Madeira News Blog

(3rd July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Rats And Cockroaches Invade Formosa – The thicket in the zone near to the beach contributes to the plague that intimidates users and traders’. With the hot weather only just starting, the rats and cockroaches are already displaying a worrying level of activity in the area. Traders, bathers, and those who frequent the area, tell of appearances of the two creatures around restaurants, rubbish bins and even on the beach pebbles, and they fear the situation will worsen significantly with improving Summer breeding conditions. Part of the problem area is the old Shell installation, abandoned in 2007, and now overgrown. A rat extermination programme that covered public spaces finished 3 months ago in Funchal, but will be restarted soon to include the Praia Formosa zone.

The main photograph today shows jazz singer Vânia Fernandes at the opening night of the Funchal Jazz Festival : ‘Jazz Sells More – After the filling of the opening night, Funchal Jazz today hosts a musical legend’. The headline is referring to the ‘legend’ contrabassist Ron Carter, who performs tonight at 9.30 in the park of Santa Catarina in Funchal. Aside from being overflowing last night, ticket sales have been "pretty good", with three day passes tripling in sales compared to last year.

‘Eight Thousand Teachers Contest 295 Vacancies’. The internal application deadline is midnight tonight, and external applicants are able to apply from next week. They are competing for teaching posts through the regional Department for Education. This exercise happens every year, and I assume these are permanent full time positions, that are of interest to existing teaching staff that have lesser status or working hours.

‘The First Step Is Taken – Bernardo Trindade is confident that the agreement to resolve matters at Colombo’s Resort is going to work out’. The first stage in rescuing the incomplete and paralysed tourist complex on Porto Santo has now been taken, with the new partners signing an agreement in Lisbon yesterday. Trindade said he expects it to move forward, regardless of the election results in October, even though it is no more at this stage than a gentleman’s agreement. Work stopped on the construction some time ago when the original project ran out of money. It is interesting to also learn that the €5 million pledge by Porto Santo Council, is not in fact a pledge, but an exemption from municipal taxes. I know they are allowed to do this, but that might raise an eyebrow or two with other hotel owners past, present and future.

‘Ministry of health Announces Three More Cases – Two women and a child infected with gripe A virus’. That takes the total now to 23, and there were just a handful a week or so ago. One of the women has just returned from Spain, and is now being kept in Lisbon in the hospital called Curry Cabral (Goat Curry?). The other woman, in the Azores, came from Canada. The child is an eight month old baby, coming from Majorca. All 23 cases are confirmed as having H1N1 swine flu. I have seen no update on the two that came into Madeira Airport yet. I wrote that last night, this morning on the TV news it says there are now 27 cases.

‘Madeirans have the highest global rate of deficiency in the chromosome 14 gene – Researchers publish results of a study in an international scientific journal’. The study, managed by the Laboratory of Human Genetics in the University of Madeira (LGHUMa), will be published soon by the British scientific journal ‘Respiratory Medicine’. The deficiency exists in 4.1% of the population, and relates to the presence of glycoprotein, that functions to protect the lungs against dust, air pollution, and tobacco smoke. The deficiency can lead to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema), or diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver. It has been well known for years that respiratory problems are a frequent problem for Madeirans, and a genetic problem was often mentioned. Perhaps now that the exact cause has been pinpointed an exact and effective remedy can be developed.

‘World Press Photo On Exhibition – The best photographs in the world of news are on display to the public until 23rd July’. I had mentioned it some weeks ago, but the exhibition starts today in the Salão Nobre of the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias (Funchal Theatre). The photos from 2008 will be displayed here, in a custom now in its fourth successive year. The entry fee is €1, but if you prefer you can send me the €1 and see the photos here (go to ‘Winners 2009′): WORLD PRESS PHOTO

‘Disgusted drivers leave TEAM MARÍTIMO – The walk out has already taken place in the rally club’. The drivers are fed up with internal politics in the club, and a broken promise of the club president over free inscriptions for the Coral Championship.

‘Nacional awaits €1.5 million from FC Porto for Paulo Assunção’. The ‘bonus’ will come as a result of the transfer of the ex-Nacional player from Porto to Athletico Madrid for €3 million, of which Nacional has the right of 50% under terms previously agreed with Porto.

(2nd July). And a few snippets left over from yesterday …

‘Hospital Already Performed Eight Operations by GPS – Computer assisted operations since May’. Funchal Central Hospital performed between 60 and 70 knee rebuilding operations per year over the last 10 years or so, to deal with wear and tear and other medical conditions, but a new procedure introduced in May using a computer navigation system is proving successful. The equipment used does not yet exist in other hospitals in Portugal. The eight patients so far are recuperating very well, and indicating an encouraging start for the new procedure, which can also be used for hip replacement operations.

Madeira baby Rodrigo, who received a bone marrow transplant a month ago as a result of being diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 6 weeks, remains in hospital in Lisbon, but is doing well after liver and kidney complications were resolved after 15 days in intensive care. He will stay in hospital longer than was originally hoped, and will now have to spend his first birthday there on 7th July.

Discussions are underway in Gauteng in South Africa, where there is a Madeiran community, for a twinning relationship with Madeira.

Serra de Água has its first multibanco machine (ATM / Cash point) after years of asking. The population wanted it in a location where it could be accessed 24 hours a day, but eventually had to settle for it being located in the ‘Tasquinha da Poncha’ (Poncha Bar). What a dream excuse for a quick bevy … just popping out to the cash point dear … won’t be long!

(16^th May) ‘Disaster In Sâo Vicente Results In A 4 Year prison Sentence’.  This story goes back to December 2005, when a coach driver turned his coach on its side, killing 5 Italian tourist passengers in São Vicente. The court ruled that besides from being drunk at the wheel, he was driving too fast (70 kph in a 50 kph zone). He was found guilty on Friday afternoon of negligent homicide, and sentenced to 4 years in prison. The Italians were out on an excursion from the cruise ship ‘Costa Classica’. The lawyer defending the man announced the intention to appeal against the ruling.

(16^th May) ‘Another Robbery On The Petrol Station In Campanário’. It’s the fourth robbery in a year, with money, alcohol, and tobacco taken from the Repsol petrol station. This time two men wearing hats and sunglasses broke in and committed the robbery, which was captured by the CCT camera.

(16^th May) ‘People Of Câmara de Lobos Against Demands Of The Priest : €15 For A Confirmation’. The Diocese of Funchal explains that the cost is the responsibility of the parish, but parents in the parish of São Sebastião are not happy. Over a hundred children are due to attend their first communion on 7^th June, and if all parents pay, then the church will pocket over €1,500, which the priest claims is to cover the cost of the arrangements and the flowers. The priest was uncontactable for comment, but other priests both inside and outside Câmara de Lobos, were surprised to hear that their colleague was charging parents, and felt that even so the cost per head would not exceed €5.

(16th May). Lemon production this year is roughly in line with the last 10 years, at 800 tonnes. The announcement was made at the opening of the Lemon Festival in Ilha yesterday, which runs through until tomorrow. 400 exhibitors are there to show their produce. That must be a real thriller, 400 lemon displays!

Essential rescue equipment bought by Carvoeiro Golfers, tried and tested in Madeira
From – Portugal News On-line 15/5/2009

Last week a group of eight Lagoa firemen embarked on a training course to Madeira, where they were shown by their islander counterparts how to use a new tripod and harness specifically designed for cliff rescues, bought for them with money raised by members of the Carvoeiro Golf and Country Club.

Full story : Portugal News

‘Exhibition : The Best Of Photographic Journalism – The WORLD PRESS PHOTO includes over 100 photos that we will see in July’. Shocking, artistic, inopportune, but above all everything real. The biggest photojournalism exhibition in the world is going to be hosted in Funchal in July, between the 1st and 23rd, in the Main Hall of the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias. Over 100 photos will be on display, chosen from over 96 thousand entries from 5,508 photographers.

‘Fisherman Fell Into The Sea In Porto Novo – The body has been recovered’. One more fatality in Porto Novo, when yesterday morning an amateur fisherman, who is believed to have been out searching for lapas (limpets), slipped and fell into the water. The emergency services were involved, including divers, in retrieving the body of the man who was believed to have had problems in swimming.

‘The Drama Of Becoming Homeless At The Age Of 50 – The problem gets worse : the crisis and unemployment oblige citizens to deliver their life’s work to the bank. In this edition, the drama of a case told in the first person’. In this sad story a husband and wife have to hand over their T2 apartment in Caniço to their bank, after finding themselves unable to meet their mortgage repayments after one was made redundant. They brought the apartment 10 years ago, on a 100% finance basis. With the age of 50 it is not only almost impossible to find work, but the bank also refused to extend the mortgage period for the same reason.

This week’s featured village is Ilha in Santana. To be honest I think I could cut and paste here an article from a few weeks ago, and no one would notice. It’s a rural location, the birth rate is very low, the youngsters are emigrating, and the old people are left to look after the land. In fact the electoral roll shows 429 residents there, but in reality there are only 300 or so. Local schools have closed, with the remaining children now having to go to Santana. No mention of drugs or crime though, but it is only the first day of the new feature.

There is a report on the Bread Fair in Funchal, run by the Lions Club of Funchal. The organiser said it was going really well with a lot of bread sold, and the sweet lunches proving very popular. All monies raised are used to award scholarships. No mention of the Onion Festival?