Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo : Thanks to Tobi … "Just a pic"

This article might appeal to potential tourists who like walking, particularly LEVADA WALKING 

Sheila kindly sent me in an article, but as it may have copyright issues I have provided a link to it instead : "Crisis in Portugal is mirrored in Madeira – Perhaps this article in the latest edition of The Portugal News will be of interest because some of the problems being faced in mainland Portugal (for instance unemployment and a lack of funds for animal care) are even more acute here in Madeira". Institutions struggle – Thousands of families in Portugal have been left living below the breadline.

Which leads on nicely to a letter I saw in the Diário on Friday, that brought a lot of responses from Diário readers.

P’Neco – A letter from a dog :
I’m an old dog, I am 14 years old. I’m happy, I have owners who really like me, who always gave me love and attention. But now I’m sick, I feel pain, I’m tired and my owners have little money. They took me to the vet, I was very well attended, my mistress was nervous, my master was sad and I just thought: – Do not be so sad I’ll will become well.

After the consultation I went home, I was already feeling better, but I realized that my owners were still anxious and sad. I finally realized why – they had little money and taking care of a dog is not easy. There is no assistance from anyone, no Health Centre to go to, as my owners have when they feel sick. Everything costs and is very expensive, and there are no reimbursements. 

My owners have spent the rest of the money that they had to get through the month. They had to pay for the consultation, and it seems I need a special diet, I had to do tests, there are vaccines that I have to take … I have  doggy friends in the same situation or even worse than me.

In the news, it is all about cases of abandonment, and bad treatment. But there are many good owners, like mine, that want to take care of their dogs, treating them, but that sometimes can only give affection that is not sufficient, as you must also have money.
In the car on the way home, my mistress was crying because she knows that I’m older and that from now on I will need care and medication, and she will not be able to pay.

I realised that one of the options was to put me to sleep, because I’m old. But I do not want to die, knowing the grief that my owners are going to have to suffer to send me to be killed, just because they have no money to take care of me. My desperate mistress already said he did not want more dogs, because it was too painful to see us die without dignity.

A few days ago my neighbour, a dog called Bobby, heard his owner say that he wanted to have another dog, but to treat it right is very expensive, and that there is no public vet and nothing cheaper, and so it was better not to. Bobby was sad, he wanted company, because his owners go off to work all day and he is left alone.

We dogs are friends, loyal, playful, because there are no laws to protect us, and to help those who protect us. – Anabela Sousa

Another fine contribution from Elaine from yesterday’s news, with many thanks …

Health Service and Electricity Company have liabilities totalling €985.2 million. The Regional Health Service at the end of the 2008 financial year had liabilities worth 484.6 million Euros, as calculated by the ‘Exame’ magazine. Two-thirds (€323 million) were owed to banks and suppliers. The liability represented record levels of debt (126%) unparalleled at a company / institution level. The Regional budget paid 227.2 million Euros to the Health Service and profit was a negative 13.9 million Euros. With 101.2 million Euros in negative equity, it was technically bankrupt, as the cost-effectiveness of services provided was -7%. The service provides care in 3 hospitals and 54 health centres. The Electricity Company of Madeira had total liabilities of 500.5 million Euros. The firm owed 360 million to banks and 60 million to suppliers. It had an 18% increase in sales (171.3 million) and overall profit of 3.7 million Euros. Madeira had 5.8% of the 500 largest Portuguese companies, 20 of these were foreign-owned and residing at the International Business Centre. They were from Italy, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Brazil. Despite popular opinion that they are tax-free companies, they provided a large proportion of both corporation tax and IVA. —– Lots of figures given which are meaningless to me and difficult to summarise. Der calculated the EEM had a debt of 5,000 Euros for every customer. The debt the health service is running up for each taxpayer must also be unbelievable. Is everyone living beyond their means? Sharp increase in taxes coming?

More details about rescue exercise in Rabaçal. The Civil Defence and Armed Forces are performing a ‘Missing 09′ rescue exercise on the 19th and 20th November in Rabaçal. To simulate the disappearance of a group of 15 tourists in Rabaçal and an accident involving a passenger bus on the road that leads to the Casa da Rabaçal. Over 100 people and 25 vehicles will be involved. There will be the Armed Forces, Emergency Medical Teams, Bombeiros and ambulances from 6 regions, PSP and GNR, SANAS, Forestry Police, Mountain Rescue and Canyoning Teams and Calheta Council representatives. Rabaçal is chosen as it is a tourist area where weather conditions can quickly change during the day, which tourists are often unaware of. On November 18th at the airport, the other rescue exercise will involve about 60 – 70 people, 10 – 12 ambulances and 2 Emergency Medical Teams. It is a collaboration between ANAM, Civil Defence and the Armed Forces. —- Don’t have an accident on any of these days.

Veterinary clinics now only used in emergencies. Due to the economic crisis, the clinics are used less for prophylactic care and animals tend to be taken only when essential. The clinics occasionally have large debts run up by customers and offer phased payments to assist. SPAD also find people have problems paying, and sometimes ask for proof that people really are in the economic difficulties that they claim.

Banks should finance Colombo’s Resort. Jardim has dismissed the Government’s responsibilities in the deadlock of continuing the financing of the work on Porto Santo. He said that the Government has nothing to do with investment and "If not resolved as soon as possible, banks will have to explain to shareholders how they lost that money, so the only solution is for those same banks to finish the work and subsequently put in on the market." Talking about the resignation of the Director of RDP and RTP-Madeira, Leonel de Freitas, he said his departure should have happened earlier. He pointed to the divisive character that RTP-Madeira had assumed, violating some of the fundamental ethics of the media. —- I think he is referring to RTP-Madeira not always reporting the Government in a favourable light. I think there were pre-election (interview) broadcast disputes.

Chakras and energy in health. SESARAM sending 400 nurses on a training course on the ‘Consciousness of Being’. These training sessions (the human, scientific and religious grounds; fields and energy centres; principles of the universe, care, healing nursing) and particularly (chakras, mental and emotional issues, anatomical power to defend the self, self-esteem, willpower, follow our dreams, faith and knowledge, spirituality and devotion, among others) have led some to question their relevance, scientific status and priority over more scientific / technical training needed. Especially the seven universal principles taught (mentalism, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, cause and effect and karma). This theory of transpersonal nursing was developed by a Colorado University Professor of Nursing who is considered a pioneer in the study of nursing as a scientific discipline that unites rationality and sensibility. This training promoting a holistic approach is financed by the EU, supported by WHO directives and authorized by the Director of Nursing. It aims to humanize the health service as patients do not want to be treated as mere numbers. The ‘Consciousness of Being’ serves to remind nurses that they deal with people and not the patient in bed X, ward Y. —– I love the last sentence – do nurses really have to be taught this? Just thought the taxpayers would like to know what the €484 million debt they are financing is spent on. Evidence-based medicine? No mention of the cost of the course. (Wikipedia has a page on Chakra which is a concept from traditional Indian medicine. I am still no wiser and wonder if quality of care will improve after this course).

260 have been treated for alcoholism this year. Treated at the Centre at the Casa de Saúde São Joao de Deus (hospital). The Unit has been functioning for 30 years and treated 7,000 to 10,000. The Director of the Hospital does not think that alcoholism is increasing in Madeira but there are more people seeking treatment and there is more attention given to treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. 18% of the patients are female and there are 20 beds. The Unit does not act alone but in conjunction with the regional network and the family have a key role. The Director of the Department of Mental Health, Luis Filipe, who also runs the unit, said that quicker and easier access is due to the recent formation of Community Mental Health Teams at the Regional Health Centres. More women are now asking for treatment possibly due to a decrease in stigma. A statistical analysis of the extent of alcoholism is presently being undertaken. He noted the help of the voluntary organisations, Alcoholics Anonymous and ‘Mão Amiga’. Alcoholism is decreasing amongst 40 – 50 years old as this age group has been targeted but increasing amongst young people who refuse to believe they can have a problem at their age. There will be an anniversary party for the Unit on December 2nd for 250 guests to celebrate those successfully treated.

Increase in the number of insolvencies. A new Code of Insolvency came into force five years ago and there has been an increase in the number of bankruptcies. There have been 72 this year which is about 7 times more than in the Nineties when there were only 10 – 12 a year. There were 26 in 2008. The number of firms becoming insolvent are 7% of the number of firms created, which is a positive sign.

Public works pollutes the seafront of Câmara de Lobos. Mud was being washed into the sea yesterday afternoon west of Vigario causing a brown discolouration. This was clearly seen from the Largo da Autonomia situated in front of the Town Hall. Diário reporters traced the origin to Council contractors who are building a wall in association with a new access to Ribeira da Alforra and Limoeiro. No one at the Council was available for comment.

Schoolchildren taught road safety. 50 children in Câmara de Lobos participated in an initiative promoted by the Operation Life association. After a talk at the Police Station, they went to the promenade at Vigario where there was a test course marked out. There was a maze of signs, both marked out on the promenade and roadsigns, and different means of transport, ranging from bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards. This was also part of the social inclusion project called Radically Inclusive which is designed to channel the excess adrenaline that youngsters have.

Assassination of Madeiran restaurant owner in Venezuela. A 44 year old man originating from Ribeira Brava was shot yesterday in his restaurant in Venezuela. Two men entered the establishment and repeatedly asked to be served by him, Jordan Teixeira dos Santos, mentioning his name several times. He was shot 14 times and it is thought to be part of a personal vendetta or Venezuelan ‘sicariato’. Complaints about insecurity are increasing in the country.

Destination Madeira promoted in London. The World Travel Market is to be held at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London on the 9 – 11 November. The UK is the largest market for tourists, increasing 26.4% last year but has sharply fallen since then.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a fashion icon for the young. In his birthplace, Quinta Falcão in Funchal, the youngsters try to copy the way he walks, talks, hairstyle, earrings etc. according to the owner of the local billiard hall. They have difficulty buying from his store CR7 due to expense. A local hairdresser, who has Ronaldo’s mother and sister as clients, agrees. Ronaldo is also the Portuguese most imitated by young people worldwide and this began when he joined Manchester United six years ago and he has replaced previous idol Beckham. He is the ‘victim’ of the publicity machine of that club that buys players for their skills and transforms them into icons that can sell millions.

A quick look at today’s front page headlines :

Purely by coincidence (having published the readers letter above), this was the main photo on today’s Diário cover : Strays in the mountain remain waiting for owners until they die. Paul da Serra is the dumping ground for abandoned dogs. Also in other remote sites like Choupana. They fight until death to survive (exact translation). Confused, and wet to the bones, a little dog wanders amongst the parked cars at the miradouro of Rabaçal, in Paul da Serra. The fog was thick on that Thursday morning. The rain drizzled but was steady, soaking into the ground and leaving puddles here and there, and the animal ambled around in search of food, and for his owner who left him there to die. Further in front, on the road, the same scenario. The dog this time is bigger, seemingly a German Shepherd, hungry, soaking wet, staring and pleading … enough of that because does anyone really care? Will anyone head up there today to feed them … no I thought not, so there’s not much point in me continuing.

Marítimo with attitude to confront Porto – Mitchel (Van der Gaag) scored in the last victory against the portistas. Good prognostic for this afternoon’s game. I think I heard on the radio that it has been 6 years since Marítimo beat Porto, but this time I think  Porto could struggle a little. SportTV1 6 pm.

Accounting Tribunal (Public Auditors) refuse explanations – The region asked the tribunal if it might explain the denial the approval of support for the TV series ‘Flor do Mar’. The tribunal says that it is already all clear. Clear it was, as even I understood without any mental effort at all, that the accommodation for the crew and cast of TVI (the series producer), was  so costly that there should have been a tender organised. It’s called I believe ensuring effective use of public money, a concept that I think is totally alien to the Madeira government. Uncle Bertie and his crew of cronies are constantly breaking the rules on expenditure, and then always complain when the auditors criticise the action. Thank god we have the auditors, otherwise who knows what pockets would be lined and crazy projects endorsed without us ever knowing.

The main news headline today : Fishing fleet flees to the Azores – Already 14 boats and 250 fishermen are opting to labour in the neighbouring archipelago. They come to the dockyard of Caniçal yet pay the taxes there (?). They complain of lack of support of the regional government. Accompanied by a photo of two large fishing boats in dry dock, that clearly weren’t going anywhere. Lets hope these fishermen in the Azores don’t have the ‘Madeira taxi driver mentality’, or it will all end in tears for sure.

‘Wall of Shame’ fell 20 years ago – On a night of liberty, canticles and hugs, the Germans reunited the country two decades ago. It was the 9th November 1989. A news item that the world commemorates tomorrow. Well the world will have to commemorate without me, ‘cos I couldn’t care less, and I doubt if most of the people who read this headline will change their day either. I will spare a thought for that poor little dog pictured above though, and wonder if he is still just about alive. That wall is just history. Yet another stupid chapter in the history of mankind.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
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.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

(more…)

A couple more old bus photos taken from the photographic exhibition in Ribeira Brava. The photos don’t have any commentary, so I have no idea when they were taken, or when these fine vehicles were last in service.

I mentioned last week that I had received in the post the AKI Xmas catalogue, full of Christmas decorations, and not much else. The IZI equivalent arrived this week, again packed with Xmas decorations, but also a lot of ideas for gifts also. Lots of DIY stuff and power tools for men, and gardening tools and equipment too, so I have my preferences picked out. However when I paged through again to look for Xmas presents for the ladies, I couldn’t find any kitchen items at all, nor cleaning equipment, or ironing boards or suchlike. In fact there was nothing household at all, so is the IZI store really like this? Is this part of a worldwide conspiracy against men, as I had hoped that maybe I had left this attitude behind years ago?

Following an article a couple of days ago, it seems that RTP Azores has employed a journalist of mixed origin and language skills to provide news stories in English. TAKE A LOOK

One for the MADEIRA WINE buffs.

Tough games for our local football teams this weekend. Both games are on Sunday. Firstly Nacional visit Leixões at 4 pm, but the hosts are not as good as they were last season, so a bit of a chance of a result. At 6 pm, Marítimo host the big name of Porto (SportTV1), who aren’t playing that well this season, having changed their style of game somewhat.

Have a good weekend! 

Another whacking great contribution from Elaine from yesterday, many thanks … is no one else going to help?

TAP cheaper than Easyjet. D.Cidade looked at the websites of both carriers for prices of flights leaving Funchal on the 28 December and returning from Lisbon on the 2nd January (end-of-year celebrations). Easyjet, advertised as a budget airline, lowest inclusive price was 450.98 Euros. If the return flight was on the 1st January, the total was 362.98 Euros, i.e. 88 Euros less. TAP for 28 December to 2 January was 399.91 Euros which is 51.07 Euros cheaper than Easyjet. If returning on the 1st January, TAP website price was 334.91 Euros which is 28.07 Euros cheaper than Easyjet.

Drugs killed 19 in four years. Between 2005 and 2008, 19 people died in Madeira due to illicit drug use. The actual number is probably higher as the official figures only account for those who died after hospitalization, i.e. not those who died outside the hospital setting.  The European Monitoring Centre report indicated a 45% increase between 2006 – 2007 in drug overdose deaths in Portugal due to an increase in cocaine use. Of the 314 who died, 91% were male. In Madeira, according to the Director of Drug Prevention, "The average age of first drug use is lower than the national average, as is the percentage of consumers per number of residents." In 2001 in Madeira, 8.6% of the population consumed drugs at least once, and in 2006 this had fallen to 5.2% compared to the national average of 12%. Prevention is focused on the individual rather than the drug consumed.

A 25 and 34 year old couple detained today for trafficking 24,300 doses of heroin. The wife is Portuguese and the husband a foreigner. They already have criminal records.

Madeiran computer usage above the national average. In Madeira, 58.3% of households have a computer at home and 49.7% have Internet connection, mainly through broadband. The only place in Portugal to exceed this number is Lisbon where 60% of households have a computer. Nationally, 9% of items bought are over the Internet but only 7% in Madeira, despite the fact it is an island. The majority of orders were for travel, accommodation, holiday-related services, computer software and electronic equipment. Most users are between 16 and 54 years, especially under 34 years of age and 51% are male. —- Could be low sales due to unavailability as many Portuguese sites will not deliver here and costly in postage, or people shop when they fly to Lisbon.

Stolen condoms machine! A condoms vending machine was stolen from outside a pharmacy in Santana early one morning, without witnesses.

Parliament using a law that no longer exists. The Socialist Party MP Jacinto Serrão accused Parliament of "negligence" in relation to a matter  of "utmost importance for the region". The Regional Government sent a report to Parliament on participation in the European Region. The application of EU funding and participation in EU programs presented to Parliament was under a legislative decree, which is based on a national law which does not exist. The law was repealed three years ago and replaced by another one which is more favourable to the Autonomous Regions. Under this new amendment, Parliament could comment on anything that came from Brussels, so this later law needs adopting.

Hybrid and electric cars will have cheaper parking. From January 1st, car parking in Funchal will be half price for such cars. 150 places will be created for these cars, which is 10% of all parking where parking meters are used. These spaces will be in Aljube, Hospital Velho, Avenida do Mar and the zone of Ajuda, and other areas. The owners of such cars will have to obtain a green sticker from Funchal Council to put on their windscreens. Such areas are reserved only for ecological cars or there will be a none-parking fine applicable. The meters will have two buttons, one for the normal tariff and a green one.

There will also be more parking spaces for motorcycles as there are more bikes up to 125 cc after the change in the law which allowed Category B licence holders to use vehicles up to 125 cc and 11 kw of power, This is to abolish the abusive parking which is occurring, for example when walking by Edificio 2000.

Maintenance of ‘Lobo Marinho’ will be in Madeira instead of Spain or Portugal. Annual maintenance work will be at Caniçal and prevent the ferry from sailing 16 trips between  12 – 30 January 2010. The decision needed a special permit and will employ 20 local workers from 6 companies. Cargo (fresh produce) will go twice a week via SATA flights, and the Porto Santo Line ferry will refund the difference in the air fare for residents on either island who have to fly.

French tourism promotional campaigns have worked. In October, there was a promotional campaign in Madeira for 150 French travel agents and journalists. SATA have also promoted the island. Madeira now features in some holiday brochures and between them, ‘Top of Travel’ and ‘Voyages Internacionaux’ have brought 800 French tourists here and they hope to double that number next year. The sale of Aigle Azur flights from Paris have exceeded expectations and if this continues, they will increase the frequency next summer.

Government not honouring its debts to contractors. The liquidity problems of the Region, justified by the Government reducing state transfers  and the prohibition of use of new bank loans, is causing havoc in dozens of the companies that provide services to the Region. The Government has 25 year contracts under part-private partnerships with Vialitoral and ViaExpresso for construction and operation of new roads. This year, the Region owes Vialitoral 58 million and ViaExpresso 25 million. Over the past three years, there has been failure in paying some of the money to the companies so they cannot pay back the bank loans, which accumulate interest, and this should be met by the Government. The Regional Government is awaiting permission to pay this debt under a program created by the Portuguese Government. The Government of Madeira initially received 574.2 million Euros for the projects and they pay ‘virtual tolls’ ranging between 0.1 and 0.2 cents for each vehicle on the roads. Over the contractual 25 years, they will pay 1,825 million Euros, varying between €38 million in 2002 and €100 million in 2015.

As Der mentioned, other complaints of non-payments. The SIRAM group of companies who installed the Christmas illuminations are irregular in payments to workers, especially for holiday bonuses from June / July and overtime.

Warning for travellers to Cabo Verde. The Portuguese Government has issued a warning about dengue fever carried by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Since October, due to the outbreak of dengue fever in Cabo Verde, there have been 6,700 cases and 4 deaths. People travelling there have been advised to take special care. IASAÚDE is aware of the problem and last year when there was a similar problem in Brazil, special precautions were taken in Madeira. Travellers are advised to be vaccinated against yellow fever and use insect repellents. If a person shows symptoms, they are sent to the Service of Communicable Diseases for diagnosis. Since the mosquito has been identified on Madeira, care has been intensified.

Surveillance will tighten on Market Night. The street vendors will have to comply with hygiene standards and the space allocated to them. They have to pay a deposit before the event which is not refunded if the area is not kept clean. Extra litter bins and containers are provided but not always used. Last year, 18 stallholders were fined an average of 50 Euros, totalling 900 Euros. From the 10th December, there will be an increase in waste collection and they hope homeowners will make use of these to counteract the days over Christmas and the New Year when normal collections are missed.

‘Play the buzios’ competition in São Roque do Faial. Next Tuesday at 19.30 in the Casa do Povo, a competition to provide entertainment and teach children the art of making sounds out of this ‘instrument’ (conch shell). Awarded on merits of loudness, length of time and artistic ability. There will also be the Feast of São Martinho to revive the local tradition on the eve of São Martinho.

Individuals in a car assaulted an elderly woman.  An elderly woman was alone at a bus stop in Quinta Grande on Wednesday morning when a passenger of a passing car got out, threw her violently to the ground and stole a wallet containing about 100 Euros, personal documents and glasses. The woman went to the nearest residence for help, but unfortunately no individuals could be identified. A local resident claimed this type of crime has happened before and that criminals watch for people on their own.

Madeirans postpone buying a car. Up until September this year, there was a 26.28% reduction in the sale of new vehicles, to 2,130 cars and 296 commercial vehicles. At least 855 new cars were left at the dealers compared to last year. This means that both commercial and private buyers are buying fewer vehicles. There are faint signs of recovery and a lot of cars were previously bought using more readily-available credit. The tax incentives to buy hybrid or electric cars has had little impact as these vehicles are still very expensive. The picture is the same for used cars, and more diesel cars are selling than petrol cars. From the 11 – 15 November, there will be a used-car market at the Tecnopolo.

Madeira Wines & Spirits Festival. Update on yesterday. It was promoted yesterday on one of the catamarans and they were lucky enough to see dolphins. Access is 5 Euros a day, 7 Euros for 2 days and 9 Euros for all 3 days. This entitles you to a wine tasting cup and free entry to other activities.

—— If anyone goes, can they tell us what it is like. (The newspapers are heavily promoting it).

New Savoy Hotel. They hope to start the demolition before the end of the year, which should take 10 months, and redevelopment will take between 3 and 4 years. There will be 828 beds in 4 blocks, both in the hotel and apartments. 371 housing units split between standard rooms and apartments, ranging from T0 to T4 duplex. There will be more green areas in the 18,794 square metre site than before.

‘Atlantis’ special program. 10th anniversary of the RTP-M program. A special 2 hr recording today at the Casino which will be broadcasted on RTP-M, RTP-Azores and RTP-International. The program includes traditional folklore groups from Camacha and the Choir of the Portuguese in Caracas who are presently visiting the region and performing around the island.

Fire brigades better prepared for forest fires. From next Summer, there will be nine new vehicles spread around the region. The fire brigade will take part in an exercise at Madeira Airport on November 18th. There will be further exercises on the 19th and 20th at Rabacal to test the response at two scenarios of serious accidents with multiple victims. One will be a disappearance of a group of tourists in adverse weather conditions and another will be an accident involving a passenger bus.

Postponement of increase in the fees of private doctors. Consultation fees remain at 55 Euros until 2011 due to the present economic climate which is causing a drop in the number of consultations.

Fuel increases on Monday. Unleaded 95 octane up by 1 cent to 1.21 Euros and diesel will be 0.97 cents.

Businessman António Lopes acquires abandoned village in Portugal. António Lopes was for many years involved in the construction industry in Madeira. He has brought the abandoned village of Vieiro in Portugal which has been uninhabited for over 30 years and consists of about 24 houses which are now in ruins. It has taken 26 years to locate all the owners. He wants to rehabilitate the homes, primarily for tourism.

Mercarte in the Largo da Restauração on Saturday 7th. November. 09.00 to 18.00. Mercarte Madeira – Fair of Art and Craftwork. Both traditional and contemporary articles for sale.

A quick look at the front page news of today’s Diário :

Company of group involved in ‘Hidden Face’ received licence on Madeira before it was even created. It’s a long story of bigger consequences, but this particular part relates to a company set up on Madeira this year called Resatlântico, licensed in waste management, which apparently received its licence before the company was even formed.  The Department for the Environment says it followed the same legal regime that applies to all applications, and the company had not enjoyed any preferential treatment.  The  facts may say otherwise,  with ‘Resatlântico – Waste Management Ltd.’ not legally registered in the commercial registry office until May 11th, 2009, but the first license request in that name was received by the Department for the Environment two months before (March 3rd, 2009), via the Regional Secretary for Planning and Finances / Office of the Free Zone (Zona Franca), and an amended licence was thereafter issued, dated 19th May 2009. Hard to believe there would be any wrongdoing methinks. Busy people with so many brown and white envelopes passing through their hands often get dates mixed up.

Today’s top news story : Health and electricity owe €985 million – The Madeira health service has a passive debt of €484.6 million at the close of the 2008 economic year. The negative trend is worrying. Also the Electricity Company (EEM), despite of good economic indicators, registered in the same period a passive debt of €500,500,000. I can’t believe that last figure is correct … that must represent carrying a debt of around €5,000 for every customer EEM has on Madeira.

Contest for the Botanic Garden takes out director – Biologists surprised with opening for candidates just for agricultural engineers, leaving out the current post-holder. The regional secretary responsible has launched a recruitment process for a new  services manager of the ‘Jardim Botânico da Madeira – Eng. Rui Vieira’ (as it is now officially called). Roberto Jardim, who took the office left vacant by Susana Fontinha eight years ago, has a degree in biology, as did his predecessor.

Services through the loudspeakers causes controversy – The early morning masses in Lombada da Ponta do Sol are the origin of a police complaint. The câmara tried to make the priest more sensitive, that agrees to desist. All it needs is a letter to justify the matter before the faithful. The church ‘broadcasts’ the service to the community at 7.30 am on Sunday mornings, much to the annoyance of some locals. A complaint to the police under ‘noise laws’ was passed to the council to deal with, and the priest was approached. He will stop the broadcasts once he has some documents he needs to justify the move to the people. Unbelievable how the church thinks it has a free licence to impose itself in peoples lives whether they want it or not. I can live with the church bells, and even the occasional broadcasted services, and I even quite like the local events that now and again that close the town streets to traffic, and after all I did see the nearby church when I brought my house. But what I really detest is what is coming in just a few weeks, and that’s the 5 am mega-bangers day after day in the lead up to Christmas, but local traditions override national laws it seems.

In football : Madeiran Leonel Pontes in charge of Sporting. Following the shock resignation of Sporting boss Paulo Bento, his deputy will replace him for now. Leonel was born in Porto da Cruz, and was a tutor of Cristiano Ronaldo. Manuel Machado of Nacional was favourite to replace Bento in Lisbon, but it is believed he is not interested in leaving the Madeira club.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
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.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

(more…)

(6th August). ‘Alberquerque Bets On 7 Counsellors And Mixes The List – João Rodrigues rises to 4th place, Calado goes down to 7th, and the second woman on the list, Lina Camacho, is 6th’. Miguel Albuquerque, president of Funchal Câmara is aiming for 7 social democrat counsellors in the forthcoming local elections, one more than achieved in 2005. If the European election results are anything to go by, then that is very likely to be achieved. The final list of 11 PSD-M candidates is due to be submitted to the district court in Funchal today.

‘PS-M Wants Ombudsman In Funchal – The measure would tackle the issues with ‘connections’ and ‘favours’ in the câmara’. The mediator between the population and the council would also look to reduce bureaucracy and favouritism in the council, and improve services generally, and create some new jobs, said a socialist spokesman.

‘Days Of Reflection And Elections Will Have Street Publicity – The local election campaign will run over the national elections’. The Saturday and Sunday of 26th and 27th September are supposed to be propaganda free under election rules, but because the local election campaign will be running during the voting in national elections, there is a bit of a dilemma in politics on what to do. In theory, all posters and political advertising should be removed over that weekend, but the logistics and costs of doing so are quite unrealistic. Two parties have already announced that they will not remove all their street garbage over that weekend, the PCP (communists) and BE (Left Block), and the BE has already approached Funchal council to arrange a meeting to see what action it will be taking, or enforcing, for all the parties as a whole. The National Electoral Commission will have the final say, and the PS-M have said they will abide by the decision made by the CNE, but the secretary-general of the socialists reminds of the high costs and difficulties that it would incur in the party, both logistically, and through needing considerable resources with many people involved. If I was the boss of the CNE, I know what my decision would be, force them all to remove everything, just to make them spend as much as possible, then there is less money to spend on future propaganda.

"Drug addicts are not criminals". BE (Left Block) are again asking for Madeirans to give their vote to elect a member to the Assembly of the Republic, who among other things, will defend the treatment of drug addicts and fight against attempts to criminalize the use of drugs. A proposal was accepted by the PSD-M to sentence drug users for up to 6 months in prison. The BE believes that drug addicts "are patients and not mere criminals". I wouldn’t waste a bottle of Coral putting out a fire as far as the BE are concerned (there, that was politely put), but with all the other problems being experienced at present is that really the best headline policy they can come up with? I thought drug taking was already criminal, or is that just a technicality around drug possession?

In the economy …

(6th August). Today’s main news headline : ’30% Of Companies Are At High Risk – Around 4,660 companies, a third of those registered on Madeira, have a high rate of risk above the national average, a situation that makes access to credit difficult. The conclusion is that of a multinational analysis’. The risk analysis study carried out in June covered 5 regions in Portugal, and Madeira and the Azores, assessed 15,292 existing businesses here and on Porto Santo, labelling 4,665 as "high risk", the worst result of all the regions assessed at 30.5%. Nationally the average statistic comes out at 25.2%.

(5th August). ‘Fuel Costs Rose 38%, Electricity Sold Worth €110.3 Million – EEM closed 2008  with a profit of €3.7 million’. The Electricity Company of Madeira declared results that show that public enterprises can have positive results with effective management, and meet their commitments. Total income amounted to €213.6 million, an increase of 18.6%, and the operating revenue was up 21% to €204.6 million. Revenue from electricity sales was up 8.8%, due to a 4.5% growth in consumption, and an average price rise also of around 4.5%. Costs were reported as being €209.3 million, 18% higher than in 2007, the increase due in part to increasing fuel prices, and also due to growing purchases from third party private generators, the latter accounting for expenditure of €89.2 million (up €21.6 million). At the end of 2008 EEM had 134,112 power consumers, up 2,486 on 2007, and is the biggest company on Madeira. I for one think they have managed to contain their charges to customers very well given the instability in oil prices, clearly absorbing some of their fuel cost increases … so thank you from me, and for a pretty reliable service, and for pretty accurate bills.

(6th August). ‘Ryanair Announces Its First Domestic Flight In Portugal – The ‘low-cost’ airline will connect the city of Porto to Faro’. The service will start on 26th October and fly four times a week. The company will also set up a new base in Porto. The flights will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It will also launch new flights between Porto and Germany (Dusseldorf and Baden Baden) three times a week. Tickets will go on sale on the company website today, and there will be a million seats priced at one Euro for all three destinations, including airport taxes, for flying in October and November. In total Ryanair intends to operate 21 flights from Porto, carrying 1.8 million passengers a year, with even Lisbon being a possible connection. I think the article is incorrect, as it says the million €1 seats are only available until Friday, and I hardly think that one million seat bookings would be possible within that time. So either the number of €1 seats is wrong, or the deadline is wrong, or both.