Madeira News Blog

(10th August). ‘Ex-Leader Predicts Bad Results For PS-M’. Duarte Caldeira expects the worst outcome for the socialist party. A founder and former parliamentary member of the PS-M, he spares no criticism of the party leadership. He fears that the elections scheduled for the months of September and October are going to stay as bad memories for Madeirans, as the worst result ever in the history of the party. "The PS is in a sorry state " he said. At a parliamentary level, he singles out just two politicians of any value, the rest of the group he says consists of "a bunch of incompetents". Nothing like sticking the knife in when the party is almost already dead. Uncle Bertie and the cronies must be laughing their socks off.

‘Quotas: Inequality Or Justice? – After the elections, the country will see if the parity was a sham or the beginning of a new era’. Whether you agree or not with the mandatory requirement that a third of electoral lists are women, the law of parity has at least achieved one purpose : preventing the masculine status quo continuing to clash with the entry of women in politics. Invited to ‘give a face to a party’, the women mastered the opportunity to prove their abilities. So say some of the candidates heard by the Diário. No one says it openly, but there are those that suspect that once the elections are over, that one will come to see the ‘distancing’ of the ‘imposed candidates’ in the favour of male candidates more desirable for the party structures. There is nothing in law, once the elections are over, that forces the top politicians to show equality in the allocation of portfolios and the top jobs in politics. The election rules themselves require that there cannot be more than two consecutive male candidates on the lists. In a country where female participation in political office is very low, and gender discrimination of women continues at many levels, the past few months have brought ‘to light’ complaints within political parties on the difficulty of finding enough women. Never before has it been seen in Portugal, so much interest in the inclusion of  ‘ladies’ on the electoral lists, and at the time of submitting the official lists, some parties are keen to shout publicly about their pride in fulfilling the law of parity. A female candidate in Santa Cruz said "The law is good in a society that still discriminates, because in some cases it could guarantee women an opportunity to prove their capabilities".  In contrast, the number three candidate for the PSD in Machico (also a woman) disagrees with the imposition of seats for women on electoral lists, but admits that it is an effective way to ‘open the political doors’ to the female sex. It’s a really interesting long article on the subject, which left me a little surprised that women in politics didn’t especially support the law of parity, and a controversial comment was made was that women candidates would be more attractive on the posters and political propaganda, and that might make a party more attractive to a voter. Well I will be voting in the local elections, and although I am open minded at present (particularly as my vote will be a waste of time anyway), I will be looking out for the parties that have women placed at exactly number 3, 6, 9 etc. on their lists, and not casting my votes in those directions.

‘JPP want everything in Santa Cruz’. Rework the policies, support investment and reset priorities. These are some objectives that a Group of Citizens ‘Juntos pelo Povo’ (Together for the People) delineate for Caniço. Carlos Costa is the political representative of the JPP, and stresses that the movement is banking on "getting everything" in Santa Cruz. "Our intent is to win all the parish elections together with the municipal council (câmara) and the municipal assembly", he said yesterday. The candidates led by Filipe Sousa were outside of the church in Caniço to present some of the proposals of the movement, when it challenged the delay in implementation of some urbanization plans in the area. I wish you all luck, I really do, but the snag of course is if successful on the scale outlined, where will you turn for money and government support … the social democrats in regional government of course. That means Santa Cruz will probably be number 11 on a priority list of 11 regions, and the reality is you will have less and achieve less than with the status quo. I love to see democracy at work … thanks Uncle Bertie.

In another sort of related article : ‘Independents In Santa Cruz ‘Seen’ As Socialists – Two years after leaving the PS, they continue as socialists on the câmara website’. Filipe Sousa (mentioned above, and now in the JPP) abandoned the PS-M socialists two years ago, along with two other PS councillors, but the câmara (mostly PSD) left them as socialists on the official website, with photographs and all. Those concerned were appalled by the situation but nothing changed. The Diário contacted the President of Santa Cruz last week on the subject, but he refused to make a statement on the matter. However, the inside whisper was that "there were more important things to be done". Miraculously the website has now just been changed.

"In The Truth The People Don’t Know" – Fransisco Dias Challenges Jardim to clarify the future of the marina of Lugar do Baixo’. The socialist candidate to the council of Ponta do Sol takes up the theme, challenging Jardim to "clarify exactly" the future of that undertaking. "When Dr. Alberto João Jardim came to Ponta do Sol last week he said that the people knew what was going on in the marina of Lugar do Baixo, but in the truth the people don’t know, but they want the matter clarified". He recalls that when the matter was raised by his party PS-M in the legislative assembly about why there were discussions going on in private, without a public tender, the question was ‘flunked’ by the socialist democrats.

(8th August). ‘Oleões Are To Become Mandatory – Madeira through environmental protection measures, has already acquired several Oleões, but they are not yet in use’. During the coming years there will be placed on our roads ‘Ecopontos’ for the collection and recycling of used cooking oils, called Oleões. The new rule was approved by the government on Wednesday, as a part of a scheme about the management of the waste product, that define the collection points (around 70), the correct transport to be used, the treatment and the refining. Portugal produces between 43 and 65 thousand tons of waste oil (a year?), and environmentalists and such organisations have applauded the move. A spokesman at Funchal Municipal Council, agrees with the measure of  central government because it may prevent people throwing waste oils into their sinks. "This has two drawbacks," he explains. "The oil solidifies in a process of hydrogenation and blocks the sewage pipes, but also ultimately affect the mechanisms of the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Almirante Reis". Collection and recycling mechanisms are already in place for restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Production of biodiesel is one of the main uses for used cooking oil. One litre of cooking oil is capable of polluting a million litres of clean water.

‘New form of fraud by mail arrives on Madeira’. The fraudsters don’t stop coming up with new ideas. One businessman who was mailed, and wished to remain anonymous, received a letter from South Africa about an inheritance relating to an unknown person. A lawyer, called Michael Smith, says that he is representative of the engineer Manuel Arriaga who died in an accident with his wife and three children. He left estate worth $18.5 million, which is to be shared amongst relatives, in this case the businessman. … I am sure you already know the rest of the story, if not take a look at some of the cases HERE (great reading if you have some time to spare).

‘Journalists Union Rejects Dismissals In Diário de Notícias’. The union at national level issued a communiqué yesterday considering unfair and unjustifiable the collective dismissal of 10 reporters and 3 other employees employed on Madeira. Taking into account the national link to one of the most important media companies, and the strength of the ownership on Madeira, the union considers the financial and economic reasons for the action, given by the company, do not justify the action taken. It argues that cut backs and cost reducing measures already implemented will result in a profit this year of almost €600,000, compared to a loss last year of nearly €450,000.

‘Car Parts Are The Aim Of Thieves’. Theft of car parts is a growing concern in recent times, and the growing frequency indicates that the thefts are organised on a parts-to-order basis. Trims, panels, lights, tyres, windscreen wipers, are all being stolen, in public places. Two more cases of ‘car stripping’ were reported yesterday. The Mitsubishi car shown had around €3,000 worth of parts stolen in Reis Magos. I can’t believe windscreen wipers would be robbed to order, more likely a pranks by lads coming back after a long night at the pub. Talking of such things, I suffered a broken toilet seat, and my toaster broke down last week … anyone know of any such scheme where I can get cheap ‘used’ parts, as I am too tight to buy new. Thanks.

‘Inspections Tightened For Pedlars – Jardim announces measures to defend traders’. This seems to be the rest of the story that was started in the previous posting. The Madeira president announced that inspections were to be increased on street pedlars. He made the announcement Friday when inaugurating the remodelled miradouro (view point) at Portela in Machico. "We will tighten supervision to protect the traders that are legitimately working in this area" he said. He also stressed the responsibilities of shop owners, regarding payment of taxes, salaries and the social security payments of the workers, a reality that does not apply with the "competition from people who do not observe the quality of merchandise, rules of hygiene, and do not pay taxes and social security".

Today’s main news headline : ‘Quinta Vigia Mixes PSD With Government – The schedule divulged by the Presidency with the official acts of the chief of the government mixes in initiatives of Jardim’s party. A mixture that goes against legal standards and ethics’. A true ‘two in one’ is what was provided by the Office of the Presidency of the Government, that on Thursday announced the agenda for Alberto João Jardim for the period that he will be on Porto Santo. Quinta Vigia (office of the presidency) announced all the official events in which the President of the Government will be present, especially inaugurations, but also includes their (PSD-M) partisan agenda. Towards the beginning of the document, under ‘Information for the media’, it is referred to as the schedule of the ‘President of the government and the PSD’ for 2009 on Porto Santo. Other slips are : August 12th – 6:30 pm – Presentation of candidates of the local PSD of Porto Santo, in the Congress Centre; August 22nd – 9.30 pm – Rally of the PSD of Porto Santo. All this in the middle of official presidential acts. This mix of presidential duties and political events is a clear overlap between party and government in a pre-election period, and has no parallel in the rest of the country. Even the Prime Minister of Portugal, for example, does not include in his official agenda, anything which makes references to his activities as Secretary General of the PS (Socialist Party). The duty of impartiality and neutrality of holders of public bodies and holders of public office, public companies, mixed-capital companies and concessionaires of public services, is set out in the various Portuguese electoral laws. In the election law for the Assembly of the Republic it is set out in Article 57 to holders of public office and other officials, that they must demonstrate "strict impartiality" from the time that the election date is announced. Breaking the rules is punishable, according to Article 172 of the municipal election law, with imprisonment of up to two years or a hefty fine. Among the duties of impartiality and neutrality is the prohibition of reference to election campaigns, during the performance of official duties, or acts that support or undermine one candidate over another. References to a party at inaugurations, for example, can be construed as a violation of this rule, as can the display of party symbols, flags, and publicity. This could be quite a clanger, but I am not sure it is quite as clear cut as the Diário makes it out to be. Uncle Bertie has been reported as breaking these rules several times lately, and the truth is that PSD business is always there in part of Jardim’s official duties, but this time it is there in black and white, prior to going to Porto Santo, possibly making it premeditated disobedience of election laws. That will probably be his next mission now, to change the election law so that he doesn’t break it, just like he did with the smoking law last year.

‘Guilherme Silva Rejects Accusations of ‘Virtual Candidates’ – Jardim won’t speak with the journalists’. The PSD-M social democrats yesterday morning delivered to a court in Funchal it’s candidate list for the legislative elections on 27th September. Alberto João Jardim is the number one candidate on the list, as he has been for the last 30 years, but again he won’t take his seat in the Assembly of the Republic. The PS-M socialists accused him of being a ‘virtual candidate’, but the number 2 on the list, Guilherme Silva, rejects the accusation saying that the PS-M are thirty years behind, and that Jardim does it for prestige, and because one day he may have to attend in São Bento (Lisbon).

(7th August). This in yesterday’s Jornal da Madeira : ‘Businesses Should Seek Compensation – Jardim appealed to investors harmed by popular legal actions that are dismissed’.  At an inauguration of 47 apartments in Caniço … Bella Vista III, president Jardim said that the construction was delayed 7 months by ‘popular actions’ (being in this case a neighbour) and that businesses should fight back when the case is dismissed, and take reciprocal court action against those responsible. He said such actions are economic sabotage, and should be controlled, and in the event that the court finds such actions to be frivolous, the business harmed should seek damages against losses incurred. He then rattles on about the jurisdiction of the republic over Madeira, and interference in the Municipal Plan of Santa Cruz, which is being modified.

(29th July). Today’s main photo headline is of a part completed building : ‘Not Even The New Plan Saves Minas Gerais – The plan of São João that CMF wants to approve tomorrow leaves the building embargoed’. The story is more about an urbanisation plan for the Ribeira de São João (PURSJ) in Funchal, something covered here before in a recent blog. The zone of the plan includes the partly built offices of the company Minas Gerais, which had work stopped over a year ago when CMF (Funchal Municipal Council) noticed that it had two more floors than in the plan approved by the council. The plan PURSJ will go to public consultation next month, but includes major change to roads, a new roundabout, and defines residential and business areas and the green zones. The zone is huge and starts at the Rotunda do Infante going north towards São João, and incorporates the building mentioned, meaning that it stays in limbo whilst the PURSJ plan goes through the necessary approvals.

‘Parole For Father Of The Girl That Didn’t Reappear – The man served 5/6ths of his sentence and already has work’. Sofia Catarina Andrade de Oliveira went missing on 22nd February 2004, from the residence of her mother in Câmara de Lobos, taken by her father Luís Encarnação that evening. She is now 7 years old. The couple were separated after living in the Azores, and the mother moved to Madeira with her daughter. Only the father knows where she is, and he was sentenced to prison for nearly six and a half years in prison for his kidnapping act after being arrested back in the Azores, but he never revealed her whereabouts, only saying that she was well. He is now out on early parole for good behaviour, and has already found work.

‘Domestic Violence Gives Suspended Sentence To Doctor’. The court in Funchal sentenced yesterday a dentist for abusing his wife. The one year prison sentence was suspended for one year, with the aggressor achieving the minimum sentence, in what could have been up to 5 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay €13,500 to his victim in damages, including personal injuries, when the victim was seeking €50,000. The reports of insults, threats, and physical violence went back as far as 1996, with the victim spending several periods of up to 3 months in illness as a result. The man didn’t even attend court for the sentencing, and now has the option of appealing.

‘Prizewinning Fagundes Vasconcelos In Cerveira’. A work of the Madeiran artist was acquired by the museum in Via Nova de Cerveira for €3,600. It is called ‘Parade of Vanity’.

If you are interested in the Madeira Wine Rally starting tomorrow, it is worth buying today’s Diário to get the free supplement with maps and timetables.

‘Market Of Ribeira Brava Goes from Bad To Worse – Half of the commercial units are already closed. The others agonise’. Of the ten units available, just 5 have survived the crisis. The low movement of customers, the redesign of the sea front that reduced passing traffic, the high level of competition between the traders, and the switch from the escudo to the €uro, are some of the reasons given for the situation. The latest to close its doors this year, was the restaurant / pizzeria located on the 1st floor, where they also occupied the terrace area. The fruit traders on the same level complain that since that happened business has got even worse, as even less people go upstairs. Shame, but normally people complain about the high rent charged by the council, but no mention in this article. One of the fruit sellers is OK, but the other one, Senhor 3in1 repof, keep well away from if you value your money.

‘Police Vehicle Targeted During An Arrest On Porto Santo – No police were injured as shots were fired by a 23 year old man’. But the car was pretty messed up by fire from the shotgun. The man was arrested shortly after the gunfire. Need I mention that it was over charges of drug trafficking, and 390 doses of heroin were seized. I ask you … what idiot would open fire on police on Porto Santo … even if you did get away where would you run to, where would you hide? Lets hope the king of Spain doesn’t pick up a copy of today’s newspaper, as he is off to Porto Santo at the weekend.

‘Prohibited access to the sea at Lido – Presence of jellyfish results in cordoned access to the sea for swimmers’. Access to the sea in the Lido Bathing Complex was ‘closed’ to the public due to the presence of jellyfish in the water. I think that was on Monday, but a later article says that yesterday a yellow flag was raised, and there was restricted access to the sea. There were also jellyfish reported at Praia Formosa.

The programme for the visit of the King and Queen of Spain tomorrow has been released, and it is pretty much as already stated. Anyone into royal visits will have the best opportunities for a royal wave at the airport at 6.30pm tomorrow, or an a Funchal walkabout on Saturday. It is confirmed that the trip will finish with a visit to Porto Santo.

(28th July). This story came from the ‘dark side’ yesterday : ‘Autonomy frees us of ‘silly laws’ – Alberto João Jardim said the new law will not apply to the roundabouts of Madeira’. Jardim said yesterday that a new law that prohibits the placement of statues and trees on roundabouts will not be applied. He points out that our independence allows us "to get rid of silly laws", ensuring that we keep our values and principles. The new law was (I think?)made by the president of Funchal council, and Jardim dealt with him in the most diplomatic way he knew, by saying "whoever made this law on the roundabouts is mentally retarded, and the danger is that these retards try to treat other people as retarded". Uncle Bertie! … that is your most likely successor you are talking about … show restraint please.