The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 11th October 2023
by Mike Evans
With the weather across the Algarve in particular still providing us with warm sunshine, it is a good time to remember that there is still the chance of wildfires as we have had an unprecedented run of extremely hot weather since the early part of summer. There are 8 municipalities across the Algarve on maximum alert for fires. On average temperatures have been around 5 degrees warmer for this time of year than we have seen for the past couple of years so it is important that we continue to be on the lookout for any signs of fires.
At the same time we continue to see the reservoirs that feed the Algarve with water, dropping even lower with some at only 22% of their capacity. We should all continue to try and save water and hope that the forecast of rain towards the end of this week is correct. If we do see some downpours then we must all be aware of the possibility of localised flooding as the hard ground will not be able to absorb the rainfall if it is torrential.
On Monday, October 9th, the 16 municipalities of the Algarve signed a protocol with the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) to implement a set of good practices that are more friendly to the elderly, which will later be extended to the entire country .
“The Algarve will be a guide of good practices in order to favour environments and cities with measures that provide older people with well-being and health, among other things”, said the Secretary of State for Health Promotion, Margarida Tavares, on the sidelines of a meeting on the National Program for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.
At the meeting, held in Loulé , proposals were presented for implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-Friendly Cities and Communities project, with measures that will be tested in the Algarve, and are expected to be expanded nationally in 2025. The meeting also included a discussion on health policies and initiatives implemented in the different Member States of the WHO European region that aim to promote the health, well-being and quality of life of older people, in a scenario of increasing longevity.
During the debate, some examples of good practices were given to support the daily lives of older people in sectors such as transport, health, cultural activities, security and social protection.
“We have already developed many of the good practices mentioned, but not all municipalities have the possibility of moving forward at the same speed”, said Osvaldo Gonçalves, mayor of Alcoutim, one of the oldest municipalities in the Algarve.
For the vice-president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL), with the association of municipalities as the coordinating entity, “a better job can be done at regional level to achieve the objectives”.
According to DGS technicians, the objective is, by the end of 2024, to “involve more and more municipalities in this movement”, so that by 2025 we can “move towards a national program”.
“The aim is for there to be standardisation and coordination that will expand and be tested here”, in the Algarve, explained Margarida Tavares.
This entire discussion is based on a good practice guide prepared by the WHO in which elderly people were asked, in discussion groups, to describe the advantages and obstacles they encounter in eight areas of life in the city.
In most cities, reports from older people were complemented through contributions from discussion groups made up of carers and service providers from the public, voluntary and private sectors.
In practical terms, it is concluded that an elderly-friendly city adapts its structures and services so that they include and are accessible to older people, with different needs and abilities.
The network of cities that try to follow this best practice guide includes 1445 cities around the world, among which 14 are Portuguese, namely Castro Marim. Here at Safe Communities we applaud this initiative.
Now a look at some of the other news across the region in the past week.
Man detained in Olhão on suspicion of sexual abuse of minors
The Southern Directorate of the Judiciary Police identified and detained a man, aged 75, due to strong evidence of committing several crimes “against sexual freedom and self-determination”, crimes committed against two minors “from his family circle”. Both parties reside in the municipality of Olhão, the PJ reported today.
The sexual assaults took place, according to the PJ, at different periods, in 2022, when the children, aged eight and 15, foreigners, “came to live with their mother in Portugal, settling in the city of Olhão”, read in the note.
Following the investigation, it was possible to “collect various pieces of evidence”, namely “reports of the various sexual assaults perpetrated by the now detained man”, he details. The facts spread “over the last year, having only ceased after a complaint to this Judiciary Police, formalised by the mother of colleagues who attended the same educational establishment as the victims, to whom the facts had been confided”, explains the PJ.
The sexual assaults “always took place in an environment completely controlled by the detained person, an individual who was a regular visitor to the minor’s family, and always on occasions when they were alone”, the statement continues.
The set of steps taken allowed “the collection of relevant evidence, culminating in the arrest of the suspect”, this Tuesday, the 10th, awaiting presentation before the competent judicial authorities for judicial interrogation and application of coercive measures deemed appropriate.
The investigation is led by the Olhão Department of Investigation and Criminal Action.
Tourist boat captain dies trying to dock at Portimão Marina
The captain of a maritime tourist vessel died today when trying to dock the boat, with 16 people on board, at the Portimão Marina, said the captain of the port of Portimão.
According to Rodrigo González dos Paços, the captain was in the docking manoeuvre “when he fell into the water and the vessel passed over him”, and the boat was stopped by the second commander and the victim was taken to the pier with a dead body.
The remaining 14 occupants (tourists) suffered minor injuries, 11 of which were treated on site by the emergency and resuscitation medical vehicle team (VMER) and three were taken to the hospital in Portimão (district of Faro) for observation. Recognizing that this is not a usual accident, the captain of the port of Portimão ordered the opening of an investigation and communicated the facts to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP), which must now open a criminal investigation.
The vessel involved in the accident is approximately eight metres long and is semi-rigid, with capacity for 20 people.
Passenger detained at Faro airport with 1205 doses of cocaine
A passenger who intended to fly to Milan, Italy, was arrested on Monday, October 2, at Gago Coutinho Airport, in Faro , in possession of 1,205 doses of cocaine , revealed the Public Security Police.
According to a statement from this security force, when the suspect was searched to access the restricted area, private security detected him trying to hide a package in his pants, which was later found to contain doses of cocaine.
The detainee was brought before the judicial authority and the coercive measure of preventive detention was applied to him, according to the same note.
Ten detained in investigation into drug trafficking in the region
Ten people were arrested for drug trafficking , after an investigation that lasted around ten months and spanned the entire Algarve region, revealed the GNR.
According to a statement, the military arrested three women and seven men between the ages of 23 and 50 on Monday, October 2, for drug trafficking in the Algarve region.
The GNR also states that, as part of an investigation into trafficking in narcotic products that lasted around ten months and spread across the entire Algarve region, the Guard soldiers carried out police investigations that allowed it to be established that the individuals were engaged in drug trafficking. drug and which were organised in a drug distribution network for sale to consumers in the Algarve region.
According to the GNR, following the investigations, 34 search warrants were executed, 15 home search warrants and 19 non-home search warrants, namely 14 in vehicles, on a vessel, in an establishment, two in warehouses and another in a garage, in various locations. from the municipalities of Albufeira, Loulé , Faro, Olhão and Portimão.
The actions culminated in the arrest of the ten suspects and the seizure of various material related to illicit activity, adds the GNR in the note.
Among the seized material are 500 doses of hashish, 334 doses of cocaine, four doses of liamba, 3.23 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), 1.1 grams of CBD (cannabidiol) hashish concentrate, four hallucinogenic mushroom capsules and a pistol hidden on an MB card (ATM).
The GNR investigation had the support of the PSP, with a total of 147 operatives. The detainees were presented to the Loulé Judicial Court for the application of coercive measures.
Two arrested for shoplifting and vehicle theft
Two men aged 23 and 38 were arrested on Tuesday, October 3, for stealing from a commercial establishment and a vehicle in the municipality of Tavira , announced the National Republican Guard ( GNR ).
After being alerted about the theft at the commercial establishment, GNR soldiers went to the location, from where the suspects fled, but ended up being intercepted and detained.
During the police investigation, 57 packs of tobacco, a vehicle, two cell phones, a brush cutter and a food vending machine were seized. The detainees were presented to the Tavira Department of Investigation and Criminal Action for the application of coercive measures.
The action was reinforced by the Territorial Post of Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo António, Alcoutim and with the support of the Public Security Police of Tavira.
Have a safe week until the next time..