Ferry Update

Peter has left a comment on how the meeting went this evening on the previous blog post, I have copied it below so people don't miss it.

When more news comes in, I will keep you all up to date. 

It turned out to be a positive talk. Of course, it wasn't just me. I was a foreign addition to an otherwise all-madeiran committee. For strategics sales I can't say too much yet, but there were eye-openers from both sides of the table. We will have to wait and see, and meanwhile continue our fight for honest competition where maritime transport is concerned, and we will have to keep reminding the regional government to keep their promise of providing a freight plane and bringing US back the ferry that was really stopped by dishonest actions of the monopolist Sousa with help of the former government... Join the Facebook Group 'Cruise Ferry para a Madeira, the fast growing civic platform that calls the government to order. We need you all!

Please join the Facebook page above/below as it is vital we have a ferry connection back in Madeira. Also share the Facebook group with friends and lets get many more joining. 

Important Post regards to getting a Ferry reinstated.

Peter Groen will meet with Liliana Rodrigues this evening, probably as I am writing this. Below is a post he shared on his Facebook account, and he will report the out come later. 

Lets wish him luck. 

All right. Preliminary. This evening, I have been summoned to a meeting with mrs. Liliana Rodrigues, Member of the European Parliament for Madeira, to discuss the refusal of the Madeiran Regional Government to reinstall the ferry to the continent. This is proven to be a pure case of at least nepotism, facilitating a monopolist who has all maritime transport in hands, but it really reeks of corruption. I have been invited by a number of representatives who operate the Facebook platform 'Cruise Ferry Para a Madeira'. In a telephone conversation with one of the members, I was asked to arrive a bit early in order to determine a strategy. I was suggested to be firm, but also very polite, the Latin way, kissing mrs Rodrigues' hand as a matter of speak. After having given this a little thought, I have decided to do no such thing. Latin or not, this lady gets a NET salary of € 6400,04 (€8213,02 Gross) per month, plus 306€ per day outside of Portugal for bed and board if she attends a meeting, plus €4600 per month for office expenses. All in all, that is more than € 13000 euros of community money. And you think I will kiss the hand of anyone spending that much of MY money? I don't think so. My hand should be kissed by her, especially if she does not do her job. Her job is to defend the interests of the people that elected her, and certainly NOT the other way around. I shall press her to do what must be done to put a stop the this corruption, as requested by the European Commission, and give the people of Madeira the ferry they want, the cargo plane they need and to get rid of the corrupt way of thinking the actual government has.

Lobo Marinho suffers damage.

A difficult journey said passengers on the Lobo Marinho this morning as it made its usual trip from Funchal to Porto Santo.

The journey was very bumpy the as the ship docked at the harbour of Porto Santo it hit the hull on the pier causing some damage.

A weather warning is out for strong winds and rough seas, and the ferry does not normally travel in these conditions, so why it decided to this morning is not yet known. 

Ferry set to return.

This is just a straight copy and translation from the diario online.

The Board of the Regional Government, meeting this afternoon under the chairmanship of Miguel Albuquerque, "decided to establish the necessary procedures and steps that will allow the restoration of maritime connection between Madeira and mainland Portugal for transporting passengers and cargo."

The regional secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources, Susana Prada, who was spokesman for the executive meeting, said that the efforts to resume ferry operations are already underway. However, he declined to reveal details, as this dossier is being conducted by the Regional Secretary of Economy Eduardo Jesus, who was the last two days in London and returns tonight to Madeira.