Madeira News Blog

(15th September). Today’s main news headline : ‘Câmara Loses Revenue – Funchal council charged tax to the Pestana Hotel Group at the start of an unconstitutional regulation. As a result, 15 years after, it is forced to return 255 thousand Euros’. It’s an old case, dating back to December 1994, when the boss of the Pestana Group was told that the câmara had determined the payment for council tax had been established at over €255,000 for the division of lots at the site of Quinta Leacock. The local authority considered that such a fee was payable under the Regulations of Fees and Licenses, passed by the council on 9th May 1994. The Pestana Group argued that the site, intended for the construction of the ‘Pestana Village’, was exempt from the regulations, and first appealed to the courts in 1996. From there it gets complicated and detailed, but in a nutshell, 13 years after the initial court case, the Pestana Group has now won its battle, and is now free to recover the payment which should never have been made.

Today’s main front page photo shows a concerned lady pointing up at the scenic rock face in front of her : ‘Houses And Road At Risk In Madalena – The report of LREC confirmed the evident signs of ‘instability’ in the rock face’. A cliff face with obvious signs of instability is causing concern in Madalena do Mar. It’s the part between sítios da Palmeira (above) and Banda d`Além (below) in the general area of the bathing complex to the west. It is causing particular concern, as in the event of a collapse, the buildings above could also be sent plummeting. The findings are revealed in a report by the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LREC), who were on site to assess the conditions of the problem area located slightly ahead of the mouth of the tunnel that leads to Calheta, almost opposite the access ramp to the local beach. A spokesman from Ponta do Sol council tries to reduce the fears saying that "the opinion is just a warning. There is nothing [danger] imminent". However, the council is working with a housing organisation "trying to find alternative space" for residents in the danger zone, because says the council president, "perhaps not to do ‘the devil contrives’ and we have there another problem in our hands" (as a rule, I try and avoid translating such sayings or expressions). The assessment by LREC was triggered by an application for a building permit for a block of 12 apartments, an application that was understandably refused in the circumstances. Amongst the recommendations of the LREC to stabilise the rock face are dynamic barriers, high strength mesh, and where possible steel and concrete reinforcement, as well as the building of a wall lower down to retain falling rocks. The report also warns of the danger of carrying out the costly work, which in itself might trigger some problems, and the dangers of continuing erosion through atmospheric conditions. Rui Marques, council president, who is a qualified engineer, believes that the LREC report is "just a warning of the possibility and not an imminent situation. The opinion is more about prevention, with care needed not to scare people", he said.

’87% Of Candidates Get Placements In The First Phase Of Higher Education – Just 187 Madeiran students didn’t get through’. It is the lowest number in recent years, with only 187 students not placed in the first stage of the competition for access to Higher Education. 87% of the candidates who competed on Madeira for a place in the Portuguese universities were selected. Until this Friday, the 187 students who were not placed in the first round of applications, can still compete for vacancies that remained unfilled.

Today’s sport headline : ‘Award For Dinis – The awards ‘Diário / Powerade’ will be delivered today, distinguishing also the dedication of Dinis Aveiro to regional sport’. A posthumous ‘career award’ is to be made to Dinis, for his contribution to sport on Madeira, and in particular his club ‘CF Andorinha’. Always the last to leave after training, putting away the equipment, always with a smile, and an urge to monkey around, he was a true example of dedication and love for his football club. Then at the weekend, he was always off to watch his football team Marítimo. Not a name many readers will recognise for sure, but you might of heard of his son, Cristiano Ronaldo.

A group of mothers from Câmara de Lobos are threatening to stop their kids going to school, because despite living some way away from the school their children attend, they are not able to receive subsidised but passes. Yesterday morning, the group tried to get a reaction from the school and the Department for Education and Culture, but without success, and now they threaten that their children, aged between 10 and 15, will not go to school unless there is a solution to the problem. The golden rule seems to be ‘one kilometre’ away to qualify for a subsidised bus pass (normally costing €43 a month in this case), but it seems that schools have some say in the matter, taking into account distance, roads [existence?], and even steep slopes. With ‘back to school’ next week, and elections that following Sunday, probably something will be done very quickly to pacify matters and keep the voters happy.

‘Serra d’ Água Will Be A Mini European City’. President Jardim highlighted the "notable unban regeneration" in Serra d’ Água in recent years, during the inauguration of the new plaza (pictured) and public park of the parish. Alberto João Jardim went as far as to compare the location within the region of Ribeira Brava to "any well developed small town in Europe". The parish is now equipped with a multifunctional space especially designed for leisure and entertainment, with an amphitheatre, a playground, a bar with a terrace, and an underground car park of two floors with the capacity for 59 cars. €1.7 million has been spent, and further investment is promised.

‘The number of cancer patients has increased’. Following yesterday’s headline in the Diário about the lack of resources and conditions for cancer patients attending hospital in Funchal, with some having to go private for scans, the Regional Secretary for Social Affairs assures that the prevention of cancer, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancer patients, are priorities of the Madeira Government. However, it is also true that "the number of patients with cancer has been increasing alarmingly". He assures that works are planned to expand, and points out the recently opened Radiation Therapy Centre, and also the new centre for the Volunteers of the Portuguese League Against Cancer. The Secretary states that the situation will change substantially after the expansion work in the Department of Hemato-Oncology. At that time, there will be a ‘Unit for Pain’, as well as better equipment to make diagnostic tests.

(14th September). Today’s main news headline : ‘Oncology Without Means Causes Desperation – The hospital promises rectification but admits to not having conditions nor doctors to attend to the dozens of patients that pass each day in the service Haemato-Oncology(?), where there are tac and ultrasound scans waiting to be dealt with’. The service is working at its limit, and just doesn’t have the medical means and conditions to serve the hundreds of patients who attend the service of Hemato-Oncology (I am having trouble with medical terms here, hence the different spelling!). Maria’s life took a turn when her husband became ill and doctors discovered that he had cancer in his tongue. The last months have been a struggle with consultations, treatments, tests and long waits in the Emergencies Department, in the services of Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre. Funchal Central Hospital has two oncologists, and they cannot meet the demand for tacs and other scans. Patients, such as Maria’s husband, are being referred to the private sector, and having to pay. Maria explains that it is not just the illness that burdens, it is more than that. She says with tears dancing in her eyes, that if it wasn’t for the understanding at her work, she would be unemployed by now. Her husband cannot take public transport to the hospital from their home in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, and so she needs to pay €30 for a taxi, a lot of money on a domestic helpers salary, and money is already tight. Two scans needed cost her another €85, and the long periods of waiting mean taking a lot of time off work. Maria’s story is similar to many family members of patients who receive a cancer diagnosis, and they have to learn to cope with the disease and with a system lacking conditions, doctors and resources to act adequately. Even the clinical director of the Department of Health for Madeira acknowledges that it is true, but reminds that improvements are planned for the service of Hemato-Oncology, with work starting in October with an expansion of the laboratory test area. More consulting and treatment areas, with better conditions, are also planned, but the director says it is dependant on bureaucratic procedures. Even with new scanning equipment being planned, the unit will not be able to cope with all the requirements, and people will continue to be referred to private practices. FOOTNOTE : If referred by the health service to a private practice, under the green requisition system, the price paid is significantly reduced from that normally charged.

‘Beach-Goers Block Cemetery – Confusion at the cemetery entrance, that is located near to the beach meaning parking spaces are much in demand’. This is just across the valley from me, and quite why it is on the front page I don’t know. Anyway, despite there being a car park right next to the beach, people don’t want to pay, so the road outside the cemetery, that overlooks the beach, gets congested and cemetery access is a problem. It is particularly a problem when there is a funeral, and the necessary vehicles cannot get access. The council say it is a matter for the police to deal with, but calls for "a little civility" to ensure there is access and that those who need to visit the cemetery can park there. According to a local priest, "it is a fact that there really is a lack of civility, but also it is a reality we are experiencing, in that people need to save a few cêntimos, so it is natural to look for spaces where one doesn’t need to pay". The police say they are aware of the situation, and that numerous cars have already been fined, and will continue to ensure the area is policed. It is an offence to to deny access to properties, buildings, and garages, and any cases noticed should be promptly reported to the police.

Another ‘headline’, is the announcement that that applications are open today for the Diário’s annual event, the ’100 Biggest & Best Companies’. Moving on …

The main front page picture today is from yesterday’s football match : ‘First Defeat Marked With Mistakes – Marítimo lost to the championship leader (Braga). Carlos Carvalhal (Manager), that has only won 2 games out of the 16 since training the verde-rubros, blames the referee. What lacks is an excuse for the apathy in attack’.

‘Champion Sand Sculptor’. Brandon Allen is from Porto Santo, is 14 years old, and is the latest national champion of sand sculptures. The competition, an initiative of the Diário de Notícias in Lisbon, had the final on the white sand beach in Lourinha in Portugal, with the winners from 29 beaches nationwide competing for the prestigious title. Brandon won with his feminine sculpture shown, and is the first ever winner from Porto Santo. On winning, "It was indescribable, I was thrilled and very happy. There are no words to describe what I felt", said Brandon.

The parish (freguesia) of Camacha has a new website : www.freguesiadacamacha.pt

‘Competition To Inaugurate Cycle Path’. The cycle path at Estrada Monumental will be inaugurated on Friday by Funchal council, and a competition is being held to mark the occasion for ‘non polluting’ (home made) vehicles, such as go karts. Judging is to be at 7 pm. A number of events have also been organised for Saturday and beyond, to mark the European Week For Mobility. It ends on the 22nd September with the opening of the ‘Green Line’ (Linha Verde), when the five buses that work the route between Funchal and Praia Formosa will be replaced with the new environmentally friendly models, which should also relieve traffic congestion on the route.

UPDATES FROM THE POLITICAL NEWS :

The last of today’s headlines : ‘Debate Puts 12 Talking Together For An Hour – The proposal of RTP-M doesn’t please the candidacies where national and local elections are mixed’. The debate on the Madeira TV channel is scheduled for the 23rd September, but those expected to take part are not happy with the proposed format, which will involve 12 representatives from the different political parties to sit and debate in one single session lasting a little over an hour. Bernardo Trindade, the head of the socialist list said: "The PS will be present, out of respect for Madeira and Porto Santo, but we are well aware that this debate will serve for nothing, since it is impossible to discuss seriously the problems affecting Madeira and in Porto Santo (in such a forum)". It would certainly be a spectacle of unpleasantness and disorder that I would watch, but as for a decisive guide for the discerning voter, I think not. I feel however that I have a duty to say that there is no truth in the rumour that President Jardim’s social democrats are happy with the 12 person format, on the condition that exactly 11 of them are PSD representatives, in line with the democratic principles of the party on Madeira. 

‘Santa Cruz inaugurates 12 works up to the elections – In less than a month 23% of the works promised will be inaugurated’. The electoral program with which the current PSD president of Santa Cruz, José Alberto Gonçalves, was elected four years ago, promised 51 public works in the 5 districts of the region. 12 of these are due to be inaugurated, or opened, before the local elections on 11th October. Opposition parties accuse the council of trying to mislead the voters and cover up the failures of the current administration. On the face of it, the opposition have a bit of a point, as spread evenly the inaugurations should work out at about one a month, not 12 in less than 4 weeks. However, like all councils, Santa Cruz have to do things the ‘Uncle Bertie way’, and that means holding projects back until election time to leave the voters with good and very recent memories, as their needs and desires are fulfilled. Are voters really that stupid, as Bertie and the PSD are indirectly implying. I think not. The majority will still vote for Bertie regardless of how many white elephants, pigs in pokes, and BS the government and councils deliver, so what is the point in holding things back?

Along similar lines, we in Ribeira Brava have been treated to free entertainment over the Summer weekends. At first it was once a fortnight or less, now it is every week, and the quality acts are being saved until the last weeks, as last night showed when probably over a thousand people came to watch several acts, one of which was imported. The president of Ribeira Brava was quoted in the newspaper some weeks ago as saying he doesn’t mix politics with business … yeah, right! Of course they are not really free, as someone pays for them, probably the taxpayer, or perhaps I have it all wrong and the PSD fund it all from their election budgets?

Loads of political stuff in today’s newspaper (more than the rest put together, excluding sport and entertainment), and on the TV, radio … it’s everywhere and there is nowhere to hide without going into hibernation. I reckon the Diário must have already sacked those 10 journalists, and it seems that none of the sacked ones were from the political reporting team.

(12th September). Today’s main news headline, and also the main photo (unusually striking for the Diário, but not the one shown here) is of a very high support pillar for a new road bridge : ‘Expropriations Catch Bispo – The works of the Cota 500 take away land and generate anxiety. D. Teodoro is one of the compulsory purchase targets, and has already received €13,000 for a plot of 135 square meters’. He is also selling 3 more plots of 31, 591, and 308 m2, in one of the largest public investment projects to date focused on the people of the high zones of Funchal. Crossing the parishes of Santo António and São Roque, the ‘Cota 500′ involves seven tunnels and 9 bridges. Phase one, already underway goes between Vasco Gil and Ribeira Grande, is costing €40 million. Phase two, a total of 4,200 metres, takes the road to Fundoa, and will cost around €60 million, and is in the government work programme that finishes in 2011. The compulsory purchase of land alone will cost €4 million, with 125 plots needed for the complete route. Phase two of the project is causing more concern, because it is not physically on the ground, and the road layout is causing some confusion for landowners because of their plot boundaries. Other people will be affected in different ways, some even uprooted as their properties are demolished. The process of expropriation is not always peaceful. Nothing will ever be like it used to be. The authorities say the project was put to public consultation and officially approved, without any complaints, observations, suggestions, or requests for clarification from the public. Nobody bothers to challenge these projects, because history shows that power is everything and that public interest always takes second place. Problems and complaints from residents are coming now though, mainly about the lack of information, and the use of explosives for the tunnel construction.

I mentioned a few weeks ago about a big party organised by a famous international magazine called ‘Faces’, that is due to take place next weekend, with lots of celebrities expected to come to Madeira. ‘More Beauties – Liliana Campos Is Another Of The Famous That Comes To The ‘Faces’ Party’. All in all around 50 VIP passes are being issued to national celebrities for the event, where the main focus is a party in The Vine Hotel. As usual, I have no idea who she is, as my celebrity knowledge is very thin on the ground in these modern times.

Today’s sport headline : ‘Unprecedented Feat – The tennis player Martim Trueva, still a junior, conquered the national championship completely in the pairs’. He could go still further today in the singles. he is the first Madeiran ever to win an absolute(?) victory in a national championship. I would like to offer my congratulations to Martim, not for the comparatively mundane achievement of winning a national doubles title, but for the much harder achievement of keeping football off the front page of the Diário on a Saturday during the football season. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an editorial oversight.

‘SATA Plane Departs For Porto Santo Four Hours Late – One of the crew was showing Gripe A swine flu symptoms and had to be substituted’. The 8 am SATA ATP flight from Madeira to Porto Santo didn’t leave until midday. Four hours to find a crew member (or three hours according to another article) … I doubt if the delayed passengers would have found that very acceptable for an airline with a base on Madeira, and it wasn’t even the pilot with the with symptoms.

The crowds gathered in Machico yesterday in sítio do Paraíso, where president Jardim inaugurated a new road, which leads to the mouth of the tunnel that goes to Caniçal. The new road is 1,300 metres long, and cost €1.85 million to build. I am not sure whether these inauguration articles belong in the political section, or in Madeira news, these days. I think it all depends on whether Uncle Bertie is wearing his PSD lapel badge.

‘Minor assaults elderly man to steal €10 – After the theft, the thief assaulted the victim, hitting him with a shoe on his head’. The 15 year old minor was identified by police after assaulting a 63 year old man in Nazaré, in Funchal. After knocking the man to the ground, the thief took the money from the man’s pocket, and then took his victims shoe so he could whack him around the head before fleeing the scene. It all took place in front of witnesses. The police managed to identify the boy, and quickly arrested him, only to find that he had already spent the €10, and so they took him back to his grandmothers house. The matter will be reported to the Court for families and minors. It all sounds a little surreal, and with crime this sophisticated, I think the police have little problem in catching the criminals. No doubt granny will give him a good spanking, send him to bed without any supper, and withhold his pocket money to repay the €10. 

‘Colombo Disembarks On Porto Santo’. As is traditional in the Colombo festival, Christopher Columbus sails to shore along with Mrs. Columbus (or soon to be) to recreate the arrival and passing of our famous hero (which hopefully is not a tale as fictional or improvable as the claim that Columbus is Portuguese). The event finishes today. In a later article, the secretary for tourism for Madeira said that the 10th festival had been such a success that she wants to promote it nationally and in Spain next year. "It caused a true filling of the streets of Vila Baleira" she said. €108,000 was the cost of the event, and a 53% hotel occupancy rate was achieved.

‘Two Suspects Detained For Drug Trafficking – 2,100 doses of cannabis seized’. Funchal police arrested a man and woman with the drugs, destined to be sold on the streets of Madeira. In another article, police from Câmara de Lobos seized 590 doses of heroin and arrested two individuals on Thursday.

The hit and run driver who seriously injured a man in Lugar de Baixo, before fleeing the scene in a silver grey VW last Sunday, has now been identified. The driver committed the crime of "Omissão de auxílio" (Failure to help), as set out in article 200 of the Penal Code, and now faces up to 2 years in prison, or a hefty fine and / or loss of his driving licence. The victim is still in hospital awaiting surgery. 

Petrol and diesel prices drop another cêntimo on Monday.

In this weekends football, Nacional travel to play Rio Ave, currently 5th in the league. The match is at 6 pm, but is not televised. Marítimo play at home against top of the table Sporting Braga on Sunday morning, on SportTV 1 at 11.15 am.

From yesterday’s Jornal da Madeira : ‘Digital Terrestrial Television now covers  65% of the Autonomous Region – Funchal, Porto Santo and the areas west and east already have the signal’. Free DTT, the technology that allows one to receive television of better image and sound quality, is now available to 65 percent of the population of Madeira, according to a government spokesman. DTT will replace the current analogue terrestrial broadcasting, which provides the four general national channels (RTP, RTP 2, SIC and TVI), and also RTP-Açores and RTP-Madeira. Anyone delved into this yet? I am thinking of packing in with Zon, so I am interested to know if anyone has the ‘free’ option and what they think of it.