Fires: Albuquerque refusing help from the Republic could “cause irreversible damage to our island”

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

Just shows Albuquerque has no care fir the island or the Madeirans, he has ruined Madeira, and the damage will never be repaired.

Below From Jornal Madeira

“Unfortunately, no action from Miguel Albuquerque’s mismanagement doesnt surprise us anymore.” This is what Liana Reis, from the RIR party, says, saying that the “altruism” of the president of the Regional Government in refusing help from the central government “could cause irreversible damage to our island”.

“With a minimal team of operators on the ground and the weather conditions, this outcome in the parish of Curral das Freiras was already foreseeable. Excuses like those given yesterday by the operational commander of Civil Protection on the regional television station are unacceptable and are nothing more than a pre-prepared speech and not an action plan like the one needed in situations like those experienced in our region”, states the RIR in a press release.

The party adds that “the path of this fire that passed through Boca da Corrida and down the slope of Curral das Freiras is nothing short of ridiculous”. “Let’s hope that it is just a mere coincidence in relation to the much-criticised cable car project. The lack of public appearance by either the president of the regional government or the regional secretary for Civil Protection only demonstrates the regional government’s real concern for the people of Madeira”, it adds.

“The scenario seems to be repeating itself”

The Madeira PPM also stated, in a press release, that “a request for help for more air resources should have already been made”, criticizing the president of the Regional Government for refusing to help.

Although sometimes the only aircraft cannot fly because of the wind, at least having two aircraft would make up for the time when it cannot operate.

The PPM recalls that, “in the major fires that ravaged the Region in 2017, [the president] also refused help and then threw up his hands with urgent requests for help, but unfortunately it was too late”, reads the same note, which concludes by saying that “it seems that Mr. President has not learned anything from these fires and the scenario seems to be repeating itself.”

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Tobi Hughes

8 Responses

  1. Tobi, there is no such thing as too much help.
    This is an urgent situation. Its not as though torrential rain is forecast is it to dampen down the fires. The brave firefighters will soon be exhausted and surely will appreciate support.
    Val

  2. Hopefully it is nothing to do with clearing the difficult terrain to prepare for the tereferico and adventure park….
    What a disaster this is.
    Poor Madeira and the poor inhabitants of Curral…..

  3. I read in the Jornal this morning about how often the helicopter has to be used to rescue tourists…..a second one here now to help fight the fire seems like a very sensible idea. The reasons for refusing help are nonsense….

    1. Unfortunately, you can’t snap your fingers and have suitably-equipped helicopters arrive overnight. Unless they’re arriving by aircraft carrier, they may need to be partly disassembled for transport, a ship needs to have space to for them and then they may have to reassembled on arrival. There then have to be sufficient engineers and pilots to keep them aloft. The logistics of being a population of only 250,000 with a supply line of 1000km are very tricky: these resources are very expensive per head to keep around just in case but impossible to get here in a hurry.

  4. The arrogance of this man who regularly claims that the “autonomous” region of Madeira is the best of Portugal and it doesn’t need help for anything from Lisbon is pathetic. Of course if free money for vanity projects is available it will be taken, but only with no strings attached. Reminds me of how the UK government viewed grants from the EU which meant hundreds of millions were never sent to deprived areas in the UK. And sadly Albuquerque has the same attitude in Madeira

  5. Pride comes before a fall. Accept the help, if it was his home, family and business at risk I bet he’d be pleading for help. The arrogance of the man.

    1. True, a politician should not have arrogance, have your face up sign of confidence, but most important is to be humble. The politicians should think they are or should be like (for instance) a waiter, SERVANTS. I’m sure many would like to be there but not all think as they the servants of taxpayers and its guests (like tourists).

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