Madeira News Blog

Today’s photo – Many thanks to Eiryl … Street artist in Funchal

Anyone fancy a cruise starting from Madeira? : The Island Escape sails from Funchal, Madeira on January 18th, heading for Agadir, Morocco; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and Palma, before returning to Funchal. Fares for the seven-night cruise start at £489, including flights. Go to CRUISE  INFORMATION or call 0800 280 2614.

Elaine (East) managed to catch up on the Christmas traditions series that was running in the Jornal da Madeira in the run up to Xmas, so here is another. Many thanks

Councils in Festa. All municipalities in the region have prepared for this festive season. In Funchal, as just about everywhere, the Council marks this time of celebration. From Câmara de Lobos to Santa Cruz, passing through the other municipalities on the south and the north coast, there are plenty of illuminations and presépios to announce the birth of Jesus. In Câmara de Lobos, on the Avenida Nova Cidade, a presépio, almost full scale, represents the birth, surrounded by a very characteristic flower at this time, precisely, the manhas de Pascoa. The city centre also has some illuminations, as well as in other small housing areas. In Ribeira Brava, in the gardens of the town hall, a presépio has been a special attraction. Again, the illuminations which are characteristic of this season dominate, in particular in the centre of this locality, and also in the area by the sea. Later in Ponta do Sol, we found that several bright ornaments were placed in the county seat, with themes related to Christmas. The presépio was also being prepared, next to the municipal building. The county further west of the region is also alluding to this season. A presépio, and a pine tree topped with a star, are some of the outstanding features. Beginning on the north coast, at Porto Moniz, various illuminations and a presépio next to the natural pool announce this festive period. This is also the case in São Vicente, where the streets have a new colour, with various arrangements of illuminations depicting Christmas and a small presépio next to the church, marking the festival. In Santana, in front of the town hall, was being prepared a presépio, and in the centre of town, the lamps announce a special period. Back on the south coast, the illuminations and the usual Christmas presépio by the municipality are some of the outstanding features. The same happened in Santa Cruz, where the birth of the Boy Jesus was also represented next to the church.

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

Rain and strong wind until Wednesday. Rain and strong wind forecasted until the early morning of Wednesday. The Regional Civil Protection recommend caution, especially with the risk of flooding, landslides and mudslides. Delays and cancellations at the airport this morning but conditions improved later on in the day. The Porto Santo ferry did not sail this morning. Good weather expected for the end of the year fireworks display. The worst region affected in Portugal has been Torres Vedras, in the West region, with an estimated 53 million Euros of damage. This is an agricultural region with major damage to horticultural greenhouses, forestry, agricultural land, municipal facilities and infrastructure, hotels, businesses and homes.

Three hospitalized with malaria. The three who were on Christmas vacation in Madeira, after working in Equatorial Guinea, have been admitted to the hospitals in Funchal, two in Marmeleiros Hospital and the other one is in Intensive Care in Dr. Nelio Mendonca Hospital. There might be another case, a Brazilian, whose health is worsening but the screening test is expensive. They were initially diagnosed as having influenza, when they presented with symptoms to a Health Centre at the beginning of the month. Before departing to Guinea, they were advised by the staff at the Bom Jesus Health Centre to stay in Africa if they developed symptoms – fever, headaches and nausea. The Clinical Director at the Dr. Nelio Mendonca Hospital said that medicines have been ordered for the three men. He has asked the doctors to be more aware of the symptoms of malaria as a lot of men are working in Guinea on construction contracts.

PJ clueless about the whereabouts of Martins. He is wanted for the kidnap (half a million Euros ransom was demanded) and murder of Guilherme Alves, who was a businessman in Porto Santo, and found dead in a water tank in Camacha on 17 July 2009. José Gabriel Libano Martins is on an international arrest warrant with an extradition request from Portugal. He is thought to have fled to Brazil, where he is supposed to be married to a local woman, giving him nationality status. Three other suspects have been arrested. The case has a time limit for investigation of a year which can be extended for a complex case. The police will not give details of progress, even to the family. There is a case to be heard in the Court of Porto Santo, on February 4 2010, where Jose Martins as the plaintiff, has mounted civil action against a married couple for civil construction negotiations. The other case, on 2 February 2010, where he is the accused, the MP has brought a case against the construction company Erucasa.

Ponta do Sol population buy bottled water. As a result of flooding in the area of Rabacas, the pipeline was damaged, and in Ponta do Sol and parts of Ribeira Brava, the water has been unsafe to drink since December 24. Despite two tankers of water in the area, the locals have brought bottled water and used home reservoirs and local springs. The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources estimates the supply will be restored by the middle of the week.

Car hit by stones in Encumeada. A landslide on Christmas Day caused damage to the windscreen and bodywork of a car whilst travelling in Encumeada. The woman and four year old in the car went into shock and had minor injuries which were attended to at the Health Centre at Câmara de Lobos.

Two families resettled in Sao Vicente. Ribeira Grande was hardest hit by the storm, 50 people affected and two families resettled in the Hotel Praia Mar in São Vicente. The local population had previously alerted the authorities to work on a road in the Laurissilva Forest, in which earth was deposited in two water courses near Corgo do Atalho and Ribeira Grande. They had also complained to the authorities that trees in Rosario needed cutting to prevent obstructing the flow of water. They were told a permit was required, and although promises were made during the election campaign, no action was taken afterwards. (11 photos on the Diário website).

Three now homeless in Monte. Three people in Tilas in Monte had to leave their dwelling due to rain causing the collapse of a retaining wall. The back garden has already ‘disappeared’. This occurred at 7.30 this morning and they will spend the night at the Pensão of the PSP.

Anonymous donor enables boy’s funeral. The son of Madeiran immigrants in Jersey who was killed in an accident with a firearm on 13 December, while visiting family members in Venezuela, was buried yesterday in Caniçal Municipal Cemetery. The funeral was finally accomplished thanks to a donation of 17,000 Euros (15,000 pounds sterling) by a person who requested anonymity. João Calaca Sousa, aged 8 years, died as a result of firing a gun he found while playing with a cousin, hours after he arrived in Caracas to visit his uncle. The family, from Caniçal, could not afford to pay for the transport of the body to Madeira. The Jersey community, particularly colleagues of the child’s father who is employed by a rent-a-car firm, after the case was highlighted by the local media, launched a campaign to raise funds and the final sum was achieved after an anonymous donation.

Assault suspects deny the PSP version. Two of the three men arrested by Funchal policemen on the night of 21 – 22 December, allegedly about to commit a robbery, refuted the allegations. Paulo Pina and Paulo Nunes, aged 40 and 39 years respectively, said they were at a warehouse in Boa Nova, guided by a third person, to buy dog food which was sold below market price. "The salesperson entered by the building’s front door and being in possession of the controller that opened the door of the store, told us where to go and we had not suspected that something was wrong." Paulo Pina drove his truck into the garage and after he began carrying bags of dog food, a fourth person came in shouting, "Thieves, thieves." The defendants said at least one shot was aimed in the direction of the salesperson, who fled through the interior of the garage. They were panicking and stayed where they were, when the fourth man returned, instructing them to lie on the floor. Paulo Pina, a former soldier, grabbed the wrist of the man who was pointing the gun at them and with the help of his colleague, was able to overpower him and take the gun. They repeated to him that they were not thieves and he fled, out through the front door, as had the salesman. They also left, with the truck remaining inside the garage. They started to go to the Police Station in Funchal to report the matter when they met a patrol car on the Estrada Conde Carvalhal, and flagged it down and reported the incident. The police removed the gun, handcuffed them and took them to Funchal Police Station. The man who was the owner of the gun arrived later and claimed the gun belonged to Paulo Pina who was asked to sign a form to verify that. The police are looking for the salesperson. The military cap in the photo printed by the press was from the truck in the garage. The Diário reporter could not get an official comment over the phone from the Regional Command of the Police.

Hotel occupancy 70% in the last 4 days of the year and 19,000 tourists expected to arrive through the airport.  In the last four days of the year, there are 137 flights scheduled to arrive with 22,000 seats and at this time of year, the load factor is usually 85%. Assuming the visitors stay for 3 – 4 nights, the occupancy rate of the 28,000 hotel beds will be as low as 70%. The actual rate will probably be lower as many have only booked for 2 – 3 nights and not everyone will require hotel accommodation. Despite this, many hotels have sold out for New Year’s Eve, for example the Pestana group of hotels on the island. There are also similar high occupancy levels in some areas of Portugal, especially the Algarve and in Porto. In comparison, the Tourism Secretary is optimistically expecting a 90% occupancy rate in Madeira.

2010 commences with new Coral beer campaign. 27 December – 3 January, the manufacturers, ECM, are having a publicity campaign. With 133 medals from the Monde Selection, (79 gold, 32 grand gold), the Coral Branca has 19 medals. The latter will be marketed as light, refreshing and enjoyable. Coral will be back marking its presence at the best parties on the island, details of the beers on their site cervejacoral — Judging by the website, the white is the low alcohol version.

Manuel Antonio Correia rejects criticism. The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources responded to the MPT (Earth Party) leader, Isidora, accusations that the Government is not alleviating storm damage in Ponta do Sol. He said the Government’s actions could not be publicized as the media offices were closed over the Christmas period. The Government, Ponta do Sol Council and the IGA have worked long hours during the 23, 24 and 26 December. Isidora also unfairly criticized Santos Costa, who had been to the area on the 23 and 24 December. The Government also paid attention to areas in Santana, São Vicente, Ribeira Brava and Machico. "I want to assure the public that everything that was humanly and technically possible to lessen the damage was done." The mayor, Rui Marques, also agreed with Manuel António. The Council had two employees working on Christmas Day to ensure that residents had access to a water supply.

Almada back with protest. Roberto Almada of the Left Bloc (BE) accuses the Regional and Local Governments of allowing materials to build up in waterways, leading to their narrowing, despite warnings from opposition politicians and environmentalists. This was particularly evident in São Vicente. When Parliament returns next week, he will lead a protest vote that the Government has behaved irresponsibly.

Gouveia wants National aid for São Vicente. The PS leader and councillor at Sao Vicente said that the area needs millions of Euros in aid due to extensive storm damage. He believes that the Parish Council, County Council and the Regional Government cannot meet the bill, so they will have to go to the National Government and the EU for funds. In Rosario, the damage is particularly bad with houses destroyed, municipal roads blocked and damaged, and farm land under water. He wants Alberto Jardim and José Sócrates to act. Unlike the CDS leader, he does not criticize the governments and authorities for damage in Ribeira de São Vicente since, "there will be other storms that will flood the town again."

Rodrigues attacks Jardim and confronts Sócrates. Yesterday, it was reported that he would write to Sócrates, expecting financial aid to tackle regional storm damage, as has been given to the Azores, and he is also writing a critical letter to Jardim. The CDS leader, José Manuel Rodrigues, starts his letter with the sentences, ‘We are deeply surprised and concerned to note the silence and alienation of the Government. There has been considerable damage to roads and agriculture, networks of water supply were affected; private companies had heavy losses, many farmers saw their crops lost and some land disappeared, some families lost their homes, many Madeirans did not have Christmas. When we expect a reaction from the Government to this reality, we are witnessing a silence and alienation unacceptable.’ There were no Government officials contacting people and comforting families. He was surprised that Jardim had not convened the Council of Government in order to take concrete measures. He agreed with most opposition politicians that the Government was responsible for damage in recent days by the poor construction of certain public works and the disposal of earth in the waterways. He suggests three specific measures: to survey the damage to companies and individuals and ensure support as stipulated in the budget; use national funds and evaluate the possibility of European funds.

Demand goes up 435%, supply only 20%.  A report from a PhD thesis about cruise ship movement at the Port of Funchal over the past 50 years. Ships are 3 times larger, the number of calls increased by 94% with 4 times more tourists but the port capacity has increased by only 20%. Lots of facts and figures and helpful charts for anyone specially interested.

Culture news. No municipalities have applied for the title, ‘City of Culture 2010′, the first time since its conception in 2007 by the Regional Government. It was created to decentralize culture, preserve the identity of people, help local economic development and make culture accessible to all. This year the title was held by Câmara de Lobos where the most notable event was the opening of the new Municipal Library. The Government contributes financially to the project but not enough to make it attractive in the present economic situation. An unusual headline, ‘Carlos Costa receives death threats.’ This young Madeiran singer is the winner of the talent competition, Idols. The threats were made through the phone and began in December but ended when the producer decided to bug the phone to listen in.

Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :

* Gripe A : Two more dead and a woman at risk – With the diagnosis of H1N1 Swine Flu, the woman gave birth and now is in a serious condition due to an eclampsia. Eclampsia (Greek, "shining forth"), an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy, is characterized by the appearance of tonic-clonic seizures, usually in a patient who had developed preeclampsia. (Preeclampsia and eclampsia are collectively called Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and toxemia of pregnancy). Two men aged 37 and 47 died from the infection in the last week, both suffered with obesity.  That takes the death toll on Madeira to 5, and the overall number infected since the start to 676. Last week there were 143 suspected swine Flu cases, with 75 confirmed, 46 of which were women. 4,000 new ‘Pandremix’ vaccines are due to be received by tomorrow, 2,000 more than were originally expected. The next at risk group to be treated are children up to the age of 12.

Tickets and bus passes increase in 2010 – The rise hits urban and interurban buses. Urban prices will rise 1.19% and interurban 1.85%. A ticket that now costs €1.55 will rise to €1.57, so lot’s of fiddly change to mess around with.

* City ‘Volta’ without rain or shine – Rui Pedro Silva and Fernanda Ribeiro win the race spoiled by TAP and SATA.  Silva won the 51st ‘São Silvestre’ race in Funchal on his first attempt, despite intense rain, and despite having run and won the Marathon in Porto the previous day. Ribeiro won the female version for the fourth time.

Today’s main news headline : Guarantees from the Regional Government nailed to the ceiling – Many of those who received guarantees from the Madeira government failed to get paid on time, reveals the Court of Auditors. Who is  coming in with €5 million is the government. That is, the taxpayer.

It’s a toss up to define which is the main headline picture today, but I will go for another storm damage one over the winner of the São Silvestre  race. The landslide shown completely blocks a road, and seems to contain bits of a building : Storm leaves families even poorer – Damages in São Vicente. Families homeless in Monte and cut-off in Serra de Água. In Ponta do Sol 5 thousand continue without water. There is support, but only for agriculture. The picture is the same one as above, with the story from Elaine.

I think that’s the gloomiest front page I have ever seen in my years on Madeira, with death, disease, homelessness, ravaged lands and homes, contaminated water, government defaulting on supplier payments, public transport costs rising, and the airlines a-soiling. It’s normally around now that the press look back on the year, and summarise the good and bad highlights, but today’s front page seems to have captured it all except for the financial crisis and unemployment, and we can’t forget those manipulated national and local elections of course. What’s your highlight (or lowlight) of 2009?

One bit of better news though is that the weather forecast for tomorrow night is looking much brighter in Funchal, ready for the big night. The forecast for the passing of the year is to be without any rain, and little more than a breeze, just in Funchal. Elsewhere the rain will continue to fall, the wind will be strong, and there is the possibility of snow on the highest peaks.

If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated. 

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(16th August). Today’s main news headline : ‘Priests Critical But Not Political – José Luís Rodrigues, the controversial parish priest of São Roque and São José, doesn’t mix faith with politics. But he will continue to intervene and give his opinion. On the sacraments, he says that he resists the baptism. And the times show that it is not worthwhile that the parishes continue with festivals on the day of Chão da Lagoa’. The first part of the headline deliberately rhymed in Portuguese, and can you believe it also still does in the English translation! Anyway, this is an routine interview with the said parish priest, but it makes the Diário’s top story today.

‘São Pedro : Contrasts Of The Hospital At Achada. Problems in the neighbourhood of the hospital contrast with the development of Achada’. It’s another one of those Diário featured locations, not really news. Achada is in the high zone in the Funchal parish of São Pedro.  Angelina Baeta has to climb 119 steps to get to her home, on the 7th floor of block 14 of the Bairro do Hospital. It has been around two months since the lift that served the building broke down, the other one as far as Angelina recalls, stopped working around 20 years ago. She doesn’t suffer as much as others with the delay in the repair, it is much worse for the aged and sick that live there. "I have a neighbour aged 92 that lives on the 6th floor who hasn’t managed to get out of her home since the elevator broke", she uses as an example. She has to rely on neighbours to do her shopping. The blocks have other problems with access, allowing drug users to enter the buildings, poor hygiene conditions and unpleasant smells from urination inside the building. Another neighbour says that the majority of people who live there are good people, but the frequency of problems with drugs, assaults, and violence are a concern. Ismael has lived in Achada almost 50 years, and has seen all the big changes in the area. He says many people live there, and it is quiet, without much thieving. What is missing is a supermarket, as with the old one closed down, it is now necessary to go into Funchal. The crisis has hit hard. One shop owner said "everything is closing".

‘Constructions In The Sand Livens Up The Beach Of Porto Santo’. This years national sand sculpting competition continued yesterday with an event on Porto Santo, with around 40 children taking part. The ‘senior’ event was won by a local lad with a lion sculpture, who also won the event last year, and will now go on to compete in the final in Portugal next month. The competition has been going since 1952, with two categories for those aged between 6 and 10, and 11 to 14. The junior event yesterday was also won by a local lad who sculpted a rat (or mouse). In the centre of the picture you will see ‘Panda’, from the TV channel with the same name, that has been covering the event.

‘Moped Licences For Youths Aged 14 Years – The Association of Motorcycling ensures that the young Madeirans have equal conditions with Portugal and the Azores’. The provision to drive a moped (under 50cc) at 14 or 15 already existed here, but there has been no ‘driving school’ available here to conduct the training, so one had to go to the mainland to obtain the certificate. Now the AMM is taking on this responsibility on Madeira. The law says that those aged 14 and 15 are treated differently from those aged 16 and over, as they are not able to show the maturity needed to ride a moped on the roads without training.

‘Draw Very Fair In The Debut Game Between The Europeans – João Aurélio was the figure in headline yesterday in the Choupana: he scored the goals of Nacional and Sporting. Today Marítimo challenges Benfica in the stadium of light’. In the opening game for Nacional yesterday, the Nacional player João Aurélio scored twice in the same goal, but the result ended up as a 1 – 1 draw.

The CDU (communists) of Santa Cruz have launched an on-line petition to save the city centre market in Santa Cruz, which the council want to move to the edge of the city. PETITION www.simaomercado.blogspot.com

(15th August). Yesterday’s stories from the festival at Monte left one with mixed stories about whether trade was up or down for those with ‘barracas’. The Jornal da Madeira did it’s own piece yesterday, and I am sure purely by coincidence interviewed the same seller of bolo de caco, who said that business was better than last year, and he had already sold 300 bolos de caco by 8pm on Friday, as well as the bread with chouriço (sausage) preferred by the tourists (who obviously haven’t seen the sausage in it’s complete form). But meat sellers were struggling, and I don’t know the price per kilo, but it’s clearly many times more than a €2 bolo de caco, so there’s the answer.

(15th August). Today’s main photo shows a crowd gathered at night in a decorated street : ‘Crisis Cools The wager In The Festival Of Monte – The people turned up in numbers, but the recession determined the investment from the traders’. A festival that doesn’t weaken. At four in the afternoon there were those cooking their espetada (beef chunks) over a live flame. What might seem early for some, is not the case for those preparing for a night of Monte, the festival of all festivals. And to help the push, the fountain water and banished vinho seco (dry red wine) was not lacking. Customers for the traders are not lacking, with the Madeirans preferring the bolo do caco with garlic butter, whilst the foreigners prefer the bread with the chouriço (sausage). One trader selling meat to barbeque recalls better times for the traders, saying that he sold 30% of what he sold in previous years, adding that the money is still there for some, but in the hands of the workers it is each time less.

In a second article : ‘With The Crisis The People Ask More From Nossa Senhora (Our Lady) – A new flood expected on the Night of Monte’. 550 kilos of meat for espetada, 450 kilos of flour to make 900 ‘bolos do caco’, they are some of the numbers of the Night of Monte, that brings together the faithful and the devoted to Nossa Senhora do Monte. Last year, José Serafim Gomes, a candle seller (or maybe it’s spark plugs), gathered around a ton and a half of wax. This year he expects to sell more, "with the crisis the people ask more from Nossa Senhora", he says. He benefits from the crisis. Meanwhile José Figueira admits to have sold nearly 2,000 kilos of meat during the day, whilst Luís Figueira is very optimistic about how his bolos de caco are going to sell. Don’t ask me why the quantities of meat differ in the article, I just translate. Nice pic … it’s one of the few trades where you get to see the seller actually burning his stock. I wonder if he actually charges more or less for a lit candle rather than a passive one?

Not much mention of the other six festas ongoing alongside Monte, but there is a short article on the one in Porto da Cruz.

‘Taxi Drivers Of Machico 9 Years Waiting For The Airport. Cabbies forgotten by the Madeira government’. Since the opening of the extension of Madeira Airport on 15th September 2000, the taxi drivers of Machico have been waiting for permits to work out of the airport, alongside the taxi drivers of Santa Cruz, for they consider that their right. They believe that because the airport is also situated in Machico, not just in Santa Cruz. Dispirited, they were forgotten by the regional government. In 2005, a partial step was made, when the Regional Directorate of Land Transport published an order permitting 7 taxis to enter the airport each day, but that arrangement lasted just 11 days, when a court imposed an injunction after a complaint by a taxi firm in Gaula, but took another year to give its reason. It seems that the order exceeded the rights of the issuer. The matter has been batted backwards and forwards by politicians and courts ever since. There seems to be no reason why this story hit the front page today, as nothing has changed. The issue mentioned really is secondary, as Madeira just has too many taxis, around 700 if I remember correctly but it could be more, and the stupidity of the council boundary restrictions just makes the matter worse. It is very environmentally unfriendly too, as any taxi driver crossing council boundaries has to return to base empty, pretty much prohibited from picking up passengers in someone else’s territory.

‘Police Raid Causes Damage In Santo Amaro – The entrance into a house of the father of two suspects was by break-in’. PSP agents break doors in search of evidence. One man, whose two sons are suspected of drug trafficking, had doors broken, drawers turned upside down, wardrobe contents emptied, and windows broken. He is heartbroken, and has hired a lawyer to defend his rights. The police admit that that kind of operation can cause discomfort, but point out that the use of force is legitimate, and is a legal means of obtaining evidence. The father of the two argues that the search warrant had the names of his sons, and so the police had no right to break into his home. The police left with two bags of objects, including a mobile phone and a quantity of money. They questioned one of the suspects and threatened to smash the rest of the house, if he didn’t tell them where the drugs were (it’s not clear whose side of the story this is at this point). The use of force is a tough measure, but the Police Commissioner emphasizes that this only happens when the measures of prevention and deterrence fail.

Much of the same in the sports headline : ‘Big Game In Choupana With The Visit Of Sporting – With the statistics in their favour, Nacional receive Sporting of Liedson’. Liedson is Sporting’s star goalscorer. Also ‘Leixões - Belenenses Open 1st League With Zeros’, 0 – 0 in last night’s opening league game.

‘Man Scared Clients With ’11 Calibre’ Knife’. An individual entered a bar in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, and placed a knife with an 11 centimetre blade on the bar. The customers, fearing trouble, scarpered and called the police, who arrived and arrested the man. He didn’t use the knife, or threaten anyone, but under new arms laws a blade of that size is illegal.

’30 Thousand Vaccines Against The Flu – There is no proof that the vaccine for normal seasonal flu protects against Gripe A’. The health authority here, IASAÚDE, has ordered 30,000 vaccines to combat flu this Winter. The annual vaccination programme has been running since 1996, and provides free injections for groups considered to be ‘at risk’. The number of vaccinations requested is 10% higher than last year, because the suppliers usually send less than ordered due to product shortages. The vaccinations should start next month. At present nobody has much idea when the vaccines against Gripe A swine flu will be available.

Petrol (95) goes up 1c. on Monday. That’s €1.20 a litre.

(14th August). The social democrats in Machico council want to convert the municipal cemetery into a public garden. The socialists have proposed that the remains be moved to the new cemetery, leaving a large common tombstone with the names of all the deceased be placed there. To meet legal guidelines and ensure that local people who still go there to visit graves are not upset, it could be ten years before the transformation takes place, but in the meantime it is intended to start by dealing with the neglected graves. The PSD rejected the socialist proposal, saying it was unworkable because the cemetery is over one hundred years old and the records are not complete, but they do intend to leave some sort of memorial there to remind people that it was once a cemetery.

For a change we managed a whole day yesterday without mentioning Porto Santo, but I cheated and held this one over from the Jornal da Madeira yesterday, just to give us a break. "Economic Activities" brings four cases – Porto Santo – Inspections during the Summer continue until late September’. The trade increases exponentially during the Summer, as the tourists flock there, and trade obviously soars, particularly in restaurants. Hence the Regional Inspectorate of Economic Activities is currently on Porto Santo making sure standards don’t slip. Since early Summer 4 establishments have been identified and entered into due process for non-compliance with rules and laws. The charges are : Not displaying a price list; Not having a livro de reclamações (complaints book); Lack of hygiene in the establishment; and, Thursday morning, the transport of food items in unhygienic conditions, brought the latest charge. A spokesman for the agency, Valentim Caldeira says he disagrees with those who say, "Porto Santo is a land where anything goes" and stresses that "in accordance with the experience we have had in recent years, Porto Santo is increasingly a destination for quality. Especially in the restaurants. There have been significant improvements and, hence, as is natural in these circumstances, the number of violations is becoming smaller, which leaves us satisfied, without prejudicing our ongoing duty to inspect in a preventive manner that avoids these offences". As for supermarkets, there have been no complaints. No price list … if that is an offence I am surprised there are many bars left open in my town … actually, now I think about there aren’t that many left.