Madeira News Blog

The old abandoned mansion overlooking Funchal harbour

Received by email : "Hello, I’m flying out to Funchal on November 18th for my 4th visit and can’t wait! I’m doing some self-catering this time and am looking forward to going down to the fish market and buying some lovely espada. Yum, got to be the best fish in the whole world, cooked properly "Madeiran style". I fell in love with this old mansion house – vertically up from the Lido near the old fortress (the lido being the outdoor Art Deco pool next to the Fortaleza de São Tiago, at the base of the cliff). I always thought if I won the lottery I’d refurbish it and restore it to its former splendour. But does anyone know the history of this place and why it was abandoned? There’s also a picture of it on Google earth. I’m attaching a photo (above) I took a little while ago. MORE PHOTOS & GOOGLE EARTH LOCATION Christopher

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Anyone looking to book holidays on Madeira next year might find this summary of events and dates useful. It is probably all on the official tourism website, but as it is all simple and well laid out here I thought it may be of interest. 2010 EVENTS & FESTAS

I must admit I was a little irritated by the attitude of the Machico traders over the issue of the Chinese megastore being opened there, as had it been a Madeiran shop selling Chinese goods, as many do in part, then I guess most traders would have scowled and got on with life. There was a special report on the case on RTP-M last week, after the 9 pm news, and one of the people featured was a local lady who had a Chinese shop in Funchal, and she wasn’t getting any hassle as far as I could see. So it seems to me the fuss is not about what is being sold, it is about who is selling it. RTP news at the time had also dug up a bit of old footage (from around 5 years ago) of president Jardim having a pop at Indian and Chinese traders for competing against Madeiran businesses, and saying that they weren’t welcome here, so perhaps the attitude of the Machico traders can be in part be blamed elsewhere.  A similar thing happened on Porto Santo earlier this year when local traders raised a petition, and the Chinese business ended up going out of business, maybe not directly as a result of the opposition, but not nice to see all the same.

Anyway, slightly intrigued by the situation, and not fully convinced that the Chinese shops were that much cheaper as to be a threat to Madeiran businesses, I decided to pay a visit to my local Chinese shop, quite a small operation, and compare some prices and choices with other local businesses.

I needed sunglasses and T-shirts, so I wandered around the local traders first, and the sunglasses on sale ranged from around €7 to €8, and all appeared to be from the same manufacturer. In the Chinese shop, in again what appeared to be the same range as the other shops, they were priced at €6.50. So a close 1 – 0 to the Chinese.

As for T-shirts, that was a different story altogether, with the lowest price I found in a local shop (and there are loads in Ribeira Brava) being €13.95, with others costing up to around €25 in some places. In the €13.95 shop I was asked why I wouldn’t buy the ones I was shown, and I said I was unemployed at the moment and it was more than I was able to pay. The shop owner threw her hands up in horror, and said to her colleague "these are cheap, don’t you think so?", and her colleague agreed, and they were in fact the cheapest I was able to find, but to me that is not cheap for a T-shirt.

So the next day I wandered back into the Chinese shop and had a look through their stock, and found quite a few decent brand name* ones in ‘robust size’ for €7.50 each. I brought 3 and even managed to negotiate a deal with the shop owner, although she looked like she had swallowed a nest of fire-ants when I asked for a discount. She reluctantly knocked €0.50 off the total! So a very comfortable 2 – 0 to the Chinese. And … for both T-shirts and sunglasses, the Chinese shop had by far the most to choose from. So Machico traders beware!

* The brand name is that world famous Chinese company ‘Wel Hong – the symbol of outstanding quality’. Well they do hang well I must admit, and as for any other interpretation, I plead the fifth amendment.

(Source : Tribal Football): Blackburn eyeing Nacional Madeira’s Micael - Blackburn Rovers, an English premier league football club are eyeing a move for Nacional Madeira midfielder Ruben Micael. Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is attempting to set up a cut-price £4 million deal for the 23-year old who was recently called up to the Portugal national team. Allardyce is keen to beat off competition from bigger clubs who are also believed to be interested in Micael, whose contract expires in 2011. Portuguese giants Benfica are said to be interested but Blackburn are trying to get in there first, either in January or next summer to lure him to Ewood Park. €4 million eh! He’s good for sure, but I didn’t expect talk of so much money.

News that Leonel de Freitas, director of RTP Madeira, has resigned may or may not be good news. Not that I have any problem with the content and format of our local TV station, it’s simply because I don’t have a clue what is on and when. RTP-M actually has quite a good mix of programmes, but my attempts to watch the 9 pm news are generally thwarted by schedule variations and changes, and generally I haven’t a clue what is on and when. The teletext schedules for RTP-M, on the main RTP channel, are nothing like the reality. The Zon internet TV guide doesn’t include RTP-M, and my monthly TV magazine, TeleCabo, has the programme schedules, but why they bother I don’t know. So my appeal to whoever takes over as director of RTP-M … PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT’S ON AND WHEN (and then try and stick to it).

A huge news contribution from yesterday from Elaine … many thanks :

Congestion caused by tourist coaches at Almirante Reis.  Another ‘full house’ at the port yesterday with three cruise ships berthed. The tourist buses stopping near the cable car entrance where the Avenida do Mar redevelopment is occurring, led to traffic congestion, confusion and protests from other drivers. The usual parking area is closed to tourist buses, interurban buses and Caniço buses, so they are having to use a normal traffic lane. This will intensify as November is a busy month for cruise ships and will continue until the works are finished.

Porto da Cruz Health Centre postponed. Construction of the Health Centre postponed until next year, so the old centre will still be used for longer than anticipated. The contract was signed before the last elections for a new Health Centre, Social Security Centre and an Elderly Residential Home. They will cost 4.7 million Euros, and an initial 118,000 Euros was allocated for 2009 and the rest payable in 2010 and 2011. But after the elections, the original money allocated for 2009 has been transferred to the 2010 budget.

Too many people want allotments. The CMF has suspended the application for urban allotments due to over-subscription. There are 350 on the waiting list so Funchal Council is trying to find more areas before they re-open the application process. They should be able to prepare 50 lots in the area adjacent to the new Avenida do Amparo for February next year, and an additional 15 lots in Santo Antonio for residents in Ribeira Grande. Since the project begun in 2005, there have been 159 lots.

Lorry driver killed. A 34 year old driver of a water tanker died from abdominal injuries sustained in an accident in Rosário, São Vicente. He was negotiating a curve, left the road and went down a 50 metre escarpment and hit a wall. Rescue services had difficulties working in the area and he was imprisoned in the cab with his abdomen, chest and legs compressed against the wheel. Despite advanced resuscitation efforts, he died at the scene. The cause of the accident is not yet known. It had been raining but the vehicle could have malfunctioned or there could have been a sudden health problem.

Manuel Saldanha expelled from PSP. This 41 year old Commissioner of the Regional Command of the PSP was one of the ‘strong men’ in the police force and had a promising career. He published a paper about the British police system called ‘Police in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. The trouble started in 2002 when there was a complaint in Porto Santo of him assaulting a man after an exchange of words in a bar/nightclub. An inspection in 2005/6 then found irregularities and delays in proceedings, and he was suspended for 169 days, and  a disciplinary penalty of compulsory transfer to Portugal, the first time this has happened. There he was convicted of drug trafficking and subsequently has been permanently dismissed.

Rui Moses changes the locks at Santana Council’s offices. After reports that people stay in the council offices, often late at night, in activities that are not work-related. He said that locks were changed because new people are now responsible for the management of the council facilities and not due to lack of confidence in employees. The opposition Socialist Party councillor Adelino Silvo was not convinced, saying that locks are usually changed due to a lack of trust and if there had been robberies, he expected details about such situations to be given.

Urgent debate on banana production. The PCP (Communist Party) want urgent talks with the Government about the nationalised company, GESBA, which is failing to collect the bananas and leading to producers having to bury them. The three problems are the company’s inability to collect all the production, failure to respond to market demand and failure in payments. This is deepening the economic and social situation in the region. GESBA and the The Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources deny there are these problems in collection and payment. They explain that winter production is lower and preference given to traders who buy in the summer. GESBA has already increased the price of bananas by 1 Euro in summer and 3 Euros in winter.

The Circus is returning to Machico this Christmas.  Same place as last year, at the football field in Machico. The first performance will be on December 11th. The main attraction will be an illusionist/magician named Harry Potter and a Luso-Spanish acrobat who is an expert ‘Olympic’ ring juggler. They already have some reservations for special performances for groups. Prices similar to last year.

Bartenders Association participate in Wine & Spirits Festival starting on Friday 6th November. Starts Friday 6th until Sunday 8th at the Congress Centre at the Pestana Casino Park Hotel, from 15.00 to 21.00 hours. To promote wines and help visitors appreciate and enjoy wine more. There will be about 50 producers and 300 wines, with workshops (17.00 to 19.00), cooking demonstrations by 14 chefs (16.00 to 21.00)  and a Wine Shop. On the last day, a cocktail competition will run from 15.00 to 19.00 for the Grand Marnier Trophy with about 30 barmen. Four winners will represent Madeira in the Algarve in December and the winner will represent Portugal at the World Cup next September in France. A gourmet dinner with  four participating chefs at the Hotel Four Views Baia on November 6th at 21.30, priced 30 Euros inclusive, bookable online. Website for the festival: www.sensusvini.com —- Anyone know about entrance fees?

British Ambassador visiting Madeira on the 6th to 8th November. Private family visit with some public engagements. Saturday 7th a Cocktail Party for the British community resident here at the English Church, and on Sunday, a Remembrance Day Service at 10.50 am.

Police catch two burglars in the act, and a ‘Good Samaritan’ has her handbag stolen . There have been a spate of robberies in Funchal. Acting on a complaint, the police on patrol in Rochinha caught two men when they were preparing to leave a house with 600 Euros of stolen goods. In Nazaré, an elderly woman tripped and fell and when a woman left a table she was sitting at to go to her aid, a 28 year old man stole the rescuer’s handbag. By the description of the thief, the local police quickly apprehended him and he confessed to the theft. He agreed to return the bag, documents and keys to the owner but 280 Euros in cash were missing.

Shock Store at Madeira Shopping – reduced fashion goods. Third time this event has been held. Started yesterday and until the 8th. November, from 12.00 to 22.00 hours. Discounts, some more than 50%, on big brands such as Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Rosa Cha, Armani and Miss Sixty. Some discounts in shops that participated in the Fashion Week, e.g.. Sun Planet, Bata, Quebramar and Springfield. Until the 18th, if you spend 20 Euros, you can enter a draw for 8 gift vouchers of 500 to 2,000 Euros. The Christmas decorations will be installed next week and Santa Claus will arrive at the end of the month.

Herdade dos Coelheiros wants to increase wine sales in Madeira. Two days ago, in the restaurant ‘Abrigo do Pastor’, the wines from the Herdade dos Coelheiros were offered to potential customers. The wine producers have changed their business strategy to work directly with regional distributors. The wine comes from the Alentejo region and they introduced the Chardonnay grape variety to the region. They try to produce a quality product rather than quantity, around 230,000 litres (200,000 bottles) of 8 different wines. The classic is ‘Tapada de Coelheiros’ white and red. Other notable ones are ‘Tapada de Coelheiros Garrafeira’. and ‘Tapada de Coelheiros Chardonnay’. They also produce a more rare and exclusive ‘Branca de Almeida – Tinto’. The more accessible wines are ‘Roda dos Coelhos’ and ‘Vinha da Tapada dos Coelheiros’. 60 – 70% of the sales are to the domestic market and Madeira accounts for about 5%, which they aim to increase to 10%. They are producing a new wine called ‘Ciranda’ white and red soon.

Another wine topic, the producer and exporter of Madeira Wine, ‘Justino’s Madeira Wine’ has a new logo. They are rebranding to try to strengthen their national and international market. The new image will be shown for the first time at the Wine & Spirits Festival on the 6 November.

Five-star hotel room prices fallen 25.20%. In Portugal, hotel revenue has fallen an average 15 and 20% and in some cases, as much as 40% and next year’s outlook is poor. Room prices have fallen to an average 52.9 Euros for five-star hotels and 30.14 Euros for a three-star hotel room. The largest fall in room rates was Lisbon to an average of 46.64 Euros. Five-star hotel room rates in Lisbon fell most (27.28%) and Madeiran hotels had the second largest decrease in rates (25.2%).

Government facilitates access to business support. It will be easier to apply for business incentive programs. Financial aid now available for projects that maintain jobs as well as those that create jobs. For small enterprises and individual entrepreneurs who are having difficulty accessing credit. Between 2007 and 2009, the Government granted 103 million Euros in aid.

In addition, the European Regional Development Fund can now be used by countries like Portugal to support housing in disadvantaged areas. Countries joining the EU before 2004 have previously been excluded.

But that "program" !…. Long rant by Jardim in his newspaper against the Portuguese Socialist Government program and its provocative financial revenge against the people of Madeira.  It threatens to intervene in matters which come under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira. —— Constitutional arguments are brewing. I do not think life is going to get easier between Jardim and Sócrates.

The Court of Auditors concluded that the contract of purchase and sale of future credit for the amount of 150 million Euros by the Government in 2007 led to an increase in debt in the region, resulting in an increase of approximately €64 million. This was a complex transaction by the Government to try to hide it from the debt allowed for that year. In the future, they must  submit annual cost projections to the Court and ensure the transactions have the consent of parliament.

Training sailing ship in Porto Santo and the Swedish students visit the UMa. The STS Alva is a training ship and harboured at Porto Santo due to Funchal port being full yesterday. The crew are 40 Swedish students, and they visited the University of Madeira on an exchange visit. It sails on Saturday for Tenerife.

From the front page of today’s Diário de Notícias :

Antibiotic Spending Excessive. Madeirans take too many antibiotics. Only between January and September this year nearly €2 million was spent on Madeira, to buy over 200,000 packages of antibiotics.

Crisis takes Madeirans out of the dentist’s chair – Since January, the consultations visibly diminish. Increases … only the cancellations. Of course, with the cost of dentistry here, and being outside of the health service, it’s probably one of the most unpopular items of expenditure on the island. You only have to look around to see the impacts of dental costs with so many gappy smiles. I have only been to the dentist here once in 6 years, and that was in an emergency, but since discovering © Toranja Poncha © I have never had to go since.

End in sight for the series ‘Flor do Mar’. Verified information is not available, but the ex-popular TVI series (or soap), filmed on Madeira, may finish up this weekend, and the channel TVI refuses to confirm or deny. The series has run the equivalent of 280 episodes, nearly every night since last November, and for a long time led the national viewing ratings … that was until TVI changed the starting time. It was partly funded through a grant of €500,000 from the Madeira government. In my opinion money well spent for improving domestic tourism. It was becoming more and more obvious that the series was coming to an end, as more and more of the Flor do Mar characters started roles in other dramas and soaps on TVI. Morangos Com Açúcar alone has 4 that I have spotted so far.

The main headline today : Government debt catches Via Litoral – ‘Insolvent’ Treasury tied-up €58 million, leaving the concessionary company to fail on its commitments to the bank. The Madeira government blames the situation, which affects many companies that have contracts with or provide services to Madeira, on the failure of central government to transfer money. A debate that has been going on far a long time. The contract mentioned is for our roads, but we could see the impacts of this arising in other sectors soon too.

Alvinegro dream stays at half way – The fatality repeated itself and the draw against Athletico Bilbao has brought Nacional again almost to the end. Now it just remains to challenge in the two games left to honour the shirt and try and bank some Euros. Qualification now is almost impossible. Nacional 1 – Bilbao 1 in the Liga Europa. They came close to winning, but let in an equalising goal towards the end of the game

I had better call it a day there, as with over 3,600 words, this is probably the longest blog ever.

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(14th September). Today’s main news headline : ‘Oncology Without Means Causes Desperation – The hospital promises rectification but admits to not having conditions nor doctors to attend to the dozens of patients that pass each day in the service Haemato-Oncology(?), where there are tac and ultrasound scans waiting to be dealt with’. The service is working at its limit, and just doesn’t have the medical means and conditions to serve the hundreds of patients who attend the service of Hemato-Oncology (I am having trouble with medical terms here, hence the different spelling!). Maria’s life took a turn when her husband became ill and doctors discovered that he had cancer in his tongue. The last months have been a struggle with consultations, treatments, tests and long waits in the Emergencies Department, in the services of Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre. Funchal Central Hospital has two oncologists, and they cannot meet the demand for tacs and other scans. Patients, such as Maria’s husband, are being referred to the private sector, and having to pay. Maria explains that it is not just the illness that burdens, it is more than that. She says with tears dancing in her eyes, that if it wasn’t for the understanding at her work, she would be unemployed by now. Her husband cannot take public transport to the hospital from their home in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, and so she needs to pay €30 for a taxi, a lot of money on a domestic helpers salary, and money is already tight. Two scans needed cost her another €85, and the long periods of waiting mean taking a lot of time off work. Maria’s story is similar to many family members of patients who receive a cancer diagnosis, and they have to learn to cope with the disease and with a system lacking conditions, doctors and resources to act adequately. Even the clinical director of the Department of Health for Madeira acknowledges that it is true, but reminds that improvements are planned for the service of Hemato-Oncology, with work starting in October with an expansion of the laboratory test area. More consulting and treatment areas, with better conditions, are also planned, but the director says it is dependant on bureaucratic procedures. Even with new scanning equipment being planned, the unit will not be able to cope with all the requirements, and people will continue to be referred to private practices. FOOTNOTE : If referred by the health service to a private practice, under the green requisition system, the price paid is significantly reduced from that normally charged.

‘Beach-Goers Block Cemetery – Confusion at the cemetery entrance, that is located near to the beach meaning parking spaces are much in demand’. This is just across the valley from me, and quite why it is on the front page I don’t know. Anyway, despite there being a car park right next to the beach, people don’t want to pay, so the road outside the cemetery, that overlooks the beach, gets congested and cemetery access is a problem. It is particularly a problem when there is a funeral, and the necessary vehicles cannot get access. The council say it is a matter for the police to deal with, but calls for "a little civility" to ensure there is access and that those who need to visit the cemetery can park there. According to a local priest, "it is a fact that there really is a lack of civility, but also it is a reality we are experiencing, in that people need to save a few cêntimos, so it is natural to look for spaces where one doesn’t need to pay". The police say they are aware of the situation, and that numerous cars have already been fined, and will continue to ensure the area is policed. It is an offence to to deny access to properties, buildings, and garages, and any cases noticed should be promptly reported to the police.

Another ‘headline’, is the announcement that that applications are open today for the Diário’s annual event, the ’100 Biggest & Best Companies’. Moving on …

The main front page picture today is from yesterday’s football match : ‘First Defeat Marked With Mistakes – Marítimo lost to the championship leader (Braga). Carlos Carvalhal (Manager), that has only won 2 games out of the 16 since training the verde-rubros, blames the referee. What lacks is an excuse for the apathy in attack’.

‘Champion Sand Sculptor’. Brandon Allen is from Porto Santo, is 14 years old, and is the latest national champion of sand sculptures. The competition, an initiative of the Diário de Notícias in Lisbon, had the final on the white sand beach in Lourinha in Portugal, with the winners from 29 beaches nationwide competing for the prestigious title. Brandon won with his feminine sculpture shown, and is the first ever winner from Porto Santo. On winning, "It was indescribable, I was thrilled and very happy. There are no words to describe what I felt", said Brandon.

The parish (freguesia) of Camacha has a new website : www.freguesiadacamacha.pt

‘Competition To Inaugurate Cycle Path’. The cycle path at Estrada Monumental will be inaugurated on Friday by Funchal council, and a competition is being held to mark the occasion for ‘non polluting’ (home made) vehicles, such as go karts. Judging is to be at 7 pm. A number of events have also been organised for Saturday and beyond, to mark the European Week For Mobility. It ends on the 22nd September with the opening of the ‘Green Line’ (Linha Verde), when the five buses that work the route between Funchal and Praia Formosa will be replaced with the new environmentally friendly models, which should also relieve traffic congestion on the route.

UPDATES FROM THE POLITICAL NEWS :

The last of today’s headlines : ‘Debate Puts 12 Talking Together For An Hour – The proposal of RTP-M doesn’t please the candidacies where national and local elections are mixed’. The debate on the Madeira TV channel is scheduled for the 23rd September, but those expected to take part are not happy with the proposed format, which will involve 12 representatives from the different political parties to sit and debate in one single session lasting a little over an hour. Bernardo Trindade, the head of the socialist list said: "The PS will be present, out of respect for Madeira and Porto Santo, but we are well aware that this debate will serve for nothing, since it is impossible to discuss seriously the problems affecting Madeira and in Porto Santo (in such a forum)". It would certainly be a spectacle of unpleasantness and disorder that I would watch, but as for a decisive guide for the discerning voter, I think not. I feel however that I have a duty to say that there is no truth in the rumour that President Jardim’s social democrats are happy with the 12 person format, on the condition that exactly 11 of them are PSD representatives, in line with the democratic principles of the party on Madeira. 

‘Santa Cruz inaugurates 12 works up to the elections – In less than a month 23% of the works promised will be inaugurated’. The electoral program with which the current PSD president of Santa Cruz, José Alberto Gonçalves, was elected four years ago, promised 51 public works in the 5 districts of the region. 12 of these are due to be inaugurated, or opened, before the local elections on 11th October. Opposition parties accuse the council of trying to mislead the voters and cover up the failures of the current administration. On the face of it, the opposition have a bit of a point, as spread evenly the inaugurations should work out at about one a month, not 12 in less than 4 weeks. However, like all councils, Santa Cruz have to do things the ‘Uncle Bertie way’, and that means holding projects back until election time to leave the voters with good and very recent memories, as their needs and desires are fulfilled. Are voters really that stupid, as Bertie and the PSD are indirectly implying. I think not. The majority will still vote for Bertie regardless of how many white elephants, pigs in pokes, and BS the government and councils deliver, so what is the point in holding things back?

Along similar lines, we in Ribeira Brava have been treated to free entertainment over the Summer weekends. At first it was once a fortnight or less, now it is every week, and the quality acts are being saved until the last weeks, as last night showed when probably over a thousand people came to watch several acts, one of which was imported. The president of Ribeira Brava was quoted in the newspaper some weeks ago as saying he doesn’t mix politics with business … yeah, right! Of course they are not really free, as someone pays for them, probably the taxpayer, or perhaps I have it all wrong and the PSD fund it all from their election budgets?

Loads of political stuff in today’s newspaper (more than the rest put together, excluding sport and entertainment), and on the TV, radio … it’s everywhere and there is nowhere to hide without going into hibernation. I reckon the Diário must have already sacked those 10 journalists, and it seems that none of the sacked ones were from the political reporting team.

(30th August). Today’s main news story : ‘Inter-Island Voyages More Expensive In The Region – To travel by plane between the islands of Madeira costs triple that in the Azores and the Canaries. Airport taxes also penalise the connection between Madeira and Porto Santo’. The Diário conducted a study in the three locations mentioned, about the cost of inter island travel, by air and sea. The conclusion is that mile for mile, the good people of Madeira pay more, and one of the main reasons is the direct government subsidies given (or not given). Cheaper fuel prices and economies of scale also play a part, as well as airport taxes. One of the conclusions is that inter-island travel in the Azores, by sea, costs €0.07 per mile, whilst here it costs €1.20 per mile. By air it costs on SATA between the Azores €3.50 per minute of air travel, whilst here the comparative cost is €9.60 per minute, charged by the same airline. In the Canary Islands the state subsidises residents by almost 60%, the Azores by 25%. Nothing for Madeirans, although those who live on Porto Santo do have an entitlement of 35% discount. It’s a long article, but if anyone wants to know more the two charts on these links sum it up MADEIRA TRAVEL MADEIRA TRAVEL 2

All people suffer from post-holiday syndrome on returning to work and their routines – Syndrome is "a longer version of the sensation that people feel Sunday night, having to return to work". Fatigue, concentration problems, and irritability, are symptoms that experts associate with the post-holiday syndrome, which this time of year affects those who, after a rest period, have to return to work and the routine of everyday life. Many according to a report are suffering from anxiety. An expert on the subject recommends an easing back into the routines, by going to bed early and getting up earlier, and anything else that helps readjust the routines more gradually. I guess that day then for many is tomorrow?

‘Engineer Rui Vieira Died – The agronomist and politician was aged 83′. He was the first director of the Jardim Botânico (Botanic Gardens) of Funchal, and a Euro MP for the CDS / PP. He died yesterday of cancer. 

Today’s sports headline, in football again : ‘Real Madrid Win (3 – 2) With A Goal From Ronaldo – The Madeiran put away a penalty to score one of the goals of the victory of the ‘merengues’ in the start of the Spanish league’.

‘Ponta Delgada Waiting A Civic Centre – With the festival ‘at the door’, it is clear also that it lacks a public bathroom in the centre of the parish’. This sounds like one of those gripping local features that I thought had disappeared a few weeks ago. It has a nice photo of a petrol station / cafe, and a few local men going about their business on the front page of today’s newspaper, but I couldn’t copy that, so we have a scenic view instead. Aside from the WC, it seems that Ponta Delgada has just about everything except adequate parking, and having it’s own petrol station is indeed a great privilege. Aside from that it has it’s own multibanco (ATM), post office, pharmacy, and even a swimming complex. The civic centre was promised to the people ten years ago. As for life there, there is a small drug problem, but mostly out of sight, but people continue to feel safe in the parish. Next weekend is the festa of Bom Jesus, that is one of the most popular and well attended on Madeira, and that is one of the reasons so many people complained about the lack of a public toilet. Like everywhere else here, the youngsters don’t want to work the land their families worked for generations.

‘Funchal Câmara Doesn’t Back Down On The Projects Of Clean Public Transport – President Miguel Albuquerque  assures that the ‘Eco Line’ and the ‘Green Line’ will not affect the taxis’. Despite the opposition of the taxi drivers, Funchal Council will not back down on the projects for environmentally friendly public transport. Eco Line goes into free travel on Tuesday, and September 22nd sees the start up of the Green Line, which connects Praia Formosa Beach to the city centre. The president of CMF believes that the controversy with the taxi drivers is being fed and used by politicians on the eve of elections. As regards to the Green Line, which replaces the various existing buses, Albuquerque states that it will not be free travel, and what changes is that the new buses are environmentally friendly.

‘The president of the Azores, Carlos César, argued yesterday that the Portuguese autonomous regions can not be treated equally by the state – Madeira to Porto Santo is 40 miles, but Santa Maria to Corvo is over 600 miles’. He directed his speech at the elections of 27th September, and to support the re-election of José Sócrates, Prime Minister. In his view, the Government of the Republic can not "treat in the same way things that are different," noting that the Azores are composed of nine islands and Madeira of just two. So the Azores should be entitled to a "positive discrimination" within the Regional Finance Law, which determines the amount of money that comes from the state to the autonomous regions. In other words he argues that the Azores should receive more state money than Madeira. That reality, according to the PS president, "the PSD and Manuela Ferreira Leite (party leader) have not understood" accusing the Social Democrats of wishing to change the calculations of transfers from the islands so as to "harm the Azores". "It is therefore crucial and fundamental to the Azores that the PS and José Sócrates win in the elections of 27th September", he appealed.

UPDATES :

Following the earlier story about the new environmentally friendly buses in Funchal, the council has said it wants to take out out the hotel coaches / buses that frequent Avenida do Mar, and encourage tourists to take the new ‘Green Line’ buses instead. The idea is to reduce congestion along the Avenida and the Estrada Monumental, by taking out the coaches which often carry very few passengers. That means tourists will have to pay for transport in and out of downtown Funchal.

‘RTP-M Interviews 12 Candidates In 12 Days’. The TV station of Madeira has decided to interview the 12 main candidates from the political parties that are standing in the national legislative elections on 27th September. The first one starts on Tuesday, and they will be shown after the 9 pm news. Each candidate or party representative will be given around 30 minutes to express their ideas and positions to the Madeira public. The channel is also considering having debates, but nothing is decided yet.

The final front page article today has a photo that makes no sense at all : ‘Ministers Come To Support Bernardo – A circuit of lectures will include a minister and several secretaries of state’. The objective is to discuss "key areas for the Region" with Bernardo Trindade, the socialist candidate for the parliament, as part of a set of initiatives that will take place from 7th September. He has invited several members of central government to take part, as well as other personalities from Madeira. "The aim is to trigger thought and discussion, and seek to decentralize initiatives," says Bernardo Trindade. The first lecture is scheduled for September 7th in Santa Cruz, and will be dedicated to the environment and spatial planning. The roadshow then goes to Câmara de Lobos (8th), Funchal (10th), administrative simplification will be the subject on 12th, then to Ponta do Sol (14th) to discuss agriculture, and then Machico to discuss employment. Porto Santo will be the venue to discuss tourism and transport on the 16th, with a final lecture still to be arranged on the 18th to discuss policies for autonomy.

‘Sócrates Against Social Security Proposed By The PSD’. The prime minister and secretary general of the Socialist Party, José Sócrates, said yesterday in Faro that he disagrees with Social Security based on "every man for himself", and criticized the social democrats for defending the capping of the Portuguese Social Security, as outlined in its prospectus presented to the public on Thursday. He said what was being proposed certainly means the "privatisation" of part of Social Security, and it would be "a bad decision for the country".

A very thin newspaper today, so that’s it for now. With the holiday season over tomorrow, perhaps there might be a few more journalists on duty.