Wine Makers Disappoint Government ; Low Rents Prevent Repairs ; 62 Years In Politics Ends
(7th September). Today’s main news headline : ‘Wine Makers (Merchants) Buy Less Grapes – All the companies are going to respect their obligations but they guarantee that this year they will buy 20% less’. They will also take on the line of credit arranged by the Madeira government. The growers were promised there would not be a grape unsold, but the truth is that the wine makers (merchants) will buy less this year than they did in 2008. They will meet their legal obligations, which forces the purchase of 75% of the grapes needed to produce the equivalent amount of wine sold, but will fall well short of what the government ‘instructed’. Only 3 out of 9 companies asked said they would be buying more grapes, another 6 intended to buy less. This must be a bit of a blow and embarrassment for the government, who promised the farmers that all their grape crop this year would be purchased, even arranging credit for the buyers at very special terms, and practically ordering them to buy everything. However the wine companies are taking the credit offered anyway, but not doing what the government wanted. Heads will roll for sure!
The main photo today shows an elderly lady in a house that certainly needs some repairs : ‘Over A Thousand Families For Rehoming In Funchal – There are people who fear that the roof might collapse because the law of urban rental was a blunder’. The lady pictured is ‘waiting for the roof to fall in’. She has lived there for 50 years, and is waiting for Funchal Council to rehouse her, along with more than a thousand other families on the waiting lists. The 86 year old lady she said she is afraid of being buried by rubble in her own house, but she is held ‘hostage’ by the lease. The owner of the property says that she can do nothing because the rent of €35 a month won’t pay for the works, or even be sufficient for the bank to consider a loan. There are several similar stories, some even worse. A new system of ‘urban leasing’, introduced in 2006 by the Government of the Republic to recuperate run-down houses in major cities, has brought nothing new. Just expenses and bureaucracy for landlords. It was also intended to end disputes between tenants and landlords. The tenants paid updated rents, but the difference was so negligible it does not cover the need for structural repairs. The law allowed for the rents to be increased and allow the recovery of derelict buildings, but the landlords say that the problems of 30 years ago are still there, because they cannot raise sufficient rent to resolve the problems, because the tenants are protected from rent increases that would reflect real market levels.
‘Two Father Martins "Fighters" In Machico – The canon "dismissed" from Sé goes to Machico and Ribeira Seca. The change excites Martins junior’. The decree dismissing the canon Manuel Martins was signed by the Bishop of Funchal on Saturday. The reasons given are vague, but seem to be related to things the canon said in the cathedral in Sé (Funchal), and mentions the questioning of the regional policy of support for the poor.
In football : ‘Marítimo At Their Worst In The League Cup – Goal of Baba avoids defeat facing Trofense’ (1-1).
‘CAMPANÁRIO – The parish and its people’ is released on September 12th’. The book by magistrate João Luís Gonçalves is relaunched in its second edition with some updates, the first being released in 2004 by journalist and writer José António Gonçalves. It says in the introduction "to remember and record the life of our land is one way of knowing ourselves. It is a setting of accounts and a tribute to our ancestors, as well as a duty to our countrymen of the future". I think it’s wonderful that people take the time and trouble to do this, with obviously little or nothing in compensation, because so few copies will be sold. If I can get hold of a copy I will definitely read it, as it’s material like this that tells the real story of life on Madeira.
UPDATES :
‘Jardim accused RTP of censorship – The president inaugurates road in Ponta do Pargo’. Alberto João Jardim yesterday accused RTP Madeira of censoring his inaugurations by imposing "colonial power". "[RTP] Almost gives no information about them [inaugurations]. They just put in a minute to disguise" he criticized. Then came the counter-attack, "Our struggle is not just a struggle for development, it is also to be free from colonial rule", he concluded. Jardim was opening a 500 metre new council road in Lombo Queimado, an investment of €210,000. I know what he is on about, but what is he on about … ‘Colonial power’ indeed. I am sure RTP would like to cover the inaugurations, but my guess is that they are too politically loaded to make impartial viewing at a time of elections, when the media is under extra scrutiny.
‘Jardim accuses the PS of mafia-like behaviour because of the embargo on the marina at Lugar de Baixo’. Without ever actually mentioning the name of the Socialist Party nor the Marina of Lugar de Baixo, Alberto João Jardim said on Saturday afternoon at Ponta do Sol that "having a work there ready to start working with, and to go and embargo it in the courts to undermine the people of Ponta do Sol", is an example of "mafia like behaviour". I am not quite sure I quite understood the true sentiment of that penultimate quote.
‘Regedor’ Fears That The PSD May Fall In Disgrace – He says that "the party will shrink in Tabua". The regedor, as he is known, is today honoured. He spent 62 years as leader’. I don’t know if the PSD is well received in Tabua, he says. "I think that the party is going shrink in Tabua, but it will be the PPD who wins". Who says so is the oldest active Portuguese politician, who is about to retire from political life after 62 years in service. He is just completing his ninth successive mandate as president of the parish (Junta da Freguesia) as the candidate for the PSD/PPD, and for years has been the top man in Tabua. António Ramos, his real name, will turn 89 in November. Proud of the long ‘career’ which is about to finish, Ramos is decisive : "In the world there is nobody who has 62 years [in politics]. Not even dictators". Although the PSD-M has not officially announced the presence of Manuela Ferreira Leite, sources contacted yesterday have assured that the national leader of the social democrats will be at the ceremony to be held this afternoon, in the parish of Tabua. I shall look out for her as she passes through Ribeira Brava to mix with the population this afternoon. She might be prime minister very shortly, so I might even manage a friendly smile.
