Madeira News Blog

Today’s photo – Many thanks to Sue … The complete statue at Portela Miradouro (that featured  in ‘How well do you know Madeira?’ some months ago).

"You crazy English: a German’s view of our buying habits – The editor of the Germans property magazine Bellevue insists his compatriots have been good at avoiding mistakes. It’s the same old story. Wherever you go on a shore in the sun, there are more of them. They have always outnumbered us Germans on Madeira and Cyprus, granted. But did they have to snatch Tuscany from us?" Just about worth a read, as Madeira does get a very quick mention. TIMES ONLINE

This came in to me by email from Memuir : "Would you be able to put in a tag for  "Porto Santo"?  There must be quite a few of us having paid over half the cost for an apartment or villa at the Colombo’s Resort and now just stuck in limbo, even though the first block of apartments are complete but can’t seem to be fenced off from the rest of the site and completed and used – no need for the hotel to be complete anyhow – the island is so gorgeous but all this is very depressing". There is a tag for Porto Santo, but it only appears when there is a story that day that involves Porto Santo. There is a tag for all the 11 regions of Madeira, although admittedly I don’t always use it because it seems sometimes that the tag list is getting longer than the blog itself. Hope you resolve your problems with the Colombo resort, but it could be a long process to find new investors. Der

Becky very kindly sent this in : "My love of old guide books about Madeira led me here: AMERICAN LIBRARIES ARCHIVE Just click on ‘read online’ or download it.  It’s from 1882 and it’s a fascinating read.  I’ve attached a hilarious page which includes useful Portuguese phrases (it’s out of copyright so it’s OK to reproduce it).  I think I might try them next time I’m over and see how far I get with "Hold your tongue"!  Some of them might be useful now if they’re bringing back the "hammock" – if you adopt your best Lady / Lord Muck voice of course … "

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

FRONT PAGE HEADLINES

Government commits 31.5% of EU support to Valor Ambiente. The Government has committed almost a third of the announced support for companies, for additional costs of operation, to one public company – Valor Ambiente. The initiative is designed to compensate companies for additional costs incurred in the support of the operation and provision of services of general economic interest and infrastructure and amenities. This option of the Government to allocate this amount to one company reduces the amount available for other regional firms. Valor Ambiente is a waste treatment firm and will receive 50% of eligible costs, totalling 10.4 million Euros. The approval of this application raises questions. Companies are entitled to 15% of eligible expenses, to a limit of 50,000 Euros for micro-enterprises and 100,000 Euros for small businesses, not more than 10% of turnover. The Diário could not obtain the 2008 accounts so had to use those from 2007. This firm operates the Meia Serra waste treatment station and this company’s liabilities were 176.7 million Euros with a bank debt of 30.1 million Euros and 34.8 million debt to third parties. They received 114.9 million Euros from the government and the councils. It is suspected that today the company is insolvent and in recent years, the Budget injected more than 70 million with 19 million Euros transferred in 2009. To avoid bankruptcy in the entire regional system of waste disposal, the Government has chosen to inject more EU money into the company and this year, is expected to inject 16.7 million Euros. And if I am not mistaken there are government officials with a stake in the Meia Serra plant!!! Der.

Graduates working in another area. In a competitive labour market, graduates are having to seek work in unrelated occupations but might receive more personal satisfaction. In December last year, there were 749 graduates enrolled with the Institute of Employment. This represented 5.7% of the total, down from 6.8% in December 2008. At the end of last month, 240 of the graduates were under 25 years old and 509 were 25 or older. 528 had been unemployed for less than a year. Many emigrate for employment, especially nurses, which is a profession where there is a shortage in some EU countries, particularly the Netherlands.

‘Mea culpa’ (my fault) Jardim.  The new Socialist leader, Jacinto Serrão spoke at the closing session of the XIV Congress of the PS-M. He is certain that in the debate on the Regional Finance Law, the Regional Government has damaged Madeira by abusing the Government of the Republic. Serrão reprimanded the Finance Minister who threatened to resign if the new Regional Finance Law was passed and for his stubbornness. He appealed to the Regional Government, the Government of the Republic and the national PS to change some of their behaviours that prevent a positive outcome for this problem. This former deputy of the National Assembly has no conscience about the law of regional finances that the Government of the Republic reversed in 2007. He always warned, since 2004, the Regional Government of the consequences of an inflated GDP. Serrão said the Regional Government has wasted money on the Marina do Lugar de Baixo and non-priority infrastructure such as stadiums. The present Government has hidden poverty and used scapegoats like the PS, the Government of the Republic and the Regional Finance Law to free Jardim from the responsibility of the current state of things.

MADEIRA

Sugar cane production at the maximum limit. The Regional Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources warns cane sugar producers not to make new investments in the sector as the current production has reached the maximum supported by the market. They are advised to enter other sectors which are lacking, for example banana production. Between 2000 and 2009, there was a large growth in the amount of sugar cane produced (from 2,800 to 6,000 tons), so the priority now is to create new markets and increase the existing markets for all products derived from cane sugar. The Regional Government is in a joint operation with a supermarket chain for the export of bolos and broas de mel to the national and Eastern European area, where it has 1,500 stores. The Regional Government will also support producers whose crops were damaged by the wind. Yesterday’s meeting was attended by many sugar cane farmers who tasted a bolo de mel which weighed 40 kilos and was made a year ago in the Engenho (sugar mill) of Calheta.

Compensation for the family of a banker. On October 2 2006, an employee of the BANIF branch in the Estrada Monumental died instantly when crushed by a 1,500 kg safe falling from a height of 1.78 metres. The bank branch was being refurbished / upgraded and the safe had been moved from its usual place during the execution of the work. The safe had been left on a pallet and not stabilised enough. The employee was seeking a document from inside the safe and when he opened the door, the safe fell on top of him. The 51 year old man was married with a 19 year old child. The widow and child resorted to the Employment Tribunal for compensation from BANIF and the insurer. The court partly upheld the charge that both the contractor and BANIF had violated the safety rules and ordered them to pay various amounts. The family then went to the Appeal Court in Lisbon who upheld the conviction but lowered the compensation by 5,000 Euros.

99% of the expropriations for the golf course at Ponta do Pargo have been negotiated. The investment is 16.4 million Euros and the new golf course is to be finished by summer next year. The cost for expropriation of the land was 20 million Euros and clearing the land started last August. Only four areas of the land are still to be negotiated. One of the former land owners still has a residence which lies inside the boundary of the new golf course. She has lived in the area since 1989, when there were few inhabitants and is happy with this new situation. The neighbourhood is half deserted with an ageing population. 100 hectares for the development are in the area surrounding the iconic lighthouse of Ponta do Pargo that will be implemented in the infrastructure.

On the edge of the abyss. This is a section of the Caminho dos Três Paus to Viana in Santo António. This road has been in need of repair for a long time but the rains in December have contributed to a further narrowing of the road. Hundreds of vehicles use this road every day. Residents want retaining walls similar to those that have been placed in other areas of this road. A few years ago, two people died on this road.

POLITICS

Privatization of the sea worries the CDU. The CDU are worried about the consequences for fisheries and the regional economy if the reforms envisaged in the EU Green Paper are implemented. The communist leader said the EU want to allow the entry of foreign vessels into our seas and privatize the management of the seas. This will damage the regional industry and economy. The communists want to mobilize public opinion in order to avoid these reforms proposed by the EU. He has asked the regional fishermen to be attentive to announcements by the European Commission led by Barroso.

Schools cost much and yield little. The CDS-PP consider that the results of the educative sector of Madeira are poor compared to the investment made in this public sector. 28% of the Regional Government’s Budget are reserved for this sector, more than the national average (15%) and OECD countries (12%). However, Madeira has the highest ratio of non-attendance from secondary school and the failure rate and non-attendance rate have worsened between 2005 and 2009. They urge the Regional Government to examine and understand the causes behind this failure.

LATE NEWS

TAP Porto / Funchal for 48 Euros. Due to competition, TAP have a promotional price of 48 Euros, including taxes, for flights between Porto – Funchal and 55 Euros in the direction Funchal – Porto. These fares are for travel from March 28 and this promotion is subject to special conditions with a limited number of seats. Booking: TAP And for the Madeira residents another €30 off each-way in the form of a rebate I assume? Der

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

Socialist Party of Madeira regroup – In the aftermath of the congress, the objective now is to recover voters and party members that were distanced.

Culture scorned – The council of Machico has increased its support for sports. Meanwhile culture continues with the same as it had 5 years ago.

Today’s main news headline with the main photo today : Police Trade Union takes complaints to the Minister – SIAP condemns today to the Minister of Internal Affairs "persecution", "threats" and "protectionism to the PSP officials". The TU man is off to Lisbon to complain about the disrespect for the processes for [internal?] enquiries, and the application of disciplinary processes being inconsistent. Dionísio Câmara is equipped with a dossier about police protectionism practiced in the higher order in the police service in Funchal. He wants to know why Commissioner Roberto Fernandes, chief of Funchal police, is exempt from the disciplinary procedures, when he is officially accused of crimes that include falsification of documents and abuse of power. Of particular interest is the case of a road accident that happened in 2004 that involved a family member of the police chief, and that person is now spokesperson for the Public Security Police of Madeira. Dionísio also accuses the commissioner of crimes punishable by law. The case file was in the desk drawer of the public prosecutor, but there it remained all those years, and now may either  proceed following a technical hold-up, or be dismissed. He will also raise a number of other issues. Corruption in a police force … whatever next! Actually in the lower ranks it seems that corruption is now much lower key than a few years ago, and slipping the officer a €20 note inside your driving licence is not really the done thing anymore. But the bosses it seems are still ‘a law until themselves’, and who could have possibly set such a bad example in a country that openly admits to having an excess of bent public servants, politicians and business leaders. Good luck Dionísio, but I suggest you lock your car in your garage at night, and keep a lawyer in your bedroom in future.

Cargo for Porto Santo fell in 2009 – The transportation of passengers is fine, but the fall of 45% in cargo led to a one million Euro loss. The year saw 361 thousand passengers transported, and 47 thousand cars, but the receipts at the year end were one million Euros short due to less freight. The shipping and ferry company Porto Santo Line has been hit badly with the clear reduction in imported goods being taken to the island. Passenger numbers were in fact 10,594 higher than in 2008, with increases in 7 out of the 12 months. Altogether, in volume terms, there were 876 less containers during 2009, around 16 less per week. Apparently there were more motorcycles and bicycles carried than usual, so a sign of the times perhaps. The article doesn’t explore the reasons for the reduction in freight transportation, but it is obvious that to some extent that the cancellation and suspension of major building projects on the island is having a big impact on both employment and materials imported. Add to that the fact that properties just aren’t selling there at present, then that must also be an impact when homes are not being furnished.

The main sport / football headline today :  Football solidarity tonight – Maribor and Nacional, already with reinforcements, play tonight for Haiti. The game that starts at 8 pm between Nacional and NK Maribor will raise funds for the earthquake appeal in Haiti. The teams are jointly appealing to the Madeiran people to come and give their support. Tickets cost €5, and there is also a singer called Joana Rechard performing.

Diakité (Marítimo) and Todorovic (Nacional) are already on Madeira.

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

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If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a photo or video, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. Please don’t send in automatic translations (like Google translator) without checking them through and correcting them first, thanks.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions and photos / videos.

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Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

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TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Jaquine … the sugar cane factory at Porto da Cruz

I paid a final visit to the São Pedro festival last night, and I think after Saturday’s rain, it actually made a pretty good recovery. As it was spread over 3 days this year, I reckon a lot of the traditionalists waited until Sunday night, the official eve of São Pedro to go, so Sunday night was pretty good, with a reasonable turn out again last night. I noticed that quite a few traders packed up early and went, perhaps a bad decision in the end. Though I didn’t see much money getting spent. Anyway excellent all round effort I though, with some good entertainment organised.

This chap blogs about the world’s most dangerous airports, but only rates Madeira as number 6. WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS AIRPORTS

Don’t forget that tomorrow is a public holiday.

Don’t forget that news / articles will be posted at various times during the day – Check back regularly and keep yourself up to date.

Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions or comments.

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(27th June). ‘Payments By Multibanco (ATM) Card Fall By 100 Thousand Transactions Per Day – The plastic money becomes scarce: the Madeira economy lost 14.8 million electronic payments in 5 months’.  The Diário believes that much of this is due to the scarcity of tourists, as Madeirans continue to use the cash points much as in the previous year. The value of each use of the cash point (ATM) card has decreased by an average of 8.7%, with the average transaction now being €42. I think that value may seem high as of course here many use their cards to pay utility bills, council tax etc.

Petrol prices go up again on Monday, one cêntimo per litre to €1.23. Diesel rises 2c to €0.96.

‘Tourism Resists Crisis On Madeira – At this point more tourists are travelling to the region, compared with same period of 2008′. It’s another one of those stories that changes with the wind, but it seem that thanks to Portuguese travellers, the hotel occupancy rate currently stands at around 70%. The numbers are provided by the regional director of tourism, who believes that the extra promotion of tourism, to the tune of €4 million is a contributory factor. There are also more visitors coming from the ‘east’, and the Atlantic Festival has brought positive results.

(26th June). ‘Cane Saccharin Exported To The Continent – The objective is to make natural juice to be sold on the beach’. A former restaurant owner from Calheta, now a farmer, is a pioneer in the export of sugar cane to Portugal. He has already sent a container load of 10 tons, and is preparing to send another. "I never earned as much money as now" he said.

‘A Major Franchising Group In Europe Invests In Madeira Forum – The European giant chooses Madeira as one of the 13 stores to be opened in Portugal’. The international clothes selling chain C & A aims to open a store on Madeira next year. The contract for the premises has already been signed. The group already has shops in 18 countries, and all together there are 35,500 employees. The letters C & A are the initials of the brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer, who founded the company in Holland in 1841. 

‘The End Of Coopobama’. The Cooperative of banana producers of Madeira held their penultimate general meeting, with the last one planned to dissolve the organisation officially, 16 years after it’s creation. The reason given is that a new management company, GESBA, has been set up in the sector, which has taken on the assets and liabilities of Coopobama. After years of paying €1.39 / kilo on the odd occasion I buy bananas, I smell a price increase in the air.

‘Taxes Should Not Have To Increase’. The Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs (Portugal) said yesterday, that neither now, nor in future will there be a need to increase taxes, arguing that the loss of incoming tax revenue is cyclical and the financial system is adapted to the financing needs of the state. "Neither now nor in future will we need to raise taxes to stabilize the budget. Our tax system is very efficient in recovery of revenue that is currently falling short in the state", said Carlos Lobo at the end of the Council of Ministers. That was in the same article that says "Portugal does not need to further reduce civil servants", so I think I will take that tax statement with a large pinch of salt.

(25th June). ‘Five Companies In The Process Of Opening In The Free Zone’. The director of the tax advantaged facility in Zone Franca in Caniçal announced this on Wednesday, adding that dozens of new jobs would be created. The good news comes after a promotional initiative, that was presented both nationally and internationally. In the industrial zone there are currently 52 companies employing 820 workers, which in investment terms amount to €182 million. RTP News had a different take on the story, saying that now offshore structures elsewhere are being black listed internationally, companies are looking to move to tax advantageous areas such as the Free Zone of Madeira, to legitimise their operations.