CMF closes ‘Frente Mar Funchal’ company due to losses

Tobi Hughes·
News Blog

The Funchal City Council executive will propose the closure and liquidation of ‘Frente Mar’, the company that manages the bathing complexes, parking lots and some public spaces. At the origin of the decision are the continuous poor financial results of the municipal company, which have motivated requests for information from the opposition and even the approval of an audit in the Municipal Assembly.

Last summer, CMF purchased 80 thousand tickets for the bathing complexes managed by Frente Mar, for a value of 290 thousand euros, in a direct negotiation procedure, which, according to the PSD, “may constitute a concealed financing from the municipality to that municipal company. This raises doubts about the legality of the whole process ”. For this reason, it forwarded information to the Court of Auditors on this procedure.

There was also a debt to the Tax Authority that culminated in the attachment of bank accounts in the Municipality, debt to social security, compensation to an employee in the amount of 355 thousand euros and delays in the payment of salaries of the employees of this municipal company Frente Mar.

The ‘Frente Mar’ was created in December 2003, by a council chaired by Miguel Albuquerque, with the purpose of managing the bathing complexes and almost from the beginning had problems. In 2014, its first administrator was even sentenced by the Funchal court to three years in prison for the crime of economic participation in business. An audit by the Court of Auditors known in 2015 revealed several irregularities (such as the acquisition of goods and services without respecting the legal rules) and suggested the closure of the company due to successive losses.

Since April 2013, he has also managed the five car parks (Edifício 2000, Cruz Vermelha, Campo da Barca, Praça Amarela and Largo do Pelourinho) that for 20 years were under concession to SEP, owned by businessman António Henriques. A few months later the Chamber would be condemned by the court to integrate the 20 workers hired by SEP into the ‘Frente Mar’. In 2018, the last year with a report and accounts available, the company had 125 employees.

DIÁRIO requested explanations from the CMF president at the end of this afternoon, but received no response from Miguel Silva Gouveia.

No more words needed…

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Tobi Hughes

12 Responses

  2. Yet again corruption reigns in Madeira. Back handers, lining each others pockets and deception at every level with shady dealings everywhere. Shame on them.

    1. Funny, when I suggested brown envelopes changed hands regularly two people on here said I was disgusting for suggesting such things. They even suggested I should be booted off of here and the islands! So, Emily stand by for a telling off ????

  3. In this case there is a big difference Maurice. The newspaper article quotes facts to support the accusations made. In the example you refer to that was not the case. When you were asked for evidence of the wrongdoing in your commentary by another contributor you gave back nothing in reply.
    No doubt corruption is alive and well in Madeira in some places. But you have bigger and better potential targets in the UK to focus on before throwing stones at a foreign country which some of us like to call home.
    This is not to say its wrong to call out corruption, just that it needs to be done with some intelligence to back it up. Simply shouting insults from far away feels less than enlightening.

  4. Every country has its corruption, especially at government levels. But here on the island it is quite blatant and even expected. This is because it is an island and a closed shop. The powerful (financially) do what they want.
    I do not see it as throwing stones, simply comments created from exasperation and disbelief.

  5. Maurice, as Ruby said , in the case you are referring to , you made allegations with zero evidence . In this case there is evidence of corruption .
    I am under no illusion that it happens on a regular basis.
    You seem to have a short memory .
    When the young Madeiran man was brutally attacked in Eastbourne , you alleged that he was attacked by , and I quote , ” Moronic racists whipped up by Brexit dragging on “. You accused your countrymen . In fact he was attacked by fellow Madeirans .
    Your allegations were not helpful especially as Madeirans read this blog . As in the previous case , you wrote this with zero evidence .
    You need evidence to accuse people of wrongdoing .

    1. Jane and Ruby are quite right.
      The insecurity of people who post point- scoring messages that add nothing to the debate, to try to justify themselves is pitiful.

    2. Jane
      One can not use 2 different standards , you’re accusing someone of making false accusations and without having any evidence to prove it

      Yet , you go on doing the very same on your post ,
      see it below I am under no illusion that it happens on a regular basis.

      The above sentence was taken from you previous post

  6. Ray , it’s not double standards. When there is clear evidence that corruption exists , then that is that . We know its happened many times and it has been publicised . However , making a direct accusation online about someone with no evidence is wrong . That’s the difference.

  7. I live here and love the place and the people generally. There are faults here of course, I just don’t appreciate holiday makers making cheap jibes. Plenty of material in the UK to make such comments about if you want to spend your time that way.

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