Shipwreck special ; Dolce Vita back in business ; Kind hearted tourist fills his suitcase
Today’s photo – Many thanks to Pete … Porto Santo ferry back on duty Thursday 25 February (better late than never, but a bit of a photo backlog. Der)
From Pete … many thanks : "Wreck of the Soudan. (From the Illustrated London News, February 27, 1875.) The African Royal Mail Company’s steam-ship Soudan was wrecked on the night of the 2nd inst. in Funchal Bay, Madeira. She was from Liverpool, bound for Madeira and the West Coast of Africa. She had a crew of forty-five, all told, and one passenger, in addition to the mails and a full cargo. On the 2nd inst. she arrived at Madeira, about six in the evening, and came to an anchor off Low Rock …" MORE
Also from Pete : "photo of Dolce Vita open yesterday, please take note Pingo Doce is closed still, with some other shops down stairs".
Many thanks to Elaine (East) for these web snippets :
For our ship-ahoy shipaholics. Madeira is the name of a vessel that went down in a huge storm of 1905. There’s a harrowing story about her last hour that you can read about HERE. She broke in two against Gold Rock, less than a mile "up-lake" from the present day Split Rock Lighthouse. Of course the lighthouse wasn’t there then–it was built a few years later after the owners of a bunch of ships that went down that night banded together and persuaded Congress to build one (I have a separate story about the lighthouse that I’m saving, but I should say that the lighthouse is the most iconic image of the North Shore, having been painted and photographed to death ) … ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Two helpful websites (in Portuguese only). The first gives useful worldwide and Portuguese links: HERE. The second is for local information and news: HERE
Promoting expensive apartments. Do you believe these estate agents? Madeira To Bounce Back Hard. The Madeira property market is unlikely to be severely affected by the recent flash-floods that killed 42 people at the end of last month. …Madeira property had seen a massive boost from its being seen as one of the safest places to buy; for being insulated from the international financial turmoil and this is expected to continue after the cleanup is completed. JUST BS?
Many thanks to Becky for this videos : Dance, Bertie, Dance!
Many thanks to Paul for these three articles :
Portugal v Brazil: Liedson: I’m going to give everything I’ve got to help Portugal win!
Portugal Striker Liedson born in Brazil is looking forward to the Brazil Clash. “The prolific hitman is relishing the prospect of playing against Brazil at the World Cup 2010…”. Portugal lock horns with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea in the group phase of the World Cup and prolific hitman Liedson is particularly looking forward to the match against Brazil, his native country.
"I can barely wait for the World Cup to start. Any kid who likes football dreams of playing at a World Cup and I was no different. But to be honest I needed to work really hard and wait a long time to get that opportunity," said Liedson to fifa.com.
"I’ve got a lot of love and respect for Portugal. I’ve always been treated with a great amount of affection by the fans and what better way to thank them than with loads of goals. And that’s what I try to do every time I take the field. Link to full Goal.com article
How the banana industry can diversify!
World first in underwear – made from the weave of the bark from the banana tree, and soft organic cotton, ensuring ultimate comfort, with an eco friendly flavour that will keep you coming back for seconds!
27% Banana Fibre, 64% Cotton, 9% Lycra. Gentle machine wash in cold water. Do not tumble dry. Do not bleach or wring. Line dry in shade. Cool Iron. Do not iron waistband!
"superb piece of journalism from the UK Telegraph" –
"Madeira lives on. It’s time to go back" 3 weeks after the floods … that’s the verdict of ‘The Telegraph’ newspaper who visited Funchal, Monte, Ribeira Brava, Serra de Água, Ribeiro Frio and Pico das Pedras.
"What I had seen convinced me that Madeira is very nearly back to normal. The majority of roads are open, as are hotels, bars, walks and most restaurants. The mess is visible in parts, but not ruinously so. Madeira lives on. It’s time to go back." Link to full article
This weekends football : Big big match tomorrow as Benfica arrive on Madeira to take on Nacional. The game is on at 6 pm if you fancy a trip to the Choupana, as it’s not on TV (…. just kidding! SportTV1). The other team, called Marítimo I think, travels to Portugal to take on Paços de Ferreira, on Monday evening. SportTV1 8.15 pm.
Tourist delivers 20 kilos of aid – A British tourist is going to deliver 20 kilos of toys and clothing to the homeless in Madeira. While staying in accommodation at Cabo Girão, this British citizen called the hotel when he heard of the tragedy, and instead of cancelling the vacation, wondered what he could do for people affected by floods. He paid for the transportation of 20 kilos of extra baggage to be able to bring help to people who had lost everything. This extra baggage includes toys, crayons, underwear, all in accordance with the list of priorities published by Caritas. This morning the tourist has handed over the aid, which will be delivered Garrison Regiment No. 3. Many thanks to Elaine (West) for that from yesterday’s Diário.
Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :
DIÁRIO 12/03/2010
FRONT PAGE NEWS
Regional Government will no longer support the subsidy for insularity. Civil service workers normally have a 2% pay increase to subsidise the extra cost of insularity – living in Madeira rather than on the Continent. This year is the last time they will get this allowance; from next year the subsidy will be index linked to the difference in national and regional inflation. Over the past five years, the average difference was 0.5% but inflation has often been identical in both countries. 30% of Madeirans work as public employees or equivalent, 35,000 at a cost of 688.6 million Euros or 14% GDP. The amount saved next year will be 13.7 million Euros and will be diverted to reconstruction funds. It is unclear what the situation on Porto Santo will be with a subsidy of 30% or 2 million Euros. — Dodgy statistics again? 35,000 public service employees – probably 50% of the working population, not 30% of Madeirans. Surprisingly, I cannot find this article in JM to check the figures.
MADEIRA
Inerts dumped on the beach at São Roque. The debris dredged from the stream at Machico has been dumped on the pebble beach at São Roque. This controversial decision was taken by Machico Council and the mayor believes this is the best option. He said that the pebbles already on the beach were formed from inerts originally in the stream, so this is just an increase of what is normally there. He does not think the beach is large enough for all the debris so some of it will have to be transported elsewhere. The mayor hopes the beach will be ready for bathers in the summer season. It is expected to be a busy season in the East because of the damage to some beaches in the West and Funchal. The socialists in the council doubt this hasty decision and would like a technical study of the impact on the coastline of Machico.
Animals not included in the process of resettlement. Many of the families made homeless by the storm are also without their pets. This is because many of the condominiums used for resettlement do not allow dogs. The association PATA has received applications from families who could not take their dogs to their new home, and after accommodating three of these, has run out of space for the other ten dogs. This has increased the anxiety of the families at a time when they are coping with having lost their home. Unfortunately, some families have to abandon their pets. According to PATA, the authorities should think about pets when they rehouse families.
Free dental check-ups. Until the end of March, 17 dentists in Madeira are carrying out free check-ups, without treatments or x-rays. This is the 11th edition of Oral Health Month organized by Colgate and SPEMD. If you want to participate, phone the Blue Line between 12 – 23 hours, daily: 808 305 306.
Gulbenkian Foundation supports Madeira. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will support the resettlement of the elderly in Ribeira Brava by a donation of 300,000 Euros to the Centro Social e Paroquial de S. Bento da Ribeira Brava. Accommodation will be in the building next to the Centre after it has been adapted for the elderly who cannot return home or join their family.
Three Madeirans arrested for crimes abroad. Two women, 45 and 54 years old, and a 21 year old man were arrested on Wednesday by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Judicial Police (PJ). They are wanted on European Arrest Warrants for crimes in Austria, France and Poland; murder, a crime of a sexual nature and drug trafficking, respectively. Their cases will be heard in the Court of Appeal in Lisbon for a decision to either release them, extradite them or serve a prison term in Madeira.
Cousin of Cristiano Ronaldo dies after traffic accident. The 32 year old man died Tuesday night at the Hospital Dr. SMF Mendonça as a result of injuries sustained in an accident in Caniço. The death of Miguel dos Santos Fernandes is another tragedy for the family who were made homeless on the 20th February. The victim’s mother is the sister of the footballer who is reportedly coming to the funeral today at the cemetery at São Martinho. In order to attend he has cancelled a publicity event at the Estádio Santiago Bernabeu. The accident occurred last Friday at 12.35 hours at Livramento, Caniço. The victim was travelling on the motorway between Funchal and Santa Cruz when the car flipped over several times and eventually halted on vacant land. The cause of the accident is unknown. The car belonged to his employer, Portugal Telecom, and the Fire Department had to use equipment to extract him from the interior. He was married and lived in Edifício VIP VIII in Caniço.
POLITICS
Socialist Party want to reduce airport charges. The Socialist Party thinks it is about time to lessen the difference between rates at airports in Madeira and the Continent. They will present to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira a regional draft decree to reduce this discrepancy, which ultimately has negative consequences throughout the economy of Madeira. They want to change the current rates, requiring the charges not to exceed the average value of similar charges applied in other domestic airports. The airport can then become more competitive. This is now even more essential after the storm of February 20th, since it is necessary to create additional incentives for the entry of tourists to the region. Over the years, Madeira Airport charges have soared to the detriment of Madeirans and people wanting to come to the region, including national and international tourists. For example, in 2002 the airport tax paid by passengers in Madeira was 10.94 Euros and currently stands at 48.30 Euros, more than quadrupled.
PCP promotes petition for new hospital. The PCP want the Legislative Assemblies of Madeira and the Republic to discuss the construction of the new Central Hospital of Funchal. They need at least 4,000 signatures for the petition to go to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira. The Assembly of the Republic rejected a proposal that funds come from the PIDDAC of 2010. PCP argue that the hospital is in the national interest, therefore should be paid for by the State. The Madeiran deputy Hugo Velosa is on the side of the PCP, and voted against the PSD who did not want to amend the PIDDAC. This did not go down well with the parliamentary group but his position represents the position of all PSD-M deputies, preferring to put the interests of Madeira before the interests of the party.
UPDATES
Dolce Vita reopened today. Only the third floor shops are open. The restaurant area should be operational within two weeks. The car park should reopen within a month. A date for the Pingo Doce supermarket has not been announced.
EU will help Madeira but cannot commit to dates. The European Commission President, Durão Barroso, reaffirmed that the EU will contribute to the rebuilding of the parts of Madeira affected by the storm of February 20th, but could not commit to dates. He visited the island to express solidarity and personally become acquainted with the damage. He said funds can be applied retroactively and the contribution will not solve everything. The date for decisions will be in October or winter. In addition to the Solidarity Fund, there are 550 million Euros in other funds that can be made available to Madeira. Immediate funding cannot be granted as the EU requires proof of damage. He has great confidence in the future of Madeira, highlighting the dynamism of Madeirans and the history of proper use of structural funds. About the reconstruction effort he witnessed, "I have never seen in Europe so many machines and people at work."
JORNAL DA MADEIRA
FRONT PAGE NEWS
"I’ll give a hug of solidarity." Durão Barroso flew in last night and stayed at Reid’s Hotel. His schedule was: Tabua (9.25 am), Meia Légua – Serra de Água in Ribeira Brava (10 am) and then the downtown area of Funchal at 12.00. After a working lunch at the Albatroz restaurant near the airport, he gave a press conference at 12.50 then flew out at 13.20.
IHM makes an intensive inventory. 60 families relocated, 110 still waiting. 54 of the 60 families (235 individuals) have been rehoused in Funchal. Most of the larger families have been found new homes. There are still 250 people in temporary shelters (110 families). Technicians of the IHM are working in the counties affected; Funchal, Ribeira Brava, Santa Cruz and Câmara de Lobos. They survey houses for the possibility of restoration and look at homes for the government to lease or purchase, in collaboration with Cáritas, councils and Social Security. It will not be possible to rehouse all those displaced in Serra de Água back to this parish. Santa Cruz and Câmara de Lobos councils have many offers for renting which are being considered. They aim to have everyone out of the shelters by the end of this month.
REGIONAL
Funchal Council award 14 contracts. These are for urgent renovation work of storm damage. The value is 2.9 million Euros. The streets most affected by the storm are to be recovered and retaining walls constructed to prevent further landslides and allow access to homes. The safety of road users and pedestrians will be met. The traders and homes affected by the storm of 20th February will be exempt from paying IMI (council tax) for 2010 and 2011. 300,000 Euros have been donated to 120 entrepreneurs (2,500 Euros grants) from two financial establishments.
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
Storm ruins strategy of Serrão – One of the more serious consequences of the recent happenings for the Socialist Party of Madeira is the Jardim – Sócrates friendship, confesses the new socialist leader in an interview.
Today’s main news headline : Hospital makes the police pay for medical treatment for the ruffians – SESARAM is to telling alleged perpetrators to pay for medical treatment for their victims. The measure affects police officers in the performance of their duties. The ASPP says the procedure is unprecedented in the country, and will take the case to the national director of the Public Service Police.
Parents, students and head teachers isolate teachers.
[Durrão] Barroso discards [the responsibility] to Lisbon for the bulk of the support – The President of the European Commission repeated yesterday the visits of other dignitaries : He was moved by the destruction from the tragedy and pointed to [José] Sócrates.
EU will help Madeira, but cannot commit to dates – The procedures do not depend solely on the European Union. The European Commission President, Durão Barroso reaffirmed that the European Union will contribute to the rebuilding of the Madeira affected by the storms of 20 February, although "one can not commit to dates." In the first place he said, it is necessary for the Portuguese authorities to make their evaluation and claim, and then there are other EU institutions involved. The Commission President pointed out that there are nearly €550 million in other funds "that can be made available to Madeira", a region with "great experience in the management of these financial supports, and can use it to increase its competitiveness and sources of growth for the prosperity of all the locals". "The European Union will help through its Solidarity Fund and matters are well underway," he said, stressing: "I myself personally found out about the verified damage".
Government returns to giving insularity subsidy – Jardim does a U-turn on the decision made on Thursday. It’s in order to not to lose an argument used in Lisbon and Brussels. Another related headline says … End of awarding the insularity subsidy is the wrong step – Jacinto Serrão pushes for a gradual increase of the payment to 5%.
"The PSD is in 47th place on my priority list" – President Jardim is going to be in the convention despite saying that the Social Democrat Party is not one of his worries.
The main sports / football headline today : None!
If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
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 other material.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.
Jardim Orquídea is a genuine exhibition. We have built a miniature forest where you will have the opportunity to admire a wide variety of orchids, both in their original form and hybrids, as well as other tropical plants.
Optimism on Portugal’s austerity budget: “the Socialist government has cut a huge budget deficit before, when it soared beyond the EU limit in 2005”
ON Fusion Art by Porto Bay, 16 – 18 July. The third edition in the Old Zone of Funchal arrives earlier this year, normally held in September. The exhibitions bring together painting, photography, craft shows, multimedia design, fashion, dance, street theatre and other forms of expression. Events are held at: Largo do Corpo Santo, Rua de Santa Maria, Jardim do Almirante Reis and the Hotel Porto Santa Maria. The Porto Bay Group’s "duty" is to boost private enterprise in Funchal and accept its share of social and cultural responsibility. ON in the name is from the fusion of Old and New and means to activate, connect and energize. The revival and revitalization of the historic area is in mind during the three days of intense activities, including live performances. ON is a biennial event and the works of art are auctioned at a formal dinner for not-for-profit institutions. The first two events in 2006 and 2008 raised a total of 65,000 Euros for social services institutions, particularly the Associação de Paralisia Cerebral da Madeira (Association for Cerebral Palsy) and the Centro de Acolhimento de São Tiago (Shelter). Money raised this year is for the Associação dos Amigos da Arte Inclusiva – Dançando com a Diferença (Association of the Friends of Inclusive Arts – Dancing with a Difference) and the Associação de Desenvolvimento Comunitário do Funchal (Community Development Association).
Candidature of Ribeira Brava might be suspended. Following on from the last item, the Mayor of Ribeira Brava thinks the application for the beach at Ribeira Brava to gain Blue Flag status should be withdrawn. The council has not discussed the suspension. He thinks this precaution is needed as there is a lot of work to be done, particularly in Tabua and Serra de Água. During the flooding on February 20th, the entire sea front and the basin inside the breakwater were completely littered with debris. The area surrounding the beach is still strewn with waste despite the removal of a large amount of material. Some of the mud removed during the clean-up was discharged directly into the sea near the beach front and into the river, whose flow has taken it to the shore. The mayor, Ismael Fernandes, believes the quality of sea water will be good during the summer season even if the Blue Flag is not raised.
Marginal serves as a dump for rubble. The coastal road between Ribeira Brava and Tabua is used for storing the debris removed after the flood of February 20th. Since last week, lorry loads of inerts mixed with rubbish, washed ashore during the flooding, have been deposited in the section beneath the parish cemetery. The Chairman of the Council assures that the situation is temporary, allowing a quick recovery back to normal life and an attractive county. The mayor is convinced there is no risk to Public Health as the area is safe and away from the populated area. 
Earth is the theme for the Flower Festival. This year, the Flower Festival will take place between the 15th and 18th April. There will be the usual initiatives: flower carpet; Flower Exhibition; folk groups performing in the streets and classical music concerts. The Wall of Hope ceremony in the Town Square in Funchal, involving thousands of children, will take place on the morning of April 17th. The Flower Parade will be held on the afternoon of Sunday April 18th.
Folklore and Ethnography Group of Boa Nova to go to Canada. A trip to Canada, from the 4 – 19 August, for the VII European Week of Folklore. There will also be Russian, Italian and possibly Spanish and Indian groups taking part. Grupo de Folclore e Etnográfico da Boa Nova will participate in the Festas de Nossa Senhora do Monte in August for the Madeiran community in Toronto and Montreal. 
