Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo : Thanks to Jon … another hand-coloured old picture postcard view

Today’s main headline. The new mayor of Porto Moniz wants to know exactly the accounts Gabriel Farinha has left. The newly elected mayor of Porto Moniz wants to know the real situation of the accounts of the municipality. The claim of Valter Correia surprised the two Socialist councillors, that the financial situation is equally or more worse than he imagined and because of that there would be an audit. Victor Correia confirmed that he wants a detailed report of the economic situation but played down the alarm raised by the Socialist Party. "This is not a full audit. That is not what we are talking about." "We are obliged to divide the two accounts and have a new account within a period of 45 days, so let’s add a line to tell us the state of the accounts." The mayor wants previous financial years and financial resources rigorously established, especially the liabilities, loans, the current monthly expenditure of the municipality and other accounting details that allow the new town council to schedule a program of feasible initiatives. The relationship between the former mayor, Gabriel Farinha and Valter Correia has been deteriorating in recent months, so the decision might be directly related to suspicions or doubts of mismanagement during the previous eight years of office. Valter Correia denies that he has ever thought that way, ensuring that it is just and only a tool for the development of the municipality. "I really need to know the state of the accounts and what I can do in the future." He took the opportunity to criticize the opposition and admits that the financial situation of the council" is complicated, but is not as onerous as they might be saying."

Nearly 400 125cc motorbikes sold since August. A legislative amendment for holders of ‘Category B’ driving licences has led to a race for bikes, an average of five sold per day, tripling the number sold in the same period last year. The demand for bikes of 125cc per cylinder has been such that there are brands that have waiting lists for certain models, e.g. Suzuki, Honda and SYM. Some customers have to wait for three to four weeks. Models of the Chinese SYM have sold well as they are cheaper, from 1,700 Euros upwards. Yamaha bikes have also tripled in sales and the small stock of used Yamaha bikes was exhausted in July.

Pico dos Barcelos – for tourists (not) to see. The view over the city of Funchal is as beautiful as ever, but the frame that surrounds it is not pleasant. For years, a scenario of degradation took over the Pico dos Barcelos, one of the most iconic and sought viewpoints of Madeira, with a daily circulation of hundreds of tourists. As beautiful a landscape as it is, they cannot remain alien to the poor condition of the area, the abandoned buildings located nearby, turned into garbage dumps and shrub that grows uncontrollably on the southern side. Those that live and earn their living in the immediate vicinity of this area to be redeveloped, scheduled for early next year, see it as a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, the last hope to bring back the dignity to that important tourist spot in the parish of Santo António. The 8,489 square metre area will probably have to be fenced off, like Santa Catarina Park, to prevent vandalism and an area for drug addicts. Two nearby abandoned buildings are garbage dumps and act as shooting rooms for drug addicts. These situations cause concern to those living in the area and leads to questions about public health, not least because of the proliferation of rats in the neighbourhood. The two areas have been cleared of rubbish in the past but are soon filled again with household waste. The enclosure of the viewpoint leaves a lot to be desired. The pump for the ornamental fountain has failed and the street vendors fear the stagnant water becoming a breeding ground for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The gardens are reasonably well tended but are not as nice as they were, and plants have been illegally taken. There are also safety concerns due to holes in the floor, broken glass and a broken bench. The degradation is from both wear and tear and vandalism.

Funchal has no room for some Christmas activities. Amusement parks, circuses, fairs and even an ice rink. Funchal Council have received nine applications to install such equipment during the Christmas and New Year, but the companies were told the municipality does not have suitable spaces with regards to safety, infrastructure and noise levels. If a company can find a privately owned area and has the owner’s consent, the council will evaluate and decide whether it is possible to license the operation. Other councils might have suitable areas. Funchal Council have had 76 applications for street vendors; 11 for foliage, 20 for toys and 45 for Market Night. They prefer traders who already hold a licence and will not make decisions until December.

Firefighters without the means to help animals. On Porto Santo, the bombeiros do not have the means to help animals requiring assistance. A cat was frightened by dogs and took refuge on top of an electricity pole. Unable to descend, and being too high for the owner, the owner asked for help from the bombeiros who said that it was not a matter for them but the Electricity Company. The Electricity Company carried out the rescue. After complaining to the bombeiros, who were unoccupied at the time, they apologized but said that due to lack of manpower they could not risk leaving the post to rescue an animal, in case an emergency call came and people are their priority.

Man hit by falling eucalyptus. A 34 year old was under observation at the hospital last night after being injured at work. He was hit in the leg by a falling eucalyptus he was cutting, and was rescued by the bombeiros.

Failures in the treatment of hazardous waste. The Communist MP Leonel Nunes showed photographs of liquids escaping from containers at Meia Serra waste treatment plant. These were organic hazardous waste, especially of hospital origin, and remained in the area for months instead of a maximum of seven days. He wants a parliamentary inquiry into the operation of the unit that had been presented as the "best in the world". The Social Democrats accused him of exaggerating since it was only "a single failure" and the vote went against an inquiry. A malfunction of two incinerators for bio-waste forces the company to export hazardous waste to the mainland. The Department of the Environment said there is no link between the export of medical waste to Spain and the company of Manuel Godinho, the suspect in the ‘Hidden Face’ inquiry. Valor Ambiente has no relationship with either Godinho’s business group or the waste management company Resatlantico, recently licensed in this region.

Opposition with greater powers in Santa Cruz. Revolution. For the first time in the history of democracy in Madeira, the approval of subdivisions and award of public contracts above 250,000 Euros will not be managed or delegated by the mayor. This is the conclusion of the Socialist Party and Movement Together for the People (JPP), as the PSD executive has no majority but the mayor rejects the notion that these two parties will have greater powers.

Business Centre could double IRC receipts in the region. As early as 2012, the International Business Centre could double the current revenue from IRC (€80 million). Last year, the revenue was €94 million but has fallen due to the economic crisis. The companies at the centre contribute to economic globalization, financially contribute to the region and help to promote Madeira. A large Brazilian steel group has just opened a branch in the centre and companies in the group mine ore and export ore and steel. Jardim wants the Portuguese Constitution to be revised so the free zone can continue to exist and be internationally competitive.

More air routes needed to stem the loss of British tourists. The British tourists are flying to destinations outside the euro zone (e.g. Turkey and Egypt) due to the recession and the devaluation of the pound. The Secretary of State for Tourism at the World Travel Market in London suggested more air routes to Portugal would offer a wider choice of flights and prices may fall to attract more tourists. There was an increase in the number of routes (198) after a change in legislation and the Secretary wants to increase them further. Next May, Jet2 fly to Faro from Edinburgh, and Funchal to Manchester. Ryanair might extend its presence in Portugal, with more flights to the UK and other destinations.

Social Marketing Plan in 2010 to alert Madeirans to poverty and exclusion. Developed by the Department of Social Security to extend the effect of the four plans implemented this year. There will be messages disseminated through the media using advertising campaigns, symposia and conferences with local experts and outsiders and various initiatives. These are to make people aware of the problems and think about them, especially social exclusion, and help to resolve them.

Computerised help when deciding on a hair style. A new hair salon, Hair Boutique, in Rua 5 de Outubro in Funchal, will offer personalized advice through a computer program showing ‘now and after’. For example, cut and colour, for both men and women. The hairdresser also specializes in hair extensions and wigs essential for health reasons.

Region has 1,600 immigrants from Eastern Europe. In the auditorium of the Municipal Gardens in Funchal tomorrow at 20.00, there will be a Meeting of the Peoples of the East. There are 1,600 people residing in Madeira from both EU and non-EU parts of 18 countries of Eastern Europe. There are 363 Romanians and 736 Ukrainians. There will be a culinary display and a traditional group from Caniçal and the Ukraine Group Budjane.

An attempt to judicialize the political process. Funchal Council (PSD) approved a private construction project in Santo António for a set of town houses. A PND councillor said this is contrary to the Municipal Plan which provides for the construction of detached houses, and he is taking the matter to the Administrative and Fiscal Court. The council said the decision was based on advice from expert opinions and this "threat" was an attempt to "judicialize what is the political process". The councillor also complained that as regards another subject, he had difficulty in obtaining information he should be entitled to. The council replied that he had not gone through the correct channels. —– Corruption?

Discontent in SESARAM. The Union of Nurses and the Independent Union of Doctors met today. The doctors are still unhappy about the ‘legal vacuum’ related to medical careers that exist in the continent and the nurses are discontent about career structure, and reforms implemented by the management which have led to demotivation and dissatisfaction. The decision to strike has not been ruled out by both professional bodies.

Many thanks to Elaine again for all the above, from yesterday’s newspapers.

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(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).