Madeira News Blog

26 political articles in today’s Diário, it just grows and grows. Obviously there is only so much I can cover, so aside from headline stories, one or two of the more interesting ones are included. Strangely they are normally the ones that show our existing government and president in a bad light, but as no other party has any ‘track record’ in government, perhaps that is natural and understandable.

(17th September). Today’s final headline : ‘Robbery’ Causes Depression In The PS In Água De Pena – The treasurer of the parish council, involved in the case of the money for the festivals, wants to give up on local government’. She was on the socialist’s candidate list for the forthcoming local elections, but she has now decided to withdraw. The decision will be related to the mysterious disappearance of money, donated to the church for the parish celebrations, from the interior of her car. The case of the missing money, nearly €10,000, has caused unrest in the area. Speculation about how the money was taken from her car, that shows no sign of a break-in, has generated many theories as to what actually happened. No one will speak openly about the matter, and the lady herself does not answer her telephone.

‘Jardim’s Ride Archived’. The controversial matter of president Jardim giving his party leader, Manuela Ferreira Leite, a lift to the airport in a vehicle of the presidency at the end of her recent visit, was made into a formal complaint by an opposition party. The National Elections Commission (CNE) has now investigated the matter and decided that there was no wrongdoing by Jardim. The issue was about using government property for party political purposes. However, the effort of the complaint did not fall completely on deaf ears, as the CNE decision includes a recommendation to the President of the Government [in that role] to keep a distance from the electoral battle. Jardim, on hearing the ‘warning’ eased matters considerably with the comment aimed at the CNE, “it attacks from a distance, as far as I know only with missiles” (or something along those lines).

This photo is from today’s Diário de Notícias, showing the amount of political street garbage in one street in Funchal.

‘Department of Environment is “a den of thieves”. “We must denounce a den of thieves that exists here in the regional office of the Environment and Natural Resources”. It was thus that Sr. José Manuel Coelho began his campaigning, at the door of the office of Manuel António Correia. The candidate of the PND New Democracy Party, known to blog readers as ‘The rabbit’, who used the opportunity to speak to people passing on Avenida Arriaga, accuses the Government of diverting the money coming from the European Union, and which should have been used to finance agricultural projects. “This money is diverted to fall into the pockets of Sr. Jaime Ramos and his fledgling” he accuses. “Dr. Alberto João Jardim ordered the diversion of that money to build farm roads, for himself to inaugurate, and for Jaime Ramos to put money in his pocket, through the sale of tarmac and concrete”, he explains. He adds that the farmers who invested their own savings in the proposed projects, never received the money that they were owed. So this is what is meant by a ‘Rabbit Punch’. Coelho knows no boundaries, and he is prepared to go to lengths that I wouldn’t dare, even though the stories are well known, but always stay as just rumours, discussed quietly in dark smoky corners in bars. The accused, Jaime Ramos, who is also the parliamentary leader of the ruling PSD social democrats on Madeira, is also a prominent and powerful businessman, with interests in construction and an extensive stakeholder in cement production on Madeira. Of course, I have no opinion on the matter, just reporting what was said by Sr. Coelho, according to the newspaper.

(16th September). Yesterday’s final headline : ‘President Of Santana Humiliated’. Pereira takes a U turn. A decision was taken at a council meeting at the beginning of September to reduce IMI council tax from 0.7% to 0.6%. The proposal had been made by the PS-M socialists, and voted on and accepted by the majority PSD-M social democrats. Now câmara president Carlos Pereira has come up with another proposal … that the level for council tax should remain at 0.7%, in order to maintain the level of council revenue. The socialists say the order to reverse the decision came from ‘outside’, and that Santana council is being managed ‘inside out’, a reference to the new candidate on the PSD-M list for next months elections, when Carlos Pereira will be ousted after 25 years in the job. The PS say that Carlos has already been “de-authorised”. So, the new man is already in charge without yet going through the democratic process, known as the elections. I have often said that democracy here only happens once every 4 years, for each level of election that is, and it looks like this year the PSD have already managed to bypass even that little treat for the people.

‘Not Even The Marines Will Stop The Inaugurations’. Nothing will stop president Jardim in his election time inauguration spree, not even the criticism of his socialist political opponent, Bernardo Trindade, who believes that they are being used as a political toll. Jardim said yesterday in Funchal, he will maintain the programme of inaugurations, because he has the Portuguese Constitution and the law on his side. “The only way I can stop doing inaugurations, and even then they would not manage, would be to land the Marines here and arrest me” said Jardim. In the pre-election days in September and early October 66 such inaugurations have been organised.

A couple of the political parties have decided to adopt anti-corruption themes for their political campaigns, including the CDU communists, and the PND new democrats (as mentioned above). The picture shows the latter using a hearse as a prop, and the man doing the silly walk on top is the one known as ‘The Rabbit’. ‘Coelho Announces: ‘Let’s Bury Corruption’ on Madeira’. The hearse was parked outside the Bank of Portugal (why?) as a small piece was enacted on top. On the side of the vehicle was the slogan ‘Let’s bury corruption. Inside the hearse was an orange coffin on which was written,’ Here lies Maria of the Corruption of Jardim Ramos and Sousas’, pointing out senior PSD-M politicians Jaime Ramos, and president Arlindo Gomes of Câmara de Lobos”, as guilty of corruption. Many people stopped and watched in amusement, many were children, and many tourists who had no idea what was going on, but took lots of photos anyway.

(12th September). "Asphyxiation" On Madeira Livens Pre-Campaign – The cases in the public eye give rise to banners, ‘rabbits’ and more complaints’. The political streetware has returned in force in Funchal. The CDU communists were the first, and now the PSD social democrats have followed suit. the ‘rabbit’ of the New Democrats PND are also out in force. Some other parties will not be posting their propaganda, so there may be less ‘rubbish’ spoiling the city for the forthcoming elections. One party said that the financial crisis meant that there would not be posters, and the PS socialists have opted for "other ways of presenting things ". The BE left block have said that the material is "very expensive", and that the national leaders have decided not to produce posters, "reducing pollution in the process".

‘PND Is Going To Make A Complaint Against Funchal Council – The party accuses the council of removing posters’. The New Democratic Party of Madeira will make a complaint to the National Election Commission about the council taking down their political posters in the streets of Funchal, after they were posted on Thursday night. They say the council left their own PSD social democrat posters in place, and those of other parties. The party is also considering a protest at at the council offices, if their posters disappear again, and planned to do a stake out with pickets last night to watch over their propaganda. Funchal council later said that it was a "lapse in council services" and a mistake, and that the posters were being replaced. Recognise the character in the photo? I had a feeling Sr. Coelho was a blog reader.

‘PP Is Going Around On Foot Throughout Funchal For 12 Days’. The first five candidates for the Peoples party, standing for Funchal council, will start on Monday after the national elections, using a 23 seater bus. The strategy of the People’s Party is direct contact with the people. 

In national news, a poll carried out through the TV broadcaster SIC predicts that the PSD social democrats of Madeira will win four of the six places in the Assembly of the Republic in the elections this month. The other two places will go to the PS socialists. Currently the situation is 3 places each between the two parties, but most expected the PSD to romp in with 5 of the 6 places later this month. Nationally the poll indicates a ‘technical draw’ between the PS and PSD, with 33.6% and 32.5% of the vote respectively.

The fallout from last weeks visit of the leader of the PSD social democrats to Madeira continues. Manuela Ferreira Leite, who accompanied president Jardim on official government duties, is still suffering the aftermath back in Portugal, where news of the ‘mishaps’ of the visit reached leaders of other parties, and the recent televised debates between party leaders have been used to exploit these matters. Aside from her classifying Madeira as an example of liberty and democracy, her association with Jardim has left her tarnished, especially after he insulted journalists asking why the official presidency car was being used for party political purposes in taking the PSD leader to the airport. In fact what Jardim said, in English, is repeated again, in English, in today’s newspaper, but again not translated into Portuguese through ‘decorum’. It’s a two word insult that the Diário now describes as famous. Likewise, I wouldn’t repeat it here in English, but in Portuguese it goes something like this ‘vão-se lixar’. We have decorum here as well you know.

The biggest TV ‘face to face’ political debate is tonight, channel SIC at 9.15 pm, between prime minister Sócrates and Manuela Ferreira Leite.

From yesterday’s Jornal da Madeira  : "In politics you must have a humane view" – Alberto João Jardim said that still the important thing is to know how to serve the people’. Jardim says that in politics you have to have a humane view of things, or know to govern for the people, serving all people regardless of their economic or social conditions. The president of Madeira said these things in a speech he made at an inauguration in Madalena do Mar.

In another article in the same newspaper : ‘Investments Should Be Well Considered – Alberto João Jardim says it is necessary to calculate the size and market potential it needs to reach’. Has anyone seen that book I mentioned last month : 100 public works – An A to Z of Doubtful Usefulness. The book gives examples of Madeira’s 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.

Now you know why I don’t go to the Jornal when I want relevant and sensible political reporting. I am not saying it’s not accurate reporting of course, but the Jornal management decide to give such rubbish printed space rather than upset their bosses.

Right old boring front page today, with the Diário team really scraping the barrel to get a newspaper together.

(26th August). ‘Vindimas (grape harvest) – Festival of Wine of Madeira, 3rd to 6th September, guarantees entertainment in Funchal and Estreito’. The dates given are for Funchal, whilst in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos the date is 5th September. Musical entertainment with folk bands and orchestras, art, cuisine, and wine tasting of course, are the themes that attract so many festival goers. In Funchal the main focus is in Avenida Arriaga. Extensive details of the programme for both locations is given, but as I don’t think many readers attend these events I won’t take it any further.

This story saved the day for me : ‘Scam In Caniço – Man passes himself off as a tool salesman in order to flee with the money of his victims. There are at least 3 cases’. He is posing at a salesman working for a shop of ‘Mata’, looking to fleece victims of their hard earned cash. The swindler, thought to be a drug addict, had contacted several people in Santa Cruz offering special promotions on the purchase of tools. He then took his victims to the branch of Mata in Caniço (Tendeira), asking the victim to wait at the back of the shop in order to obtain a "bigger discount", and taking the money for payment and fleeing the scene to a waiting getaway car, driven by an accomplice. The amounts varied between just a few Euros and €100. Video surveillance tapes in Mata have identified the likely culprit of the scams as a man from Machico. The increasing sophistication of crime here is worrying (yeah right!), the susceptibility of people to be scammed is equally worrying, but luckily and thankfully the stupidity of the majority of fraudsters outweighs all the fore mentioned concerns. Not wishing to labour the point, but who would climb in the car of someone who offered discounts at a shop, and then wait at the back of the shop with the promise of a bigger discount, having handed over cash for the purchase. As for the swindler, having gone to the trouble of employing a getaway driver, he then picks a shop with security cameras, and returns there three times and does the same thing. Didn’t anyone in Mata notice the first time someone was swindled?

Today’s main sports story, and also the main front page photo with a pair of canoeists doing their thing : ‘Canoes Full Steam Ahead (the exact Portuguese translation just didn’t work) - XVIII ‘around’ Madeira by canoe starts today with the medal winner Beatriz Gomes, partner of Helena Rodrigues in the world championship, taking the lead’. More than 80 canoeists are taking part this year. The course today is 19 km between Machico and Funchal. Gomes is a teammate of Madeiran Rodrigues, together winning the bronze medal a few weeks ago in Canada.

For anyone so inclined, the Fiorentina v Sporting 2nd leg match in the Champions League knock-out, is on RTP live tonight at 7.45 pm.

The irony is almost almost amusing in this one : ‘Robbery At Ponta Gorda Yields Around €1,500 To The Thieves’. The ticket office at the swimming and leisure complex was robbed, and according to Ricardo Nunes, manager of FrenteMar that operates the facility, the theft took place between midnight Sunday and 6 am yesterday. Aside from the theft of between €1,300 and €1,500, property damage was caused as a result of the break in. The irony is that this is the guy who was interviewed 2 days ago saying that business was really good … "Lido entrants have increased by 17%, and in Ponta Gorda by 12%". And then they leave a large amount of cash in the ticket office, (and have no idea when it was stolen with in a 30 hour time window).

‘Problems with Health Line 24 are national and not just Madeira’. The Secretary for Social Affairs on Madeira hopes that the service is improved and more appropriate, stressing that the inability to call the Health Line 24 is a "national problem" and not just for this island. "It is a general case and not only from Madeira, expanded Francisco Jardim Ramos to the Lusa news agency, reacting to a statement made on-air by a citizen of Madeira, who reported the bad service when she phoned the ‘Health Line 24′ to talk about Gripe A. She was told that the service was not available to the autonomous regions. Madeira has now had 30 cases of Gripe A with only 2 people hospitalised so far.

In a separate rather astounding article headlined : ‘Illness Affects More Men – Of the thirty registered cases on Madeira, 63 percent are of the male sex’. The communication from the regional secretary for social affairs then continues with the mind blowing fact that the "remaining 37% are women".

‘Illegal Arms Seized In Ponta do Sol – Two suspects were arrested’. The PSP police detained two individuals suspected of illegal activity connected with possession of illegal weapons. In a swoop in Ponta do Sol, the police found "a small arsenal" and seized two guns, 8 knives including two rather large ones, and 146 rounds of ammunition.

UPDATE :

‘Just One Third Of Registered Hunters Take Out Licenses – Hunting calendar already published. The season starts 4th October’. The records of the forestry authorities indicate that Madeira has around 3,000 hunters, but for years just 900 to a 1,000 obtain a license. The new season lasts from 4th October to 31st December, but rabbit hunting is extended beyond this. Many of those licensed to hunt do so in order to own and carry hunting weapons, as without this they cannot do so. There are two days of rest for the hunted, October 11th as an election day, and Christmas day. Hunting is limited to Woodcocks, Rock Pigeons, Quail, Partridges with red legs, and Rabbits (if I have my translations right!), but unfortunately it seems politicians are a protected species.

‘Pools Without Water’. The natural rock pools of Porto Moniz, located next to the Aquarium of Madeira, are empty again, which has again led to complaints from some bathers. The pools were already emptied on 18th August to clean out slime and algae, but this time the council have taken the action due to wear on the rubber seals that retain the water. The problem should be resolved today, but it is annoyance to users who don’t want to pay to use the other facilities.

Moving on to political news :

The front page political article today is the interview with a candidate who will make it to the Assembly of the Republic next month : ‘Beyond The Abuse It Is The Verdict Of The Voter – Bernardo Trindade, top-of-the-list of PS-M to the Assembly of the Republic, says that who takes up opposition on Madeira is a hero. And he waits the elections with self-control’. Just picking out one question, in what was a very restrained interview as regards the opposition PSD-M : Q : The election of three deputies (MPs), as in 2005, is unlikely to be repeated. It is a defeat? : A : If the result were to be repeated it would also mean that the PS had a comfortable majority in 2005. We had four and a half years of difficult governance, and there are professional classes discontented with the current government. My question is what is the alternative. I look forward seriously to the verdict of Madeira. In 2004 the socialists enjoyed a 27.4% share of the vote, at a regional level. That rose to 34.9% in 2005 when the current government started its term, but that has declined since then to just 14.7% in the European elections this year.

‘PSD President Helps Sócrates To Shine – The distinction for the prime minister comes after the transfer of a convent to the council’. In a national story, Prime Minister José Sócrates, yesterday praised the "courage" demonstrated by the city of Santarém for awarding him the gold medal of the city, at a time when the country is on the verge of elections. I bet Ferreira Leite, leader of the social democrats is hopping mad, that a prestigious award is given to an opposition politician so close to national elections.

‘PND Calls For "Forcible Removal" Of The Commander Of The Maritime Zone – José Manuel Coelho accuses Coelho Cândido of being in the service of ‘Jardim’s Sharks’. The national candidate for the New Democratic Party (aka Rabbit) campaigned in Funchal Harbour, accusing the commander of being in the "service of the great sharks of the Jardim regime and his cronies", and not fulfilling his obligation to look after the interests of the State and Portuguese sovereignty. He accuses him of double standards, in effect allowing dignitaries to do things that the normal public would be stopped from doing, naming the development at Quinta do Lorde as an example. I enjoy the ‘Rabbit news’, and this time there are two in conflict (Coelho as a last name and first name), and I had a good headline but it involved a rude word … perhaps I might get away with ‘shaft’ instead?

(25th August). The last item from yesterday’s front page, and the Diário’s daily feature. ‘Rodrigues Against Expenditure On Newspapers And Stadiums – The head-of-list of the PP-Madeira to São Bento expects to see the maturity of the Madeirans when it is time to vote’. This guy is the top of the CDS (Christian Democrats) list for the national elections. With the ‘share of the vote’ the CDS party, over the last 5 years, has achieved between 5.3% and 8.3% at the various elections … another no hoper except in the case of a mass protest vote. I agree with him of course that the government shouldn’t be spending €45 million in redeveloping the Marítimo stadium and injecting public funds into a newspaper.