Madeira News Blog

Today’s Photo : Thanks to Jon … another one from his collection of old postcards.

Tobi found this Madeira online radio station MIRADOURO I had a listen when I was reading through the Diário yesterday, It’s was all pre-recorded music early morning, although there was some talking around 8 am.

Tobi, also said : "A friend of mine Luis Filipe Pessoa e Costa has an exhibition on in the Electricity museum of paintings and some other artwork on the theme of Africa, they are there till the 14th November, and its free to enter, just ask to see the Africa Exhibition.  I have added a link to the photos I have". AFRICA ART

Don has updated his blog with a preview of a Madeira Christmas FUNCHAL’S EVENING DRESS

"Portas do Mar in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel (Azores), has unveiled a New Year’s Eve program set to rival that of Funchal, Madeira". I DON’T THINK SO!

It’s the day of São Martinho tomorrow, a special saint’s day for bacalhau, castanhas, wine and good deeds. The Roman soldier died in 397 AD, and his first and most famous good deed was to cut his cape in half with his sword to help keep a half naked beggar warm.

And talking of good deeds, I’m in a better mood today, particularly cheered up by a kind soul that used the PayPal button (just down there on the right hand side of this page). How he got through the rust I don’t know, but he managed, and it is now loosened and working OK. Anyone else encouraged by this act of kindness, please bear in mind that without volunteers to contribute to this blog there are no guarantees as to how long it will keep going. At the moment it’s just a few regulars, and in particular Elaine, who has been providing the daily news, keeping this going.

The rumours last week were true, with the TVI series set on Madeira, Flor do Mar, coming to an end after nearly 300 episodes. Anyone wants to know who shot Ana-Maria, I’m your man. It finished in an action packed fashion, with yet another murder, and the suicide of the baddy (of the feminine type).  That should save the government here a few Eurobucks in hotel bills.

There were 8 new cases of Gripe A swine flue on Madeira last week, half of the victims  were aged 15 or under. Two cases of the virus were caught here. 27 suspect cases were tested.

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

Delays in Santa Cruz Court. People in Santa Cruz are having problems obtaining compensation due to delays in court hearings, now taking three years. Both cases cited were against Vialitoral for damage to cars when hitting loose stones on the motorway at Porto Novo and near the airport. One case was dismissed and another is still awaiting a trial date. One person sent a letter to the President of the Supreme Court of Justice asking him to intervene to make the court enforce the Civil Procedure Code and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, so there would be justice without delay.

"The worst is yet to come." Unemployed immigrants from Eastern Europe are going in increasing numbers to the Presbyterian Church for social assistance to help pay their utility bills. The Church has limited funds. Employment is increasingly scarce whereas in the past, unemployed workers could obtain temporary work in agriculture, e.g. banana cultivation. People can not see a way out of the crisis and often become alcoholics and both men and women turn up drunk when they go to ask for help. The Pastor stated, "The most serious are the middle class in poverty, feeling embarrassment and shame. This has not yet appeared in force, but I believe it will appear. They are hoping the problem is resolved. The worst is yet to come." Many of the other 200 Presbyterian population are also experiencing hardship, pensioners needing help with obtaining medication. At one stage, there were 4,000 Ukrainians resident in Madeira, and now are less than half, but they are having problems getting their permits renewed if they cannot provide evidence they can support themselves and their families. They do not want to return to the Ukraine where the economic situation is worse and they have families here with children in the education system. As well as the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church receives Government aid and the Pastor thinks there could be better social assistance by a united effort of all the Christian religions.

Criminal Register Certificates. These are for criminal convictions handed down by Portuguese courts and foreign courts for both Portuguese and foreign residents. The Criminal Register Certificate  can be obtained from judicial offices, Loja do Cidadão and representatives of Foreign Consulates or Embassies and costs 3.5 Euros.  It should take no more than three days to obtain and the content depends on the purpose it is intended for. It can be used for employment, licence, permit or registration of a public nature. It is required to obtain Portuguese nationality, change of name, taxi drivers, children transport services, freight forwarding businesses, public service workers etc. There is also a certificate for public companies, organisations and institutions. Misuse is punishable by either a fine or imprisonment of up to one year.

Diocese of Funchal held vocational meetings for young people. For people interested in entering seminaries for the Priesthood. About 20 boys of year seven or above at school attended the meetings where there was a screening of an American video about the life of a priest, called ‘Fishers of Men’ and is available on YouTube. They also learnt about the three components of seminary life; prayer, relationship and living and study. In the 96 parishes of the Diocese of Funchal, there are 76 priests and 22 are more than 70 years old, and 4 between 50 and 60 years. There has been 10 years with no ordinations and there will be 3 new Priests in Madeira next year. On average, there are 2 ordinations a year.

Socialists call for an inquiry into RAM debt. The "rampant debt" and the "illegal debt" the Madeira Government has been mounting up, could lead to a 100 million Euros penalty in State transfers in 2010. The 150 million Euros in loans which "violated zero indebtedness" under applicable laws could result in a penalty of more than 50% of transfers in 2010. The Socialists justify the initiative as follows: "The need for the commission of inquiry stems from the fact that the Government of the PSD shows a great sense of irresponsibility and makes politics a weapon against the Madeirans since launching  a state siege with the loss of two million per year in the Regional Finance Act (between 2007 and 2009), and calls into question more than 100 million Euros in transfers in 2010, with the bad governance it practices." They also accuse the Government of the "obvious inability to act" with incentives to overcome the crisis that have proved "clearly insufficient". They proposed seven initiatives to help the crisis.

‘Almanaque PEF’ celebrates 150 years of existence. The cover picture is a reproduction by a forgotten artist from Madeira, Jayme de Sa. This yearbook has 200 pages of regional events, religion, agriculture, history and cuisine and in addition to the tributes each month, a chapter on the British participation in the economic, social and cultural Madeira. —– I assume there is not an English translation. It sounds interesting.

‘Delights of Israel’ in Reid’s Palace Hotel. The Embassy of Israel in Funchal is promoting the cultural event to be held on the 7th and 8th December. Specialities in ‘Les Faunes’ restaurant will be provided by the Executive Chef of the Sheraton Plaza Hotel Jerusalem with music provided by the singer Ya’ara Olchik.

Mission Recycle short of expectations. After three days in Funchal and Machico, only 72 used coffee machines deposited, enough to represent the planting of only 18 trees. No one showed up later on at Ribeira Brava after the initial queue at 7.15 am for the offers of 10 coffee machines at 10 Euros. .

PS Rui Caetano warns of illegal container park. He was at the entrance of the food market in São Martinho yesterday morning to highlight the fact that the illegal parking of trucks and containers has occurred for four years. The problem starts when it rains and the mud floods the road and obstructs access for residents and customers of the food market. There is also the issue of unfair competition as there are some companies with the same activity which conform to the payment of taxes. The land is a public space and is not licensed by the Council and taxes are not paid to either the Council or the Government.

Another container site in between Machico and Santa Casa de Misericordia has been complained about to the police and the Council of Machico, as the container has been placed there without prior written permission of the owner since 2006. Manuel Franco Santos told the Diário, "I went to the Council of Machico, where I was told it was illegal and they would notify the owner of the container to remove it within 15 days." So far, nothing has happened. The President of the Council says he will send an inspector to investigate as the situation is illegal and an invasion of private property, so justifies informing the police. In 2007, Manuel Franco Santos filed a complaint with the police but they said they could do nothing as it was private property.

Habitat restoration projects are important. 10th November is the anniversary of the Natural Park of Madeira becoming the second protected area in Madeira in 1982. (Interview with the Director). The objective of the Park is to improve the quality of life of the people of Madeira for the long-term. The Director of the Natural Park said, "The mission is to contribute to the sparing use of our unique natural heritage, preserving our cultural identity and landscape, three elements crucial to creating wealth and employment interests of sustainable tourism." The Natural Park occupies 70% of the island, includes several different habitation areas and some species in danger of extinction. One of the many projects being developed is the recovery of the habitat of the Freira da Madeira (Zino’s Petrel) to help its survival. Another project is to minimize the impact of wood pigeons on agricultural fields. Surveys are looking at the use of natural plants in the everyday life in the rural parishes and in Fajã da Ovelho, and cultural and heritage uses of natural materials. The Marine Reserves are an asset to the island; Garajau, Rocha do Navio, Ilhas Desertas and Selvagens and around Porto Santo.

Almost half of the olive oil consumed in Portugal comes from Spain. Between 40 and 50 thousand tons imported per year but within four years Portugal will be self-sufficient. This is when the recently planted olive groves will be in full production. Spain is the main investor in Portugal in this sector, especially in the regions Alentejo, Beja, Serpa and Ferreira do Alentejo. The price has almost increased 50% worldwide in two months. Portugal exports 32.3% of its olive oil production, mainly to Brazil. This year, Tras-de-Montes predicts a fall in production, Alentejo region estimates a 20% increase in production and Beira Interior promises to be the best harvest in recent years.

SATA and TAP reinforce code-sharing agreement. The Azorean airline increased the agreement it has with TAP to destinations linking Porta Delagada and Funchal to northern Europe and Lisbon-Zurich. —- Details given but I haven’t a clue what code-sharing means. It just means they share the same plane, but from a passenger point of view they are separate flights … until they board that is. Der

Cristiano Ronaldo receives compensation from the Daily Mirror. The British tabloid newspaper accused him of drinking excess alcohol and dancing while recovering from a foot operation in Los Angeles in July 2008. He received an apology and an unspecified amount of damages.

Madeira nurses are better leaving the region in search of better working conditions. The complaint of the President of the Order of Nurses, due to motivation and difficulties in finding employment. Nurses have left due to recent changes made by the Regional Health Service for nurses with more years of service and difficulties for recent graduates in finding work. The President said that the future is black and within six or seven years, Madeira will have to import nurses from less developed countries. For these reasons he calls on the Government to reverse the health policies in the region. He said the health service lacks human resources and the 75 nurses who qualified this year are not enough to make up the shortfall.

Of the six patients in Portugal who had severe problems after eye injections at Santa Maria Hospital, two have just been told they are permanently blind. The hospital later denied that the blindness is irreversible.

Interest rates threaten to double by the end of next year. Opinion of many analysts that the Euribor rate will settle at around 2% in 12 months time, i.e.. late 2010. At present the rates are at a historic low at 1% and there has been a downward trend since October 2008. Last September mortgage rates reached the lowest value at 2.361%.

Holders of firearms unaware of amendments to the law. The Regional Command of the PSP has found irregularities in the supervision of individuals with firearms due to amendments of the act in May 2009. Failure to comply with standards of conduct leads to fines, forfeiture of licences and confiscation of weapons. There is "frequent confusion" between liability insurance policies, and safe storage of firearms to ensure against loss, theft and accidents.

Praça do Município in Funchal illuminated blue. From last night until Sunday the three most  important buildings in the square, the Town Hall, Sacred Art Museum and the Church of the College, are illuminated due to an initiative of the International Diabetes Federation. 10.9% of the population of Madeira suffer from diabetes. 26% of those aged from 60 – 79 years suffer from the illness.

A quick peek at the front page of today’s Diário newspaper :

Today’s main news headline : Alcohol sends 600 a year to hospital. Liver cirrhosis problems account for 95% of the hospitalizations in the Service of  Gastroenterology. The Nucleus of professionals of that sector, who celebrate 25 years, meets Friday and Saturday in Funchal. Too many medical terms in this one to make sense to me, but the 600 alcohol related admissions mentioned in the headline, would be higher, but the unit is limited to just 15 beds.

São Martinho : Bacalhau without music – The celebrations today on Madeira are the initiatives of the  traders. And, with the exception of São Roque in Faial, new wine and cod fish is served without music. Even in São Martinho. There will be less barracas than usual in São Martinho tonight on the eve of it’s patron saints day, but the urge to mark the tradition will be the same as always.

Minister says that Madeira received €10 million more – Office of Portugal’s Finance Minister insists in the advantages of the current Finance Law. The PSD-M social democrats say that the Regional Finance Law loses Madeira €200 million, the PS-M socialists say it amounts to just €6 million, and now the chancellor of the Republic says it benefits Madeira with an extra €10 million. As the Diário correctly points out, analysing the Finance Law is like analysing the election results, with each party having a different angle on the subject. They all agree that Madeira has lost out however, and there seems to be no doubt that the Azores receive more than Madeira from the State Budget. And why shouldn’t they, if the need is greater.

Golf of Ponta do Pargo already awarded – It just lacks the money. The €40 million needed has not yet been secured, even though the consortium of Somaque and Zagope has already been awarded the €16.4 million construction contract for the new golf course. The 100 hectare site has already been acquired at a cost of around €20 million. With an area of around 1 million square meters, the design conceived by Nick Faldo will include an 18 hole course, a 9 hole ‘pitch and putt’, a driving range, and a club house. The work will not start whilst the finances are unresolved, and the banks are tightening their lending criteria, and will not now lend against the original concept of the project to minimise their risk. So big deal … we need another golf course here about as much as we need Uncle Bertie’s debt management skills. I have been living here since before the concept of this new golf course, and despite the picture, I swear that there has never been a report of Nick Faldo ever coming here, so maybe his kids designed the complex with some coloured crayons when they were like 6 years old.

Ronaldo provokes ‘Iberic war’ – Portuguese Football Federation pressures, but Real Madrid won’t back down. Portugal want to call up Ronaldo for the game against Bosnia, but Real Madrid say he is injured and won’t be ready to play. But the Portugal manager reckons that Real are pulling a fast one, and said send him anyway and we will get our own doctors to check him out, and if there is any risk we won’t play him. Ronaldo himself when asked said he just wants to play football, so he is keeping out of the politics.

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(more…)

(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.

(26th July). A triple Gripe A news headline today : ‘Gripe A On The Loose At A Wedding – Victim in Câmara de Lobos violates recommendation’. The swine flue H1N1 remains infectious from the time of the first symptoms until around seven days afterwards, but the recommendations of the health authorities are being ignored. Despite the warnings about the infectiousness of the virus, even those infected are not taking warnings seriously, according to a hospital source, and ignoring instructions to stay at home. In a case of negligence, a family from the United Kingdom went to a wedding yesterday in Câmara de Lobos, along with two children infected with Gripe A, who were supposed to stay at home, along with the father who had given a positive result in a screening test. The health service has no authority to force anyone to stay at home, and nor can they post a policeman outside the house of an infected person, so anyone is able to ignore their public duty to minimise contamination risk. However according to a lawyer, anyone who ignores the advice given by medical specialists and puts others at risk can be held accountable for spreading a dangerous infection, and could end up facing charges. The section of the law has been reproduced in the Diário, and one could face imprisonment for between one and eight years just for creating a danger of infection. Negligence in the same area can result in imprisonment of up to 5 years, and the law covers the infected person, medical staff, and even pharmacists. What mind-blowing irresponsibility, to go along to a public place whilst still in a contagious stage of such a dangerous virus … unbelievable. However very unfair I feel to apply this one incident to Madeirans as a whole, but maybe the publicity given to this one case will draw attention to the matter, and do some good in the long run.

‘5 More Cases Registered Yesterday Elevates The Number Infected To Eleven’. The Ministry of Health announced yesterday 5 new cases of confirmed infection of swine flu on Madeira, having now taken over that role from the regional health authority. A man of 23, a boy of 11 and girl of 4 from Venezuela, and a Spanish boy and girl both aged 14 that are scouts here on holiday, have all been confirmed as infected. In Portugal there are now 218 confirmed cases.

‘Pandemic Is Going To Cost €28 Million For Madeira And The Businesses’. Enough on Gripe A for one day? I think so.

‘There Are Many Singles Wanting To Adopt – The adoption of children appeals overall to single women. In shortage are the families of reception’. According to a spokesman in the Social Security of Madeira there are currently 15 people waiting that meet the necessary adoption criteria to proceed with their applications, and demand is increasing with a total list of applicants stretching to 79. The general profile for these people are single women, well educated, working, with their own homes, and aged between 30 and 40+ years. The law is the same for single and partnered applicants, and successful applicants have a file containing the information mentioned, as well as information on employment and emotional stability. In 2008 there were 24 completed adoptions, and 11 so far this year. There are currently 15 children in the pre-adoption programme, that lasts 6 months. Male applicants are treated in the same way as women, and will not be rejected if they meet the same criteria (yeah right!). There are very few babies up for adoption, and that is what most applicants want. Older children are more difficult to home. Host families, that take children on a temporary basis, are getting harder to find, and Madeira is judged "very bad" in this respect. A few years ago there were 50 such homes, but now there are just 30. In October there will be a nationwide campaign to find new host families.

‘Right Now There Are Few Who Stop In The Centre Of Camacha – The population of the parish where one still works the wicker and asks for conversion of the Largo da Achada’. Camacha must be the Diário’s featured location of the week. Camacha calls for the return of the police station, the an agricultural market, an indoor pool, and more water and roads. The wicker industry is a shadow of what it used to be, and is only continuing because of the will of some, who are ‘rowing against the current’. The zone of Nogueira concerns many in terms of safety and security, and the talk of a new police station in 2008 is still just talk, as is the construction of a swimming pool. An auditorium and farmers market are budgeted for 2011 at a cost of €3.6 million. The church needs restoration, and the drug problems are well documented. 

‘Wicker Has Seen Better Days – A weak market and raw material is scarce leaving the craftsmen of Camacha deflated’. Wicker baskets of various sizes and shapes take form in the hands of José Fernandes, and the technique of a lifetime is almost mechanical. In the blink of an eye a new one joins the pile of baskets already prepared in the workshop of José and his wife Lucia. For these artisans of Camacha, working in wicker has had better times. Today the market is weak, and even the raw material is running out. "If there is work, I don’t know if the raw material will last until the next harvest" says José. If it wasn’t for the low pension, José would have left the business, and just made the odd basket for amusement. The young flee from the art, and it is the older folk that guarantee that the tradition continues the hallmark of Camacha. At the sítio do Rochão, José de Jesus Freitas counts on his fingers the number of people that still cultivate the wicker material. He has grown it himself, but opted to quit. "There are no orders, nor they pay the value due to whom works", he justifies. Gathering hay to feed the cattle, José de Jesus Freitas doesn’t consider himself a farmer, "now I just plant to eat" he stresses. The lack of water and improvements to the roads are the priorities in the parish of Rochão in his opinion. There is no water for irrigation, and José asks for wells for agricultural water and street improvements.

‘Nacional Win, Marítimo Lose – Last seasons tendency repeats itself’. In pre-season warm up games, Madeira’s in form side beat Vitória de Setúbal 1 – 0, and meanwhile the off-form rabble lost 3 – 0 away at Leixões.

‘Couple And Son Convicted For Drug Trafficking – A family network that was operating in Nogueira was broken up by police in April 2008′. A man aged 45, and his spouse aged 40, were accused of several crimes, the more serious being drug trafficking, and were sent to prison by Santa Cruz court for 10 and 7 years respectively. 1,600 doses of heroine and cocaine were seized, as well as €45,000 in cash and various expensive household goods and vehicles. The son, aged 20, was given a two year suspended prison sentence for the same crime. I only mentioned this because I was curious about visiting rights?

It’s impossible to get through the newspaper these days without several mentions of Gripe A, and no exception today. The Madeira health institute IASAÚDE has created a website http://iasaude.sras.gov-madeira.pt/gripea/ to inform and advise on all aspects of the H1N1 swine flu. I only found one page in English, and that was for travellers (Viajantes), and the page of contacts was blank, but no doubt they are still working on it. There is also a national web-section available through http://www.dgs.pt/ but again, nothing for non-Portuguese speakers yet, surprising really as tourists are no doubt presenting the greatest risks so far.

‘Deadlock Leaves Curral Without A Cashpoint / ATM – No one wants to pay the cost of sheltering the multibanco machine’. Curral das Freiras (Valley of the Nuns) only has the one cashpoint, but in May rainwater entered and caused a short circuit, and it is has never been repaired, nor are there any plans to do so. ‘Banco Santander Totta’ bank is responsible for managing and maintaining the machine, but will only fix the machine when the protection is improved, and they say it is not their responsibility. EDITORS FOOTNOTE : Santander bank was this month nominated the best bank in Portugal.

‘Pollution At Praia Formosa Keeps Away The Bathers Out Of The Sea’. A large unpleasant brown floating substance kept swimmers not just out of the sea at the beach west of Funchal, but sent many of them packing to find somewhere else to go. The pollution was visible along almost all of the length of the Blue Flag beach on Friday. At the time of the report in the Diário yesterday, no authority had gone along to investigate.

Petrol and diesel prices drop again tomorrow.

From the Jornal da Madeira : ‘Madeirans Recycle Six Thousand Tons Of Rubbish In The First Six Months Of This Year’. The majority by weight was paper and cardboard at 2,898 tons, followed by glass at 2,587 tons, 463 tons of plastic, and 74 tons of steel. The article states that the system ‘Ponto Verde’ recycling is available to 99.7% of the population of Portugal. Me thinks that’s pretty misleading, as I have 10 minute walk one way to recycle anything, and if that was the case for every citizen, I don’t think many would bother.

(18th July). Today’s main news headline : ‘People Won’t Pay For Useless Bureaucracy – The Government of the Republic counter attacks the criticisms from the public notaries of Madeira, made in the Diário. The minister of justice warns that there will not be people and companies guaranteeing the income of the notaries. And remember the requests of the GR for the introduction here of programs from the SIMPLEX regime, that have to eliminate the resource of the notaries offices’. The accusation made in the Diário several days ago claimed that the public notaries had been ’screwed’ for want of a better word, having been promised work after moving from the public to the private sector. "Now more than ever, people and companies should stop paying for unnecessary bureaucracy in order to contribute to the generation of wealth, employment and jobs. Reducing the cost of bureaucracy is an investment in creating more employment and more productive employment, and the policy of simplification pursued by this government is a key instrument for that purpose" said a spokesman from the Ministry of Justice, in response to notaries complaining about a 75% drop in income. What is not justified is that "the activity of notaries, and hence their income, was based on a demand because people and businesses were required to use their services, without an option of choice and no other alternatives", and the response also adds that the notaries had opted for privatisation, and it was not forced on them. The Simplex programs simplify previously longwinded procedures, allowing citizens to do much more themselves, much more quickly, with much less cost, such a starting a business, property transactions, and matters of divorce and inheritance. It is the introduction of Simplex that has stripped away most of the need for the notaries. I reckon the spokesman from the Ministry of Justice needs to have a very very long chat with his opposite number in the Ministry of Finances / Treasury, as I don’t see any simplification or choices in the way that this country runs its tax affairs, from a taxpayers perspective that is, nor in social security for that matter.

‘Works On The Avenida: CMF Circumvents Embargo – Authority overcomes the injunction, the responsibility of a competitor, and the work continues’. The urban remodelling work on Avenida do Mar was challenged legally by a consortium of companies involved in the tendering process, and a court injunction was granted. The action was in response to the awarding of the contract to a company that that quoted a price perceived as ‘abnormally low’ (30% less than the base value). The work was ordered to stop by the court, but after careful consideration and a council resolution, the authorities ruled that work should continue on the grounds that stopping would cause ‘grave harm to the public interest’. The matter is now back with the courts to see if they accept the position adopted by the council. The work involves improvements along the Avenida do Mar, which include public toilets, and it was deliberately scheduled to be undertaken during the school holidays to minimise traffic and movement problems.  

The main picture today is a rather pointless photo of the Galp petrol station on Porto Santo, with the story covered yesterday now elevated to the front page : ‘Suspect Of Kidnapping Shocks P. Santo – The businessman from Porto Santo disappeared on Thursday in Funchal. The family received a ransom demand made by an individual with a Brazilian accent. The police investigate’. The kidnappers have demanded half a million Euros for the release of 78 year old Guilherme Bernardino Alves, seized after being lured to Funchal for a phoney business meeting. The police (PJ) admit to having suspects in a case that is fairly unique* to them. The kidnappers have made 3 calls so far, all around a minute in duration. Unofficially the Diário claims that another businessman from Porto Santo, with financial problems, was arrested and questioned, but later released. A police spokesman with 20 years experience, says that there have been less than 10 kidnappings in Portugal during that time, and that this is the first time for Madeira. I wonder if CSI Funchal are involved, as since the unit was established I have not heard a single mention of the unit.

In sport, just a clarification to yesterday’s headline : ‘Barreiros : IDRAM Already responded’. The front page has the same photo as yesterday, and the article says that the sports institute has already responded to the request for information to Funchal Council, so the ball is back in their court.

‘Jellyfish Return To Ribeira Brava Beach’. At least four swimmers were stung yesterday by jellyfish at the beach of Ribeira Brava. Around lunchtime the life guard hoisted the yellow flag to warn swimmers, something that the majority of people ignored, despite the reason quickly circulating by word of mouth.

‘New Collection In August’. Funchal Council is to start a new refuse collection in Imaculado Coração de Maria on 4th August, but this time it will be for organic waste. The move is a trial, and will be extended if successful. The collections will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, but those who want to take part will need to purchase the appropriate container which will cost between €4.96 and €23.79, depending on the size required. Funchal has achieved a level of 24% for recycling, the highest in Portugal, and is feeling the financial benefits of doing so. Expecting people to separate out yet more refuse is a tall order in itself, but expecting them to ‘opt in’ and pay for a special container … doomed to failure as it is would be my guess. 

Prison Guards went back on strike yesterday, in the second part of two three day strikes. Further talks were held, mainly about retirement at age 60, but no agreement was reached. The strike, which affects all prisons in Portugal, had a 95% adhesion by prison guards in the first stage. Under existing agreements there is a minimum level of cover in the prisons, and inmates continue to be fed, exercised, given medical care, and have access to religious facilities.

Petrol goes down in price again on Monday. Petrol ‘95′ will cost €1.18 a litre, two centythingies less than last week. Diesel has been reset by the government at €0.92, three cents down.

* I am expecting another visit from Trevor from the word police, and of course another telling off for criminal misuse of the English language.

(18^th May). Today’s main headline, with a large sketch of a man wearing a balaclava (or similar) : ‘Hoodies Escape The Police – Of the 13 robberies committed by hoodies in recent times, 10 are still unresolved. The victims are starting to lose hope in justice’.  The saga of the hoodies (I use this word, because I can’t find a proper equivalent, but in effect these criminals wear something that hides their faces) started 20 months ago, and only 3 of the 13 robberies have been solved so far. The former police chief announced around a year ago that the public were to be used to evaluate the performance of the police of Madeira, and so the Diário went off to interview some of the victims of the hoodies about the police performance in solving these crimes. They go for shops, jewelry sellers, money from petrol stations, and individuals, with the threat of guns or knives, and they are in and out very quickly. Needless to say that the victims of the unresolved cases were not too impressed.

(18^th May). ‘700 Analyses Per Day In The Hospital – The public laboratory enables a saving of €2 million per year’. The analysis unit, part of Funchal Central Hospital, has taken to performing all analysis work ‘in house’, rather than outsourcing, saving €2 million a year. It is performing between 650 and 700 tests per day, but has the capacity for double that. That’s an incredible number, and over a year would equate to one analysis for every single person living on Madeira.

(18^th May). ‘Medicine To Lose Weight Much Sought After On Madeira’. A new product, which arrived in the pharmacies of Madeira about a month ago, has already sold around five hundred packages. ‘Alli’ has received significant publicity, and claims to combat obesity, costing around €60 for a pack of 84 tablets. It is available ‘over the counter’, and some pharmacies have been left out of stock due to the high demand. A spokesman for pharmacies says “it helps to lose some weight, but if it is not associated with a diet, it will not solve the problem alone”. A spokesman at Funchal central Hospital says people are spending money unnecessarily, and the remedy “will not perform miracles”. He believes that after taking two or three boxes and not getting any results “people will say that the drug does not work”.

(18^th May). The environmental agency Quercus, who launched a cork recycling initiative in February, has already amassed over 700 kilos of bottle corks. They will be sent to a recycling plant in Portugal, who amongst other things produce building insulation materials, which are more environmentally friendly than synthetic ones. Madeira’s schools have taken an active part in the collection process, as well as the population in general, and hotels and restaurants. The collection point is situated in the Dolce Vita shopping centre in Funchal. Children at a nursery school in Ponta do Sol have already collected 49 kilos of corks. I don’t know, kids start drinking younger and younger these days.