Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo Thanks to Derek  … close up of a rock strata

Breaking one of my normal rules of scope, there is an tribute here to the English lady who died here on Sunday after a fall on a walk. RUTH HOLDWAY

Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :

‘Balloon Bar’ robbed while still open. The Yacht Bar, or ‘Balloon Bar’ was attacked this morning while it was still open. More than 2,000 Euros in cash was taken at about 1.30 am from the basement office. The office is next to the toilets so the thieves did not arouse suspicion and with the sound of the speakers, no one heard anything. They were not filmed by the video surveillance cameras. "We spent a lot of money on alarms and security systems but it was the fourth time this year we have been robbed," lamented the manager of the bar in the Avenida do Mar. The theft was detected at two o’clock by an employee who went to the basement for ‘stock’. Both the office door and drawer containing the money had been broken. "This was the work of more than one person, because no one would dare to do this by themselves without having another to watch." "We had a full house and with the finalists (students) the evening was very busy." The manager also complained about crime in the area, "They attacked the bolo do caco stand, the tourist information kiosk, even the beach umbrellas." The Yacht Bar is managed by the Regency hotel group and has been the victim of several assaults, in one of which the thieves took about 5,000 Euros.

Aggression motivated the man wielding knives.  The mother of the 19 year old who was arrested last Friday morning, after walking around Funchal with no shirt on and a knife in each hand, maintains that the attitude of her son was in response to an act of aggression against him. "He was standing by the gate with friends when a man appeared, who he did not know, and punched him," she told the reporter, admitting that the attitude of her child was not the best. "My son was wrong and will pay for it, but saying that he had a chain around his neck or has a mental disorder are completely untrue." On the basis of this alleged aggression, he has relationship problems related to an ex-girlfriend. "He broke it up but she did not accept it." She alleged the police were exaggerated in their response, "No one was hurt, so I do not understand how it forced him to spend the night with the police."

Vacancies at the Institute of Employment. October closed with almost 13,000 registered unemployed and of 400 job vacancies, there were still 256 unfilled. Being older than 35 and having less than ninth year education is the worst situation for gaining employment. Candidates with more ease in getting a job are aged between 20 and 30 years of age with qualifications higher than the 9th year. The age group most affected by unemployment is 25 to 34 years old. Some candidates will not accept jobs requiring lower qualifications or a different skill level. This year, the largest number of job offers (36%) are in catering, 16% in commerce and services and 10% for vendors, operators and demonstrators. There is an imbalance between supply and demand. The Institute has negotiated with some employers to give employment to people with higher qualifications than required. If the job seeker is on unemployment allowance, they have to take any job offered that fits with their education and professional experience. In the last three years, half of the jobs in construction have been lost, dropping from 30,000 to 15,000. Those not entitled to unemployment pay have returned to South Africa, Luanda and Senegal. There are no signs of improvement with reduced EU funds, no private investment and no public funds. The number of unemployed electricians is growing, with wage arrears and no right to compensation. Companies are shutting down and not paying money due, as in the 1970s, and some electricians are saying they will try their luck in Jersey.

More funds for Madeira. The opposition parties are preparing to approve an amendment to the Finance Law that will give more money to Madeira. The State may have to reimburse Madeira about 400 million Euros in the next State Budget. On December 11, Parliament will discuss a resolution by the Assembly of Madeira which aims to replenish the first Finance Law for the autonomous regions, rather than the current law which came into force in 2007 by votes of only the Socialist Party. The document provides a replacement of the money lost from Madeira this year in transfers from the State and it seems, will even be approved. The document will only change the part that concerns the region of Madeira, leaving protected statutory rights acquired by the Azores in the current legislation.

Easier to switch banks. Rules making it easier for customers to switch banks for current accounts came into force in almost all other countries in the European area on November 1. On December 1, Portugal enforced these EU rules, including the possibility of the new bank acting as an intermediary in the amendment and the obligation of the former to provide all necessary information. The former bank must provide the customer and the new database all information about payments, for example direct debits or standing orders, and where possible, without costs. The old bank will have to provide the necessary information within seven days and the new bank has the equivalent time to restore normal operations in question.

Return to Alfândega not until after summer. Rent of Tecnopolo prolonged until the next legislative session. The members of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira debunked to Tecnopolo in April for eight months while the Alfândega building was being renovated and redecorated. Now it is known that the return to the old Customs House on the Avenida do Mar will be prolonged until the end of next summer. There was a delay in opening the tender for the works, which only happened in May. The other delay is due to the structure of the building. The annexe to the building, designed by Chorão Ramalho and built in the 1980s, is very degraded and requires significant strengthening. Currently, this annexe is being excavated and damaged material removed, then it will need to be renovated. The pond at the top of the building will be eliminated as it was responsible for many of the detected infiltrations. The works should be completed in the summer and then sound installations, computer equipment and video need to be installed. The rental of the premises at Tecnopolo and parking lots total more than 230,000 Euros per year and this sum could double to meet the new deadlines (a delay of more than 10 months). The initial cost of the renovation was €1.2 million but this will suffer a major increase.

Opposition calls special meeting. CDS-PP and PS will ask for explanations today from Romeira on the cancellation of some works. Rarely the PS and CDS share the same political views, São Vicente is an exception. The socialists and centrists requested a special meeting as they wanted to know more about cancellations of work. The mayor needs to explain the justification for the withdrawal of the improvement and asphalting of the road link between Ginjas and Paul da Serra. This work has been postponed for more than 20 years. The opposition also want to know whether there will be construction of the promenade at São Vicente. They are challenging many other issues of the mayor Jorge Romeira to try to derail them.

Madeira Wine and embroidery as Christmas gifts. The Regional Natural Resources launches a promotional campaign in the Farmers’ Market in Funchal. The campaign is launched on Wednesday to trigger Madeirans and tourists to buy these products for Christmas gifts. About seven thousand families depend on the sale of wine and embroidery products, so buying them as Christmas gifts is a great way to contribute to the economy and social life of the region. The campaign aims to promote Madeira Wine by associating it with a Madeiran lifestyle, refined and celebrational, suggesting one offers and increases consumption during the Christmas season and end of year. The campaigns represent an investment of 40,000 Euros. The consumption of Madeira Wine in the regional market is about 531,000 litres and represents around 3.8 million Euros.

Lorries overweight and noisy. 60 breaches detected in Operation Safe Environment. The police have been monitoring for breaches of the rules of environmental safety (digging and moving environmental materials). The campaign ran from 23 to 29 November and of the 456 vehicles stopped, 59 were found to be overloaded, too noisy, driving under the influence of alcohol or without proper licensing.

Porto Santo is the seventh in purchasing power. Porto Santo citizens have better purchasing power, 39.92% higher than the national average, which puts Porto Santo in seventh place among all cities. The unusual growth in wealth of the island can be attested to the fact that between 2005 and 2007, purchasing power per capita has risen 12% when the mean for the same period fell 1.2%. 48.2% of the workforce are eligible for a 30% increase in salary as compensation for the double insularity, which requires the regional and municipal budgets to inject an extra 2 million to improve the wages of those working in departments, services and other public structures. Residents on Porto Santo are privileged because they have twice the purchasing power of Madeirans living in the eight municipalities, surpassing even those in Funchal who have a purchasing power per capita 35.44% higher than the national average or 3.3% below that of the inhabitants of Porto Santo. The privileged situation is due to the structure of employment, most working in either public service or hotel work, so very few earn the minimum wage. Over the past seven years, Funchalenses saw their purchasing power rise 25.5%. The only other municipality where purchasing power increased was Porto Moniz, so in the other areas of Madeira, people have become poorer. In Portugal there is a positive association between the degree of urbanization and purchasing power.

Chefs challenged to choose local products. The Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development is to have promotional meetings with heads of national and regional cuisine, challenging them to cook dinner on the basis of Madeiran agro-food. This was the concept for a dinner recently held for more than 100 guests at the hotel Four Views Baia. The Regional director said that the challenge would also launch regional producers: SantoQueijo, OvoGirao, Engenho do Ribeiro Seco, Quinta Pedagogica dos Prazeres, Madeira Agricola and Horticalheta. "With pleasure, participants could enjoy for example, a starter of requeijao com abobora menina e tomate da Madeira with Mel de Cana da Madeira, and the meal itself of fresh lombos de tuna accompanied with a creme de abacante da Madeira. This initiative will be promoted using an increasing number of personalities and influential agents. The aim is a gourmet approach to dining, the consumers, whether professionals or individuals, enjoying regional products associated with the characteristics of taste, aroma, texture and freshness and not less important, the environmental aspects associated with agricultural awareness of the locality.

Today’s front page news headlines from the Diário de Notícias :

Gripe A arrives at the schools through the fault of parents – Carelessness obliges the new rules : Without medical certification, the students with the swine flu virus are obliged to stay at home for seven days. Parents skip the seven day quarantine period and increase the risk of spreading the the H1N1 virus, probably because of the fear of taking time off of work. A new instruction from the secretary for health is causing confusion amongst parents and guardians, and school administrations. It says that to avoid the virus spreading, medical certification is needed stating that the child is not affected by Gripe A, and such certification can be issued by an assistant doctor at a hospital or health centre. Meanwhile schools are refusing to accept certification from private doctors, when they are equally acceptable, because of confusion in the new rules. One case is mentioned where a mother whose child had a temperature (not Gripe A) was obliged to go to a doctor for a certificate, but as her family doctor only gives consultations one day a week, she had to kick up a fuss and get someone else to issue a certificate. Any student with a ‘flu like’ illness is affected by the new rules, and siblings of affected children are also obliged to stay at home for 48 hours, even without symptoms. Up until 29th November 39 schools on Madeira had outbreaks (two or more cases) of swine flu.

Thanks again to Elaine for this one : Today’s main news headline : Government technicians deceive farmers - The development of agricultural projects in the region is a right mess. The ‘scheme’ omits information for the person requesting official support, generates unforeseen charges and involves technical work that is not allowed in an association. The Regional Government technicians prepare the farmer’s projects for the Farmers Association and the farmer pays for the project! Farmers can apply for public funding for investment projects and the Government heralded the technical support to apply for the funds free to the farmers. But when they have applied, the farmers have been surprised to receive an invoice for the preparation cost from the Farmers Association. The eligible maximum amount of preparation costs can be 5% of the project (or 10% for biological products) which amounts to a 2,750 Euros invoice for an investment project of 100,000 Euros, even though the project might not be approved. The Government technicians also work as technicians for the Farmers Association, and prepare the projects for the Farmers Association that charge its members. The problem started in July 2008 when the Government agreed free technical preparation (by Government technicians) only for investment projects of less than 5,000 Euros (small) and all others were to be covered by the Farmers Association. The Government seeks to benefit about 2,000 farmers for small investments and 445 other farmers for medium and large investment projects, until 2013. The President of the Farmers Association assumes that the Association has technical staff who are also part of the Regional Government and they are allowed to prepare the projects outside work hours. This is not so because to avoid a conflict of interest, public officials who want to take part in private-functions must seek permission to do so. The Government staff are also directed to warn the farmer of a project costing more than 5,000 Euros that it will go through the Farmers Association. The Government said it will not stand for any violations and promised to investigate cases and if appropriate hold disciplinary meetings.

Thanks again to Elaine for this one : Councils are waiting for €8 million from the Republic of Portugal – The budget has not been paid since January and concerns tax transfers of the state budget. More than 8 million Euros and by the end of the year, will exceed €9 million, the amount that the Government of the Republic should transfer to the eleven Councils in Madeira in relation to IRS from the State Budget. Since January this year, the 5% has not been paid. This is not how the Government of the Republic have interpreted the rules after the approval of the Local Finance Law. The executive of Prime Minister Sócrates believes that since the tax receipts are in the Autonomous Regions (Azores and Madeira), the Regional Governments should support this payment. In the middle of this tug of war are 30 Municipal Councils, (11 in Madeira and 19 in the Azores). The Regional Municipalities say this is discriminatory as their Portuguese counterparts on the continent continue to receive this money directly from the State Budget. This debt has led to various complications in the management of annual budgets of municipalities, especially for the largest municipalities. To the Mayor of Porto Santo, the big problem is that income tax receipts were entered in the budget of the Council, and this value has not been paid. "This is so since January. The problem is that we introduce these funds in the budgets of the Councils and then no money comes. Of course, there are payments in arrears. If we do not receive these funds, we begin to have difficulty paying, for example, wages to our employees." There are also delays in payments to suppliers. "I know some municipalities have paid small suppliers, because these debts are easier to pay off, however we know this money is needed by businesses. We are in the situation where you pull the blanket to the head and uncover the feet." Because they feel discriminated against compared to other municipalities in the country, the Association of Municipalities of both the Azores and Madeira have been working together to solve the problem. The matter has been put to the Prime Minister, Jose Sócrates and they are still waiting for him to resolve the problem, hopefully soon. The hope of the Associations of Municipalities of the Azores and Madeira also turns to the National Assembly, thanks to the majority that the opposition parties have achieved in recent elections and subsequent reduction of power of the socialists. The two municipal associations have sent to the regional delegations of the parties that are represented in Parliament, a document to explain the situation. They will not send the document to the PS because the party in Madeira agreed with this law. The Mayor of Porto Santo says they want to resolve the situation through dialogue but in the extreme case will go to court, entering an injunction against the decision. The Government of Madeira has been in discussion with the Government of the Azores because they also feel discriminated against.

‘Spread the words’ stirs three thousand children – The project of Funchal Council started in 2008 and develops the enjoyment of books in 6 groups. The scheme aims to boost interest in books and reading amongst children of a very young age (up to 1st cycle basic school), and now has 3,011  participants. At a gathering in Santa Catarina park in Funchal, the children are first allowed to run around and play. "It must be like this" one of the monitors said, explaining that otherwise the youngsters would not focus on the books. After half an hour of running the kids are ready to learn and discover another world. The sessions last about an hour, but it various according to the age of the group, as the younger ones tend to have shorter sessions. So what do the kids think of it all you must be thinking? The Diário obliges with some interviews :

Beatriz, four years old,  confesses not to have books at home because she does not like them. She prefers her dolls, and straight away opened both hands when asked how many had. Rodrigo, of the same age, said he had four books and a remote-control car. "My dad reads to me when I ask" he said, but the subject was soon diverted to his car, a favourite because "it is new and has a remote control with batteries," he said enthusiastically, with all his wisdom. At this age the memory plays tricks and it is not easy to remember the stories, or even the school. Pedro remembers the ‘Spark’, the adventures of the ‘Hero’ but had trouble remembering the other characters in his books. But Rodrigo prefers the story of the ‘Three Little Pigs’ "And the big bad wolf that blows the house" he said, before scattering with the others, hoping a few more minutes of play.

In football : Nacional is going to sell Rúben Micael and Filipe Lopes. The game today at Werder Bremen is "all or nothing", but also a shop window for the business already determined by Nacional president Rui Alves. The article also has the big front page photo today, an odd and slightly surreal picture of players in training. Nothing other than an away win will give Nacional any chance of progressing in the Liga Europa, and even that would then depend on the result of the other match in the same group. Nacional will be playing in near freezing temperatures, with their manager still seriously ill in hospital, so the signs are not good, but the team is fired up by the talk of a ‘walkover’ by Werder Bremen. Players Micael and Lopes will be on their way out of the club in the January transfer window  admits Nacional’s president. The Diário claims to know that Rúben Micael is going to play in England for a transfer fee around the €10 million mark, but adds that a number of scouts (not the sort with toggles) will be at tonight’s match. 6 pm SportTV1.

Unfortunately my laptop is bleeping with just 9 minutes left in the batteries, so I have to go with 2 stories left untranslated … someone help me out here please, pretty please. Elaine stepped in again, as usual … is there  really no one else who can help us out with news stories and translations?

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