Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo : Thanks to Eiryl … the Fountains outside Machico Civic Centre

Yesterday’s top news stories :

Fear and discontent among doctors. Doctors in the region are concerned and dissatisfied with certain situations in the Health Department. This is demonstrated by the growing number of applications for legal help to the Independent Union of Doctors throughout the year. Between 2001 and 2008, there were on average 4 requests per year and the number has soared to nearly 95 this year.  Most complaints are related to salary, working hours, working legally and young doctors enquiring about the new labour code. People are "scared and unhappy" with the current management of SESARAM which is why the number of complaints has increased in the past few months. There is also concern about recruitment of doctors and the lack of career advancement when working in the region. They are meeting with representatives of the Nursing Union to have a concerted action for fighting for better working conditions and health care, as nurses are also "unhappy, worried and discouraged". Family doctors are concerned about new rules that SESARAM want to implement for lists of patients at health centres.The numbers of patients assigned to each doctor will not exceed 1500, to include for each household only the people who most often seek health services. So there will be people of the same family, who because they are healthier, may be excluded from the lists of users of health centres.

More violence and drug abuse this year. So far this year, 780 domestic violence cases (663 last year) and 232 cases of drug crimes (177 last year) reported to the police. The police are also encountering more resistance to arrest, from 11 cases to 28 this year. Overall, reported crime has increased, from 8,641 to 9,139 cases. The crimes on the increase were crimes against property, against the person and bounced cheques. On the decrease were corruption, driving without a licence or under the influence of alcohol, and violence against the elderly or children. There are more cases than last year still waiting to be heard by the Prosecution Services, up from 5,753 to 6,082, of these 135 waiting since 2006 or earlier. Only 13.2% of the cases end in a criminal charge, most of the others are filed due to lack of evidence. In the first half of 2009, the police served 478 warrants, resulting in 260 arrests and 37 individuals escorted to prison under tight security.

More people taking up Occupational Unemployment. This year, 755 people were placed on the Occupational and Unemployed Workers Benefit Program. The unemployed undertake an occupation-related activity and it reinforces the workforce, especially in social institutions, people’s homes, local cultural and sports associations and public administration services. Preference is given to those who have been unemployed longer or belong to social groups more difficult to integrate. It is beneficial as it keeps people employed, they receive an additional allowance and they might be taken on permanently. There are three programs, including one for people over the age of 55 years, some with restrictions on the length of time on the program, and everyone receives at least the minimum wage of 459 Euros.

New church in Jardim da Serra. Cost €2.6 million, of which €1.9 million was from the Government and new land had to be acquired. It occupies an imposing site at the top of a hill in Machico municipality, visible from a distance. Although it has traditional elements, it is based on a new design and has the capacity for 425 worshippers which by the seat / aisle arrangement can be doubled to provide for up to 1,000. The architect has designed seven other churches on the island and three more are in the design stages.

SITAM wants the Church to state its position on Christmas and Sunday opening hours. The Office, Commerce and Services Union wants the Church to help in its negotiations with the Town Hall on the schedule for Christmas trade opening hours to ensure that workers get enough rest days. They are awaiting the Diocese response to a one and a half year old petition against shops opening on Sunday. The Union also proposes a 5% salary increase and this year, there have been 5 or 6 bankruptcies in this sector.

Levada worker died yesterday at work. He was 47 and died after being semi-buried by a landslide of rocks on the Levada da Serra, between Ribeiro Frio and Santa da Serra. He was an employee of a private company and a colleague warned him and could not free him, already unconscious, due to the volume of rocks. The bombeiros (fire brigade) from Santa Cruz had difficulty accessing the area quickly as it is about 4 km from the nearest road and the Emergency Medical Team declared him dead in situ. The Regional Inspectorate of Labour have opened an investigation.

A 63 year old British tourist was rescued by the bombeiros after a  fall in the Levada dos Tornos and had a suspected broken leg. A number of foreign tourists have fallen in this area.

‘Missing Face’ inquiry extends to Madeira. This corruption investigation, ‘Faca Oculta’, based in Lisbon is about Manuel Godinho and the rapid licensing of his waste treatment firms. The network of his firms in the region is being investigated for evidence of corrupt ‘illegal favours’ from Government officials.

Prints of Paula Rego to be exhibited in Prazeres. The prints from galleries in Lisbon and Porto will be at the Galaria dos Prazeres from the 27th November (10 – 13 and 14 – 19 hours). There will be 17 lithographs from this famous Portuguese artist shown in two rooms. Six prints are in the ‘Series of Wine’ and confirm the importance of literature to Paula Rego’s artistry.

Regulatory body ruling on political fairness in broadcasting. The Regulatory Body approved a resolution calling on the insistence of the whole RTP television network to comply with regulations concerning the equal representation of all political parties. The regulations were begun to be broken in 2007.

Atlantic Holidays (Pestana) returns to Porto Santo from May 31 2010. Resumption of direct flights from Gatwick to Porto Santo on Mondays until November 1 2010. The flights will be with Viking Airlines which uses a Boeing 737-300 with a capacity of 148 passengers. This replaces the bankrupt XL Airways. Between 26 July and 31 August, the flights will alter and be from Norwich to Madeira due to the busy domestic tourism period to Porto Santo.

Portugal is the top EU country with a rapidly ageing population. From 1980 to 2008, the percentage of people aged over 65 increased from 11.2% to 17.4%. Following Portugal are Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Sweden. Ireland has the youngest population with an average age of 35.1 years. In Portugal, the average is 40.5. It is also below the European average for assistance to families. The birth rate is at a ‘critical level’ of 1.34. —– The EU wants Portugal to reduce the high deficit and debt levels by 2013, so the future does not look good for either Portugal or Madeira.

Used car market. Opens today at Tecnopolo until Sunday 15th. Free entrance. Opening hours are 18.00 to 22.00 and at the weekend from 11.00 to 20.00. There are 200 cars and motorcycles and 15 companies (3 dealers and 12 multi-brand stands) are participating. Some companies also have promotional campaigns to attract customers.

Tivoli Hotel 10th anniversary. The Atlántico Restaurant has been refurbished and is to reopen with capacity for between 550 and 700 diners, one of the largest restaurants on the island. The opening event on the 18th at 19.00 will be attended by Alberto Jardim and there will be different celebratory activities in the following 10 weeks. The hotel has 317 rooms, of which 43 are suites and last year had a 62% occupancy rate which has increased this year.

Many thanks to Elaine, who did all the work today!

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
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…)

(25th July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Gripe A Changes Habits In The School – Electric hand dryers and disposable towels replace cloth towels; washing of toys and door handles; lessons in hygiene; all in September’. That’s just the headline, and the new school term is still two months away, but the list continues : Windows open in classrooms to keep them well ventilated, a switch to liquid soap and paper towels, stocks of disposable masks, tissues, and disinfectants. How much it is all going to cost no one knows, and the budgets are only just starting to be done. Even children are to be taught in school not to mess with their mouths and eyes with their hands. That’s just schools, and the article goes on to briefly cover other public places like social centres and public toilets, that need precautions to prevent the infection and spread of swine flu.

‘Kidnappers Threaten – Names on the ‘black list’ of José Martins are receiving threats with demands by mobile phone on Porto Santo’. The police investigate’. Just a tiny headline on the front page. The ‘tombstone’ (photo) of marked men, allegedly placed next to a grave by José Martins, alleged kidnapper and murderer, has already led to threats to some of those named, sent by text message. The messages gives 48 hours to meet the demands within. The four (at least) businessmen named on the tombstone, are accused of a hand in the failure of the company ‘Erucasa’, owned by Martins around a year ago. The four have been to the police, but there may be more victims. The messages were all different, and although each ended with the words "this is a warning", they did not say what the consequences would be if the demands were not met. You would think at first it must be hoax, but the fact that he has their mobile phone numbers gives some credence to the article. I am beginning to think I should write a book about this whole episode, and I reckon it would sell well as a work of fiction. Maybe even worth international news coverage (Tobi, you know what to do, and we will split the proceeds) 

‘Journalist Silenced – The Journal of Madeira took a reporter off its panel called the ‘Media File’. The management of the Journal invoke exclusivity. The decision arises after criticisms of Jardim on a programme of RTP-M’. Jardim asked for the recording of the programme and sent it to the regulator and the National Electoral Commission. Journalist Marsilio Aguiar was prevented from taking further part in the weekly programme on RTP Madeira ‘Media File’, after 3 years in the role. The programme covers the news highlights of the week, with journalists invited to express their personal opinions, not as representatives of the media companies they work for. The JM management came to the conclusion that the presence of the journalist on television is "incompatible" with the role he plays as head of editorial of the Journal, a newspaper almost totally owned by the PSD Government. The fact has not passed by unnoticed in public opinion, and the removal is interpreted as a ‘reorganization’, given the recent protests of the President of the Government to the views expressed by some commentators on the program. There has been speculation that this is a clever way for Jardim to indirectly ‘liquidate’ the program. The Diário contacted the journalist, who refused to comment on the affair (now there’s a surprise!), but the director of RTP Madeira has gone on record as saying that he has not appeared on the last two programmes due to "professional issues". The programme is now going to be suspended until after September due the period of the election campaign. There are no details given of what was actually said in the programme, but it shows that freedom of speech is not alive and well, and criticising government is especially dangerous when you work for a company that is government controlled and funded.

‘Gripe A – Ministry, bosses and trade unions debate who pays for forced absenteeism’. In a national story, a meeting was held yesterday on the subject of who pays the workers in the event that a place of work has to be closed due to a risk or an actual outbreak of H1N1 swine flu. The working laws specify that workers have the right of 75% of their salary, paid by their employer. But bosses have already refused to honour this expense, as it is a matter of public health. It’s an extraordinary situation, with the motive of resolving the situation before it happens, and not penalising employees when it happens. The trade union presence is concerned that some unscrupulous employers may use the situation to create forced lay-offs. The ministry for employment has already expressed the view that the situation requires no new measures.

In a slightly linked story, the Portuguese are the Europeans most pessimistic in a scenario of losing their jobs for fear of not finding another for a long time. Just 16% were optimistic of finding new employment quickly.

The 10 Spanish scouts that were admitted to Funchal hospital were observed / tested, and nearly all have been cleared of infection of Gripe A. Just two are now waiting for test results to come back from Lisbon. A laboratory has now been established on Madeira, and should be functioning this weekend, removing the need to send samples to Lisbon for testing.

Just about keeping the chain going … pet owners may need to be concerned about the Gripe A crisis, not just for themselves, but also for their pets. Cats and dogs will not be affected, but parrots and parakeets are vulnerable. I can’t remember the last time I saw a parakeet out for a walk and sniffing another parakeets private parts, so I would have thought that the only real risk would come from an infected owner.

At an award ceremony yesterday to give 28 newly qualified young nurses their certificates, President Jardim promised them jobs. "If by the 31st November, the opportunity for employment has not opened, you have my authorisation to hold a protest outside my offices" he said. Shrewd wording or poor translation on my part?

‘There Are less Mosquitoes Than Expected’. Initial results of an investigation to count and locate the Aedes Aegypti indicate that there are less insects than expected. The working group that includes entomologists are undertaking searches in various parts of Funchal and Câmara de Lobos. One of the entomologists however alerts us to the danger of the mosquito, and calls to the population to reinforce the fight against them. He explains that the eggs of the mosquito are able to stay active as long as 3 years in completely dry conditions. Unable to find many pests in Câmara de Lobos?, I find that hard to believe.

I gave up reporting extreme UV levels some weeks ago, as it seems to be microwave weather pretty much every day now. The advice is as always keep covered or out of the sun between 11am and 5pm. Did you know that even in the south of Portugal, the general rule is to avoid the hours from midday until 4pm, giving them two more beach hours than us on Madeira. Who said that a great all year round climate was such a great thing?

(5th July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Region Dwells(?) On Employment – Jardim says that he would reduce unemployment with more autonomy. It would be needed also to reduce bureaucracy, which slows down the start of the new programme of employment support’. The new government job creation programme was intended to commence last Tuesday, but delays in completing the necessary steps may hold it up now until 15th July, and even that has no guarantees. One of the key elements of the new measures is to provide finance to those wishing to start a business, where the money cannot be borrowed from the banks. Initially the programme will be able to provide 60% of the start-up money required, but will also consider assisting with the remaining 40% if absolutely necessary. President Jardim himself believe that more autonomy for Madeira would also help, as he would then be able to reduce the tax burden, control interest rates, and provide more assistance in matters of investment. Funny that, I always considered that bureaucracy created more jobs, and although cutting it might not increase unemployment, it would just leave a lot of people in central and local government with less to do.

The main picture of the day is of a hand ‘thumbs up’ – ‘There Are More People Getting Lifts – The numbers that share their cars with others is growing. The crisis obliges the reduction of costs’. The concept of ‘carpooling’ on Madeira is gradually waking up, despite some resistance, as the average occupancy per vehicle creeps up. It is more a symptom of the crisis, rather a changing environmental attitude says the Diário, who carried out a quick survey along a stretch of the via rápida to conclude that 42% of cars observed had two or more occupants. The same exercise in 2007 revealed that just 31% of cars had more than one occupant.

‘Out Of Fashion – Less marriages on Madeira. Especially through the church that takes on just a third of the marriages’. The number of catholic marriages declines year after year. Last year there were 1,153 weddings in total, 79 less than in 2007. Over 20 years the number has diminished by 40%. This trend is not just in Madeira and Portugal, and stems from a lack of commitment, and on the other side of the equation there are more and more couples living together. Of those that do wed, less are choosing church weddings, with just 37% choosing that option last year (41% in 2007). Now I think about it, it does seem true, as I reckon a few years ago I used to see at least a wedding a week in my local church, and I am now struggling to remember the last one, and this is the peak time of year.

"There is much needed to do in Arco da Calheta" : A cash-point machine, a modern health centre, leisure areas for tourists, and a supermarket are some of the things lacking for those who live there’. This is the Diário featured place of the week. "In recent times there have been no improvements here" says one resident, who believes that the place has been forgotten by the government. She adds that for tourists going there to relax, there is nowhere to sit down. Much of the usual stuff follows, an ageing population, high youth unemployment, a reducing feeling of security.

After Friday nights dreadful accident at Meia Légua (see yesterday) when a man died in a head on car crash, it turns out there were 10 injured people, not 9. Seven of them remain in hospital, but none of them in a life threatening condition.

‘School Kills Hunger – The government confirms that there are children that arrive at school hungry, through negligence or family difficulties’. Meals for youngsters (1st cycle) will continue to be free, and for many children it is the best food and maybe the only food they will see each day. The teachers are aware of the problem, the political parties have criticised the situation, and the Regional Education Department admits that for many kids school meals are the best they will eat. Free meals are also available to 30% of older children at later levels of education. The Director of Planning and Educational Resources is committed to continuing free meals for those in need, but he believes that of the malnourished children coming to school, not all are due to lack of money. "Almost always by neglect and carelessness" he said, and where those situations are identified it is referred to a body to deal with the matter.

Petrol comes down in price by 2 cêntimos a litre on Monday, and diesel drops by 1 cêntimo. The change was decided by the regional government. Remind me when are the elections again?

‘The Possible Marítimo – The Green-Reds presented themselves yesterday without surprises and with reserved prospects’. The positive news was not about strengthening of the squad, more about the redevelopment of the stadium into one of the most modern infrastructures in Portugal, in this the centenary year of the club. On the field, the objective is "to be better than our opponents", said the president with no great ambition to achieve a European placing.

The Diário website managed to revive itself in time, so thank your lucky stars as I was about to start another ‘Der true story’.