The Houses That Aren’t ; New Cancer Screening Vehicle ; Madeira History Exhibition
(17th September). ‘Secret Houses Bother Councils – The local authorities hide numbers and even support illegalities. The lack of paperwork leaves the occupants in difficulties’. The vast majority of the houses were built in the 1970′s and 80′s and are located in Funchal, Machico, and Câmara de Lobos. The story is nearly always the same, and the complications too. When life changes and a bank loan is required or someone else enters the equation, nothing can be done because the house was built without consent and is not registered. The câmaras don’t know the extent of the problem, but there are hundreds in the locations mentioned. The councils try to work around the problems so that occupants have water, sewerage and electricity connections. Some even try to lessen the impact on the landscape by providing materials for the owners, such as paint, tiles, and building materials (presumably to help them blend in and look acceptable?). Funchal is mentioned as having given such materials free of charge to people in the high zones, who don’t have the money to pay for them themselves. Often such assistance was misdirected. The problem occurred when there was an acute housing shortage, and in the case of Câmara de Lobos, assistance was offered by the council by allowing utility connections without the required permits, and there are hundreds of such houses in that district alone. It is not easy or cheap to legalise such houses, with lawyers finding legal obstacles in the process that can take years to resolve. Sometimes it is not possible at all because the ‘plots’ are too small for legal building, and the câmaras cannot issue permits to legalise the situation. Meanwhile the owners cannot sell the properties, and banks will not allow mortgages.
‘He Ordered A Funeral But Was Saved Through The Agency - Morbid and highly unusual. The case occurred on Porto Santo’. Yesterday morning the staff of a hotel and a funeral agency managed to prevent a death through a suicide attempt by a pensioner, a guest at the the hotel. The man who wanted to end his own life, ordered his own funeral, and even had his own burial suit ready own his hotel room. He had asked for anonymity at the hotel, and on Tuesday had asked the hotel reception not to put through any calls or disturb him after 9.30 am. The funeral director turned up in the hotel reception as requested by the man, and asked to speak to the guest, but the telephone was not answered, and eventually a maid was sent along to the room. The room door was open, and the maid, seeing traces of blood on the floor and bed, raised the alert. Help was summoned, and the man was found still on the bathroom floor with his wrists slashed, but still alive. He was taken to the local health centre, and then to Madeira by air. A suicide note was found alongside the burial suit, with instructions on what to do after his death.
‘Fraudsters Attack On Madeira’. Two women posing as social security workers tried to enter a house in Santo Serra yesterday. The two women, aged around 20 and 40, are believed to be trying to rob elderly people living in isolated locations. The intended victim alerted the Diário to warn others of the danger, but was not actually robbed due to her cautious actions. A spokesperson for Social Security said that their employees are obliged to show identification before entering private premises.
‘Archive Shows ‘Legacies To The History’. The ‘Arquivo Regional’ will have on show items donated for the exhibition ‘Legados para a história’, which opens to the public on 24th September, continuing until 21st October. The exhibition will be housed in the lobby of the Arquivo Regional da Madeira, showing exhibits donated & acquired (loaned?) from people and private collections between 2005 and 2008. The complete collection comprises over 5,000 photographs, and 169 maps, plans, and drawings. The archive is always looking to acquire new material, and people who have documents or items of interest but don’t want to donate them, can take them along for microfilming or scanning.
Today’s main front page photo is taken outside the stadium of Nacional, with many things being delivered and set up, including TV cameras : ‘Europa League Brings Hundreds Of Tourists – Spanish and Austrians arrange special flights’. It’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history for Nacional, as they take on Werder Bremen. ‘The Circus Is Already Assembled’, refers to a number of changes and improvements demanded by UEFA, at the Stadium of Madeira in the Choupana, in order for the match to take place. The smell of fresh paint still hangs in the air, and everything has now been done to meet the UEFA requirements. The game tonight between Nacional and Werder Bremen is considered ‘high risk’, and around 70 police officers will be in attendance. Some officers will be in ‘plain clothes’ and will mingle in with both sets of fans. Everyone will be searched on entry using metal detectors. I know the Germans don’t have the best of reputations when it comes to problems with fans at football matches, but I can’t imagine that the fans of Nacional cause any concern, despite what UEFA think.
‘Coach Of Werder Bremen Is Enchanted With The Location Of The Stadium Of Nacional’. I can’t find this story, but I certainly agree with him … except when the mist or cloud comes down that is.
The match is on SportTV 1 at 8.05 pm.
‘New Screening Unit For The Beginning Of 2010 – The mobile screening unit is aimed at early detection of breast cancer’. The agreement was signed yesterday between the regional health service SESARAM and the bank Espírito Santo. The new acquisition is a welcome contribution in reducing backlogs in screening, that have been up to 7 or 8 months. There is one unit already in use, but at 10 years old is showing signs of wear and tear. The regional secretary for Social Affairs, Francisco Jardim Ramos, said that there are around 120 new cases of breast cancer detected on Madeira each year, but 80% of the cases are treatable because they are detected early enough.
Funchal Council are looking at the idea of giving parking discounts of 50% to environmentally friendly vehicles. A change to municipal regulations is set to be discussed next week. The change is expected to cover both electric and hybrid powered vehicles. To take advantage of the scheme, owners of such vehicles will need to go to Funchal Council offices to obtain a permit.
‘Police Identify Alleged Robber’. Police believe they have identified one of the two masked men who appeared at Elos cash and carry in Viveiros in Funchal, armed with a knife, and who forced checkout staff to hand over "a significant sum". (See yesterday’s blog). No mention of an arrest yet, but it appears that the other robbery reported, at a hotel reception, was carried out by a different pair of criminals.
At one of his inaugurations yesterday, president Jardim used the occasion to announce that he has already ordered the removal of the fences from the Marina of Lugar de Baixo, with the clean up work barely finished, regardless of ongoing legal issues. "I am a revolutionary. This is how I work, acting in the interest of the people" he said.
‘Journalists For ‘Good Health’ Visit Madeira And Porto Santo – French, Italians and Germans in the Region’. The Association for the Promotion of Madeira, is supporting the organisation of three trips for the media from Germany, France and Italy, each with seven journalists from various sectors on the themes of spa tourism and good health (well being). The first French initiative is also being supported by Portugal Tourism based in France, and TAP airline in France, and those journalists arrive on Sunday.
From yesterday’s Jornal da Madeira : ‘SORT-MAC Project Starts In October – The aim is to restore pathways and place signs in the Ilhas Desertas and Ponta de São Lourenço’. The project has support from the European Union, and on Madeira will be organised by the Directorate for the Environment, jointly with the National Park Service. Information boards will also be put in place, once a survey has been carried out to determine the best locations.
‘Fire Consumes Considerable Area Of Eucalyptus – Difficult access made it difficult to combat the flames that spread in Fajã da Ovelha’. With unfavourable conditions (wind, heat, and low humidity) the fire spread Wednesday afternoon around 6 pm in the serra, and was expected to be extinguished by last night by Calheta firemen. 5 vehicles and around 20 firemen were involved. No residences or people were in any danger. The cause of the fire is unknown. 
The 4 eco-buses that serve parts of Funchal will be free to use from 1st September, as previously mentioned. They cover routes that include schools and tourism areas, and are operated by the yellow bus company Horários do Funchal. Plans to expand the scheme were also announced at a press conference yesterday. 
‘Fourth Dog Show In Funchal 5th September’. Any dog can take part if aged between 4 months and 10 years, regardless of race (or lack of). It will take place in the Lido Gardens in Funchal at 2.30 pm. Any dogs thinking of entering must take their owners and certificates of vaccination with them. All entrants of the canine variety will receive a prize of participation, as well as the prizes for category winners of course. Entry forms are already available at SPAD (Society for The Protection of Domestic Animals), the website link is at the side of this page, and in Vet Funchal. Even if one doesn’t have a dog, SPAD will be there if you are able to make a donation, and food and other donations will also be accepted, and you can even join as a SPAD associate. There will be a kiosk there and you can ask for Rachel, one of the Vet Doctors, who speaks English. 
