Madeira News Blog

(22nd July). ‘Santa Cruz Relocation In Building Without Licence’. The council (câmara) has moved a family into a building that has no licence for habitation. The family, that lost their home in a large rockfall last October, were moved to a T2 apartment in the building, and their monthly rent of €450 has been paid by Santa Cruz Câmara. The building, situated near the fire station, doesn’t have a licence because a neighbour obtained an injunction at the time of construction two years ago, on the grounds that that they had lost their privacy. However, it is not the only apartment rented there, and the building is operating as though the court injunction doesn’t exist. The building is supplied with electricity, water, and has a mailing address, things that normally can only be set-up after the habitation licence has been issued. The co-owner of the building, a local businessman refused to deal with the matter ‘before the elections’, and his lawyer, said the building was completed before the injunction was imposed, and argues in defence of the situation in legal terms.

Government launches within days a tender competition for high-speed networks in the Azores and Madeira – Minister wants Portugal "with a single speed". This is a national project, that aims to equip all of Portugal with new generation communication networks, all to the same standard. 1.5 million homes on the continent are already equipped. "Portugal will be the first country in the world to meet all the conditions for the country, being fully integrated with new generation networks", said the Secretary of Communications, Paulo Campos.

‘Two New Cases Of Gripe A On Madeira – The victims both originated from the UK’. The H1N1 swine flue virus has been detected in a 10 year old child, and a 25 year old, who are now patients in the Hospital dos Marmeleiros, but in clinically good shape. All 3 cases here so far have arrived from the UK.

‘Suspect Makes ‘Black List’ – Alleged kidnapper leaves a series of disputes, and people on Porto Santo sleeping with a gun at the bedside’. With the ringleader at large, people close to the victim feel unsafe. The population of Porto Santo are recovering slowly from the shock of the kidnapping and murder of the businessman Guilherme Alves, but those close to the man admit to sleeping with a gun at the bedside, living in tension. Those who knew the kidnapper, José Martins know a man with aggressive instincts who doesn’t "think on the means to achieve his objectives", and that he is someone from whom one "could expect the worst". Having gone bankrupt, he wrote a long list of names of those he considered responsible on a large plaque, and put it next to a tombstone, but the name of his first victim wasn’t actually on the list. The extensive list included however, the names of several companies in different sectors of the construction industry, businessmen, engineers, public institutions, and some individuals. Martins was known to have recently spent time on Porto Santo, and he also married a girl in Brazil and was able afterwards to obtain dual nationality. Brazil does not extradite nationals.

‘José Martins Was Candidate For The PS’. The alleged killer was a member of the socialist party here, and stood for election and fulfilled a term in Ponta Delgada. Lots of stories coming out of the woodwork now, but can’t cover them all.

‘Second Suspect Detained For Kidnapping Of The Porto Santo Businessman – A man aged 32 was arrested in Funchal’. The arrest of the foreign national was made on Monday following police investigations into the kidnapping and murder. The ringleader of the gang is still on the run and being sought by Interpol.

There is another story about another businessman who went to the site of the murder in Camacha, in order to discuss business with the ringleader of the kidnap gang. 

‘Murder In Curral Results In 18 years In Jail’. The 50 year old victim who lived in Vereda da Achada, Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns) was attacked with a sickle and a knife last June by his drunken neighbour, after a dispute about land. The 24 year old man admitted his crime in the court in Funchal.

This is an artists impression of the new 15,000 square metre gardens to be created in Amparo (west of Funchal) as mentioned here a few days ago. Funchal council will go out to tender for the work, which should be finished within a year. The new garden will have various features, such as an outdoor cafe and terrace, a children’s playground, a pond, and plants of different species from different geographical areas. The area will be enclosed so it can be closed at night.

In the same article as one of the kidnap stories, rather curiously the Diário decided to publish the numbers of immigrants legally resident here, and I thought it might be of interest. In total there are 7,201 foreigners living here (2008) : Brazil (1255); United Kingdom (899), Venezuela (836), Ukraine (736), Germany (430), Romania (377), Moldova (200), Italy (195) and China (181).

(1st July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Government Finishes With Regional Red Wine (Vinho Seco) – The executive orders analyses to be done, apply taxes and control the retail sales. Everything in the name of quality to put in order the wine of the poor’. A sub headline says ‘Dry wine of Madeira ‘sentenced’ to extinction’. Madeira’s government have already published an order in the official journal (Joram) that defines the rules to control retail sales of Vinho Seco on Madeira and Porto Santo. Producers and farmers "who want to stay in business" must comply with the rules, which include chemical-physical analysis, payment of taxes and quota limits, and fines for not meeting date deadlines. However that may help eliminate the copious quantities of dubious quality wine that is sold openly. The tax is set at around 7 cêntimos per litre, for a minimum quantity of 500 litres. A EU regulation adopted in 2006 is also to be used to try to get farmers to switch to a vine that produces a better quality table wine, but that is likely to take at least another 6 years. This is the dry red wine that tourists will probably never see, that is the main result of lower grade grape vines that cover Madeira. It is what many locals, and particularly poor people drink, and can be brought for around €1 a litre, or €0.35 by the glass in a bar. It is also the source of many an alcoholic on Madeira, or at a lesser level drunkenness on the streets. I drink it now and again, in moderation of course, rather than pay 4+ times the price for glass of a bottled wine, but my expertise comes from being a grape picker every autumn. Normally it tastes fine, but bad brews have been known, and this is sometimes then illegally distilled to make spirits. This will certainly be seen as taking a dig at the poor, but on the other hand it does cause a lot of social problems. Should the wine become tightly controlled or even extinct, it will only result in a ‘moonshine’ market for sure, as these vines exist on just about every bit of arable land not used for commercial agriculture.

‘Suspect Of Gripe A In Madeira Airport – Health authorities investigate two suspected cases’. The two people were taken to the health unit at Madeira Airport on Tuesday night, after travelling from London with flu symptoms. A ‘prevention’ team has been assembled at the airport to manage the situation until the H1N1 swine flu has been analysed.

‘Summer 2009, 44 Beaches Waiting For You’. A generic headline with several sub headlines:

1. ‘There Are Still Many Beaches Without Surveillance’. Around 130 life-guards and assistants have been employed, but there are not enough to cover all the legal requirements on all the beaches. Notices should be posted at beaches to inform the public of the life-guard situation. Also, two search and rescue boats that were acquired in 2003, but have been grounded through bureaucracy, will be finally launched on 15th July, depending on a final inspection.

Further information on safety and conditions  for all beaches can be obtained on a website, but when I checked it was not working properly MADEIRA BEACHES

2. ‘The Swimming Pool In Ribeira Brava Disrespects Edict’. This is about the council or their contractors emptying the swimming pool for cleaning during peak beach hours, when the complex is full of people. The same with the kiddies paddling pool. They do it often, and even worse, the foot washing facility which feeds of the pool ceases to function, ending up with beach sand all over the place. The council have now committed to doing something about it.

3. ‘Scalding Prices Of Hotels On Porto Santo In August’. (I will have to leave that one for now, as there is loads today).

‘Desperation Arrives At The New Desk Of Social Security’. The new service set up to deal with growing numbers of enquiries from people claiming or trying to claim benefits, or just obtain advice, is struggling under the load, with over 2,000 enquiries in six weeks. The time taken to respond, and the quality of information is leaving much to be desired, with different clerks giving different information on the same topic, and some responses taking several days.  Most enquiries are along the lines of "when will I receive my benefits".  The new system was started around 2 months ago in order to improve the response to ‘customer enquiries’, through personal visits, through a WEBSITE, email (cssmadeira@seg-social.pt), or by telephone (808 200021) during the hours 9am – 12.30 and 2pm to 5pm.  On the website one can see personal data, change address or bank details, apply for benefits and pensions(?), request the European Health Card (the old E111 ?), obtain statements etc.

(30th June). ‘UNESCO Intervenes In The Rabaçal Cable Car – A committee seeks to assess the impact on the heritage’. The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has requested a "quick" evaluation of the controversial project to build a cable car in Rabaçal, after the matter was discussed at talks ongoing in Seville. The report will need to be delivered by 1st February 2010. The area is covered by Laurissilva forest, which in 1992 was incorporated into the network of biogenetic reserves of the Council of Europe and is a designated Special Protection Area under the directive for birds. On the other hand, the regional government of Madeira stresses that the cable car project "aims to enhance an area of unique beauty, creating a convenient fast and safe access, with minimal visual impact on the landscape".

‘Portugal Telecom launches FTTH network on Madeira’. Portugal Telecom (PT) has launched triple-play services delivered over its new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network on Madeira, giving residents access to Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The new triple-play packages, called ‘Meo Fibra’, are available from today in two versions – ‘Meo Fibra 20 Megas’, offering Internet speeds of up to 20 Mbps. unlimited telephone calls between 9pm and 9am and 70 linear channels on the telco’s IPTV service ‘Meo’, costing €47.41 per month; and ‘Meo Fibra 100 Megas’, offering Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps, unlimited telephone calls and 100 linear channels on its IPTV service, costing €61.66 per month. The new network is being installed in 12,000 homes across the island by the end of this year, using 150 km of fibre-optic cable. Not sure I understand all of that … so just as well I didn’t have to translate it!

A new office in Funchal has opened to deal with simple divorces and matters of inheritance, the first of it’s kind on Madeira. It is located in Edifício 2000, and was opened on Monday. Besides saving time in the resolution of the matters mentioned, it should also work out a lot cheaper. In the case of inheritances it will be possible to work out entitlement in the sharing of goods, and deal with any taxes and records of ownership (property etc.), relating to anywhere in Portugal. In the case of simple ‘shared divorces’, it will be possible to deal with all acts and formalities connected with a decision to divorce, division of property and marital assets, and manage taxes and records. The cost savings are considerable, and what used to cost €1,200 to €1,500 should now cost nearer €300. The aim is to open similar facilities in all the 11 regions of Madeira by the end of this year.

The EU has announced that from today (1st July) mobile charges between EU countries will be limited to €0.43/min to make calls, €0.19/min to receive them and texts €0.11. Outside of Europe costs are higher.

(10th June). Today’s main photo shows a father and son looking out over the subject of the news article (but I could swear they are superimposed onto the photo) : ‘Rifle Range Disgusts Residents – Neighbours of RG3 already wrote to Sócrates’. "If when Peter Albuquerque brought an apartment in São Martinho, he had known of the rifle range RG3 right in front, he never would have purchased". Shortly after he and his wife and 9 month old son settled in the hell started, with gun shots from the drills from the armed services and police at all hours. No decision has been taken yet, but it is in the hands of the minister responsible for defence, who is part of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sócrates who was sent a letter of complaint. It is the same situation with other neighbours. I thought to start with silly sod for buying it there, but it seems there is a training camp / facility there and the rifle range has been moved recently to a position near to people’s homes.

‘Celebration of Corpus Christi Goes Out To Madeiran Communities – The Mass at Church College (Igreja Colégio) will be broadcast by RTP International’. The Choir of Orfeão Madeirense participate Thursday in the Eucharistic celebrations of Corpus Christi in Funchal. The event can be watched around the world through the channel RTP International.

‘Ex-leader Of PS Coordinates Controversial Project’. I am not absolutely clear on the implication of the headline here, but basically it is a story of a new development of 6 houses in Boa Nova, Funchal, where the actual building seem bigger and different to the approved plans. You know the routine, neighbours complain, council gets involved, and then you find that an ex-councillor with an interest in the project was actually on the council when planning consent was granted. Just coincidence surely?

‘Madeira Has A Suspected case Of H1N1 – A man has been taken into hospital in Funchal as a preventative measure’. The 52 year old man returned from the United States with flu like symptoms. He is "clinically well" and awaiting the results of the screening tests expected today from Lisbon. Bit of an odd story really as H1N1 could be regular flu, but one suspects they are looking for the swine variety, or even the bird variety.

‘Savoy Hotel Workers Ponder New Ways To Fight – The employees await the result of a letter from Madeira’s president to the Group Siet Savoy’. The workers from the Savoy Hotel met yesterday to discuss new ways to fight their collective dismissal, and aside from the court action already underway, they have decided to wait until 23rd June, and at that time may commence ‘street action’ to make their protest. I wonder what Uncle Bertie’s letter to the Savoy says, after the government backed the proposal to knock down the old Savoy … probably starts something like this … Dears Sirs, I know we were in agreement about knocking down the Savoy Hotel, but I don’t recall you mentioning that the staff would be laid off as a result …

’24th Gastronomic Fair Of Machico’. Plans are underway for the annual food fair, with interested participants invited to come forward next month. The event will run from 31st July until 9th August, with the usual objective of sharing traditional Madeira cuisine with whoever is willing to eat it.

With so many problems of insecurity in Venezuela due to political tension and an uncertain future, may Portuguese emigrants are considering the possibility of returning home as an escape route, if the worst comes to the worst. Madeira has a huge emigrant population living in Venezuela.

‘Santa Cruz Doesn’t Have Water Charge Collectors – The Council alerts after attempts to fraud’. The council says that it has no collectors for money owed for water consumption, and residents should only pay their bills in the places ‘listed’, being "payments made directly in cashiers in council premises, in payshops in CTT, and through bank transfer". Reports of people posing as official collectors should be passed to the police.