidas) have speed limits of up to 100 kph, with lesser limits displayed where road conditions warrant a reduction.

4. You can import a right or left hand drive car onto Madeira, but the importation process is complex and time consuming, and the re-registration will require you to have a new vehicle registration plate. Right hand drive cars are not popular, and if you try and sell one it will be difficult and you will achieve a considerably lower price than for the same left hand drive model.

The car must be registered within 30 days of arrival on the island, and the importation process must be complete within 180 days, on the risk of impoundment for tax evasion.

5. Depending on  your residency status, you may be able to import a car tax free to Madeira if you have owned the vehicle for sufficient time. If you do have to pay tax it is based on the car age and emission rating, and may result in a considerable tax charge. The charges are available at Finance offices, otherwise the company managing the car import should be able to advise on tax liabilities. You are strongly advised to consider tax implications before bringing a car to Madeira.6. Portuguese law states that you must carry a red warning triangle and a yellow reflective vest in the car at all times, for safety reasons, for use in the event of a breakdown or accident. You must wear the seat belts in both the front and back of the car, and children under the age of 12 years must sit in the back seats.

7. You should carry your insurance, car registration documents, and driving licence with you, when out driving. If stopped by the police you should produce these at the time, if not you may be fined and told to report to a police station on Madeira with your documents. All cars on Madeira should also show 2 or 3 stickers in the top right corner of the windscreen.

The first is provided by the insurance company (seguro automóvel). Car insurance is available on 3 main levels, fully comprehensive, third party fire & theft, and third party. Other additions such as windscreen damage are available for an extra premium, and ‘no claims’ are accrued and can normally be ‘imported’ from non-Portuguese insurance companies, and these ‘no claims’ can also be insured for the car owner only.

The second should show that you have paid your car tax for the year. From 2008, the car tax is paid annually on the anniversary of the vehicle registration,  and can be renewed at Finance offices or over the internet. Car tax has been very cheap for many years, but new rates based on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are now in place that will penalise gas guzzling cars. You should receive a bill at the address registered in Finances when the car tax (IUC) is due, although Madeira does not seem to be in line with the rest of Portugal in this respect, so it is best to keep a diary note to avoid a late payment fine. There is more information on renewing car tax via the internet below.

The third sticker is necessary if the car is over 4 years old, and will be issued at one of Madeira’s inspection (MOT) centres. After the first inspection (4 years), the next is at 6 and then 8 years, and annually thereafter. The inspection will give one of 3 decisions. Pass, with up to 7 minor defects (which although not serious safety issues still need to be rectified). If more than 7 minor defects or a safety defect, you can be failed, on the proviso that you bring the car back promptly with the faults fixed. And lastly, failed with a serious defect(s), in which case the car has to be towed to a garage for repair.

Getting Your Car Inspected (MOT test) – In some respects the car inspection system on Madeira is quite advanced, and a lesson in production line methodology that other countries could learn from. No appointment is needed.

Having got yourself to the test centre, going west out of Funchal and turning off after the petrol station at the sign for the Botanical Gardens, you park up and go into the reception.

There you have to produce the car registration documents, insurance, the previous inspection record, and the princely sum of €26 (2007). Strangely there is no receipt issued. You then put yourself and your car in one of the queues at the back of the building, and drive bit by bit into the building where the test is carried out.

At the first stage they test exhaust emissions, lights, horn, and some under the bonnet stuff. Also they check you have the safety jacket and red triangle in the car. The car then goes onto some rollers to test the brakes, and then is driven over a pit where the car is shaken around to test for unwanted movement in steering and suspension mechanisms. And that is pretty much it!

You then park up at the front, and go into the office to wait for the verdict, hopefully a green certificate with as little printing as possible. This is where things may become a little puzzling, as on occasions money changes hands. Whether this may or may not influence the outcome of an inspection is hard to say. Just ‘tips’ perhaps! And, whilst on the subject of ‘puzzling’, you will also find a bar on the premises, so take it steady!

If you are not so lucky, they will explain what you need to do, which could involve a retest (about €13 in 2007). There is a further test centre at São Vicente, but it is a mobile unit but it is worth checking it is in place to avoid a wasted journey.

Vehicle inspections take place on the anniversary of registration of the vehicle in Portugal, and are based on age of the vehicle. Private vehicles have their first inspection after 4 years of age, then 6 years, 8 years, and then every year. You can take your vehicle for inspect in the two months prior to the due date. Do not leave it until the very last day possible, as the queues can be substantial.

8. On the spot fines are normal for minor traffic offences on Madeira. More serious offences, such as drink driving, may land you in court, resulting in a suspension of your licence and a driving ban, as well as a large fine. If you drive with more than 1.2 g/l of alcohol in your body you will be arrested. Using a mobile phone whilst driving is also an offence.

Drink Driving Limits For Portugal & Madeira – If after a test the alcohol reading equals or exceeds 0.5 g/l but is than 0.8 g/l, the penalty varies between €250 and €1250.  If it is equal or exceeds 0.8 g/l and is lower than 1.2 g/l, the penalty varies between €500 and €2,500 and the driving licence is withdrawn. The length of withdrawal depend on the circumstances and the quality of the defence, but in the best cases it is likely to be at least 3 months. Police are now very vigilant for drunk and dangerous drivers, and the local newspaper publish the numbers arrested every week.

9. Portuguese car insurance covers the car, not just the person. If you lend your car to someone they should be covered, but they must have your authority in writing to borrow your car (meeting a specified format). You must check your insurance policy before lending your car to someone.

10. Outside of Funchal, petrol stations can be sparse, so its best to fill up when you see one unless you know where they are situated. You can buy ordinary grade unleaded petrol (gasolina 95), high grade (gasolina 98) and diesel (gasóleo), but they are all fairly expensive due to the importation costs to Madeira.

11. If you breakdown on the Madeira dual carriageway (via rápida) phone 800 290 290 for
assistance. There are plenty of cameras along the busiest sections, so you may find help is on the way before requesting it. Be aware that mobile phones may not work inside the tunnels, and keep clear of any burning vehicles inside tunnels.

12. If you need to park on Madeira, you will probably have to use a car park if you are in or near a town / city centre. There is no established formula across the island for calculating parking charges, but they are comparatively expensive for local people, who tend to know where else to go to avoid paying. Also, some supermarkets will pay for limited parking when you shop with them. 

Where the ‘P’ sign shows the word ‘LIVRE’, it means parking spaces are available. ‘COMPLETO’ means full up.

13. Car Tax is due on the anniversary of the month of the vehicle registration in Portugal. The tax authorities on Madeira are encouraging car owners to renew car tax through the internet, although it is still possible to do so in your local Finance Office (take all your vehicle documents and tax number with you).

To renew on the internet is fairly simple if you understand Portuguese and have a password to access the IRS website. If you don’t speak Portuguese but are happy to give it a go, go to the IRS website and enter your tax number (Nº Contribuinte) and password (senha). Then go to the grey menu on the left, and select CONTRIBUINTES, ENTREGAR, IU CIRCULAÇÃO. You should find your vehicle listed. Once you have selected your vehicle and submitted your application (EMITIR), you then need to make arrangements to pay. This can be done at the Finance office, through the multibanco machines (ATMs), or through internet banking. Whichever way you choose, you will have to refer to the PDF document that will be presented to you after ‘EMITIR’  to obtain the payment references.

The payment references can also be obtained through the grey menu : CONTRIBUINTES, CONSULTAR, IU CIRCULAÇÃO, DOCUMENTOS.

If you go back through the links above a couple of days after payment, the certificate should be updated with your payment details. Print this off and keep it in your car as proof of payment. You should be sent a window sticker to prove you have valid car tax, but this can take some weeks after renewing to arrive by post.

DISCLAIMER – THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR BRIEF GUIDANCE ONLY, ON A BEST ENDEAVORS BASIS.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ACCURACY OF INFORMATION SHOWN HERE, AND YOU SHOULD SEEK INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OR PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2008.

This information sheet is copyright material – do not reproduce in part or full without written consent                                     

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