Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Gaula from Madeira Airport

You know, I was lying in bed the other night thinking to myself about Gaula. What’s Gaula all about I was thinking? Who lives there, and aside from a slightly irregular political profile, what does it have different to offer I thought? Well of course I didn’t have all the answers I needed, and added it to my mental list of places to visit. Well you can imagine my surprise to wake up the next morning and find an excellent article and lots of great photos all put together by a blog reader … all about Gaula … the premier is coming soon.

Babymoon on the beautiful Island of Madeira -  Babymoon has done a nice review of Madeira on her blog, but somehow I think she may also be a shareholder in a certain hotel. BABYMOON

I asked yesterday how high is the statue of Cristo Rei in Garajau, and the consensus ranged between 20 and 150 metres, and although I have never seen it I would guess that a lower estimate is nearer the mark . The reason I asked was to do with the story during the week, where the PND new Democrats had put forward a motion in the regional assembly to erect a statue of Uncle Bertie overlooking the port of Funchal. It wasn’t mentioned until a couple of days later that the statue proposed would be 50 metres high. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (pictured), was believed to have been one of the tallest statues of its day at 30 metres, but as the picture shows it was rather a trim statue. With Uncle Bertie’s body mass, at 50 metres it would have been a colossus indeed, and a deterrent to cruise ships coming into port, not just though any physical danger, but also likely to frighten the kids and adults alike. The PSD of president Jardim rejected the proposal, and I think I would have voted with them on this occasion, given the opportunity. But had the proposal been approved I think it might have looked something like this.

MANGO CHUTNEY – Tobi’s ex-secret recipe :
2 onions
2 garlic cloves
5 fresh mangoes
2 pears (sometimes i leave these out)
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
300 ml cider vinegar
175 g light muscovado sugar
1 tsp dried crushed chilli
pinch of allspice, salt, cumin, paprika, (don’t worry if you not got all these.)

Chop onions and heat olive oil in a pan, add onions and garlic and cook for 5 mins until soft, add the mangos, sugar, raisins, vinegar and cloves, and bring to the boil, then let simmer rapidly for 30-40 mins, stirring from time to time, until the mangos are tender and the liquid has evaporated. While doing this get your jars ready, I get mine hot in an oven for say 5 mins, with the lids off, but heat the lids as well, as this is just to kill germs, then place the HOT chutney in the jars and put the lids on, when they cool, the lid will pop down making it vacuum tight. Store in the cupboard for at least 2 weeks before eating, once opened it keeps in the fridge for 3 months. I have also placed in plastic tubs in the freezer, as it freezes very well, I love it with curry , or a tub of pringles …. Many thanks Tobi, it smells delicious

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Making a will within the EU : This piece was very kindly submitted by Sheila … many thanks.

Further to the comments about wills, the Portugal News had an interesting piece yesterday.

The European Commission has just proposed the simplification of cross-border inheritance rights. The new rules, if implemented, will allow people living abroad to choose to have the terms of their wills carried out in accordance with the laws of their own country.

At present, the laws of the country, where the deceased lived, apply to the entire estate, even if that includes property or assets in another EU country.

The new rules would allow a single authority (either in the country of residence or of origin) to deal with the whole estate. That would end contradictory rulings by courts, in several EU countries, relating to the same estate.

The Commission also proposes to create a special certificate to enable heirs and administrators of wills to prove their status in a particular country of the EU. At the moment, European countries sometimes refuse to recognise each other’s inheritance documents.

Around 450,000 of the inheritances dealt with in the EU every year have an international element. The total value of such estates is an estimated 120 billion Euros a year. Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot said that the proposed legislation would make inheritance laws more certain and flexible. He said: "It is imperative that citizens and legal practitioners are able to understand and, to a certain extent, choose the rules applicable to assets in a will, wherever they may be located". The new rules will not affect inheritance taxes, which will continue to be administered under national law.

Hopefully that clarifies things a bit but, if you are still in doubt, you might like to do what my husband and I have done – find a good Madeiran, English-speaking lawyer! Good luck.

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Many thanks again to Elaine for Saturday’s top news stories :

Reminder XXIV Regional Meeting of the Tunas and Mandolin Orchestras in Câmara de Lobos Saturday and Sunday. 16 groups in the Casa da Cultura. Sunday from 16.00.

Apprehension about the new Nursing Director. There was turbulence when the clinical directors were replaced at the hospital, now they think the focus will be on nursing. The previous Nursing Director had resigned for ‘personal reasons’, although few believe that was the real reason, and the successor has now been appointed. The President of the Union for Nurses says the managers change what is working well instead of restructuring regional emergency services or implementation of a regional network of continuing care. The Order of Nurses says they will act if changes mean the legality and safety of patients and respect for all professionals are affected. Focus is thought to be put particularly on the elderly and the Department of Dialysis, as the newly expanded  department will be operational next January. The hospital for continuing care, João de Almada is overcrowded and there needs to be more care for the elderly at the primary health care level (health centres). There is also  a long waiting list for residential homes and not enough money available.

Mackerel fishing fleet reduced. The fleet will be reduced to three when two boats are taken out of service next year. Weak demand, low prices, limitations in the Madeiran market and the only canning factory has closed means that profits are low. Last year’s taxable income was 1,800 Euros. One fisherman will join another company and the other will work with his brother. The EU aims to reduce the quotas (to 15% less fish) in the Atlantic and North Sea next year. For Madeira, it means a reduction from 1,280 to 1,088 tons but they only catch an average of 400 tons. The fishermen reckon there is enough mackerel and horse mackerel locally, especially as there is no Spanish competition. A Marine Biologist said it would be different if the quotas were reduced for the Black Scabbard fish as they are presently catching near the EU quota.

Madeira wine promoted in Japan. Madeira wine from five companies will be promoted to importers, journalists and wine experts. Over the past three years, the Japanese market has been the fourth largest export market for Madeiran wine. In 2008, 205,283.70 litres were exported representing a gross income of 1.0092.786,88 Euros. ——-This time, 0.70 litres has crept into the figure.

Judges are not independent. The President of the Association of Public Prosecutors admitted that the judges are not independent and impartial due to the size of the island and strong political and media scrutiny. They have to do more to resist pressure.

EU recommends that road tunnels are made safer. Smoke emissions in tunnels and car parks and fatal accidents in Europe mean that the present tunnels need to be modified. How does one make a tunnel safer exactly? Perhaps we could knock down the part that actually defines it as a tunnel, i.e. the rock? As our tunnels already have escape routes, cameras, ventilation, lighting, emergency services and equipment and whatever, one struggles to thing what more could be done. Ahh, I know … how about we close them to cars! Der

Diocese has new church paid by the Government. The new church in Feiteiras, São Vicente cost €1.5 million. The parish community raised 120,000 Euros for restoration of art works and interior furnishings. The building was started in 2003 and represents an inverted ship, a reference to St. Peter’s boat.

More than 1,000 crimes against children. In the first half of this year, there were over 1,000 cases of violation of the rights of children and young people, but the numbers have decreased since last year. Of the 1,097 cases, there were 300 cases of neglect, followed by ‘deviant behaviour, psychological abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse’. The social workers and outreach workers were praised at the forum, especially those working in Câmara de Lobos and Nogueira, Camacha. The most cases occurred in Funchal, then Santa Cruz, Machico and Câmara de Lobos.

SANAS assistance quadruples. The lifeguards have dealt with three assistances every hour, four times those registered in 2005, due to a growth in the number of bathing areas. 36% of the help required is given to children, especially wounds. The elderly were vulnerable to drowning due to loss of consciousness. Cases of sunstroke increased, mainly  in adults and adolescents. The most cases of death were in Calheta and the Lido. 37 drownings last Summer, more than half  by exhaustion and three cases required resuscitation. There are over 130 lifeguards on 21 beaches. There were definitely no deaths by drowning this Summer from Madeira’s beaches, so I think there must be some national statistics mixed in here, but I can’t find the original article to check. Der

Portela to Ribeiro Frio levada walk still partially closed. Will remain so until next March. There are notices at Portela advising how much of the walk can be undertaken.

New hospital still has no guaranteed funding. Initial investment of  €150 million needed. According to the D. Notícias, but not confirmed, Jardim has been in talks with the Mello Healthcare Group who have investments in hospitals in Portugal and Spain. They say that in the short-term, they will be unable to make investments so it will not be for another 3 to 5 years. Two other private groups are interested in building the new hospital of around 662 beds. Private hospitals are 14% cheaper to construct and operate than public sector ones due to tight control of costs and efficiencies.

——-In contrast:

Barreiros stadium to be completed on time. Redevelopment will be finished by December 2010 and in time for the Schools Sports in May 2010. Contracts should be signed within a month. —-No mention of the cost. Questions asked at the pre-elections time why this is more important than the hospital. Jardim’s involvement? €45 million of taxpayers money is being used to fund the Marítimo stadium redevelopment. Der

12,625 unemployed (8%). September last year, the number was 8,184. 68%  received Jobseeker’s Allowance, 5% Social Integration Income and 8.9% were looking for their first job. 70% were short-term employed and 30% had been registered unemployed for more than one year.

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