Madeira News Blog

(14th July). Today’s main news headline and picture, showing the man sacked :‘SECO Sacks Director Of The Institute Of Wine – The confusion caused by the announcement about the end for ‘Vinho Seco’ cost Paul Rodrigues his job, and he was sacked by IVBAM. Manuel António signed the legislation that condemned the wine, but it is the director that falls in the aftermath. There are already names for a successor’. He was director of the institute that represented wines, embroidery, and crafts of Madeira, but is no more. The initiative that came in and was withdrawn just a day or two afterwards, was aimed at stopping the production (and drinking) of the popular dry red wine that provides income and pleasure for many, and is generally considered a tipple for those on low incomes and is not bottled and sold because of its low quality. The government backed down, probably fearful of an election backlash. I am sure Confusious must have has something to say on the matter, but I don’t have it to hand … you can only mess with a man so far, and you certainly can’t mess with his favourite and only affordable alcoholic tipple.

‘Man Run Over By Motorbike Died In Ponta do Pargo – The accident caused one death and two people are seriously injured’. The death was confirmed in Amparo, one injured person was taken to Funchal hospital, the other to the health centre at Calheta’. The accident occurred at around 10am yesterday, killing a 55 year old man.

Today’s sports story is : ‘Works Now Started In The Barreiros – Marítimo with the start of the season engaged’. The multimillion scheme to remodel the stadium of the football club has started.

‘Low Visibility Affects Madeira Airport – Planes are being diverted to Porto Santo’. Since 5pm last night (latest report available) 5 planes were diverted to Porto Santo to await better conditions to complete the journey. Two planes were also grounded at Madeira Airport. Fog conditions were starting to improve after 8pm, when a SATA plane was permitted to land.

‘Gripe A Arrived On Madeira And Increases Precautions’. Gripe took a day off on Sunday, but was back in force yesterday with 10 new cases, taking the total to 96 so far for Portugal. One of them is a 15 year old girl on Madeira. "Travel is not prohibited," but we have stepped up our precautions says Maurício Melim, president of the Administration of Health and Social Affairs (IASAÚDE). The girl travelled here last Friday from the UK to pass holidays with her father, and on Saturday sought medical help. She had symptoms in the UK and also sought medical care there, but decided to travel anyway. There is no evidence of the virus being passed on locally yet. The girl is in a stable clinical condition, but those who have had contact with her are taking medication as a precaution. The worst case scenario predicted by the health authorities is that 25% of the population here will be infected, more that 60,000 people on Madeira. The centres equipped to deal with H1N1 swine flu are at : Funchal x 2 (Santo António, and Bom Jesus), one in Porto Santo and seven others scattered across Madeira (Câmara de Lobos, Caniço, Calheta, Ribeira Brava, São Vicente, Santana and Calheta).

(4th July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Santacruzense Give-Up On The Série Madeira – The club cannot manage the support to participate in the competition. The vacancy could be filled by Porto da Cruz’. Football of course, and what a shocker. The club will not take part in the new Madeira league in 2009 / 2010, as it did not submit it’s application before the deadline yesterday, having already won the right to participate last season. The club is going through severe financial problems that threaten its continued existence, and an estimated €60,000 would have been needed to play in the new league next season.

The main photo today is of a man sat in front of a very large wooden barrel pouring a glass of red wine : ‘Elections Save Vinho Seco That Is Dangerous – New regulations suspended without hearing the agricultural association; producers ask ‘common sense’ of the government and control of the wine; technicians alert about toxic substances’. The man in the picture is called ‘Wine cellar José’ and in his opinion the ‘inspectors’ (judges) of the regional wine are those who drink it. There are several threads to the story which has been elevated to the front page, but in short, producers, sellers, and lovers of the popular low quality cheap red wine applaud the u-turn of the government in its attempt to stop production, but they believe that it was only the fact that the elections are so close that prompted it. On the matter of toxic substances in the wine, it contains maldivina, that affects the central nervous system. Isn’t alcohol itself toxic?

‘Accident Kills One And Injures Nine’. It’s one of pictures you look at with disbelief and wonder how anyone could have survived. The head-on collision at 7.45 pm yesterday at Meia Légua near Serra da Água, involved a top of the range Mercedes and a minibus belonging to the construction company AFA. Three of the injured are in a serious condition, but all nine were admitted to the emergency department of Funchal Central Hospital. According to a witness one of the vehicles was moving at excessive speed and out of control after a bend. The Diário doesn’t have this information, but according to a source close to the family, the driver of the Mercedes had gone to the poncha bar at around 4pm that afternoon, and the accident occurred on his way home at 7.45pm.

‘Tender Contest For Express Road This Year – Clearing of the escarpment at Sítio dos Juncos being considered’. The end of this year, or maybe the beginning of next, is the deadline set for the tender contest for the construction of a new 3.5km express-way road between Canhas and Ponta do Sol village, by the regional secretary responsible, who visited the location on Thursday. It will have two tunnels to make the route shorter. It is later planned to develop a new urban zone that includes a new junior school and police station on a allocated plot of land in Ponta do Sol, an investment of €5.4 million. I think this is phase 2 of the project, as it seems a lot has already happened. 

‘Nurses Deliver Petition Against Unemployment – There are over 40 youngsters unemployed in the sector’. The trade union representing nurses is to deliver the petition to the regional secretary of social affairs, and the president of the health service.

A new weekly sports newspaper was launched yesterday on the newsstands of Madeira. Published by the Diário de Notícias company, it sells for €0.30 every Friday, with an initial print run of 10,000 copies. It is called ‘MAIS Desportivo’ (More Sport). 

Without digging into the meat of the article, the Diário concludes that the Dia do Região (Madeira Day, 1st July) was a disappointment for young and old in terms of the commemoration, and the key topics of poverty and unemployment were not even covered in the speeches. Add to that the boycott by the other political parties, because they were not allowed to speak, then you have a bit of a lame event.

‘Waiting List For Cataract Operations Reduces Significantly – 800 people now await the surgery in a list that did have nearly 2,000 names’. Funchal Central Hospital has managed to reduce the list, and is currently managing 5 to 7 operations a day.

(3rd July). ‘PS proposes commission against corruption in municipal councils – Rui Caetano requires greater transparency in administrative deeds’. The proposal for the creation of anti-corruption commissions in all the 11 councils on Madeira, was made by a representative of the Socialist Party, PS-M. Caetano clarifies that these bodies should be adapted to the ‘real life’ operations in each of the councils, while maintaining a direct connection with the higher authorities. The objective is for greater transparency in administration, especially in the areas most susceptible to corruption, urban planning and licensing. Uncle Bertie is rumoured to be considering the proposal, but the brown envelope containing the necessary bits of paper has not yet been handed over.

Just for information and amusement really, as the Minister for the Economy was sacked by Prime Minister José Socrates yesterday. Sorry no I am wrong, he actually resigned. Manuel Pinho was spotted making a gesture at opposition members … see photo below.

All the boring political stuff we have to put up with, and then a gem like this makes it all worthwhile. It has even made the international press, and is all over the TV today. Very silly really, if Uncle Bertie was punished each time he made an indiscretion, he would be black and blue and fed to the fish by now.

A couple of days ago it was reported that regional red wine (vinho seco) was facing extinction, due to new laws and controls imposed by Madeira’s government. Well, starting yesterday, the whole scheme was revoked, and vinho seco is back on the menu as before. A government spokesman justified the u-turn decision by saying that the changes were needing a good “reponder”. Tell me again, when are the next elections?

(2nd July). "Only the crazy vote for their executioner" – Jardim criticized the "wickedness" of the Government of the Republic and declared himself "troubled" with the rise in unemployment. President Jardim was referring to the prime minister of Portugal, José Sócrates, who lacked respect and used his power for partisan purposes, to attack, and for revenge, against the people of Madeira. He said that "Sócrates has put Portugal in a more vulnerable position, which has more negative consequences for this country than any other democracy in Europe". OK, its official then I am crazy, or more accurately I would be crazy, but I cannot vote in national elections. Love the photo though (the duh! look), he really does look troubled.

On matters of the economy :

(2nd July). ‘Government Admits Lower Taxes For Tourism – IVA / VAT and special payment budgets could be changed’. The government of Portugal admits to changing taxes applicable to hotels and restaurants, especially concerning IVA / VAT and another, as apart of a plan of development and competitiveness in the tourism sector. That news comes a few days after the Treasury denied any intention to change IVA / VAT rates, but it has since had a meeting with a body that represents that sector. Under changes passed by the EU recently, EU countries are now permitted, as a temporary measure, to lower purchase taxes down to 5% in the restaurant and catering industry. France, for example, has just reduced its IVA rate from 19.6% to 5% in restaurants. According to a source, the decision to proceed with the initiative is about "the need to conduct a comprehensive study of applicable taxes in the sector of hotels, catering and tourism, taking into account the importance of the sector to the national economy, in an environment of healthy competition and to minimize fraud and tax evasion".

(1st July). ‘Small Fruit Returns To The Market’. The market for fruit and vegetables that do not meet the exacting standards imposed by the European Union has been relaxed. The calibration requirements for 26 types of fruits and vegetables finished yesterday, and opens the way for farmers and anyone else to sell produce of any size and shape. The 26 fruits and vegetables that will be sold regardless of the shape and size include apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cherries, cucumbers, garlic, hazelnuts in shells, and cabbages. These products only represent 25% of the market, the other 75% are still bound by the old rules. Shame that, as regrettably I will still have to buy lettuces that are three times the size that I need.

(30th June). ‘Loss In Importations – Madeira registers in the first 6 months a fall of 12.4% in merchandise and 14.2% in shipping containers’. It was on the front page again, the second time in a month, so I will just cover briefly. Both the Madeirans and companies here are buying less produce that comes from outside. In particular the import of cement and related products has fallen by 22.7%. However, the figures could have been lower if it wasn’t for the Armas ferry which brings in cargo to Funchal.

Zon Multimedia SGPS SA, a Portuguese pay-television company, plans to start offering a subscription television service in Angola in November. Zon is awaiting the launch of the satellite that will broadcast its programming and also has to wait for licenses that will be awarded by Angolan authorities, the Portuguese Diário newspaper said.