Presepios in Santana ; Quinta do Lorde fears bankruptcy ; Hotel prices lowered for crisis
Today’s Photo Thanks to Rita … this is the photo I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and for me just goes to show that black & white lives on, and in this case makes the subject so much more dramatic. Anyone other readers still using black and white these days? If not send me in a colour photo for publishing, and I can convert it to black and white on request. BTW its taken at Ponto do São Lourenço.
This is quite an interesting article about the opinions of Low Cost Airlines in Portugal. LINK
"The World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED), a World Tourism Organisation (WTO) institution, has assessed the Madeira Islands as a tourist destination based on 15 parameters". Repeated, because Don very kindly provided a link to the full report, which is quite interesting, and shows lots of strengths, but rather than than list the ‘weaknesses’ it very diplomatically puts the strengths in a lower rating band. It’s not very in-depth, but worth a read. MADEIRA EXCELLENCE
We had the Google wagon in Ribeira Brava this week, capturing it’s images for Street View. Luckily I was out of sight as it passed by, as no doubt Interpol will be checking all these images. I am looking forward to a ‘virtual walk’ around town very soon. Shame they didn’t wait a few more days, and then we would have a permanent record of the lovely Xmas decorations.
Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :
Region recorded an increase in beekeepers and hives. The number of beekeepers in the region has increased by 40% between 2008 and 2009. There are 142 registered beekeepers whereas there were only 104 last year. There are also 38% more hives, increased from a total of 2,262 to 3,127 this year. In terms of honey production, 30 tons is similar to the previous two years. This year, there has already been sold 300 kilograms of honey from organic production from the hives situated at Galhano in Calheta and this amount should increase next year. The six members of the two inspection teams visit hives to detect pests and diseases, and disseminate information from experimentation on new methods. There are two main serious diseases, one controlled by medications but the other can prove deadly to hives as the pests can become medication-resistant. Tomorrow in Ribeira Brava is the Festa de Santo Ambrósio, the patron saint of beekeepers in the region.This is a 20 year old tradition. The celebrations begin at 10.00 with Mass in the Church of Ribeira Brava, then at 11.00 a colloquium in the parish hall on the health of bees. A lunch at the restaurant Lugar de Baixo will include the traditional honey poncha. The lunch costs 16 Euros for adults and 8 Euros for children and is bookable by phone.
Collection by Abraço beats expectations. The association Abraço supports people diagnosed with HIV / AIDS. Their collection of food, hygiene and cleaning products exceeded expectations. Between 28 November and 1 December, they collected 26,000 packages which will be distributed to affected families. Abraço also supply meals daily. The association receives donations throughout the year of toys, educational supplies and clothing and have an increasing number of volunteers. On 12 December they are relaunching the fund-raising campaign to collect used electrical cables for their copper content. —- The Madeirans are being more generous each year, despite the economic difficulties.
Presépios of Portugal in Santana. Joao Egidio Rodriques, since he was six years old, has amassed a collection of over 2,000 nativity pieces from various countries and a hundred are displayed in the Casa da Cultura in Santana. This year, he will again be responsible for the decorations in the Largo do Chafariz and the large presépio in Funchal. Gold, red and purple are this year’s colours. The figures have arrived from the continent and are awaiting his final touches.
Expropriation of the sanitation in Santo da Serra. The basic sanitation in Santo da Serra is not functional despite the infrastructure being in place, as the three pumping stations have not been built. Problems in the ownership and location of land have meant that the 250,000 Euros stations have not been constructed. The sanitation should be working next year, depending on network connections by the Municipalities Machico and Santa Cruz. Until then, the population will still be forced to use septic tanks and the Municipality will still send out cleaning tankers.
Nails are ‘bleeding’ trees. Council have acknowledged the error and have had to replace the nails. Dozen of nails were driven by the Council itself into the trees that support the Christmas lights in Câmara de Lobos. This practice was once widespread but now has been virtually banned by environmentalists. The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos was annoyed by the wave of criticism and counter-attacked, "Today even a nail into a tree causes an outcry but maybe these people do not see the number of trees that were planted." He devalues the impact of the nails as he thinks they do not have any effect, and in some circumstances the branches will be cut during pruning. Quercus, the environment lobby, criticize driving nails, screws or other sharp materials into trees as they can cause the death of the tree, and other methods can be used. The fact that this practice has been carried out by local officials reinforced the tone of criticism, "Even more serious because the authority itself knows what it takes to keep the trees and public spaces healthy." What often happens is that the ornaments are removed but the nails are left in place, with consequences later on for the tree.
Court case to stop Quinta do Lorde will cause bankruptcy. The Director-General of the company of the Quinta do Lorde development said yesterday in court that if the work stops for more than three months, the company will go bankrupt. The pre-trial case is for the class action filed against the Council of Machico. The company has already spent 43 million Euros on the development in Caniçal. The marina and adjacent buildings cost 18 million and were completed in April 2007. The marina was financed by the Incentive Scheme for Tourism by 4 million Euros, of which €1.1 million was in grants, and the support of the Regional Government was 0.5 million Euros. The project directly employs 40 workers and indirectly provides employment for 200 people. The current restaurants and marina have an annual turnover of 350,000 – 400,000 Euros. There are around 600 entries / sailings per year of yachts in the bay of Funchal. The total bank loan is for €70 million and already €43 million has been spent. 650,000 Euros has been paid to Machico Council for licences. Contracts to the sum of €4 million have already been signed. The Council will gain €7 million from the cost of the enterprise. After pressure, the Quinta do Lorde management returned the public land around the Capela da Piedade and supported a network of sanitation and telecommunications / energy for 3 kilometres serving both the project and the Council. The environmentalist / popular author Raimundo Quintal is one of the witnesses and due to the complexity of the case, the parties are submitting written evidence.
Closure of São Lazaro by the end of the year. The Administration of the Harbours is to shut São Lazaro in the next 20 days due to a contract ending. 48 sailing vessels will have to be removed, not an easy task as some are in for maintenance work and some have been abandoned, occasionally the owner is not known. The administrators of Funchal Marina are trying to contact the owners but moving large boats in bad condition will be difficult and the authorities will not assume that responsibility. Three dozen owners of small boats will not have any facilities for storing the boats or equipment. This closure is due to the development of the Northern area of the port of Funchal. The opening of the area at Água de Pena should occur this week and will be managed by the same firm that manages the marinas at Quinta do Lorde and Porto Santo.
Transavia.com flights to Nantes. The low-cost carrier will fly on Mondays and Fridays from Madeira to Nantes (West provincial France) from next summer. Launch price of 90 Euros per leg. This should benefit the increasing number of French tourists. SATA has one flight a week to Paris, which will increase to two in the summer. Aigle Azur began last October a scheduled weekly flight, also to Paris, which could increase to two in the summer depending on demand.
CDS-PP propose a famer’s market in Ribeira Brava. The central parking area over the Ribeira was disapproved of by the majority of the PSD. The CDS-PP want a farmer’s market on land in front of the municipal auto-silo, so farmers can sell their produce on the same day.
Most hotels lowered prices to overcome crisis. Hoteliers emphasize that the cost of holidays in Madeira is increased by the cost of air transport. Most hotels in Madeira have lowered their prices to minimize the effects of the crisis, but Madeira keeps the status of high quality. The region has had decreased occupation this year. A five-star hotel is charging prices that used to be charged by a four-star hotel, and the latter now the same as a three-star hotel used to charge. They have had to decrease prices to compensate for the cost of flights. Reid’s Palace Hotel, one of the oldest on the island, has suffered from a 24% fall in (mainly) English tourists but has an increased number from France, Germany and Portugal, the latter by 30%. They are now looking at alternative markets, for example Scandinavia, Switzerland and Poland. The Director-General of Reid’s said that Madeira still has the same quality of customers as before, of higher quality than visit the Algarve. They will not lower their prices to attract more customers as they cannot provide the service any cheaper. The Tourism Minister also emphasized that the region will always remain a destination of quality despite reduced hotel prices. Everything has been done in the region to promote quality, including investments made by hotels in staff training and replacement of equipment. She thinks the current economic crisis is temporary, and that prices of hotels are now at the level two years ago and this situation is not desirable but recoverable.
Marine tourism activities grow in the region. Weather conditions allow operations throughout the year. Increasing are footpaths to contemplate the coast of the island and whale watching, though not always possible, with dolphins more probable as they occur in larger numbers in the North Atlantic. The visitor can also enjoy a swim in the warm, clean ocean off the island. The catamaran for whale and dolphin watching was very busy during the first year, especially the summer months, so the family business brought a second boat and numbers of visitors have been steadily increasing.
Special Presépios in the Dolce Vita. The initiative ‘Nativity Scenes Contest’ is in its fourth year. It is a competition for people with special needs to build presépios.The exhibition of them in the Dolce Vita is to promote inclusion and make awareness of the entire population that has special needs. They have been prepared in Centres of Occupational Activities in the region which welcome both young and adults with certain intellectual difficulties, some charities and some primary schools. The Toy Museum has also gained toys made from recycled materials, the results of an educational contest for people with special needs.
Region wants to borrow €129 million. The ALM want the Assembly of the Republic to rectify the State Budget to increase the net debt per capita in the Region. José Sócrates government will ask the Assembly of the Republic to increase the debt by more than €4.500 million, which will mean the State spends more than €15 billion than it raises in revenues, the largest deficit in 24 years. Jardim states that if the State Budget was altered, then the Autonomous Region could also increase its debt to about 388 million Euros, if the State agrees to an increase in Regional debt by €129 million.
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
Homeless resigned to spending Christmas in the ‘Casa dos Pobres (Poor House) – Those that live on the street are more concerned with survival day to day : food and a roof. It is meal time in the Protective Association for the Poor, on Rua do Frigorífico in Funchal, and those who rely on the free meals are appearing. António Pita, retired from the Câmara Municipal of Funchal says "It is true. I lunch and take an evening meal every day and Christmas isn’t going to be any different, I am going to spend it here". The tears are dancing in his eyes, but they quickly disappear. "I am already used to it" he adds. He is 69 years old, he receives a pension of €500 (a month I presume), and says he is alone in the world. "I have a daughter, but it is like I don’t have". He sleeps at night in a room for which he pays €300, and what remains doesn’t go very far, but he doesn’t lack anything, and is well clothed, shoed, and well fed. Another man says, "I have been unemployed since the Hotel do Mar closed. I am aged 51", says Mário Freitas. "[Xmas] is always a complicated season, I am alone, and all my family are in Venezuela". "I come here everyday for lunch and dinner, and what I receive from the Social Security doesn’t go any further". He was employed in the hotel until 12 years ago when it shut down, and has been unemployed ever since. Just a sample of some of the stories in the article.
Today’s top news headline : Vaccines for everybody with or without risk – The Clinical Director of SESARAM gave orders to the Health Centres to vaccinate whoever requests it as long as they are in possession of a referral note. And who makes it difficult picks up a ‘process’. For Miguel Ferreira, the more people that get vaccinated, the better, whether or not in an identified ‘at risk’ group. Yesterday there was a second fatal victim on Madeira, and another infected person remains in intensive care. The two thousand vaccines available at present won’t go very far, but the health chief has issued the order that anyone who comes forward with a ‘doctors note’ should be given the jab, and he is not interested if they are officially in a priority ‘at risk’ group or not, or hear talk of bureaucratic issues. Those who disobey his order by refusing to give the inoculation face disciplinary action.
Arabic crisis hinders ‘new’ Technopólo - It was announced with pomp and circumstance in 2005, the second phase of development of the Science and Technology Park of Madeira is now in check. The crisis has hit Arabic investors. For anyone with the time and urge to translate this article, here is the LINK
Dallas Circus in Funchal with a tent big enough for two thousand – The controversy is over : The Madeiran Xmas has a circus, Dallas, that was in the Marítimo Fair. For anyone with the time and urge to translate this article, here is the LINK
In sport, or football even, the main stories : Portuguese squad sets up camp in the zone of the Madeirans – During the 2010 World Cup Portugal will stay in Gauteng, a zone in reach of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Bruno is the news story in the Marítimo – Olhanense match today. The skipper is back already for this afternoons game, having just recovered from Gripe A swine flu. A win for Marítimo will put them in fourth place in the league table, but Nacional could retake the position tomorrow night.
Ronaldo missed a penalty, scored a goal, and was sent off. Cristiano Ronaldo had an eventful game last night in Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Almeria. The forward from Madeira missed a penalty, scored a few minutes later and then received a red card for a second bookable offence. Ronaldo was initially booked for taking his shirt off after scoring his team’s fourth goal and then received a second yellow card for lashing out at an opposition defender. After the game Ronaldo said: "I am human and I have faults" and added that he had raised his arm in "an instinctive reaction." The world’s most expensive player admitted he had apologized to his team mates and said he was “sad” to miss the next match against Valencia next week (and the one after I believe).
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Limitations of mandates doesn’t worry Jardim – President of the Madeira government considers that the rule is anti-democratic. For Jardim the limitation of terms served signifies that "the people cannot choose who they want, when they want". The programme of the new government of Portugal foresees the introduction of limits on how many terms can be served. You only have to look at the photo of Uncle Bertie (from the Diário) to see when a man has served enough terms already. I wonder why prime minister José Sócrates would want to limit the number of terms a politician might serve, what could have possibly motivated that? As for the comment "anti-democratic", well why is the words pot, kettle and black, suddenly leapt into my mind? 
Population ignores danger. The public in the areas of Maiata, Larano and Lombinho in Porto da Cruz risk their lives every day by using the road Caminho da Maiata da Baixo, which runs beneath a rocky slope which is threatening to collapse. The road was closed by Machico Council in January 2008 with two large concrete blocks at the entrance but the closure is ignored by the public. People have repositioned the blocks despite a car being crushed by a falling rock last year and the occupant lucky to escape injury. People still use the road to prevent a long diversion, for example a six kilometre detour to the centre of Porto da Cruz. Three weeks before the local elections, the council removed the boulders most in danger of falling but work has since stopped due to lack of finance. It will resume when construction of a nearby promenade has begun. 
Christmas illuminations more environmentally friendly. Assembly has begun of more than 400,000 lights which will form part of the Christmas display in Funchal from 27 November to 6 January. The lighting will differ from previous years with themes of astronomy and science alongside traditional themes. The lights are more energy efficient with greater longevity and lower power consumption and therefore more environmentally friendly. There will be stars, comets, planets and angels and the predominant colours will be green, red, gold and white with more bolder colours this year. There will also be the usual themed street displays plus flowers and the traditional exhibition of cribs in December. Also street entertainment. 
Goodbye ‘Costa Europa’. The ‘Costa Europa’ arrived at 6.30 am from Tenerife with 4,800 tourists and left at 17.00 for Malaga. It is the 90th and final time she will be in port with that designation. Next year she will be operated by Thomson Cruises and the contract is for ten years, with the option to buy after five. The ship was built in 1986 and named ‘Westerdam’, then renamed ‘Costa Europa’ in 2002 and first visited Funchal on 15 May that year. The ‘AIDAvita’ (1,300) and ‘Oceana’ (1,900 mainly British tourists) also in port.
Regional Plan for Homeless People presented today. 37 measures to be implemented by 2011. Multi-sector and in collaboration with public and private organizations. The plan is initially for the 60 homeless people the authorities know about, and to prevent further situations developing through drug addiction, alcoholism, unemployment, family conflicts and psychosocial disorders.
Today’s top headline : Câmara obliges ‘Infante’ to carry out urgent works – A clear ultimatum : either the administration of the building goes forward with repair works, or the council manages the process and passes the bill to the residents. We have great laws here which oblige owners to keep their property in good nick, and if they don’t the local council can take on the maintenance and repairs and bill the owners. This condominium building ‘Edifício Infante’ now has that ultimatum from Funchal council, and from the photo I think they have a fair point.
First seal cub to be born in 2009. Population of seals (Monachus monachus) in the region is now 39. On the 25th October, the rangers at the Desertas Islands observed the first cub of the year. The colony has at least seven breeding females and the majority of births occur in October and November, so they are hoping for more. The conservation project was begun in 1988, with three main guidelines: monitoring, protection and education. Monitoring is increased at this time of year to identify the mothers, observe the behaviour of the animals during the breeding season and be attentive to the emergence of new individuals. The local seal population is increasing, whereas worldwide the number of seals is decreasing and its range too. The world population is 500.
Second false distress alarm. Maritime Police and SANAS yesterday morning responded to a distress flare in the bay of Funchal. This flare was fired during training carried out by the Regional Directorate of Fisheries. The Port of Funchal had authorized the training but the location was not as expected, hence the Port Captain decided to launch a rescue.
Still lack of fuel on Porto Santo. Lack of petrol and diesel causing problems especially for public transport, tourism and rent-a-car sectors. It is worse at the weekends resulting in queues of cars and motorbikes at the city centre filling station. GALP is the only supplier and they say they are unaware of the problems and it is the petrol station managers who are liable.
Madeira is studying new fishing areas for Black Scabbard fish. Due to the reduced fishing haul, the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources is looking for new fishing areas. Want to innovate and develop the fishing industry of the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. Shrimp and crab are other species with economic potential in Madeira. Whoops a bit of duplication there, sorry Elaine, but your piece has a photo. Der
