(20th August). Today’s main news headline : ‘Hospital Is Not A High Security Prison – The case of the baby that appeared badly treated continues unexplained. Miguel Ferreira says it is not possible to control the movements of patients and visitors, referring also to the drug addict that stole ampoules in the hospital, that then killed him’. It’s just not possible to follow all the moves of patients and visitors when they pass through the hospital entrance, says the Clinical Director at Funchal Central Hospital (HCF). He was speaking after bad publicity about a 3 month old baby with a broken arm and bruising, and a junkie who stole drugs when waiting to be seen in the ‘emergencies’, and died. We can’t have someone to accompany everyone who moves around the hospital, and we don’t expect people to appear who are inclined to hurt babies, he added. ID checks are made at the entrance he says, and security cameras would act as a deterrent, but the request for them was blocked by the data protection commissioner. The request has now been approved for security cameras to be placed at the entrance doors, but elsewhere it has been deemed to be an ‘invasion of privacy’. He says he doesn’t know what happened to the three month old baby with the broken arm. As for the young drug addict who died, it is not possible to prevent as the theft took place when the man went to the bathroom. The drugs taken were known to have fatal consequences if taken without medical supervision. The family of the baby continue prohibited from visiting her.
The main front page photo shows a JCB digger working on a site construction : ‘€690,000 Spent On Project That Doesn’t Move From The Paper – The Madeira government spend money on land, but the pavilion will be built elsewhere. Estreito awaits the promised work. 17 years have passed’. This story has done the rounds before, so I will keep it brief. 17 years ago Estreito de Câmara de Lobos was promised a sports pavilion (one of those huge buildings with indoor courts I think). 17 plots of land were purchased for the purpose by the government using the compulsory purchase procedure, spending at least €690,000 plus costs. A decision from the courts (injunction) then made the government decide to change the site, and the philosophy for the plans for the pavilion also changed. The ‘old field’ of 6,738 square metres is still there doing nothing.
‘Adjudication On Controversial Contract In Câmara Of Santa Cruz’. The council awarded a contract for computing anti-virus services and licences to the most expensive tender, which has caused some controversy. Three tenders were submitted, the cheapest of which was disqualified for not meeting the specification. The company ACIN went in with €13,260.95 to win the contract, whilst Euronetworks had tendered second highest at €10,600. The latter company has a majority shareholder, who also happens to be an independent councillor on the câmara of Santa Cruz, who said that the tender was dismissed for illegitimate reasons. He believes his company has been discriminated against because he is an opposition councillor in the eyes of the ruling PSD-M social democrats. Questioned directly on that accusation the council responded that is it deals with such matters with "total transparency and equality" for all the tenderers, and one cannot mix political situations in these competitive procedures.
‘Sé : Highs And Lows Of The Low – Traditional trade is weak, lack of parking, homelessness, some insecurity, … but where one lives well’. The Diário featured district today in the series ‘Through Madeira’, is the area of Funchal known simply as Sé, and the location of the cathedral. It’s the most urban and busiest area, but has the lowest resident population in Funchal. Amid the agony of diminishing traditional trade and some social dramas, the Cathedral zone presents itself as an urban area that is clean and a pleasant place to live and work. The resident population is just 2,148 according to the 2001 census. Homelessness is a problem, and it has some association with drug problems, but Sé is considered a relatively safe place to live and work. On the number of homeless people who sleep on the streets, one businessman says "It’s a situation that must be stopped very quickly because it is leaving a very negative image for tourism". Another shop owner says that lack of policing is a concern, and also problems connected with the sewers. Pedestrianised streets and lack of parking causes a problem for trade, particularly in competing with other areas that are better organised in this respect.
‘Music Of Buraka Lands Today – The park of Água de Pena livens tonight with the most international Portuguese group of the present time’. "We’re going to give our best" the group guarantees, on it’s first ever visit to Madeira. The top Portuguese band of the moment, and one of the most innovative of recent years on the international stage, will land at the airport and head downstairs to perform at the sports complex beneath the runway. As I type this I am listening to one of their latest tracks, and I can’t believe I actually recognise it (Wegue Wegue). I keep hearing it on the radio, kids singing it, bars, wherever. I won’t be going, or buying the CD, but doors open at 10 pm if anyone wants to go. I wonder if that will be a world record for the shortest trip by an international band from landing to the actual concert venue?
Today’s front page sports story is of the big Europa League game tonight on Madeira : ‘Nacional – Zenit Affected By Television Controversy – Financial demands distance live coverage and highlights’. "The years passed behind the iron curtain still weigh heavy. The Russians of Zenit are cold people, untrusting with very little humour" that’s the Diário view of Russians! The president of Nacional is looking for €150,000 for television rights for the match highlights. The club wanted €1 million for the live rights to the game, but the deal was aborted, meaning there will be no live coverage of tonight’s game, not even in Russia. Zenit say it is unbelievable, even the champions league final doesn’t cost that much. Zenit St Petersburg are one of the richest clubs in the world, and no expense has been spared on accommodation for the players, and 30 rooms have been booked at Reid’s Hotel at €300 per night. If the worst comes to the worst and you want to follow the game, you can listen on the radio (TSF 100FM) at 8.30 pm, but I can’t even get that station where I live, so I will have to try on the internet. Look forward to the sniper visits regarding the belittling of the Russians … I just translate don’t forget.
(19th August). ‘Council approves amendment to train plans – Project should proceed inside the next term of the Câmara of Funchal’. The original article from the blog in May is HERE. Funchal Council approved amendments to a plan for the construction and operation of a train in Monte, at it’s last meeting. The alteration relates to the station located at Terreiro da Luta. The company that operates the cable car to Monte has permission to restore the old train station, last used by the old train, that ran between 1893 and 1943, between Pombal and Terreiro da Luta. Firstly the plan has to be submitted again to the Office of Mobility and Land Transport (IMTT). A council spokesman said that it is a "value added" investment to the zone of Monte, that complements the other attractions there, including the many ‘quintas’, in an area considered very important in tourism terms. The plan also includes the restoration of the old station building at Largo da Fonte. ‘Teleféricos Madeira’, who own the project, will also where possible preserve the image of the original service, with signage, staff uniforms, and decor designed from the originals of over 65 years ago. The duration of the operation has been approved for a 40 year term. The line will be 1.3 km in length, and the funicular type train will be able to carry up to 60 passengers.
A girl’s drink was spiked with what is believed to be GHB one night last week, whilst at a night club on Porto Santo. The substance is better known as a ‘date rape drug’, but in this case the youngster became very ill with convulsions and had to go to hospital where she stayed for 9 hours. How horrible, and the first time I have heard of this here.
‘Gastronomy and folk music on the ‘menu’ on the Nights of the Promenade in Caniço – The event runs from 21st to 30th August on the promenade of Reis Magos’. It’s more than a gastronomic event, at the ‘Nights of the Promenade of Caniço’, which this year takes place for the tenth time. Besides food and delicacies, folk music is always an ‘ingredient’ present on the ‘menu’ for those present from late afternoon. There is at least one group every night (8 pm, or 7.30 pm on 22nd & 23rd) to liven up the night, and this year the entertainment comes from Portugal, Russia and Canada, as well as local performances. On the final night the event closes with a firework display (11 pm).
This from the Jornal da Madeira : ‘Farmers markets doing product promotions – Campaign is running on Sundays during the Summer’. The Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched a campaign to promote innovative products on sale in the farmers’ market, which will be sold at much cheaper prices. The "extremely competitive prices" will be offered under the slogan "Feel the freshness of our products at a great price!" (Sinta a frescura dos nossos produtos a óptimo preço!). The farmers markets with the campaign at present are in Santana, Prazeres and Canhas, and each Sunday a range of products will be offered at the campaign prices, whichever stall they are purchased from. I am curious about the ‘innovative products’ bit. Thanks to the restraints of nature on this earth, there are strict limitations on what a farmer can do, so a new type of vegetable perhaps, blue oranges (called ‘blues’ of course), or maybe a mutant or hybrid farm animal called a chig or chow. The mind boggles.
A few short late items, rather than do a separate posting :
(20th August). "Fetishes Of Jardimism". The CDU communists want to show what the reign of president Jardim has achieved in terms of his personal lust, and wastage of public money, by publishing a book that will present 100 public works – An A to Z of Doubtful Usefulness. The book gives examples of public works that are total failures, some that were built but were never used, and some that never got off the drawing board, even though significant expenditure was incurred. The book was presented yesterday at the Refrigerated Warehouse at Porto Novo, one of the prime examples of "works that do not work". In the case of this cold store, a unit with capacity to store many tons of fish for the canning industry, it stopped working ten years ago. "It’s a great white elephant," says a CDU official. I have just visited the CDU website rather keen to request a copy of the said publication, but I couldn’t find it, not really having tried too hard because of the unavoidable awful music.
In a national story that doesn’t show Madeira separately, there is a breakdown of political party expenditure for the national (legislative) elections next month. It is a requirement for all parties to submit this budget to the electoral authorities. The PS socialists have budgeted the most (€5.54 million), followed by the social democrats PSD (€3.34 m). At the other end of the scale the range is from the Christian Democrats / People’s Party with €850,000 to spend, to the MPT earth party with just €300.
(19th August). ‘Pontinha Will Have More Cruise Ships In 2010 – Funchal Port will register over 300 stopovers’. The port will be filling up in 2010, especially in the early months. Already the bookings for moorings (305) are 21 more than currently predicted for this year. April 2010 alone has 42 bookings, with 46 in November, and 52 in December. With some matters not yet finalised, there could be another 25 still to be added to the list. Even more ‘full houses’ next year than this year then, and what with the additional ferry traffic as well, some days could be a nightmare. If you don’t believe me, or want to know exactly what is coming and when, you can check the lists on the menu on the right hand sidebar (Funchal Port, then click ‘Ships Movements’)
(21st September). ‘Monte Train Returns – The project has a budget of €6.5 million’. The works haven’t started yet, but the Monte train project is a certainty. Once the land is obtained (by expropriation / compulsory purchase) and the works that will take 18 months to complete, it should be open in less than two years time. A spokesman for the various stakeholders said it is a good initiative uniting public and private input that will benefit Madeira. The train will run the same course of the original route, but only between stations at Largo da Fonte in Monte and Terreiro da Luta. The old train will be will be replaced by a modern funicular, similar in appearance, with room for 60 passengers. The expropriation process has already started.
‘Albuquerque promises better quality of life – Centre of São Martinho is enhanced with a garden overlooking the sea’. A new garden was opened yesterday in São Martinho, Funchal. The garden, with sea views, is located at the Centro de São Martinho. The president of Funchal Council who was at the inauguration, promised more such urban open spaces that offer the population "more quality of life". The new garden occupies a site of nearly five thousand square metres, and was transformed at a cost of €450 thousand. It has 145 trees of 60 different species, seat, litter bins, and play equipment for children. 
